248 MARCELLFS.

fought most fiercely at Cannae, and had killed many of the enemies, at last was found lying in a heap of dead bodies, covered with darts, and was brought to Hannibal, who so honored him, that he not onlv dismissed him with- out ransom, but also contracted friendship with him, and made him his guest. In gratitude for this great favor, he became one of the strongest of the partisans of Hanni- bal, and urged the people to revolt. Marcellus could not be induced to put to death a man of such eminence, and who had endured such dangers in fightinsr on the Roman side ; but, knowing himself able, by the general kindliness of his disposition and in particular by the attractiveness of his address, to gain over a character whose passion waa for honor, one day when Bantius saluted him, he asked him who he was ; not that he knew him not before, but seeking an occasion of further conference. When Ban- tius had told who he was, Marcellus, seeming surprised with joy and wonder, replied : " Are you that Bantius, whom the Romans commend above the rest that fought at Cannas, and praise as the one man that not only did not forsake the consul Paulus ^milius, but received in his own body many darts thrown at him?" Bantius owning himself to be that very man, and showing his scars : " Why then," said Marcellus, " did not you, having such pjoofs to show of your affection to il", come to me at my first arrival here ? Do you think that we are un- willing to requite with favor those who have well deserved, and who are honored even by our enemies?" He fol- lowed up his courtesies by a present of a war-horse, and five hundred drachmas in money. From that time Ban- tius became the most faithful assistant and ally of Mar- cellus, and a most keen discoverer of those that attempted innovation and sedition. These were many, and had entered into a conspiracy to plunder the baggage of the Romans, when they should