A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Sallust,
Jugurthine
War, 86.
A ncient
World, 416-
23-
Plutarch,
Marius, 9.
Sallust,
Jugurthine
War, 84.
End of the
war, 106 B.C.
Sallust,
Jugurlhine
War, 86.
Strife
between
Marius and
Sulla.
Plutarch,
Marius, 32.
426 The Revolution
from a scarcity of better men, and others from the consul's
desire to pay court to the poorer class,
by whom he had
been honored and promoted. In fact to a man grasping at
power the most needy are the most serviceable.
Former generals had never admitted men of this kind
into the army, but had given arms, as a badge of honor, to
those only who had the due qualification (of property) ; for
they considered that every soldier pledged his property to
the state.
Marius sent for auxiliaries from foreign states, kings, and
aUies; he enlisted, too, all
the bravest men from Latium,
a few only by
most of whom he knew by actual service,
report ; and by earnest invitation he induced even the discharged
veterans to accompany him. Though opposed to
him, the senate dared refuse him nothing. The additions
to the legions it voted with eagerness because it knew that
military service was unpopular, and thought that Marius
would lose either the means of warfare or the favor of the
people. But it entertained such expectations in vain, so
ardent a desire of going with Marius came upon almost all.
Every one cherished the fancy that he would return home
laden with spoil, crowned with victory, or attended with
some similar good fortune.
Setting out accordingly to Africa with a somewhat larger
force than had been decreed, he arrived in a few days at
Utica.
There he received the command of the army from
Publius Rutilius, the Heutenant of Metellus; for Metellus
himself avoided the sight of his successor, that he might not
see what he could not endure even to hear mentioned.
(For some time Marius and Sulla, his quaestor in the
Jugurthine War, had been growing jealous of each other's
influence.) Strife between them was delayed by the Social
War which suddenly burst upon the state.