caius marius-第1节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
CAIUS MARIUS
155？…86 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
WE are altogether ignorant of any third name of Caius Marius； as
also of Quintus Sertorius； that possessed himself of Spain or of
Lucius Mummius that destroyed Corinth； though this last was surnamed
Achaicus from his conquests； as Scipio was called Africanus； and
Metellus； Macedonicus。 Hence Posidonius draws his chief argument to
confute those that hold the third to be the Roman proper name； as
Camillus； Marcellus； Cato； as in this case； those that had but two
names would have no proper name at all。 He did not； however； observe
that by his own reasoning he must rob the women absolutely of their
names； for none of them have the first； which Posidonius imagines
the proper name with the Romans。 Of the other two； one was common to
the whole family； Pompeii； Manlii； Cornelii （as with us Greeks； the
Heraclidae； and Pelopidae）； the other titular； and personal； taken
either from their natures； or actions； or bodily characteristics； as
Macrinus； Torquatus； Sylla； such as are Mnemon； Grypus； or
Callinicus among the Greeks。 On the subject of names； however； the
irregularity of custom； would we insist upon it； might furnish us with
discourse enough。
There is a likeness of Marius in stone at Ravenna； in Gaul； which
I myself saw quite corresponding with that roughness of character that
is ascribed to him。 Being naturally valiant and warlike； and more
acquainted also with the discipline of the camp than of the city； he
could not moderate his passion when in authority。 He is said never
to have either studied Greek； or to have use of that language in any
matter of consequence； thinking it ridiculous to bestow time in that
learning； the teachers of which were little better than slaves。 So
after his second triumph； when at the dedication of a temple he
presented some shows after the Greek fashion； coming into the theatre；
he only sat down and immediately departed。 And； accordingly； as
Plato used to say to Xenocrates the philosopher； who was thought to
show more than ordinary harshness of disposition； 〃I pray you； good
Xenocrates； sacrifice to the Graces；〃 so if any could have persuaded
Marius to pay his devotions to the Greek Muses and Graces； he had
never brought his incomparable actions； both in war and peace； to so
unworthy a conclusion； or wrecked himself； so to say； upon an old
age of cruelty and vindictiveness； through passion； ill…timed
ambition； and insatiable cupidity。 But this will further appear by and
by from the facts。
He was born of parents altogether obscure and indigent； who
supported themselves by their daily labour； his father of the same
name with himself； his mother called Fulcinia。 He had spent a
considerable part of his life before he saw and tasted the pleasures
of the city； having passed previously in Cirrhaeaton； a village of the
territory of Arpinum； a life； compared with city delicacies； rude
and unrefined； yet temperate； and conformable to the ancient Roman
severity。 He first served as a soldier in the war against the
Celtiberians； when Scipio Africanus besieged Numantia； where he
signalized himself to his general by courage far above his comrades；
and particularly by his cheerfully complying with Scipio's reformation
of his army； being almost ruined by pleasures and luxury。 It is
stated； too； that he encountered and vanquished an enemy in single
combat； in his general's sight。 In consequence of all this he had
several honours conferred upon him； and once when at an
entertainment a question arose about commanders； and one of the
company （whether really desirous to know； or only in complaisance）
asked Scipio where the Romans； after him； should obtain such another
general； Scipio； gently clapping Marius on the shoulder as he sat next
him； replied； 〃Here； perhaps。〃 So promising was his early youth of his
future greatness； and so discerning was Scipio to detect the distant
future in the present first beginnings。 It was this speech of
Scipio； we are told； which； like a divine admonition； chiefly
emboldened Marius to aspire to a political career。 He sought； and by
the assistance of Caecilius Metellus； of whose family he as well as
his father were dependents； obtained the office of tribune of the
people。 In which place； when he brought forward a bill for the
regulation of voting； which seemed likely to lessen the authority of
the great men in the courts of justice； the consul Cotta opposed
him； and persuaded the senate to declare against the law； and called
Marius to account for it。 He； however； when this decree was
prepared； coming into the senate； did not behave like a young man
newly and undeservedly advanced to authority； but； assuming all the
courage that his future actions would have warranted； threatened
Cotta； unless he recalled the decree； to throw him into prison。 And on
his turning to Metellus； and asking his vote； and Metellus； rising
up to concur with the consul； Marius； calling for the officer outside；
commanded him to take Metellus into custody。 He appealed to the
other tribunes； but not one of them assisted him； so that the
senate； immediately complying； withdrew the decree。 Marius came
forth with glory to the people and confirmed his law； and was
henceforth esteemed a man of undaunted courage and assurance； as
well as a vigorous opposer of the senate in favour of the commons。 But
he immediately lost their opinion of him by a contrary action； for
when a law for the distribution of corn was proposed； he vigorously
and successfully resisted it； making himself equally honoured by
both parties； in gratifying neither； contrary to the public interest。
After his tribuneship； he was candidate for the office of chief
aedile； there being two orders of them； one the curules； from the
stool with crooked feet on which they sat when they performed their
duty； the other and inferior； called aediles of the people。 As soon as
they have chosen the former； they give their voices again for the
latter。 Marius； finding he was likely to be put by for the greater；
immediately changed and stood for the less； but because he seemed
too forward and hot； he was disappointed of that also。 And yet
though he was in one day twice frustrated of his desired preferment
（which never happened to any before）； yet he was not at all
discouraged； but a little while after sought for the praetorship and
was nearly suffering a repulse； and then； too； though he was
returned last of all； was nevertheless accused of bribery。
Cassius Sabaco's servant； who was observed within the rails among
those who voted； chiefly occasioned the suspicion； as Sabaco was an
intimate friend of Marius； but on being called to appear before the
judges； he alleged； that being thirsty by reason of the heat； he
called for cold water； and that his servant brought him a cup； and
as soon as he had drunk； departed； he was； however； excluded from
the senate by the succeeding censors； and not undeservedly either；
as was thought； whether it might be for his false evidence； or his
want of temperance。 Caius Herennius was also cited to appear as
evidence； but pleaded that it was not customary for a patron （the
Roman word for protector） to witness against his clients； and that the
law excused them from that harsh duty； and both Marius and his parents
had always been clients to the family of Herennii。 And when the judges
would have accepted of this plea； Marius himself opposed it； and
told Herennius； that when he was first created magistrate he ceased to
be his client； which was not altogether true。 For it is not every
office that frees clients and their posterity from the observance
due to their patrons； but only those to which the law has assigned a
curule chair。 Notwithstanding； though at the beginning of the suit
it went somewhat hard with Marius； and he found the judges no way
favourable to him； yet at last； their voices being equal； contrary
to all expectation； he was acquitted。
In his praetorship he did not get much honour； yet after it he
obtained the further Spain； which province he is said to have
cleared of robbers； with which it was much infested； the old barbarous
habits still prevailing； and the Spaniards； in those days； still
regarding robbery as a piece of valour。 In the city he had neither
riches nor eloquence to trust to； with which the leading men of the
time obtained power with the people； but his vehement disposition； his
indefatigable labours； and his plain way of living； of themselves
gained him esteem and influence； so that he made an honourable match
with Julia； of the distinguished family of the Caesars； to whom that
Caesar was nephew who was afterwards so great among the Romans； and；
in some degree； from his relationship； made Marius his example； as
in his life we have observed。
Marius is praised for both temperance and endurance； of which latter
he gave a decided instance in an operation of surgery。 For having；
as it seems； both his legs full of great tumours； and disliking the
deformity； he determined to put himself into the
