Marius, "Third Founder of Rome," was Caesar's uncle.
Here is the most important speech of his career and how he nailed it:
Setup 1/5
Before he conquered the Cimbri or started the Roman Civil War,
Gaius Marius was an obscure provincial
BUT, at age 50, the PEOPLE elected him consul (his first time)
(Marius: first "new man" in >30 years)
...In anger at the ESTABLISHMENT elites of Rome
Marius:
2/5 Anti-Establishment Anger? Why?
-Senators getting rich on bribes and contracts from foreign rulers
-Wealth inequality skyrocketing
-Rome losing in winnable wars due to military incompetence
-Elites avoiding army service
-Prefer lavish parties (~"squid ink pasta")
Setup:
-Cicero's daughter Tullia dies while bearing a child.
-Cicero is upset, and VERY emotional.
-Cicero also upset about losing in the Roman Civil War
Servius Sulpicius writes to comfort him.
Consolation step 1: Condolence
(CON+Dolor = "Be in pain WITH")
"When I received the news of your daughter Tullia's death, I was much grieved and distressed as I was bound to be, and looked upon it as a calamity in which I shared."
= Your pain is legit, I'm on your team
Consolation step 2: Perspective
Recall past griefs:
"Reflect that we have had snatched from us what ought to be no less dear to human beings than their children - country, honor, rank, every political distinction."
= You have suffered much already (imply: "and survived")