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                                   MARCELLUS
                                 268?…208 B。C。

                                  by Plutarch

                           translated by John Dryden




  THEY say that Marcus Claudius; who was five times consul of the
Romans; was the son of Marcus; and that he was the first of his family
called Marcellus; that is; martial; as Posidonius affirms。 He was;
indeed; by long experience; skilful in the art of war; of a strong
body; valiant of hand; and by natural inclinations addicted to war。
This high temper and heat he showed conspicuously in battle; in
other respects he was modest and obliging; and so far studious of
Greek learning and discipline; as to honour and admire those that
excelled in it; though he did not himself attain a proficiency in them
equal to his desire; by reason of his employments。 For if ever there
were any men whom; as Homer says; Heaven

         〃From their first youth unto their utmost age
          Appointed the laborious wars to wage;〃

certainly they were the chief Romans of that time; who in their
youth had war with the Carthaginians in Sicily; in their middle age
with the Gauls in the defence of Italy itself; and at last; when now
grown old; struggled again with Hannibal and the Carthaginians; and
wanted in their latest years what is granted to most men; exemption
from military toils; their rank and their great qualities still making
them be called upon to undertake the command。
  Marcellus; ignorant or unskillful of no kind of fighting; in
single combat surpassed himself; he never declined a challenge; and
never accepted without killing his challenger。 In Sicily; he protected
and saved his brother Otacilius when surrounded in battle; and slew
the enemies that pressed upon him; for which act he was by the
generals; while he was yet but young; presented with crowns and
other honourable rewards; and; his good qualities more and more
displaying themselves; he was created Curule Aedile by the people
and by the high priests Augur; which is that priesthood to which
chiefly the law assigns the observation of auguries。 In his
Aedileship; a certain mischance brought him to the necessity of
bringing an impeachment into the senate。 He had a son named Marcus; of
great beauty; in the flower of his age; and no less admired for the
goodness of his character。 This youth; Capitolinus; a bold and
ill…mannered man; Marcellus's colleague; sought to abuse。 The boy at
first himself repelled him; but when the other again persecuted him;
told his father。 Marcellus; highly indignant; accused the man in the
senate: where he; having appealed to the tribunes of the people;
endeavoured by various shifts and exceptions to elude the impeachment;
and; when the tribunes refused their protection; by flat denial
rejected the charge。 As there was no witness of the fact; the senate
thought fit to call the youth himself before them: on witnessing whose
blushes and tears; and shame mixed with the highest indignation;
seeking no further evidence of the crime; they condemned
Capitolinus; and set a fine upon him; of the money of which
Marcellus caused silver vessels for libation to be made; which he
dedicated to the gods。
  After the end of the first Punic war; which lasted one…and…twenty
years; the seed of Gallic tumults sprang up; and began again to
trouble Rome。 The Insubrians; a people inhabiting the subalpine region
of Italy; strong in their own forces; raised from among the other
Gauls aids of mercenary soldiers; called Gaesatae。 And it was a sort
of miracle; and special good fortune for Rome; that the Gallic war was
not coincident with the Punic; but that the Gauls had with fidelity
stood quiet as spectators; while the Punic war continued; as though
they had been under engagement to await and attack the victors; and
now only were at liberty to come forward。 Still the position itself;
and the ancient renown of the Gauls; struck no little fear into the
minds of the Romans; who were about to undertake a war so near home
and upon their own borders; and regarded the Gauls; because they had
once taken their city; with more apprehension than any people; as is
apparent from the enactment which from that time forth provided;
that the high priests should enjoy an exemption from all military
duty; except only in Gallic insurrections。
  The great preparations; also; made by the Romans for war (for it
is not reported that the people of Rome ever had at one time so many
legions in arms; either before or since); and their extraordinary
sacrifices; were plain arguments of their fear。 For though they were
most averse to barbarous and cruel rites; and entertained more than
any nation the same pious and reverent sentiments of the gods with the
Greeks; yet; when this war was coming upon them; they then; from
some prophecies in the Sibyls' books; put alive underground a pair
of Greeks; one male; the other female; and likewise two Gauls; one
of each sex; in the market called the beast market: continuing even to
this day to offer to these Greeks and Gauls certain ceremonial
observances in the month of November。
  In the beginning of this war; in which the Romans sometimes obtained
remarkable victories; sometimes were shamefully beaten; nothing was
done toward the determination of the contest until Flaminius and
Furius; being consuls; led large forces against the Insubrians。 At the
time of their departure; the river that runs through the country of
Picenum was seen flowing with blood; there was a report that three
moons had once been seen at Ariminum; and; in the consular assembly;
the augurs declared that the consuls had been unduly and
inauspiciously created。 The senate; therefore; immediately sent
letters to the camp; recalling the consuls to Rome with all possible
speed; and commanding them to forbear from acting against the enemies;
and to abdicate the consulship on the first opportunity。 These letters
being brought to Flaminius; he deferred to open them till; having
defeated and put to flight the enemy's forces; he wasted and ravaged
their borders。 The people; therefore; did not go forth to meet him
when he returned with huge spoils; nay; because he had not instantly
obeyed the command in the letters; by which he was recalled; but
slighted and contemned them; they were very near denying him the
honour of a triumph。 Nor was the triumph sooner passed than they
deposed him; with his colleague; from the magistracy; and reduced them
to the state of private citizens。 So much were all things at Rome made
to depend upon religion; they would not allow any contempt of the
omens and the ancient rites; even though attended with the highest
success: thinking it to be of more importance to the public safety
that the magistrates should reverence the gods; than that they
should overcome their enemies。 Thus Tiberius Sempronius; whom for
his probity and virtue the citizens highly esteemed; created Scipio
Nasica and Caius Marcius consuls to succeed him; and when they were
gone into their provinces; lit upon books concerning the religious
observances; where he found something he had not known before; which
was this。 When the consul took his auspices; he sat without the city
in a house; or tent; hired for that occasion; but; if it happened that
he; for any urgent cause; returned into the city; without having yet
seen any certain signs; he was obliged to leave that first building;
or tent; and to seek another to repeat the survey from。 Tiberius; it
appears; in ignorance of this; had twice used the same building before
announcing the new consuls。 Now; understanding his error; he
referred the matter to the senate: nor did the senate neglect this
minute fault; but soon wrote expressly of it to Scipio Nasica and
Caius Marcius; who; leaving their provinces and without delay
returning to Rome; laid down their magistracy。 This happened at a
later period。 About the same time; too; the priesthood was taken
away from two men of very great honour; Cornelius Cethegus and Quintus
Sulpicius: from the former; because he had not rightly held out the
entrails of a beast slain for sacrifice; from the latter; because;
while he

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