GAIUS MARIUS 1
Gaius Marius carne from an obscure family and advanced into political life through his military services. He announced himself a candidate for the greater 2 aedileship, but, perceiving that he was running behind, on the very same day he went after the lesser. 3 Failing also to obtain that, he nevertheless did not give up the idea that he should some day be the first among the Romans. 4
He had large varicose veins on both legs, and, refusing to be fastened down, he submitted these to his physician for excision; and without a groan or even a contraction of his eyebrows he underwent the operation with fortitude. But as the physician [p. 201] turned his attention to the other leg, Marius would not consent, saying that the cure was not worth the pain. 5
In his second consulship Lusius, his nephew, attempted an indecent assault on one of the youths in the army, by the name of Trebonius, and the youth killed Lusius. When many accused him of the crime, he did not deny that he had killed the officer, and disclosed the circumstances; whereupon Marius ordered the crown which is given for deeds of supreme valour to be brought, and this he placed upon Trebonius. 6
Encamped against the Teutons in a place which had little water, when the soldiers said they were thirsty, he pointed out to them a river flowing close by the enemy's palisade, saying, ‘There is drink for you which can be bought with blood.’ And they called upon him to lead them on while the blood within them was fluid and not all dried up by their thirst. 7
In the Cimbrian wars a thousand men of Camerinum who had acquitted themselves bravely he made Roman citizens, in accord with no law. To those who complained he said that he did not hear the laws because of the clash of arms. 8
In the Civil War, 9 when he found himself [p. 203] surrounded by a trench and cut off by the enemy, he held out and bided his own time. Pompaedius 10 Silo said to him, ‘If you are a great general, Marius, come down and fight it out.’ Marius replied, ‘If you are a great general, make me fight it out when I do not wish to do so !’ 11