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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 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
foll