A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

958 MARIUS. MARIUS.
consoled himself and encouraged his conipanions by of the Roman people. This last blow almost un.
the assurance that he should still live to see his manned Marius; grief and indignation for a time
seventh consulship, in accordance with a prediction deprived him of utterance; and at last his only
that had been made to him in his youth: he told reply was, " Tell the praetor that you have C.
them that when a child an eagle's nest with seven Marius a fugitive sitting on the ruins of Carthage."
young ones had fallen into his lap, and that the Meanwhile, the younger Marius, who had been to
soothsayers had informed his parents that the pro- Numidia. to implore the assistance of Hiempsal,
digy intimated that he should obtain the supreme had been detained by the Numidian king, but had
command and magistracy seven times. Marius escaped by the assistance of one of the concubines
and his friends wandered on to Minturnae, and of Hiempsal, who had fallen in love with him, and
when they were within two miles from the city, joined his father just at this time. They forthwith
they saw a party of horsemen galloping towards got on board a small fishing-boat, and crossed over
them. In great haste they hurried down to the to the island of Cercina, as some Numidian horsesea, and swam off to two merchant vessels, which men were riding up to apprehend them.
received them on-board. The horsemen bade the During this time a revolution had taken place at
sailors bring the ship to land, or throw Marills Rome, which prepared the way for the return of
overboard; but moved by the tears and entreaties Marius to Italy. The consuls for the year B. c.
of the old man, they refused to comply with the 87 were Cn. Octavius and L. Cornelius Cinna, of
request. As soon, however, as the horsemen had whom the former belonged to the aristocratical and
ridden off, the sailors, fearing to keep. Marius, the latter to the Marian party. Sulla, however,
and yet not choosing to betray him, landed him at had made Cinna swear that he would not attempt
the mouth of the river Liris, and immediately to make any alteration in the state; but as soon as
sailed away. Marius was now quite alone amid the former had left Italy to prosecute the war
the swamps and marshes through which the Liris against Mithridates, Cinna, paying no regard to
flows, and with difficulty waded through them to the oaths he had taken, brought forward again the
the hut of an old man, who concealed him in a hole law of Sulpicius for incorporating the new Italian
near the river, and covered him with reeds. But citizens among the thirty-five tribes. The two
hearing shortly afterwards'the noise of his pursuers consuls had recourse to arms, Octavius to oppose
in the hut of the old man, he crept out of his and Cinna to carry the law. A dreadful conflict
hiding-place, stript off his clothes, and threw him- took place in the forum; the party of Octavius
self into the thick and muddy water of the marsh. obtained the victory, and Cinna was driven out of
Here he was discovered, dragged out of the water, the city with great slaughter. The senate forthand covered with mud, and with-a rope round his with passed a decree, declaring that Cinna had
neck was delivered up to the authorities of Min- forfeited his citizenship and consulship, and apturnae. They placed him for security in the house pointing L. Cornelius Merula consul in his stead.
of a woman named Fannia, who was supposed to But Cinna would not relinquish his power without
be a personal enemy of his [FANNIA], and then another struggle; and by means of the new citideliberated whether they should comply with the zens, whose cause he espoused, he was soon at the
instruction that had been sent from Rome to all head of a formidable army. As soon as Marius
the municipal towns, to put Marius to death as soon heard of these changes he set sail from Africa, landed
as they found him. After some consultation they at Telamo in Etruria, and proclaiming freedom to
resolved to obey it, but at first they could find no the slaves began to collect a large force. He sent
one to carry it into execution. At length- a Gallic or to Cinna, offering to obey him as consul. Cirina
Cimbrian horse-soldier undertook the horrible duty, accepted his proposal, and named Marius proand with a drawn sword in his hand entered the consul, but Marius would not accept the title nor
apartment where Marius was confined. The part the insignia of office, observing that such marks of
of the room in which Marius lay was in the shade; honour were not suited to his condition and forand to the frightened barbarian the eyes of Marius tune. The sufferings and privations he had enseemed to dart out fire, and from the darkness a dured had exasperated his proud and haughty
terrible voice shouted out, " Man, dost thou dare spirit almost to madness, and nothing but the blood
to murder C. Marius?" The barbarian immedi-' of his enemies could appease his resentment. The
ately threw down his sword, and rushed out of the old man proceeded slowly to join Sulla, inspiring
house, exclaiming, "I cannot kill C. Marius." mingled respect and horror, as he went along: he
Straightway there was a revulsion of feeling among was clad in a mean and humble dress,'and his hair
the inhabitants of Minturnae. They repented of and beard had not been cut from the day he had
their ungrateful conduct towards a man who had been driven out of Rome. After joining Cinna,
saved Rome and Italy; they got ready a ship for Marius proceeded to prosecute. the war with great
his-departure, provided him with every thing ne- vigour. He first captured the corn ships, and thus
cessary for the voyage, and with prayers and wishes cut off Rome from its usual supply of food. He
for his safety conducted him to the sea, and placed next took Ostia, and the other towns on the seahim on board. From Minturnae the wind carried coast, and moving down the Tiber, encamped on
him to the island of Aenaria (now Ischia), where the Janiculus. Famine began to rage in the city,
he found Granius and the rest of his friends; and and the senate was obliged to yield. They sent
from thence he set sail for Africa, which he reached a deputation to Cinna and Marius, inviting them
in safety, after narrowly escaping death at Eryx in into the city, but entreating them to spare the
Sicily, where he was obliged to land to take in citizens. Cinna received the deputies sitting in
water. At Carthage Marius landed; but he had his chair of office, and gave them a kind answer:
scarcely put his foot on shore before the Roman Marius stood by the consul's chair without speakgovernor Sextilius sent an officer to' bid him leave ing, but his looks spoke louder than words. After
the country, or else he would carry into execution the audience was over, they marched to the city:
the decree- of'the senate, and treat him as an enemy Cinna entered it with his guards; but when Marius