caius marius-第12节

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his　thoughts。　At　length；　on　the　arrival　of　a　messenger　from　the　sea；
he　was　seized　with　new　alarms；　and　so　what　with　his　fear　for　the
future；　and　what　with　the　burden　and　satiety　of　the　present；　on　some
slight　predisposing　cause；　he　fell　into　a　pleurisy；　as　Posidonius
the　philosopher　relates；　who　says　he　visited　and　conversed　with　him
when　he　was　sick；　about　some　business　relating　to　his　embassy。　Caius
Piso；　an　historian；　tells　us　that　Marius；　walking　after　supper　with
his　friends；　fell　into　a　conversation　with　them　about　his　past　life；
and　after　reckoning　up　the　several　changes　of　his　condition　that
from　the　beginning　had　happened　to　him；　said；　that　it　did　not　become　a
prudent　man　to　trust　himself　any　longer　with　fortune；　and；　thereupon
taking　leave　of　those　that　were　with　him；　he　kept　his　bed　seven
days；　and　then　died。
　　Some　say　his　ambition　betrayed　itself　openly　in　his　sickness；　and
that　he　ran　into　an　extravagant　frenzy　fancying　himself　to　be
general　in　the　war　against　Mithridates；　throwing　himself　into　such
postures　and　motions　of　his　body　as　he　had　formerly　used　when　he　was
in　battle；　with　frequent　shouts　and　loud　cries。　With　so　strong　and
invincible　a　desire　of　being　employed　in　that　business　had　he　been
possessed　through　his　pride　and　emulation。　Though　he　had　now　lived
seventy　years；　and　was　the　first　man　that　ever　was　chosen　seven
times　consul；　and　had　an　establishment　and　riches　sufficient　for
many　kings　he　yet　complained　of　his　ill…fortune；　that　he　must　now
die　before　he　had　attained　what　he　desired。　Plato；　when　he　saw　his
death　approaching；　thanked　the　guiding　providence　and　fortune　of　his
life　first；　that　he　was　born　a　man　and　a　Grecian；　not　a　barbarian　or　a
brute；　and　next；　that　he　happened　to　live　in　Socrates's　age。　And　so；
indeed；　they　say　Antipater　of　Tarsus；　in　like　manner；　at　his　death；
calling　to　mind　the　happiness　that　he　had　enjoyed；　did　not　so　much
as　omit　his　prosperous　voyage　to　Athens；　thus　recognizing　every　favour
of　his　indulgent　fortune　with　the　greatest　acknowledgments；　and
carefully　saving　all　to　the　last　in　that　safest　of　human
treasure…chambers；　the　memory。　Unmindful　and　thoughtless　persons；　on
the　contrary；　let　all　that　occurs　to　them　slip　away　from　them　as
time　passes　on。　Retaining　and　preserving　nothing；　they　lose　the
enjoyment　of　their　present　prosperity　by　fancying　something　better
to　come；　whereas　by　fortune　we　may　be　prevented　to　this；　but　that
cannot　be　taken　from　us。　Yet　they　reject　their　present　success；　as
though　it　did　not　concern　them；　and　do　nothing　but　dream　of　future
uncertainties；　not　indeed　unnaturally；　as　till　men　have　by　reason
and　education　laid　a　good　foundation　for　external　superstructures；
in　the　seeking　after　and　gathering　them　they　can　never　satisfy　the
unlimited　desires　of　their　mind。
　　Thus　died　Marius　on　the　seventeenth　day　of　his　seventh　consulship；
to　the　great　joy　and　content　of　Rome；　which　thereby　was　in　good
hopes　to　be　delivered　from　the　calamity　of　a　cruel　tyranny；　but　in　a
small　time　they　found　that　they　had　only　changed　their　old　and
worn…out　master　for　another；　young　and　vigorous；　so　much　cruelty　and
savageness　did　his　son　Marius　show　in　murdering　the　noblest　and　most
approved　citizens。　At　first；　being　esteemed　resolute　and　daring
against　his　enemies；　he　was　named　the　son　of　Mars；　but　afterwards；　his
actions　betraying　his　contrary　disposition；　he　was　called　the　son　of
Venus。　At　last；　besieged　by　Sylla　in　Praeneste；　where　he　endeavoured
in　many　ways；　but　in　vain；　to　save　his　life；　when　on　the　capture　of
the　city　there　was　no　hope　of　escape；　he　killed　himself　with　his　own
hand。




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