[For context: Gaius Marius has soundly defeated two major tribes from an alliance of Germanic tribes that threatened Rome during the earlier part of his military career. Here, the third large tribe, not knowing of the defeat of their brethren, have sent emissaries to Marius to make haughty demands, as they are sure of their pending victory.]
They [the emissaries] professed they were in expectation of the Teutones, and saying they wondered they were so long in coming deferred the battle; either that they were really ignorant of their defeat or were willing to seem so. For they certainly much maltreated those that brought them such news, and, sending to Marius, required some part of the country for themselves and their brethren, and cities fit for them to inhabit.
When Marius inquired of the ambassadors who their brethren were, upon their saying the Teutones, all that were present began to laugh; and Marius scoffingly answered them, “Do not trouble yourself for your brethren, for we have already provided lands for them, which they shall possess for ever.”
The ambassadors, understanding the mockery, broke into insults, and threatened that the Cimbri would make them pay for this and the Teutones, too, when they came.
”They are not far off,” replied Marius, “and it will be unkindly done of you to go away before greeting your brethren.” Saying so, he commanded the kings of the Teutones to be brought out, as they were, in chains; for they were taken by the Sequani among the Alps, before they could make their escape.
Source:
Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Caius Marius." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 565. Print.
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