thought to excel in it； and as at present they also exceeded Marcellus
in number； they made no account of him。 They； therefore； with their
king at their head； instantly charged upon him； as if they would
trample him under their horses' feet； threatening all kinds of
cruelties。 Marcellus； because his men were few； that they might not be
encompassed and charged on all sides by the enemy； extended his
wings of horse； and； riding about； drew out his wings of foot in
length； till he came near to the enemy。 Just as he was in the act of
turning round to face the enemy； it so happened that his horse；
startled with their fierce look and their cries； gave back； and
carried him forcibly aside。 Fearing lest this accident； if converted
into an omen； might discourage his soldiers； he quickly brought his
horse round to confront the enemy； and made a gesture of adoration
to the sun； as if he had wheeled about not by chance； but for a
purpose of devotion。 For it was customary to the Romans； when they
offered worship to the gods； to turn round； and in this moment of
meeting the enemy； he is said to have vowed the best of the arms to
Jupiter Feretrius。
The king of the Gauls beholding Marcellus； and from the badges of
his authority conjecturing him to be the general； advanced some way
before his embattled army； and with a loud voice challenged him；
and； brandishing his lance； fiercely ran in full career at him；
exceeding the rest of the Gauls in stature； and with his armour；
that was adorned with gold and silver and various colours； shining
like lightning。 These arms seeming to Marcellus； while he viewed the
enemy's army drawn up in battalia； to be the best and fairest； and
thinking them to be those he had vowed to Jupiter； he instantly ran
upon the king； and pierced through his breastplate with his lance；
then pressing upon him with the weight of his horse； threw him to
the ground； and with two or three strokes more slew him。 Immediately
he leapt from his horse； laid his hand upon the dead king's arm and；
looking up towards Heaven； thus spoke： 〃O Jupiter Feretrius； arbiter
of the exploits of captains； and of the acts of commanders in war
and battles； be thou witness that I； a general； have slain a
general： I； a consul； have slain a king with my own hand； third of all
the Romans； and that to thee I consecrate these first and most
excellent of the spoils。 Grant to us to despatch the relics of the war
with the same course of fortune。〃 Then the Roman horse joining
battle not only with the enemy's horse； but also with the foot who
attacked them； obtained a singular and unheard…of victory。 For never
before or since have so few horse defeated such numerous forces of
horse and foot together。 The enemies being to a great number slain；
and the spoils collected； he returned to his colleague； who was
conducting the war； with ill…success； against the enemies near the
greatest and most populous of the Gallic cities； Milan。 This was their
capital； and； therefore； fighting valiantly in defence of it； they
were not so much besieged by Cornelius； as they besieged him。 But
Marcellus having returned； and the Gaesatae retiring as soon as they
were certified of the death of the king and the defeat of his army；
Milan was taken。 The rest of their towns； and all they had； the
Gauls delivered up of their own accord to the Romans； and had peace
upon equitable conditions granted to them。
Marcellus alone； by a decree of the senate； triumphed。 The triumph
was in magnificence； opulence； spoils； and the gigantic bodies of
the captives most remarkable。 But the most grateful and most rare
spectacle of all was the general himself； carrying the arms of the
barbarian king to the god to whom he had vowed them。 He had taken a
tall and straight stock of an oak； and had lopped and formed it to a
trophy。 Upon this he fastened and hung about the arms of the king；
arranging all the pieces in their suitable places。 The procession
advancing solemnly； he； carrying this trophy； ascended the chariot；
and thus； himself the fairest and most glorious triumphant image；
was conveyed into the city。 The army adorned with shining armour
followed in order； and with verses composed for the occasion； and with
songs of victory celebrated the praises of Jupiter and of their
general。 Then entering the temple of Jupiter Feretrius； he dedicated
his gift； the third； and to our memory the last； that ever did so。 The
first was Romulus； after having slain Acron； king of the
Caeninenses： the second； Cornelius Cossus； who slew Tolumnius the
Etruscan： after them Marcellus； having killed Britomartus； king of the
Gauls； after Marcellus； no man。 The god to whom these spoils were
consecrated is called Jupiter Feretrius； from the trophy carried on
the feretrum； one of the Greek words which at that time still
existed in great numbers in Latin： or； as others say； it is the
surname of the Thundering Jupiter derived from ferire； to strike。
Others there are who would have the name to be deduced from the
strokes that are given in fight； since even now in battles； when
they press upon their enemies； they constantly call out to each other；
strike； in Latin feri。 Spoils in general they call Spolia； and these
in particular Opima； though； indeed； they say that Numa Pompilius；
in his commentaries； makes mention of first； second； and third
Spolia Opima； and that he prescribes that the first taken be
consecrated to Jupiter Feretrius； the second to Mars； the third to
Quirinus； as also that the reward of the first be three hundred asses；
of the second； two hundred； of the third； one hundred。 The general
account； however； prevails； that those spoils only are Opima which the
general first takes in set battle； and takes from the enemy's chief
captain whom he has slain with his own hand。 But of this enough。 The
victory and the ending of the war was so welcome to the people of
Rome； that they sent to Apollo of Delphi； in testimony of their
gratitude； a present of a golden cup of an hundred pound weight； and
gave a great part of the spoil to their associate cities； and took
care that many presents should be sent also to Hiero； King of the
Syracusans； their friend and ally。
When Hannibal invaded Italy； Marcellus was despatched with a fleet
to Sicily。 And when the army had been defeated at Cannae； and many
thousands of them perished； and a few had saved themselves by flying
to Canusium； and all feared lest Hannibal； who had destroyed the
strength of the Roman army； should advance at once with his victorious
troops to Rome； Marcellus first sent for the protection of the city
fifteen hundred soldiers from the fleet。 Then； by decree of the
senate； going to Canusium； having heard that many of the soldiers
had come together in that place； he led them out of the fortifications
to prevent the enemy from ravaging the country。 The chief Roman
commanders had most of them fallen in battles； and the citizens
complained that the extreme caution of Fabius Maximus； whose integrity
and wisdom gave him the highest authority； verged upon timidity and
inaction。 They confided in him to keep them out of danger； but could
not expect that he would enable them to retaliate。 Fixing；
therefore； their thoughts upon Marcellus； and hoping to combine his
boldness； confidence； and promptitude with Fabius's caution and
prudence； and to temper the one by the other； they sent； sometimes
both with consular command； sometimes one as consul； the other as
proconsul； against the enemy。 Posidonius writes； that Fabius was
called the buckler； Marcellus the sword of Rome。 Certainly； Hannibal
himself confessed that he feared Fabius as a schoolmaster； Marcellus
as an adversary： the former； lest he should be hindered from doing
mischief； the latter； lest he should receive harm himself。
And first； when among Hannibal's soldiers； proud of their victory；
carelessness and boldness had grown to a great height； Marcellus；
attacking all their stragglers and plundering parties； cut them off；
and by little and little diminished their forces。 Then carrying aid to
the Neopolitans and Nolans； he confirmed the minds of the former； who；
indeed； were of their own accord faithful enough to the Romans； but in
Nola he found a state of discord； the senate not being able to rule
and keep in the common people； who were generally favourers of
Hannibal。 There was in the town one Bantius； a man renowned for his
high birth and courage。 This man； after he had fought most fiercely at
Cannae； and had killed many of the enemies； at last was found lying in
a heap of dead bodies； covered with darts； and was brought to
Hannibal； who so honoured him； that he not only dismissed him
without ransom； but also contracted friendship with him； and made
him his guest。 In gratitude for this great favour； he became one of
the strongest partisans of Hannibal； and urged the people to revolt。
Marcellus could not be induced to put to death a man of such eminence；
and who had endured such dangers in fighting on the Roman side； but；
knowing himself able； by the general kindliness of his disposition；
and in particular by the attractiveness of his address； to gain over a
character whose passion was for honour； one day when Bantius saluted
him； he asked him who he was； not that he knew him not before； but
seeking an occasion of further conference。 When Bantius had told who
he was； Marcellus； seeming surprised with joy and wonder； replied：
〃Are you that Bantius whom the Romans commend above the rest that
fought at Cannae； and praise as the one man that not only did not
forsake the consul Paulus Aemilius； but received in his own body
many darts thrown at him？〃 Bantius owning himself to be that very man；
and showing his scars： 〃Why； then；〃 said Marcellus； 〃did not you；
having such proofs to show of your affection to us； come to me at my
first arrival here？ Do you think that we are unwilling to requite with
favour those who have well deserved； and who are honoured even by
our enemies？〃 He followed up his courtesies by a present of a
war…horse and five hundred drachmas in money。 From that time Bantius
became the most faithful assistant and ally of Marcellus； and a most
keen discoverer of those that atte