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the senate by the succeeding censors； and not undeservedly either；
as was thought； whether it might be for his false evidence； or his
want of temperance。 Caius Herennius was also cited to appear as
evidence； but pleaded that it was not customary for a patron （the
Roman word for protector） to witness against his clients； and that the
law excused them from that harsh duty； and both Marius and his parents
had always been clients to the family of Herennii。 And when the judges
would have accepted of this plea； Marius himself opposed it； and
told Herennius； that when he was first created magistrate he ceased to
be his client； which was not altogether true。 For it is not every
office that frees clients and their posterity from the observance
due to their patrons； but only those to which the law has assigned a
curule chair。 Notwithstanding； though at the beginning of the suit
it went somewhat hard with Marius； and he found the judges no way
favourable to him； yet at last； their voices being equal； contrary
to all expectation； he was acquitted。
In his praetorship he did not get much honour； yet after it he
obtained the further Spain； which province he is said to have
cleared of robbers； with which it was much infested； the old barbarous
habits still prevailing； and the Spaniards； in those days； still
regarding robbery as a piece of valour。 In the city he had neither
riches nor eloquence to trust to； with which the leading men of the
time obtained power with the people； but his vehement disposition； his
indefatigable labours； and his plain way of living； of themselves
gained him esteem and influence； so that he made an honourable match
with Julia； of the distinguished family of the Caesars； to whom that
Caesar was nephew who was afterwards so great among the Romans； and；
in some degree； from his relationship； made Marius his example； as
in his life we have observed。
Marius is praised for both temperance and endurance； of which latter
he gave a decided instance in an operation of surgery。 For having；
as it seems； both his legs full of great tumours； and disliking the
deformity； he determined to put himself into the hands of an operator；
when； without being tied； he stretched out one of his legs； and
silently； without changing countenance； endured most excessive
torments in the cutting； never either flinching or complaining； but
when the surgeon went to the other； he declined to have it done；
saying； 〃I see the cure is not worth the pain。〃
The consul Caecilius Metellus； being declared general in the war
against Jugurtha in Africa took with him Marius for lieutenant； where；
eager himself to do great deeds and services that would get him
distinction； he did not； like others； consult Metellus's glory and the
serving his interest； and attributing his honour of lieutenancy not to
Metellus； but to fortune； which had presented him with a proper
opportunity and theatre of great actions； he exerted his utmost
courage。 That war； too； affording several difficulties； he neither
declined the greatest； nor disdained undertaking the least of them；
but surpassing his equals in counsel and conduct； and matching the
very common soldiers in labour and abstemiousness； he gained great
popularity with them； as indeed any voluntary partaking with people in
their labour is felt as an easing of that labour； as it seems to
take away the constraint and necessity of it。 It is the most
obliging sight in the world to the Roman soldier to see a commander
eat the same bread as himself； or lie upon an ordinary bed； or
assist the work in the drawing a trench and raising a bulwark。 For
they do not so much admire those that confer honours and riches upon
them； as those that partake of the same labour and danger with
themselves； but love them better that will vouchsafe to join in
their work； than those that encourage their idleness。
Marius thus employed； and thus winning the affections of the
soldiers； before long filled both Africa and Rome with his fame； and
some； too； wrote home from the army that the war with Africa would
never be brought to a conclusion unless they chose Caius Marius
consul。 All which was evidently unpleasing to Metellus； but what
more especially grieved him was the calamity of Turpillius。 This
Turpillius had； from his ancestors； been a friend of Metellus； and
kept up a constant hospitality with him； and was now serving in the
war in command of the smiths and carpenters of the army。 Having the
charge of a garrison in Vaga； a considerable city； and trusting too
much to the inhabitants； because he treated them civilly and kindly；
he unawares fell into the enemy's hands。 They received Jugurtha into
the city； yet nevertheless； at their request； Turpillius was dismissed
safe and without receiving any injury； whereupon he was accused of
betraying it to the enemy。 Marius； being one of the council of war；
was not only violent against him himself； but also incensed most of
the others； so that Metellus was forced； much against his will； to put
him to death。 Not long after the accusation proved false； and when
others were comforting Metellus； who took heavily the loss of his
friend； Marius； rather insulting and arrogating it to himself； boasted
in all companies that he had involved Metellus in the guilt of putting
his friend to death。
Henceforward they were at open variance； and it is reported that
Metellus once； when Marius was present； said insultingly； 〃You； sir；
design to leave us to go home and stand for the consulship； and will
not be content to wait and be consul with this boy of mine？〃
Metellus's son being a mere boy at the time。 Yet for all this Marius
being very importunate to be gone； after several delays； he was
dismissed about twelve days before the election of consuls； and
performed that long journey from the camp to the seaport of Utica in
two days and a night； and there doing sacrifice before he went on
shipboard； it is said the augur told him that heaven promised him some
incredible good fortune； and such as was beyond all expectation。
Marius； not a little elated with his good omen； began his voyage；
and in four days； with a favourable wind； passed the sea； he was
welcomed with great joy by the people； and being brought into the
assembly by one of the tribunes； sued for the consulship； inveighing
in all ways against Metellus； and promising either to slay Jugurtha or
take him alive。
He was elected triumphantly； and at once proceeded to levy
soldiers contrary both to law and custom； enlisting slaves and poor
people； whereas former commanders never accepted of such； but bestowed
arms； like other favours； as a matter of distinction； on persons who
had the proper qualification； a man's property being thus a sort of
security for his good behaviour。 These were not the only occasions
of ill…will against Marius； some haughty speeches； uttered with
great arrogance and contempt； gave great offence to the nobility；
as； for example； his saying that he had carried off the consulship
as a spoil from the effeminacy of the wealthy and high…born
citizens； and telling the people that he gloried in wounds he had
himself received for them； as much as ot