dignos rebus spiritus

[phil]

In a story of his life, Gaius Marius is having dinner with Scipio, when someone asks Scipio who would the state regard as a suitable replacement if something happened to him ? Scipio taps Marius on the shoulder and says, "fortasse hunc".

Quō dictō excitātus Marius dīgnōs rēbus, quās posteā gessit, spīritūs concēpit.

Encouraged by what Scipio had said, Marius fostered courage fitted to the deeds which he afterwards accomplished.

Is the gist in my translation correct? And is 'dīgnōs spīritūs' plural, just because that's the way it is? Cheers
Phil.

[Alatius]

Is the gist in my translation correct?

Yes, it is exactly right, as far as I can tell.

And is 'dīgnōs spīritūs' plural, just because that's the way it is?

I suppose so; this is what L&S says: "A haughty spirit, haughtiness, pride, arrogance; also, spirit, high spirit, energy, courage (esp. freq. in the plur.; syn. animi)."