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who consecrated them to the goddesses。 This city highly favouring
the party of the Carthaginians； Nicias； the most eminent of the
citizens； counselled them to go over to the Romans； to that end acting
freely and openly in harangues to their assemblies； arguing the
imprudence and madness of the opposite course。 They； fearing his power
and authority； resolved to deliver him in bonds to the
Carthaginians。 Nicias； detecting the design； and seeing that his
person was secretly kept in watch； proceeded to speak irreligiously to
the vulgar of the Mothers； and showed many signs of disrespect； as
if he denied and contemned the received opinion of the presence of
those goddesses； his enemies the while rejoicing that he； of his own
accord； sought the destruction hanging over his head。 When they were
just now about to lay hands upon him； an assembly was held； and here
Nicias； making a speech to the people concerning some affair then
under deliberation； in the midst of his address； cast himself upon the
ground； and soon after； while amazement （as usually happens on such
surprising occasions） held the assembly immovable； raising and turning
his head round； he began in a trembling and deep tone； but by
degrees raised and sharpened his voice。 When he saw the whole
theatre struck with horror and silence； throwing off his mantle and
rending his tunic he leaps up half naked； and runs towards the door；
crying out aloud that he was driven by the wrath of the Mothers。
When no man durst； out of religious fear； lay hands upon him or stop
him； but all gave way before him； he ran out of the gate； not omitting
any shriek or gesture of men possessed and mad。 His wife； conscious of
his counterfeiting； and privy to his design； taking her children
with her； first cast herself as a suppliant before the temple of the
goddesses； then； pretending to seek her wandering husband； no man
hindering her； went out of the town in safety； and by this means
they all escaped to Marcellus at Syracuse。 After many other such
affronts offered him by the men of Engyum； Marcellus； having taken
them all prisoners and cast them into bonds； was preparing to
inflict upon them the last punishment； when Nicias； with tears in
his eyes； addressed himself to him。 In fine； casting himself at
Marcellus's feet； and deprecating for his citizens； he begged most
earnestly their lives； chiefly those of his enemies。 Marcellus；
relenting； set them all at liberty； and rewarded Nicias with ample
lands and rich presents。 This history is recorded by Posidonius the
philosopher。
Marcellus； at length recalled by the people of Rome to the immediate
war at home； to illustrate his triumph； and adorn the city； carried
away with him a great number of the most beautiful ornaments of
Syracuse。 For； before that； Rome neither had； nor had seen； any of
those fine and exquisite rarities； nor was any pleasure taken in
graceful and elegant pieces of workmanship。 Stuffed with barbarous
arms and spoils stained with blood； and everywhere crowned with
triumphal memorials and trophies； she was no pleasant or delightful
spectacle for the eyes of peaceful or refined spectators； but； as
Epaminondas named the fields of Boeotia the stage of Mars； and
Xenophon called Ephesus the workhouse of war； so； in my judgment；
may you call Rome； at that time （to use the words of Pindar）； 〃the
precinct of the peaceless Mars。〃 Whence Marcellus was more popular
with the people in general； because he had adorned the city with
beautiful objects that had all the charms of Grecian grace and
symmetry； but Fabius Maximus； who neither touched nor brought away
anything of this kind from Tarentum； when he had taken it； was more
approved of by the elder men。 He carried off the money and
valuables； but forbade the statues to be moved； adding； as it is
commonly related； 〃Let us leave to the Tarentines these offended
gods。〃 They blamed Marcellus； first for placing the city in an
invidious position； as it seemed now to celebrate victories and lead
processions of triumph； not only over men； but also over the gods as
captives； then； that he had diverted to idleness； and vain talk
about curious arts and artificers； the common people； which； bred up
in wars and agriculture； had never tasted of luxury and sloth； and； as
Euripides said of Hercules； had been…
〃Rude； unrefined； only for great things good；〃
so that now they misspent much of their time in examining and
criticizing trifles。 And yet； notwithstanding this reprimand；
Marcellus made it his glory to the Greeks themselves； that he had
taught his ignorant countrymen to esteem and admire the elegant and
wonderful productions of Greece。
But when the envious opposed his being brought triumphant into the
city； because there were some relics of the war in Sicily； and a third
triumph would be looked upon with jealousy； he gave way。 He
triumphed upon the Alban mount； and thence entered the city in
ovation； as it is called in Latin； in Greek eua； but in this ovation
he was neither carried in a chariot； nor crowned with laurel； nor
ushered by trumpets sounding； but went afoot with shoes on； many
flutes or pipes sounding in concert； while he passed along； wearing
a garland of myrtle； in a peaceable aspect； exciting rather love and
respect than fear。 Whence I am； by conjecture； led to think that；
originally； the difference observed betwixt ovation and triumph did
not depend upon the greatness of the achievements； but the manner of
performing them。 For they who； having fought a set battle； and slain
the enemy； returned victors； led that martial； terrible triumph；
and； as the ordinary custom then was in lustrating the army； adorned
the arms and the soldiers with a great deal of laurel。 But they who
without force； by colloquy； persuasion； and reasoning； had done the
business； to these captains custom gave the honour of the unmilitary
and festive ovation。 For the pipe is the badge of peace； and myrtle
the plant of Venus； who more than the rest of the gods and goddesses
abhors force and war。 It is called ovation； not as most think； from
the Greek euasmus； because they act it with shouting and cries of Eua：
for so do they also the proper triumphs。 The Greeks have wrested the
word to their own language； thinking that this honour； also； must have
some connection with Bacchus； who in Greek has the titles of Euius and
Thriambus。 But the thing is otherwise。 For it was the custom for
commanders； in their triumph； to immolate an ox； but in their ovation；
a sheep： hence they named it Ovation； from the Latin ovis。 It is worth
observing； how exactly opposite the sacrifices appointed by the
Spartan legislator are to those of the Romans。 For at Lacedaemon； a
captain； who had performed the work he had undertook by cunning； or
courteous treaty； on laying down his command； immolated an ox； he that
did the business by battle； offered a cock； the Lacedaemonians； though
most warlike； thinking exploit performed by reason and wisdom to be
more excellent and more congruous to man； than one effected by mere
force and courage。 Which of the two is to be preferred I leave to
the determination of others。
Marcellus being the f