After taking the Roman camp, the barbarians wandered through the plains of Lombardy, burning and plundering wherever they went.
Marius, meanwhile, after his victory over the Teutones and Ambrones, was recalled to Rome, and voted a triumph.
Hearing, however, that Catulus was in danger from the barbarians, he would not stay to celebrate it, but hastened to join his colleague.
The two Consuls met near the river Po, and crossing the river they found the Cimbri at Vercellæ.
Here the barbarians expected each day to be joined by the Teutones and Ambrones.
As they did not wish to fight until their allies arrived, they pretended that they were anxious to make terms with Marius, and sent to ask him to give them land for themselves and their brethren.
‘Who are your brethren?’ the Consul asked the ambassadors who stood before him.
‘The Teutones,’ answered they.
Those who surrounded Marius laughed, for well they knew what had befallen the Teutones.
‘Do not trouble yourselves for your brethren,’ replied Marius, taunting them, ‘for we have already provided land for them, which they shall possess for ever.’