caius marius-第8章

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However　this　be；　it　is　certain　Marius；　in　his　exile　and　greatest
extremities；　would　often　say　that　he　should　attain　a　seventh
consulship。
　　When　Marius　and　his　company　were　now　about　twenty　furlongs　distant
from　Minturnae；　a　city　in　Italy；　they　espied　a　troop　of　horse　making
up　toward　them　with　all　speed；　and　by　chance；　also；　at　the　same
time；　two　ships　under　sail。　Accordingly；　they　ran　every　one　with
what　speed　and；　strength　they　could　to　the　sea；　and　plunging　into　it
swam　to　the　ships；　Those　that　were　with　Granius；　reaching　one　of　them；
passed　over　to　an　island　opposite；　called　Aenaria；　Marius　himself；
whose　body　was　heavy　and　unwieldy；　was　with　great　pains　and　difficulty
kept　above　the　water　by　two　servants；　and　put　into　the　other　ship。　The
soldiers　were　by　this　time　come　to　the　seaside；　and　from　thence　called
out　to　the　seamen　to　put　to　shore；　or　else　to　throw　out　Marius；　and
then　they　might　go　whither　they　would。　Marius　besought　them　with　tears
to　the　contrary；　and　the　masters　of　the　ship；　after　frequent
changes；　in　a　short　space　of　time；　of　their　purpose；　inclining　first
to　one；　then　to　the　other　side；　resolved　at　length　to　answer　the
soldiers　that　they　would　not　give　up　Marius。　As　soon　as　they　had
ridden　off　in　a　rage；　the　seamen；　again　changing　their　resolution；
came　to　land；　and　casting　anchor　at　the　mouth　of　the　river　Liris；
where　it　overflows　and　makes　a　marsh；　they　advised　him　to　land；
refresh　himself　on　shore；　and　take　some　care　of　his　discomposed
body；　till　the　wind　came　fairer；　which；　said　they；　will　happen　at　such
an　hour；　when　the　wind　from　the　sea　will　calm；　and　that　from　the
marshes　rise。　Marius；　following　their　advice；　did　so；　and　when　the
seamen　had　set　him　on　shore；　he　laid　him　down　in　an　adjacent　field；
suspecting　nothing　less　than　what　was　to　befall　him。　They；　as　soon
as　they　had　got　into　the　ship；　weighed　anchor　and　departed；　as
thinking　it　neither　honourable　to　deliver　Marius　into　the　hands　of
those　that　sought　him；　nor　safe　to　protect　him。
　　He　thus；　deserted　by　all；　lay　a　good　while　silently　on　the　shore；　at
length　collecting　himself；　he　advanced　with　pain　and　difficulty；
without　any　path；　till；　wading　through　deep　bogs　and　ditches　full　of
water　and　mud；　he　came　upon　the　hut　of　an　old　man　that　worked　in　the
fens；　and　falling　at　his　feet　besought　him　to　assist　and　preserve
one　who；　if　he　escaped　the　present　danger；　would　make　him　returns
beyond　his　expectation。　The　poor　man；　whether　he　had　formerly　known
him；　or　were　then　moved　with　his　superior　aspect；　told　him　that　if
he　wanted　only　rest　his　cottage　would　be　convenient；　but　if　he　were
flying　from　anybody's　search；　he　would　hide　him　in　a　more　retired
place。　Marius　desiring　him　to　do　so；　he　carried　him　into　the　fens
and　bade　him　hide　himself　in　an　hollow　place　by　the　river…side；
where　he　laid　upon　him　a　great　many　reeds；　and　other　things　that
were　light；　and　would　cover；　but　not　oppress　him。　But　within　a　very
short　time　he　was　disturbed　with　a　noise　and　tumult　from　the
cottage；　for　Geminius　had　sent　several　from　Terracina　in　pursuit　of
him；　some　of　whom　happening　to　come　that　way；　frightened　and
threatened　the　old　man　for　having　entertained　and　hid　an　enemy　of
the　Romans。　Whereupon　Marius；　arising　and　stripping　himself；　plunged
into　a　puddle　full　of　thick　muddy　water；　and　even　there　he　could　not
escape　their　search；　but　was　pulled　out　covered　with　mire；　and　carried
away　naked　to　Minturnae　and　delivered　to　the　magistrates。　For　there
had　been　orders　sent　through　all　the　towns　to　make　public　search　for
Marius；　and　if　they　found　him　to　kill　him；　however；　the　magistrates
thought　convenient　to　consider　a　little　better　of　it　first；　and　sent
him　prisoner　to　the　house　of　one　Fannia。
　　This　woman　was　supposed　not　very　well　affected　towards　him　upon　an
old　account。　One　Tinnius　had　formerly　married　this　Fannia；　from　whom
she　afterwards；　being　divorced；　demanded　her　portion；　which　was
considerable；　but　her　husband　accused　her　of　adultery；　so　the
controversy　was　brought　before　Marius　in　his　sixth　consulship。　When
the　case　was　examined　thoroughly；　it　appeared　both　that　Fannia　had
been　incontinent；　and　that　her　husband；　knowing　her　to　be　so；　had
married　and　lived　a　considerable　time　with　her。　So　that　Marius　was
severe　enough　with　both；　commanding　him　to　restore　her　portion；　and
laying　a　fine　of　four　copper　coins　upon　her　by　way　of　disgrace。　But
Fannia　did　not　then　behave　like　a　woman　that　had　been　injured；　but
as　soon　as　she　saw　Marius；　remembered　nothing　less　than　old
affronts；　took　care　of　him　according　to　her　ability；　and　comforted
him。　He　made　her　his　returns　and　told　her　he　did　not　despair；　for　he
had　met　with　a　lucky　omen；　which　was　thus。　When　he　was　brought　to
Fannia's　house；　as　soon　as　the　gate　was　opened；　an　ass　came　running
out　to　drink　at　a　spring　hard　by；　and　giving　a　bold　and　encouraging
look；　first　stood　still　before　him；　then　brayed　aloud　and　pranced　by
him。　From　which　Marius　drew　his　conclusion；　and　said；　that　the　fates
designed　his　safety；　rather　by　sea　than　land；　because　the　ass
neglected　his　dry　fodder；　and　turned　from　it　to　the　water。　Having　told
Fannia　this　story；　he　bade　the　chamber　door　to　be　shut　and　went　to
rest。
　　Meanwhile　the　magistrates　and　councillors　of　Minturnae　consulted
together；　and　determined　not　to　delay　any　longer；　but　immediately　to
kill　Marius；　and　when　none　of　their　citizens　durst　undertake　the
business；　a　certain　soldier；　a　Gaulish　or　Cimbrian　horseman　（the　story
is　told　both　ways）；　went　in　with　his　sword　drawn　to　him。　The　room
itself　was　not　very　light；　that　part　of　it　especially　where　he　then
lay　was　dark；　from　whence　Marius's　eyes；　they　say；　seemed　to　the
fellow　to　dart　out　flames　at　him；　and　a　loud　voice　to　say；　out　of
the　dark；　〃Fellow；　darest　thou　kill　Caius　Marius？〃　The　barbarian
hereupon　immediately　fled；　and　leaving　his　sword　in　the　place；
rushed　out　of　doors；　crying　only　this；　〃I　cannot　kill　Caius　Marius。〃
At　which　they　were　all　at　first　astonished；　and　presently　began　to
feel　pity；　and　remorse；　and　anger　at　themselves　for　making　so　unjust
and　ungrateful　a　decree　against　one　who　had　preserved　Italy；　and
whom　it　was　bad　enough　not　to　assist。　〃Let　him　go；〃　said　they；
〃where　he　please　to　banishment；　and　find　his　fate　somewhere　else；　we
only　entreat　pardon　of　the　gods　for　thrusting　Marius　distressed　and
deserted　out　of　our　city。〃
　　Impelled　by　thoughts　of　this　kind；　they　went　in　a　body　into　the
room；　and　taking　him　amongst　them；　conducted　him　towards　the
seaside；　on　his　way　to　which；　though　every　one　was　very　officious　to
him；　and　all　made　what　haste　they　could；　yet　a　considerable　time　was
likely　to　be　lost。　For　the　grove　of　Marica　（as　she　is　called）；　which
the　people　hold　sacred　and　make　it　a　point　of　religion　not　to　let
anything　that　is　once　carried　into　it　be　taken　out；　lay　just　in
their　road　to　the　sea；　and　if　they　should　go　round　about；　they　must
needs　come　very　late　thither。　At　length　one　of　the　old　men　cried　out
and　said；　there　was　no　place　so　sacred　but　they　might　pass　through
it　for　Marius's　preservation；　and　thereupon；　first　of　all；　he　himself；
taking　up　some　of　the　baggage　that　was　carried　for　his　accommodation
to　the　ship；　passed　through　the　grove；　all　the　rest　immediately；
with　the　same　readiness；　accompanying　him。　And　one　Belaeus　（who
afterwards　had　a　picture　of　these　things　drawn；　and　put　it　in　a　temple
at　the　place　of　embarkation）；　having　by　this　time　provided　him　a　ship；
Marius　went　on　board；　and　hoisting　sail；　was　by　fortune　thrown　upon
the　island　Aenaria；　where　meeting　with　Granius；　and　his　other　friends；
he　sailed　with　them　for　Africa。　But　their　water　failing　them　in　the
way；　they　were　forced　to　put　in　near　Eryx；　in　Sicily；　where　was　a
Roman　quaestor　on　the　watch；　who　all　but　captured　Marius　himself　on
his　landing；　and　did　kill　sixteen　of　his　retinue　that　went　to　fetch
water。　Marius；　with　all　expedition　loosing　thence；　crossed　the　sea
to　the　isle　of　Meninx；　where　he　first　heard　the　news　of　his　son's
escape　with　Cethegus；　and　of　his　going　to　implore　the　assistance　of
Hiempsal；　King　of　Numidia。
　　With　this　news；　being　somewhat　comforted；　he　ventured　to　pass　from
that　isle　towards　Carthage。　Sextilius；　a　Roman；　was　then　governor　in
Africa；　one　that　had　never　received　either　any　injury　or　any
kindness　from　Marius；　but　who　from　compassion；　it　was　hoped；　might
lend　him　some　help。　But　he　was　scarce　got　ashore　with　a　small
retinue　when　an　officer　met　him；　and　said；　〃Sextilius；　the　governor；
forbids　you；　Marius；　to　set　foot　in　Africa；　if　you　do；　he　says　he　will
put　the　decree　of　the　senate　in　execution；　and　treat　you　as　an　enemy
to　the　Romans。〃　When　Marius　heard　this；　he　wanted　words　to　express　his
grief　and　resentment；　and　for　a　good　while　held　his　peace；　looking
sternly　upon　the　messenger；　who　asked　him　what　he　should　say；　or
what　answer　he　should　return　to　the　governor？　Marius　answered　him　with
a　deep　sigh：　〃Go　tell　him　that　you　have　seen　Caius　Marius　sitting　in
exile　among　the　ruins　of　Carthage；〃　appositely　applying　the　example　of
the　fortune　of　that　city　to　the　change　of　his　own　condition。
　　In　the　interim；　Hiempsal；　King　of　Numidia；　dubious　of　what　he　should
determine　to　do；　treated　young　Marius　and　those　that　were　with　him
very　honourably；　but　when　they　had　a　mind　to　depart；　he　still　had　some
pretence　or　other　to　detain　them；　and　it　was　manifest　he　made　these
delays　upon　no　good　design。　However；　there　happened　an　accident　that
made　well　for　their　preservation。　The　hard　fortune　which　attended
young　Marius；　who　was　of　a　comely　aspect；　touched　one　of　the　king's
concubines；　and　this　pity　of　hers　was　the　beginning　and　occasion　of
love　for　him。　At　first　he　declined　the　woman's　solicitations；　but　when
he　perceived　that　there　was　no　other　way　of　escaping；　and　that　her
offers　were　more　serious　than　for　the　gratification　of　intemperate
passion；　he　accepted　her　kindness；　and　she　finding　means　to　convey
them　away；　he　escaped　with　his　friends　and　fled　to　his　father。　As　soon
as　they　had　saluted　each　other；　and　were　going　by　the　seaside；　they
saw　some　scorpions　fighting；　which　Marius　took　for　an　ill　omen；
whereupon　they　immediately　went　on　board　a　little　fisher…boat；　and
made　towards　Cercinas；　an　island　not　far　distant　from　the　continent。
They　had　scarce　put　off　from　shore　when　they　espied　some　horse；　sent
after　them　by　the　king；　with　all　speed　making　towards　that　very
place　from　which　they　were　just　retired。　And　Marius　thus　escaped　a
danger；　it　might　be　said；　as　great　as　any　he　ever　incurred。
　　At　Rome　news　came　that　Sylla　was　engaged　with　Mithridates's　generals
in　Boeotia；　the　consuls；　from　factious　opposition；　were　fallen　to
downright　fighting；　wherein　Octavius　prevailing；　drove　Cinna　out　of
the　city　for　attempting　despotic　government；　and　made　Cornelius　Merula
consul　in　his　stead；　while　Cinna；　raising　forces　in　other　parts　of
Italy；　carried　the　war　against　them。　As　soon　as　Marius　heard　of　this
he　resolved；　with　all　expedition；　to　put　to　sea　again；　and　taking　with
him　from　Africa　some　Mauritanian　horse；　and　a　few　of　the　refugees
out　of　Italy；　all　together　not　above　one　thousand；　he；　with　this
handful；　began　his　voyage。　Arriving　at　Telamon；　in　Etruria；　and　coming
as