Spartacus, Crixus, Oenomaus effracto Lentuli ludo cum triginta aut amplius eiusdem fortunae viris erupere Capua; servisque ad vexillum vocatis cum statim decem amplius milia coissent, homines modo effugisse contenti iam et vindicari volebant. {5} Prima sedes velut rabidis beluis mons Vesuvius placuit. Ibi cum obsiderentur a Clodio Glabro, per fauces cavi montis vitineis delapsi vinculis ad imas eius descendere radices et exitu inviso nihil tale opinantis ducis subito impetu castra rapuerunt. Adfluentibus {10} in diem copiis cum iam esset iustus exercitus, e viminibus pecudumque tegumentis inconditos sibi clipeos et ferro ergastulorum recocto gladios ac tela fecerunt, Indo iam consulares quoque aggressus in Appennino Lentuli exercitum percecidit, apud {15} Mutinam Gai Cassi castra delevit. Tandem enim totis imperii viribus contra mirmillonem consurgunt, pudoremque Romanum Marcus Crassus asseruit: a quo pulsi fugatique hostes in extrema Italiae refugerunt. Ibi circa Bruttium angulum clusi cum {20} fugam in Siciliam pararent neque navigia suppeterent ratesque ex trabibus et dolia connexa virgultis rapidissimo freto frustra experirentur, tandem eruptione facta dignam viris obiere mortem, et quod sub gladiatore duce oportuit, sine missione {25} pugnatum est. Spartacus ipse in primo agmine fortissime dimicans quasi imperator occisus est. FLORUS, III. xx. 3-14 (sel.). [Linenotes: 1. +Spartacus+, by birth a Thracian, who had served among the Thracian auxiliaries in the Roman army, had deserted and become a chief of banditti. He was taken prisoner and sold to a trainer of gladiators. +Crixus+, +Oenomaus+, the slave-names of two Celts. 1-2. +effracto ludo+ = _broke out of the gladiators’ school_. 8. +vitineis vinculis+ = _by means of ropes made of vine-branches_. 9. +inviso+ = _unknown_, lit. _unseen_. 13. +ergastulorum+ = _from the slaves’ work-houses_. 17. +mirmillonem.+ The Mirmillones were a class of gladiators usually matched with the Thraces or the _retiarii_ (_net-fighters_). 18. +Marcus Crassus+, the Triumvir of 60 B.C. +asseruit+ = _maintained_. Cf. our _assert_. 21. +in Siciliam+, where the slaves had risen in 133 and 104 B.C., and only waited an impulse to break out a third time. 25. +sine missione+ = _without quarter_. Cf. _missio_ = _the discharge_ from service of soldiers and gladiators.] B25 THE THIRD MITHRIDATIC WAR, 74-63 B.C. (1) _Lucullus Ponticus._