which condition
he cunningly added as a cloak to his shame. The people, delighted at
Marius taking the oath, clapped their hands and applauded, but the
nobility were much dejected and hated Marius for his tergiversation.
However, all the senators took the oath in order, through fear of the
people, till it came to the turn of Metellus, and though his friends
urged and entreated him to take the oath and so to avoid the severe
penalties which the law of Saturninus enacted against those who
refused, he would not swerve from his purpose or take the oath, but
adhering firmly to his principles and prepared to submit to any
penalty rather than do a mean thing, he left the Forum, saying to
those about him, that to do a wrong thing was mean, to act honourably
when there was no danger was in any man's power, but that it was the
characteristic of a good man to do what was right, even when it was
accompanied with risk. Upon this Saturninus put it to the vote that
the consuls should proclaim Metellus to be excluded from fire,[110]
water, and house; and the most worthless part of the populace was
ready to put him to death. Now all the men of honourable feeling,
sympathising with Metellus, crowded round him, but Metellus would not
allow any commotion to be raised on his account, and he quitted the
city like a wise and prudent man, saying, "Either matters will mend
and the people will change their minds, when I shall be invited to
return, or if things stay as they are, it is best to be out of the
way." What testimonies of affection and respect Metellus received in
his exile, and how he spent his time at Rhodes in philosophical
studies, will be better told in his Life.

XXX. Now Marius did not perceive what incurable mischief he had done,
for in return for the services of Saturninus[111] he was obliged to
wink at his audacious and violent measures, and to remain quiet while
Saturninus was evidently aiming at the supreme power and the
subversion of the constitution by force of arms and blood-shed.
Between his fear of the disapprobation of the nobles and his wish to
retain the favour of the people, Marius was reduced to an act of
extreme meanness and duplicity. The first men in the State came to him
by night and urged him to act against Saturninus, whom Marius,
however, received by another door without their knowledge; and
pretending to both parties that he was troubled with a looseness, he
went backwards and forwards in the house betwee