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"The story is told that when Publius Silo, a man of the greatest repute and authority among the enemies, said to him, “if you are indeed a great general, Marius, leave your camp and fight a battle,” he [Marius] replied, “If you are one, make me do so.”

And another time, when the enemy gave them a good opportunity of a battle, and the Romans through fear durst not charge, so that both parties retreated, he called an assembly of his soldiers, and said, “It is no small question whether I should call the enemies or you the greater cowards, for neither did they dare to face your backs, nor you to confront theirs.”"

Source: Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Caius Marius." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 572. Print.

"The story is told that when Publius Silo, a man of the greatest repute and authority among the enemies, said to him, “if you are indeed a great general, Marius, leave your camp and fight a battle,” he [Marius] replied, “If you are one, make me do so.” And another time, when the enemy gave them a good opportunity of a battle, and the Romans through fear durst not charge, so that both parties retreated, he called an assembly of his soldiers, and said, “It is no small question whether I should call the enemies or you the greater cowards, for neither did they dare to face your backs, nor you to confront theirs.”" Source: Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Caius Marius." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 572. Print.

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[–] • 1 pt

In the first battle, Marius's opponent Publius Silo [thinking himself a great general] taunted Marius for declining to come out and fight by saying “If you are indeed a great general, Marius, leave your camp and fight a battle."

Marius retorted with "If you are [a great general], make me do so."

The second time around, Romans on both sides of the battlefield were afraid so they both retreated rather than fighting. Marius assembled his soldiers and reproached them for being just as cowardly as their opponents because both sides ran away rathe than fight.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

Ah thanks.

So the first was I'm not your bitch- fuck around and find out.

And the second battle was a: are we sure we want to do this??? stalemate situation.

Is that about right?

[–] • 1 pt

Pretty much for the first one. For the second one he was pissed they fled, but equally glad the other side did the same.