caius marius-第7部分

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that　he　would　not　take　any　such　oath；　nor　would　any　man；　he　thought；
who　was　wise；　for　if　there　were　no　ill　design　in　the　law；　still　it
would　be　an　affront　to　the　senate　to　be　compelled　to　give　their
approbation；　and　not　to　do　it　willingly　and　upon　persuasion。　This　he
said；　not　that　it　was　agreeable　to　his　own　sentiments；　but　that　he
might　entrap　Metellus　beyond　any　possibility　of　escape。　For　Marius；　in
whose　ideas　virtue　and　capacity　consisted　largely　in　deceit；　made　very
little　account　of　what　he　had　openly　professed　to　the　senate；　and
knowing　that　Metellus　was　one　of　a　fixed　resolution；　and；　as　Pindar
has　it；　esteemed　〃truth　the　first　principle　of　heroic　virtue；〃　he
hoped　to　ensnare　him　into　a　declaration　before　the　senate；　and　on
his　refusing；　as　he　was　sure　to　do；　afterwards　to　take　the　oath；　he
expected　to　bring　him　into　such　odium　with　the　people　as　should
never　be　wiped　off。　The　design　succeeded　to　his　wish。　As　soon　as
Metellus　had　declared　that　he　would　not　swear　to　it；　the　senate
adjourned。　A　few　days　after　on　Saturninus　citing　the　senators　to
make　their　appearance；　and　take　the　oath　before　the　people；　Marius
stepped　forth　amidst　a　profound　silence；　every　one　being　intent　to
hear　him；　and　bidding　farewell　to　those　fine　speeches　he　had　before
made　in　the　senate；　said；　that　his　back　was　not　so　broad　that　he
should　think　himself　bound；　once　for　all；　by　any　opinion　once　given　on
so　important　a　matter；　he　would　willingly　swear　and　submit　to　the　law；
if　so　be　it　were　one；　a　proviso　which　he　added　as　a　mere　cover　for　his
effrontery。　The　people；　in　great　joy　at　his　taking　the　oath；　loudly
clapped　and　applauded　him；　while　the　nobility　stood　by　ashamed　and
vexed　at　his　inconstancy；　but　they　submitted　out　of　fear　of　the
people；　and　all　in　order　took　the　oath；　till　it　came　to　Metellus's
turn。　But　he；　though　his　friends　begged　and　entreated　him　to　take
it；　and　not　to　plunge　himself　irrecoverably　into　the　penalties　which
Saturninus　had　provided　for　those　that　should　refuse　it；　would　not
flinch　from　his　resolution；　nor　swear；　but；　according　to　his　fixed
custom；　being　ready　to　suffer　anything　rather　than　do　a　base；　unworthy
action；　he　left　the　forum；　telling　those　that　were　with　him　that　to　do
wrong　things　is　base；　and　to　do　well　where　there　is　no　danger；　common；
the　good　man's　characteristic　is　to　do　so　where　there　is　danger。
　　Hereupon　Saturninus　put　it　to　the　vote；　that　the　consuls　should
place　Metellus　under　their　interdict；　and　forbid　him　fire；　water；
and　lodging。　There　were　enough；　too；　of　the　basest　of　people　ready
to　kill　him。　Nevertheless；　when　many　of　the　better　sort　were　extremely
concerned；　and　gathered　about　Metellus；　he　would　not　suffer　them　to
raise　a　sedition　upon　his　account；　but　with　this　calm　reflection
left　the　city；　〃Either　when　the　posture　of　affairs　is　mended　and　the
people　repent；　I　shall　be　recalled；　or　if　things　remain　in　their
present　condition；　it　will　be　best　to　be　absent。〃　But　what　great
favour　and　honour　Metellus　received　in　his　banishment；　and　in　what
manner　he　spent　his　time　at　Rhodes；　in　philosophy；　will　be　more
fitly　our　subject　when　we　write　his　life。
　　Marius；　in　return　for　this　piece　of　service；　was　forced　to　connive
at　Saturninus　now　proceeding　to　the　very　height　of　insolence　and
violence；　and　was；　without　knowing　it；　the　instrument　of　mischief
beyond　endurance；　the　only　course　of　which　was　through　outrages　and
massacres　to　tyranny　and　the　subversion　of　the　government。　Standing　in
some　awe　of　the　nobility；　and；　at　the　same　time；　eager　to　court　the
commonalty；　he　was　guilty　of　a　most　mean　and　dishonest　action。　When
some　of　the　great　men　came　to　him　at　night　to　stir　him　up　against
Saturninus；　at　the　other　door；　unknown　to　them；　he　let　him　in；　then
making　the　same　pretence　of　some　disorder　of　body　to　both；　he　ran　from
one　party　to　the　other；　and　staying　at　one　time　with　them　and
another　with　him；　he　instigated　and　exasperated　them　one　against
another。　At　length　when　the　senate　and　equestrian　order　concerted
measures　together；　and　openly　manifested　their　resentment；　he　did
bring　his　soldiers　into　the　forum；　and　driving　the　insurgents　into　the
capitol；　and　then　cutting　off　the　conduits；　forced　them　to　surrender
by　want　of　water。　They；　in　this　distress；　addressing　themselves　to
him；　surrendered；　at　it　is　termed；　on　the　public　faith。　He　did　his
utmost　to　save　their　lives；　but　so　wholly　in　vain；　that　when　they　came
down　into　the　forum　they　were　all　basely　murdered。　Thus　he　had　made
himself　equally　odious　both　to　the　nobility　and　commons；　and　when
the　time　was　come　to　create　censors；　though　he　was　the　most　obvious
man；　yet　he　did　not　petition　for　it；　but　fearing　the　disgrace　of　being
repulsed；　permitted　others；　his　inferiors；　to　be　elected；　though　he
pleased　himself　by　giving　out　that　he　was　not　willing　to　disoblige　too
many　by　undertaking　a　severe　inspection　into　their　lives　and　conduct。
　　There　was　now　an　edict　preferred　to　recall　Metellus　from　banishment；
this　he　vigorously；　but　in　vain；　opposed　both　by　word　and　deed；　and
was　at　length　obliged　to　desist。　The　people　unanimously　voted　for
it；　and　he；　not　able　to　endure　the　sight　of　Metellus's　return；　made
a　voyage　to　Cappadocia　and　Galatia；　giving　out　that　he　had　to
perform　the　sacrifices　which　he　had　vowed　to　Cybele；　but　actuated
really　by　other　less　apparent　reasons。　For；　in　fact；　being　a　man
altogether　ignorant　of　civil　life　and　ordinary　politics；　he　received
all　his　advancement　from　war；　and　supposing　his　power　and　glory
would　by　little　and　little　decrease　by　his　lying　quietly　out　of
action；　he　was　eager　by　every　means　to　excite　some　new　commotions；　and
hoped　that　by　setting　at　variance　some　of　the　kings；　and　by
exasperating　Mithridates；　especially；　who　was　then　apparently　making
preparations　for　war；　he　himself　should　be　chosen　general　against　him；
and　so　furnish　the　city　with　new　matter　of　triumph；　and　his　own
house　with　the　plunder　of　Pontus　and　the　riches　of　its　king。
Therefore；　though　Mithridates　entertained　him　with　all　imaginable
attention　and　respect；　yet　he　was　not　at　all　wrought　upon　or
softened　by　it；　but　said；　〃O　king；　either　endeavour　to　be　stronger
than　the　Romans；　or　else　quietly　submit　to　their　commands。〃　With　which
he　left　Mithridates　as　he　indeed　had　often　heard　the　fame　of　the
bold　speaking　of　the　Romans；　but　now　for　the　first　time　experienced
it。
　　When　Marius　returned　again　to　Rome；　he　built　a　house　close　by　the
forum；　either；　as　he　himself　gave　out；　that　he　was　not　willing　his
clients　should　be　tried　with　going　far；　or　that　he　imagined　distance
was　the　reason　why　more　did　not　come。　This；　however；　was　not　so；　the
real　reason　was；　that；　being　inferior　to　others　in　agreeableness　of
conversation　and　the　arts　of　political　life；　like　a　mere　tool　and
implement　of　war；　he　was　thrown　aside　in　time　of　peace。　Amongst　all
those　whose　brightness　eclipsed　his　glory；　he　was　most　incensed
against　Sylla；　who　had　owed　his　rise　to　the　hatred　which　the
nobility　bore　Marius；　and　had　made　his　disagreement　with　him　the　one
principle　of　his　political　life。　When　Bocchus；　King　of　Numidia；　who
was　styled　the　associate　of　the　Romans；　dedicated　some　figures　of
Victory　in　the　capitol；　and　with　them　a　representation　in　gold　of
himself　delivering　Jugurtha　to　Sylla；　Marius　upon　this　was　almost
distracted　with　rage　and　ambition；　as　though　Sylla　had　arrogated
this　honour　to　himself；　and　endeavoured　forcibly　to　pull　down　these
presents；　Sylla；　on　the　other　side；　as　vigorously　resisted　him；　but
the　Social　War；　then　on　a　sudden　threatening　the　city；　put　a　stop　to
this　sedition　when　just　ready　to　break　out。　For　the　most　warlike　and
best…peopled　countries　of　all　Italy　formed　a　confederacy　together
against　Rome；　and　were　within　a　little　of　subverting　the　empire；　as
they　were　indeed　strong；　not　only　in　their　weapons　and　the　valour　of
their　soldiers；　but　stood　nearly　upon　equal　terms　with　the　Romans　as
to　the　skill　and　daring　of　their　commanders。
　　As　much　glory　and　power　as　this　war；　so　various　in　its　events　and　so
uncertain　as　to　its　success；　conferred　upon　Sylla；　so　much　it　took
away　from　Marius；　who　was　thought　tardy；　unenterprising；　and　timid；
whether　it　were　that　his　age　was　now　quenching　his　former　heat　and
vigour　（for　he　was　above　sixty…five　years　old）；　or　that　having；　as
he　himself　said；　some　distemper　that　affected　his　muscles；　and　his
body　being　unfit　for　action；　he　did　service　above　his　strength。　Yet；
for　all　this；　he　came　off　victor　in　a　considerable　battle；　wherein
he　slew　six　thousand　of　the　enemies；　and　never　once　gave　them　any
advantage　over　him；　and　when　he　was　surrounded　by　the　works　of　the
enemy；　he　contained　himself；　and　though　insulted　over；　and　challenged；
did　not　yield　to　the　provocation。　The　story　is　told　that　when
Publius　Silo；　a　man　of　the　greatest　repute　and　authority　among　the
enemies；　said　to　him；　〃If　you　are　indeed　a　great　general；　Marius；
leave　your　camp　and　fight　a　battle；〃　he　replied；　〃If　you　are　one；　make
me　do　so。〃　And　another　time；　when　the　enemy　gave　them　a　good
opportunity　of　a　battle；　and　the　Romans　through　fear　durst　not　charge；
so　that　both　parties　retreated；　he　called　an　assembly　of　his　soldiers；
and　said；　〃It　is　no　small　question　whether　I　should　call　the　enemies
or　you　the　greater　cowards；　for　neither　did　they　dare　to　face　your
backs；　nor　you　to　confront　theirs。〃　At　length；　professing　to　be　worn
out　with　the　infirmity　of　his　body；　he　laid　down　his　command。
　　Afterwards　when　the　Italians　were　worsted；　there　were　several
candidates　suing　with　the　aid　of　the　popular　leaders　for　the　chief
command　in　the　war　with　Mithridates。　Sulpicius；　tribune　of　the　people；
a　bold　and　confident　man；　contrary　to　everybody's　expectation；　brought
forward　Marius；　and　proposed　him　as　proconsul　and　general　in　that　war。
The　people　were　divided；　some　were　on　Marius's　side；　others　voted
for　Sylla；　and　jeeringly　bade　Marius　go　to　the　baths　at　Baiae；　to　cure
his　body；　worn　out；　as　himself　confessed；　with　age　and　catarrhs。
Marius　had　indeed；　there；　about　Misenum；　a　villa　more　effeminately　and
luxuriously　furnished　than　seemed　to　become　one　that　had　seen
service　in　so　many　and　great　wars　and　expeditions。　This　same　house
Co