ause of his not escaping the
search of his pursuers, who dragged him out covered with mud, and
leading him naked to Minturnae, gave him up to the magistrates. Now
instructions[128] had been already sent to every city, requiring the
authorities to search for Marius, and to put him to death when he was
taken. However, the magistrates thought it best to deliberate on the
matter first, and in the meantime they lodged Marius in the house of a
woman named Fannia,[129] who was supposed not to be kindly disposed
towards him on account of an old grudge. Fannia had a husband whose
name was Tinnius, and on separating from him she claimed her portion,
which was considerable. The husband charged her with adultery, and
Marius, who was then in his sixth consulship, presided as judge. But
on the trial it appeared that Fannia had been a loose woman, and that
her husband, though he knew it, took her to wife, and lived with her a
long time; accordingly, Marius being disgusted with both of them,
decreed that the man should return the woman's portion, but he imposed
on the woman, as a mark of infamy, a penalty of four copper
coins.[130] Fannia, however, did not on this occasion exhibit the
feeling of a woman who had been wronged, but when she saw Marius, far
from showing any resentment for the past, she did all that she could
for him under the circumstances, and encouraged him. Marius thanked
her, and said that he had good hopes, for a favourable omen had
occurred to him, which was something of this sort:--When they were
leading him along, and he was near the house of Fannia, the doors
being opened, an ass ran out to drink from a spring which was flowing
hard by: the ass, looking at Marius in the face with a bold and
cheerful air, at first stood opposite him, and then making a loud
braying, sprang past him frisking with joy. From this, Marius drew a
conclusion, as he said that the deity indicated that his safety would
come through the sea rather than through the land, for the ass did not
betake himself to dry food, but turned from him to the water. Having
said this to Fannia, he went to rest alone, bidding her close the door
of the apartment.

XXXIX. The magistrates[131] and council of Minturnae, after
deliberating, resolved that there ought to be no delay, and that they
should put Marius to death. As none of the citizens would undertake to
do it, a Gallic or Cimbrian horse-soldier, for the story is told both
ways, took a sword and entered