Cimbri and Teutones, moving with their wives and children, issued from the Alps to find a new home under the milder sky of Italy. Their original dwelling place has not been determined, but it is certain they were, at least for the greater part, of German race, a fact evidenced by their blue eyes, their lofty forms, and their extraordinary bodily strength. They were irresistible from their courage and daring, and in battle they charged with such impetuosity that no one could stand their attack. They had already traversed large stretches of land, had subdued with ease all nations that had opposed their march, and had even beaten or destroyed several Roman generals and armies that had advanced to resist them. And now they were on the borders of Italy, to the number of at least 300,000 combatants, with a far greater multitude of women and children.

At Rome the terror was so great that not one of the more distinguished citizens offered himself to be elected consul. Then the people chose Marius, who was at that time in Africa, to settle the affairs of Numidia. As soon as he was given the supreme command against the Cimbri and Teutones he sought above all things to harden his army by continual exercise. In carrying this out he proceeded with unsparing severity; but the soldiers followed him readily, for they were quite enthusiastically devoted to their commander, in consequence of his military genius, and his indefatigable activity and the splendid results with which all his enterprises were crowned. Happily the barbarians passed by Italy for the present and penetrated into Spain. This gave Marius the time to exercise his troops, and to harden them by a severe discipline.

At length the barbarians advanced to Italy, when Marius had been invested with the consulship for the fourth time. They divided into two immense columns. The Cimbri passed through Switzerland on their way from Germany to Italy; the Teutones, on the other hand, chose the shorter way through Southern France. Marius resolved to engage the latter first, and threw up and occupied an entrenched camp, while he sent his colleague to oppose the Cimbri. Soon the Teutones appeared before the camp in immense numbers. They were terrible to view, and challenged the Romans to fight with a savage shout that resembled the roar of wild beasts. But Marius kept back his troops in the camp, let them mount the rampart in detachments and look round, and in this manner he accustomed them to the terrible appearance and deafening shouts of the enemy. By this measure not only was the terror of the Romans diminished, but

they learned to be familiar with the arms and manœuvres of the barbarians. At the same time the wrath of the soldiers was excited by the threats and boastings of the Teutones, so that at length they broke out into loud murmurs about the inactivity of the general.

At last the Germans marched on, passing the Romans, and so great was their multitude that the march past lasted uninterruptedly for six days. When they were near the rampart they called out to the Romans with loud laughter, asking them if they had any orders for their wives at Rome, as they should soon see them. After they had passed Marius set his army in motion and followed the Teutones, but always taking the precaution to pitch his camp in inaccessible places. In this manner both armies came to the foot of the Alps, where Marius had resolved to deliver a battle to decide the dispute. After the engagement had lasted two days, with changing luck, the Teutones attacked in close columns, but they were repulsed. Before they could form for a fresh attack 3000 Romans, whom Marius had posted on an eminence in the rear of the Germans, rushed upon them at a rapid pace, and occasioned so great confusion in the rear ranks of the barbarians that the disorder extended thence throughout the army. Hereupon the Teutones took to flight in the wildest panic. The Romans pursued them, and inflicted such a slaughter upon them, that above 100,000 men were either captured or slain.

Meanwhile the Cimbri had advanced with scorn and defiance to meet Catulus, who held a fortified camp on the Etsch or Adige. To show their strength and hardiness they went about naked amid snow storms, climbed over the snowy and icy masses that covered the mountains, then laid themselves down on their broad shields and shot down the declivities on these novel kind of sledges. When they came to the vicinity of the Romans they tore up the most massive trees by the roots, cast them with great blocks of rock into the stream, and thus ruined the bridges of their enemies. When this occurred the army of Catulus took to flight; only those Romans, who stood on the other side of the bridge, offered so firm a resistance, that on account of their valour the Cimbri granted them a free departure after they were overcome. After this the hordes of the Cimbri poured over the beautiful plains of North Italy and passed the winter in pleasant ease. In vain they waited for their brothers, the Teutones; instead of them came, in the spring, the savage Marius with his conquering army. When the Cimbri sent envoys to

him, and asked land for themselves and the Teutones: "The latter have land enough already!" was the mocking reply of Marius, and as the Cimbri were still unwilling to believe the sad intelligence about them, the captive kings of the Teutones were brought chained before them.

The Cimbri pushed on with rage and revenge in their hearts. They wore helmets, on which the heads of wild beasts were represented, and high crests upon them; breast-plates of iron, and brilliant white shields; spears with double points, and heavy swords. The combatants in the front ranks had fastened each other together, in order to conquer or fall together. But dazzled by the sun and the dust, and enervated by the oppressive heat, they succumbed at the first onset. Soon the whole mass had to fall back in disorder, and a carnage began that lasted till the night. Driven back to their entrenchments, they were here received by the women, who killed the fugitives from their chariots, even if they were fathers, brothers, or husbands. At length, when all was lost, the women strangled their children with their own hands and killed themselves; the men also killed each other mutually, in order still to die as free men.

This mighty battle destroyed the people and the name of the Cimbri. More than 100,000 warriors were slain, and 50,000 captured; but the terror of their name remained and became. proverbial in Rome years after.*

CHAPTER XXI.

MARIUS AND SULLA.

WHEN the news of the splendid victory of Marius over the barbarians arrived at Rome, the jubilee was so great that the people offered libations to him at a banquet, and named him the third founder of Rome. But although he received an honour never given before to a Roman citizen, yet the enmity of the senate against him was so great that he considered it expedient to absent himself from Rome for a season. One of his most deadly enemies, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, or Sylla, was at that time at the head of the senatorial party, the same man who had, as quæstor, effected the extradition of Jugurtha. Sylla was descended from one of the most eminent families of Rome, and was a man of great cul

* Remains of those Cimbri are said to exist in the Sette Communi of. the Italian Alps, near Verona.

him, and asked land for themselves and the Teutones: "The latter have land enough already!" was the mocking reply of Marius, and as the Cimbri were still unwilling to believe the sad intelligence about them, the captive kings of the Teutones were brought chained before them.

The Cimbri pushed on with rage and revenge in their hearts. They wore helmets, on which the heads of wild beasts were represented, and high crests upon them; breast-plates of iron, and brilliant white shields; spears with double points, and heavy swords. The combatants in the front ranks had fastened each other together, in order to conquer or fall together. But dazzled. by the sun and the dust, and enervated by the oppressive heat, they succumbed at the first onset. Soon the whole mass had to fall back in disorder, and a carnage began that lasted till the night. Driven back to their entrenchments, they were here received by the women, who killed the fugitives from their chariots, even if they were fathers, brothers, or husbands. At length, when all was lost, the women strangled their children with their own hands and killed themselves; the men also killed each other mutually, in order still to die as free men.

This mighty battle destroyed the people and the name of the Cimbri. More than 100,000 warriors were slain, and 50,000 captured; but the terror of their name remained and became proverbial in Rome years after.*

CHAPTER XXI.

MARIUS AND SULLA.

WHEN the news of the splendid victory of Marius over the barbarians arrived at Rome, the jubilee was so great that the people offered libations to him at a banquet, and named him the third founder of Rome. But although he received an honour never given before to a Roman citizen, yet the enmity of the senate against him was so great that he considered it expedient to absent himself from Rome for a season. One of his most deadly enemies, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, or Sylla, was at that time at the head of the senatorial party, the same man who had, as quæstor, effected the extradition of Jugurtha. Sylla was descended from one of the most eminent families of Rome, and was a man of great cul

* Remains of those Cimbri are said to exist in the Sette Communi of the Italian Alps, near Verona.