[Quick set up: Caius Marius, one of the greatest figures of the Roman Republic, and a man who had saved Rome from disaster on several occasions, has had to retreat from Rome, which is under control of his rival, Lucius Cornelius Sulla. He flees, in exile, to North Africa.]
Sextilius, a Roman, was then governor in Africa; one that had never received either any injury or any kindness from Marius, but who from compassion, it was hoped, might lend him some help. But he was scarce got ashore with a small retinue when an officer met him, and said, “Sextilius, the governor, forbids you, Marius, to set foot in Africa; if you do, he says he will put the decree of the senate in execution, and treat you as an enemy to the Romans.”
When Marius heard this, he wanted words to express his grief and resentment, and for a good while held his peace, looking sternly upon the messenger, who asked him what he should say, or what answer he should return to the governor? Marius answered him with a deep sigh: “Go tell him that you have seen Caius Marius sitting in exile among the ruins of Carthage;” appositely applying the example of the fortune of that city to the change of his own condition.
Bonus:
“Gaius Marius Sitting in Exile among the Ruins of Carthage”, plate from The Story of Rome by Mary Macgregor
Source:
Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Caius Marius." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 578. Print.
Further Reading:
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