1. CAESAR, No. 9.] While his colleague was engaged against the Samnites,
Lupus was to prosecute the war against the Marsi. He had chosen as his legate Marius, who was
his relation, but he refused to listen to the advice of the veteran, who recommended him to
accustom his soldiers to a little more training before he ventured to fight a battle. The
enemy had taken up their position on the Liris under the command of Vettius Scato. Lupus
divided his army into two bodies, one under his own command and the other under that of
Marius, and threw two bridges across the river without experiencing any opposition from the
enemy. Vettius Scato, with the main body of his forces, encamped opposite Marius, but during
the night he concealed a strong detachment in some broken ground near the bridge of Lupus.
Accordingly, when Lupus crossed the river on the following day, he was attacked by the troops
in ambush, lost 8000 of his men, and died shortly afterwards of a wound which he had received
in the battle. Marius was first informed of the calamity by the dead bodies of the Romans
which floated down the river. The battle was fought on the festival of the Matralia, the 11th
of June. (Epit.73;