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it for Marius's preservation； and thereupon； first of all； he himself；
taking up some of the baggage that was carried for his accommodation
to the ship； passed through the grove； all the rest immediately；
with the same readiness； accompanying him。 And one Belaeus （who
afterwards had a picture of these things drawn； and put it in a temple
at the place of embarkation）； having by this time provided him a ship；
Marius went on board； and hoisting sail； was by fortune thrown upon
the island Aenaria； where meeting with Granius； and his other friends；
he sailed with them for Africa。 But their water failing them in the
way； they were forced to put in near Eryx； in Sicily； where was a
Roman quaestor on the watch； who all but captured Marius himself on
his landing； and did kill sixteen of his retinue that went to fetch
water。 Marius； with all expedition loosing thence； crossed the sea
to the isle of Meninx； where he first heard the news of his son's
escape with Cethegus； and of his going to implore the assistance of
Hiempsal； King of Numidia。
With this news； being somewhat comforted； he ventured to pass from
that isle towards Carthage。 Sextilius； a Roman； was then governor in
Africa； one that had never received either any injury or any
kindness from Marius； but who from compassion； it was hoped； might
lend him some help。 But he was scarce got ashore with a small
retinue when an officer met him； and said； 〃Sextilius； the governor；
forbids you； Marius； to set foot in Africa； if you do； he says he will
put the decree of the senate in execution； and treat you as an enemy
to the Romans。〃 When Marius heard this； he wanted words to express his
grief and resentment； and for a good while held his peace； looking
sternly upon the messenger； who asked him what he should say； or
what answer he should return to the governor？ Marius answered him with
a deep sigh： 〃Go tell him that you have seen Caius Marius sitting in
exile among the ruins of Carthage；〃 appositely applying the example of
the fortune of that city to the change of his own condition。
In the interim； Hiempsal； King of Numidia； dubious of what he should
determine to do； treated young Marius and those that were with him
very honourably； but when they had a mind to depart； he still had some
pretence or other to detain them； and it was manifest he made these
delays upon no good design。 However； there happened an accident that
made well for their preservation。 The hard fortune which attended
young Marius； who was of a comely aspect； touched one of the king's
concubines； and this pity of hers was the beginning and occasion of
love for him。 At first he declined the woman's solicitations； but when
he perceived that there was no other way of escaping； and that her
offers were more serious than for the gratification of intemperate
passion； he accepted her kindness； and she finding means to convey
them away； he escaped with his friends and fled to his father。 As soon
as they had saluted each other； and were going by the seaside； they
saw some scorpions fighting； which Marius took for an ill omen；
whereupon they immediately went on board a little fisher…boat； and
made towards Cercinas； an island not far distant from the continent。
They had scarce put off from shore when they espied some horse； sent
after them by the king； with all speed making towards that very
place from which they were just retired。 And Marius thus escaped a
danger； it might be said； as great as any he ever incurred。
At Rome news came that Sylla was engaged with Mithridates's generals
in Boeotia； the consuls； from factious opposition； were fallen to
downright fighting； wherein Octavius prevailing； drove Cinna out of
the city for attempting despotic government； and made Cornelius Merula
consul in his stead； while Cinna； raising forces in other parts of
Italy； carried the war against them。 As soon as Marius heard of this
he resolved； with all expedition； to put to sea again； and taking with
him from Africa some Mauritanian horse； and a few of the refugees
out of Italy； all together not above one thousand； he； with this
handful； began his voyage。 Arriving at Telamon； in Etruria； and coming
ashore； he proclaimed freedom for the slaves； and many of the
countrymen； also； and shepherds thereabouts； who were already freemen；
at the hearing his name； flocked to him to the seaside。 He persuaded
the youngest and strongest to join him； and in a small time got
together a competent force with which he filled forty ships。 Knowing
Octavius to be a good man and willing to execute his office with the
greatest justice imaginable； and Cinna to be suspected by Sylla； and
in actual warfare against the established government； he determined to
join himself and his forces with the latter。 He therefore sent a
message to him； to let him know that he was ready to obey him as
consul。
When Cinna had joyfully received his offer； naming him proconsul；
and sending him the fasces and other ensigns of authority； he said
that grandeur did not become his present fortune； but wearing an
ordinary habit； and still letting his hair grow as it had done； from
that very day he first went into banishment； and being now above
threescore and ten years old； he came slowly on foot； designing to
move people's compassion； which did not prevent； however； his
natural fierceness of expression from still predominating； and his
humiliation still let it appear that he was not so much dejected as
exasperated by the change of his condition。 Having saluted Cinna and
the soldiers； he immediately prepared for action； and soon made a
considerable alteration in the posture of affairs。 He first cut off
the provision ships； and plundering all the merchants； made himself
master of the supplies of corn； then bringing his navy to the
seaport towns； he took them； and at last； becoming master of Ostia
by treachery； he pillaged that town； and slew a multitude of the
inhabitants； and； blocking up the river； took from the enemy all hopes
of supply by the sea； then marched with his army toward the city；
and posted himself upon the hill called Janiculum。
The public interest did not receive so great damage from
Octavius's unskillfulness in his management of affairs as from his
omitting needful measures through too strict observance of the law。 As
when several advised him to make the slaves free； he said that he
would not give slaves the privilege of the country from which he then；
in defence of the laws； was driving away Marius。 When Metellus； son to
that Metellus who was general in the war in Africa； and afterwards
banished through Marius's means； came to Rome； being thought a much
better commander than Octavius； the soldiers； deserting the consul；
came to him and desired him to take the command of them and preserve
the city； that they； when they had got an experienced valiant
commander； should fight courageously； and come off conquerors。 But
when Metellus； offended at it； commanded them angrily to return to the
consul； they revolted to the enemy。 Metellus； too； seeing the city
in desperate condition； left it； but a company of Chaldaeans；
sacrificers； and interpreters of the Sibyl's books persuad