from all fear； at Rome Marcellus was evil spoken of。 His detractors
induced Publicius Bibulus； tribune of the people； an eloquent and
violent man； to undertake his accusation。 He； by assiduous
harangues； prevailed upon the people to withdraw from Marcellus the
command of the army； 〃Seeing that Marcellus；〃 said he； 〃after brief
exercise in the war； has withdrawn as it might be from the wrestling
ground to the warm baths to refresh himself。〃 Marcellus； on hearing
this； appointed lieutenants over his camp and hasted to Rome to refute
the charges against him： and there found ready drawn up an impeachment
consisting of these calumnies。 At the day prefixed； in the Flaminian
circus； into which place the people had assembled themselves；
Bibulus rose and accused him。 Marcellus himself answered； briefly
and simply； but the first and most approved men of the city spoke
largely and in high terms； very freely advising the people not to show
themselves worse judges than the enemy； condemning Marcellus of
timidity； from whom alone of all their captains the enemy fled； and as
perpetually endeavoured to avoid fighting with him as to fight with
others。 When they made an end of speaking； the accuser's hope to
obtain judgment so far deceived him； that Marcellus was not only
absolved； but the fifth time created consul。
No sooner had he entered upon this consulate； but he suppressed a
great commotion in Etruria； that had proceeded near to revolt； and
visited and quieted the cities。 Then； when the dedication of the
temple； which he had vowed out of his Sicilian spoils to Honour and
Virtue； was objected to by the priests； because they denied that one
temple could be lawfully dedicated to two gods； he began to adjoin
another to it； resenting the priests' opposition； and almost
converting the thing into an omen。 And； truly； many other prodigies
also affrighted him； some temples had been struck with lightning；
and in Jupiter's temple mice had gnawed the gold： it was reported；
also； that an ox had spoken； and that a boy had been born with a
head like an elephant's。 All which prodigies had indeed been
attended to； but due reconciliation had not been obtained from the
gods。 The aruspices therefore detained him at Rome； glowing and
burning with desire to return to the war。 For no man was ever inflamed
with so great desire of anything as was he to fight a battle with
Hannibal。 It was the subject of his dreams in the night； the topic
of all his consultations with his friends and familiars； nor did he
present to the gods any other wish； but that he might meet Hannibal in
the field。 And I think that he would most gladly have set upon him；
with both armies environed within a single camp。 Had he not been
even loaded with honours； and had he not given proofs in many ways
of his maturity of judgment and of prudence equal to that of any
commander； you might have said that he was agitated by a youthful
ambition； above what became a man of that age； for he had passed the
sixtieth year of his life when he began his fifth consulship。
The sacrifices having been offered； and all that belonged to the
propitiation of the gods performed； according to the prescription of
the diviners； he at last with his colleague went forth to carry on the
war。 He tried all possible means to provoke Hannibal； who at that time
had a standing camp betwixt Bantia and Venusia。 Hannibal declined an
engagement； but having obtained intelligence that some troops were
on their way to the town of Locri Epizephyrii； placing an ambush under
the little hill of Petelia； he slew two thousand five hundred
soldiers。 This incensed Marcellus to revenge； and he therefore moved
nearer Hannibal。 Betwixt the two camps was a little hill； a
tolerably secure post； covered with wood； it had steep descents on
either side； and there were springs of water seen trickling down。 This
place was so fit and advantageous that the Romans wondered that
Hannibal； who had come thither before them； had not seized upon it；
but had left it to the enemies。 But to him the place had seemed
commodious indeed for a camp； but yet more commodious for an
ambuscade； and to that use he chose to put it。 So in the wood and
the hollows he hid a number of archers and spearmen； confident that
the commodiousness of the place would allure the Romans。 Nor was he
deceived in his expectation。 For presently in the Roman camp they
talked and disputed； as if they had all been captains； how the place
ought to be seized； and what great advantage they should thereby
gain upon the enemies； chiefly if they transferred their camp thither；
at any rate； if they strengthened the place with a fort。 Marcellus
resolved to go； with a few horse； to view it。 Having called a
diviner he proceeded to sacrifice。 In the first victim the aruspex
showed him the liver without a head； in the second the head appeared
of unusual size； and all the other indications highly promising。
When these seemed sufficient to free them from the dread of the
former； the diviners declared that they were all the more terrified by
the latter； because entrails too fair and promising； when they
appear after others that are maimed and monstrous； render the change
doubtful and suspicious。 But…
〃Nor fire nor brazen wall can keep out fate；〃
as Pindar observes。 Marcellus； therefore； taking with him his
colleague Crispinus； and his son； a tribune of soldiers； with two
hundred and twenty horse at most （among whom there was not one
Roman； but all were Etruscans； except forty Fregellans； of whose
courage and fidelity he had on all occasions received full proof）；
goes to view the place。 The hill was covered with woods all over； on
the top of it sat a scout concealed from the sight of the enemy； but
having the Roman camp exposed to his view。 Upon signs received from
him； the men that were placed in ambush stirred not till Marcellus
came near； and then all starting up in an instant； and encompassing
him from all sides； attacked him with darts； struck about and
wounded the backs of those that fled； and pressed upon those who
resisted。 These were the forty Fregellans。 For though the Etruscans
fled in the very beginning of the fight； the Fregellans formed
themselves into a ring； bravely defending the consuls； till Crispinus；
struck with two darts； turned his horse to fly away； and Marcellus's
side was run through with a lance with a broad head。 Then the
Fregellans； also； the few that remained alive； leaving the fallen
consul； and rescuing young Marcellus； who also was wounded； got into
the camp by flight。 There were slain not much above forty； five
lictors and eighteen horsemen came alive into the enemy's hands。
Crispinus also died of his wounds a few days after。 Such a disaster as
the loss of both consuls in a single engagement was one that had never
before befallen the Romans。
Hannibal； little valuing the other events； as soon as he was told of
Marcellus's death； immediately hasted to the hill。 Viewing the body；
and continuing for some time to observe its strength and shape； he
allowed not a word to fall from him expressive of the least pride or
arrogancy； nor did he show in his countenance any sign of gladness； as
another perhaps would have done； when his fierce and troublesome enemy
had been taken away； but amazed by so sudden and unexpected an end；
taking off nothing but his ring； gave order to have the body
properly clad and adorned and honourably burned。 The relics put into a
silver urn； with a crown of gold to cover it； he sent back to his son。
But some of the Numidians； setting upon these that were carrying the
urn； took it from them by force； and cast away the bones； which
being told to Hannibal； 〃It is impossible； it seems then；〃 he said；
〃to do anything against the will of God！〃 He punished the Numidians；
but took no further care of sending or re…collecting the bones；
conceiving that Marcellus so fell； and so lay unburied； by a certain
fate。 So Cornelius Nepos and Vaerius Maximus have left upon record：
but Livy and Augustus Caesar affirm that the urn was brought to his
son； and honoured with a magnificent funeral。 Besides the monuments
raised for him at Rome； there was dedicated to his memory at Catana；
in Sicily； an ample wrestling place called after him； statues and
pictures； out of those he took from Syracuse； were set up in
Samothrace； in the temple of the gods； named Cabiri； and in that of
Minerva at Lindus； where also there was a statue of him； says
Posidonius； with the following inscription：…
〃This was； O stranger； once Rome's star divine；
Claudius Marcellus of an ancient line；
To fight her wars seven times her consul made；
Low in the dust her enemies he laid。〃
The writer of the inscription has added to Marcellus's five consulates
his two proconsulates。 His progeny continued in high honour even
down to Marcellus； son of Octavia； sister of Augustus； whom she bore
to her husband Caius Marcellus； and who died a bridegroom； in the year
of his Aedileship； having not long before married Caesar's daughter。
His mother； Octavia； dedicated the library to his honour and memory；
and Caesar the theatre which bears his name。
THE END