men commanded by Marcellus, with or- ders to attack the enemy in the rear, as foon as they fhould perceive the battle was begun. When both armies were come within fight of each other, Marius com- manded his cavalry to difmount; but the Teutones hurried on by that blind impetuo- fity which diftinguishes all barbarous na- tions, instead of waiting till the Romans were come down into the plain, attacked them on an eminence where they were ad- vantageoufly pofted. At the fame inftant, Marcellus appeared fuddenly behind with his troops, and hemming them in, threw their ranks into diforder, fo that they were quickly forced to fly. Then the victory declared itfelf entirely in favour of the Romans, and a moft horrible carnage en- fued. If we may take literally what fome of the Roman hiftorians have[1] related, there perished more than a hundred thoufand Teutones including the prifoners. Others content themſelves with faying, that the number of the flain was incredible; that the inhabitants of Marfeilles for a long time after, made inclofures for their gar- dens and vineyards with the bones; and that the earth thereabouts was fo much fattened, that its increafe of produce was
- ↑ See Plutarch's Life of Marius.
