At this time those who rose to fame in Rome were almost always either rich or eloquent.
But Marius was poor, and he had no gift of speech, yet these things did not prevent him from looking forward to the days when he, too, would be famous.
And already the people believed in him. He worked so hard and lived so simply that they looked on the uncouth soldier with goodwill.
A little later he married into the family of the illustrious Cæsars, and this improved his position, and added to his growing influence in the State. His wife Julia was the aunt of the great Roman, Julius Cæsar.
This was the lieutenant Metellus took with him to the war against Jugurtha.
CHAPTER LXXXV
GAIUS MARIUS BECOMES COMMANDER OF THE ARMY
When Metellus reached Africa, he found that the discipline of the army was so lax that it was unfitted to fight with any hope of success.
So he drilled and trained his men with great strictness and persistency, until he believed that they were again worthy to fight for their country.
Meanwhile Jugurtha found that here at length was a Roman who scorned to touch his gold. This same Roman, too, had so disciplined his troops that Jugurtha now distrusted his power to meet them. He therefore offered to submit, if Metellus would promise to spare his life and the lives of his children.