Spartacus

INSURRECTION 57
out and ordered to be carried along for himself. The
rest, with a great roar of laughter, were caught and
distributed among the marching troops. Varinus
rode frowning.
So in this way they marched south for the space of
three days. On the morning of the third they were
stayed by the velites falling back. Light-armed
Iberians, these soldiers had been scouting in advance.
Several had pushed forward many leagues and now
brought the news that the Gladiators, reinforced by
many slaves from the farms, were still encamped near
the Lake where Clodius was routed. Learning of the
nature of the ground, Varinus made his plan, and
Furius agreed to it, contemptuously and indifferently.
Taking the half-legion the legate would make a
detour and come up behind the slave horde. Yet he
was not to attack immediately: rather, rigorously to
avoid an open engagement. Meanwhile, the praetor
would delay for a day and then advance with his legion
and offer battle. The legate’s half-legion could then
cut off the fleeing slaves at the hither side of the
marsh.
So they agreed, and Furius rode off gaily at the
head of his three thousand, the while Varinus encamped
for that night, for now he believed he held the Gladi¬
ators in a cleft stick. With Furius went the female
slave, a Gaul, whom he had allotted to himself. He
carried her across his saddle and sang for her Eastern
songs. Small and lithe, she lay rigid and listened,
being afraid. But when the legate kissed her, she
returned his kisses.
Seeing these things, the tribune and centurions,
grey, scarred men, shook their heads. Things were
differently managed in the great campaigns : the
women captives, when they’d given their pleasure,
had their throats cut or were sold as slaves. For