[Sidenote:  Caesar gains the first success for Rome; but is afterwards defeated.] But out of this misfortune came the first gleam of success which had as yet shone on the Roman arms.  Mutilus ventured to attack Caesar’s camp, was driven back; and in the retreat the Roman cavalry cut down 6,000 of his men.  Though Marius Egnatius soon afterwards defeated Caesar, this victory in some sort dissipated the gloom of the capital; and while the two armies settled again into their old position at Acerrae, the garb of mourning was laid aside at Rome for the first time since the war began.  Lupus and Marius meanwhile had marched against the Marsi.  Marius, in accordance with his old tactics against the Cimbri, advised Lupus not to hazard a battle.  But Lupus thought that Marius wanted to get the consulship next year and reserve for himself the honours of the war.  So he hastened to fight, and, throwing two bridges over the Tolenus, crossed by one himself, leaving Marius to cross by the other. [Sidenote:  Lupus defeated by the Marsi.] As soon as the consul had reached the opposite bank, an ambuscade set by Vettius Scato attacked him, and slew him and 8,000 of his men.  Their bodies, floating down the river, told Marius what had happened.  Like the good soldier that he was, he promptly crossed and seized the enemy’s camp.  This disaster happened June 11, B.C. 90, and caused great consternation in Rome.  But at Rome small merit was now discerned in any success gained by the veteran general, and Caepio, who had opposed Drusus and was therefore a favourite with the equites, was made joint commander in the north.  It was a foolish choice.  The prudence of Marius and a victory over the Peligni gained by Sulpicius were neutralised by the new general’s rashness.  Pompaedius Silo, who must have been a thoroughly gallant man, came in person to the Roman camp, bringing two young slaves whom he passed off as his own children and offered as hostages for the sincerity of the offer he made, which was to place his camp in Caepio’s hands. [Sidenote:  Caepio defeated and slain by Silo.] Caepio went with him, and Pompaedius, running up a hill to look out, as he said, for the enemy, gave a signal to men whom he had placed in ambush.  Caepio and many of his men were slain, and at last Marius was sole commander.  He advanced steadily but warily into the Marsian country.  Silo tauntingly told him to come down and fight, if he was a great general. [Sidenote:  Prudence of Marius.] ‘Nay,’ replied Marius, ‘if you are a great general, do you make me.’  At length he did fight; and, as he always did, won the day.  In another battle the Marrucinian leader, and 6,000 of the Marsi were slain. [Sidenote:  Success of Sulla.] But Sulla was at that time co-operating with Marius, having apparently, when the Romans evacuated most of Campania, marched north to form a junction with him; and beside his star that of Marius always paled.  Marius had shrunk from following the enemy into a vineyard.