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 was immolating； the tufted cap which the Flamens wear had
fallen from his head。 Minucius； the dictator； who had already named
Caius Flaminius master of the horse； they deposed from his command；
because the squeak of a mouse was heard； and put others into their
places。 And yet； notwithstanding； by observing so anxiously these
little niceties they did not run into any superstition； because they
never varied from nor exceeded the observances of their ancestors。
So soon as Flaminius with his colleague had resigned the
consulate； Marcellus was declared consul by the presiding officers
called Interrexes； and； entering into the magistracy； chose Cnaeus
Cornelius his colleague。 There was a report that； the Gauls
proposing a pacification； and the senate also inclining to peace；
Marcellus inflamed the people to war； but a peace appears to have been
agreed upon； which the Gaesatae broke； who； passing the Alps；
stirred up the Insubrians （they being thirty thousand in number； and
the Insubrians more numerous by far）； and proud of their strength；
marched directly to Acerrae； a city seated on the north of the river
Po。 From thence Britomartus； king of the Gaesatae； taking with him ten
thousand soldiers； harassed the country round about。 News of which
being brought to Marcellus； leaving his colleague at Acerrae with
the foot and all the heavy arms and a third part of the horse； and
carrying with him the rest of the horse and six hundred light…armed
foot； marching night and day without remission； he stayed not till
he came up to these ten thousand near a Gaulish village called
Clastidium； which not long before had been reduced under the Roman
jurisdiction。 Nor had he time to refresh his soldiers or to give
them rest。 For the barbarians； that were then present； immediately
observed his approach； and contemned him； because he had very few foot
with him。 The Gauls were singularly skilful in horsemanship； and
thought to excel in it； and as at present they also exceeded Marcellus
in number； they made n