did not wish to deprive his soldiers and his companions in
arms of the honour that was due to them, or because he wished to give
the people confidence in the present emergency by intrusting to the
Fortune of the State the glory of his first victory, with the
confident hope that she would return it to him ennobled by a second.
Having said what was suitable to the occasion, he set out to join
Catulus, whom he encouraged, and at the same time he summoned his
soldiers from Gaul. On the arrival of the troops, Marius crossed the
Eridanus (Po), and endeavoured to keep the barbarians from that part
of Italy which lay south of the river. The Cimbri declined a battle,
because, as they said, they were waiting for the Teutones, and
wondered they were so long in coming; but it is doubtful whether they
were still really ignorant of their destruction or merely pretended
not to believe it. However, they handled most cruelly those who
brought the report of the defeat; and they sent to Marius to demand
land for themselves and their brethren, and a sufficient number of
cities for their abode. On Marius asking the ambassadors of the Cimbri
whom they meant by their brethren, and being told they were the
Teutones, all the Romans who were present burst out in a laugh, but
Marius, with a sneer, replied, "Don't trouble yourself about your
brethren: they have land, and they shall have it for ever, for we have
given it to them." The ambassadors, who understood his irony, fell to
abusing him, and threatened that the Cimbri would forthwith have their
revenge, and the Teutones too, as soon as they should arrive. "They
are here already," said Marius; "and it won't be right for you to go
before you have embraced your brethren." Saying this he ordered the
kings of the Teutones to be produced in their chains; for they were
taken in the Alps in their flight by the Sequani[94].

XXV. On this being reported to the Cimbri, they forthwith advanced
against Marius, who however kept quiet and remained in his camp. It
is said that it was on the occasion of this engagement that Marius
introduced the alteration in the spears.[95] Before this time that
part of the wooden shaft which was let into the iron was fastened with
two iron nails; Marius kept one of the nails as it was, but he had the
other taken out and a wooden peg, which would be easily broken, put in
its place; the design being that the spear when it had struck the
enemy's shield should not remain strai