3. Fortune's Favorites
Page 6
The patient and protesting letter Gaius Norbanus sent to Scipio Asiagenus did nothing to avert Scipio's self inflicted disaster; yet no one was more astonished than Scipio Asiagenus when, having decided after all to give battle, he discovered that his troops would not fight for him. Instead, his eight legions deserted en masse to Sulla. In fact, even when Sulla stripped him of his consular insignia of office and sent him packing under the escort of a squadron of cavalry, Scipio Asiagenus was still incapable of appreciating Rome's predicament. Quite tranquilly and complacently he went off to Etruria and began to recruit another army from among the enormous number of Gaius Marius's clients who lived there. Gaius Marius might be dead, but his memory would never fade. Whereas Scipio Asiagenus was merely a passing presence. "He doesn't even understand that he broke a solemn truce," said Sulla, looking puzzled. "I know the Scipiones are on the way down, but that one ! He's not worthy of the name Cornelius Scipio. If I take Rome, I'll execute him." "You should have executed him when you had him," said the Piglet, a little waspishly. "He's living to be a nuisance. '' "No, he's the poultice I'm applying to Etruria's boil," said Sulla. "Draw the poison out, Pius, while there's only one head to deal with. Don't leave it to become a carbuncle." More wisdom, of course; Metellus Pius grinned. What a wonderful metaphor!"