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continuing his speech with a calm and unconcerned countenance； bade
them listen to what he had to say； and not busy themselves with what
was doing out of doors； he had given directions for the chastisement
of some offenders。 This gave the most stupid of the Romans to
understand that they had merely exchanged； not escaped； tyranny。 And
Marius； being of a naturally harsh temper； had not altered； but merely
continued what he had been； in authority； whereas Sylla； using his
fortune moderately and unambitiously at first； and giving good hopes
of a true patriot； firm to the interests both of the nobility and
commonalty； being； moreover； of a gay and cheerful temper from his
youth； and so easily moved to pity as to shed tears readily； has；
perhaps deservedly； cast a blemish upon offices of great authority； as
if they deranged men's former habits and character； and gave rise to
violence； pride； and inhumanity。 Whether this be a real change and
revolution in the mind； caused by fortune； or rather a lurking
viciousness of nature； discovering itself in authority； it were matter
of another sort of disquisition to decide。
Sylla being thus wholly bent upon slaughter； and filling the city
with executions without number or limit； many wholly uninterested
persons falling a sacrifice to private enmity； through his
permission and indulgence to his friends； Caius Metellus； one of the
younger men； made bold in the senate to ask him what end there was
of these evils； and at what point he might be expected to stop？ 〃We do
not ask you；〃 said he； 〃to pardon any whom you have resolved to
destroy； but to free from doubt those whom you are pleased to save。〃
Sylla answering； that he knew not as yet whom to spare； 〃Why； then；〃
said he； 〃tell us whom you will punish。〃 This Sylla said he would
do。 These last words； some authors say； were spoken not by Metellus；
but by Afidius； one of Sylla's fawning companions。 Immediately upon
this； without communicating with any of the magistrates； Sylla
proscribed eighty persons； and notwithstanding the general
indignation； after one day's respite； he posted two hundred and twenty
more； and on the third again； as many。 In an address to the people
on this occasion； he told them he had put up as many names as he could
think of； those which had escaped his memory； he would publish at a
future time。 He issued an edict likewise； making death the
punishment of humanity； proscribing any who should dare to receive and
cherish a proscribed person without exception to brother； son； or
parents。 And to him who should slay any one proscribed person； he
ordained two talents reward； even were it a slave who had killed his
master； or a son his father。 And what was thought most unjust of
all； he caused the attainder to pass upon their sons； and sons'
sons； and made open sale of all their property。 Nor did the
proscription prevail only at Rome； but throughout all the cities of
Italy the effusion of blood was such； that neither sanctuary of the
gods； nor hearth of hospitality； nor ancestral home escaped。 Men
were butchered in the embraces of their wives； children in the arms of
their mothers。 Those who perished through public animosity or
private enmity were nothing in comparison of the numbers of those
who suffered for their riches。 Even the murderers began to say； that
〃his fine house killed this man； a garden that； a third； his hot
baths。〃 Quintus Aurelius； a quiet； peaceable man； and one who
thought all his part in the common calamity consisted in condoling
with the misfortunes of others； coming into the forum to read the
list； and finding himself among the proscribed； cried out； 〃Woe is me；
my Alban farm has informed against me。〃 He had not gone far before
he was despatched by a ruffian； sent on that errand。
In the meantime； Marius； on the point of being taken； killed
himself； and Sylla； coming to Praeneste； at first proceeded judicially
against each particular person； till at last； finding it a work of too
much time； he cooped them up together in one place； to the number of
twelve thousand men； and gave order for the execution of them all； his
own host alone excepted。 But he； brave man； telling him he could not
accept the obligation of life from the hands of one who had been the
ruin of his country； went in among the rest； and submitted willingly
to the stroke。 What Lucius Catilina did was thought to exceed all
other acts。 For having； before matters came to an issue； made away
with his brother； he besought Sylla to place him in the list of
proscription； as though he had been alive； which was done； and
Catiline； to return the kind office； assassinated a certain Marcus
Marius； one of the adverse party； and brought the head to Sylla； as he
was sitting in the forum； and then going to the holy water of
Apollo； which was nigh； washed his hands。
There were other things； besides this bloodshed； which gave offence。
For Sylla had declared himself dictator； an office which had then been
laid aside for the space of one hundred and twenty years。 There was；
likewise； an act of grace passed on his behalf； granting indemnity for
what was passed； and for the future intrusting him with the power of
life and death； confiscation； division of lands； erecting and
demolishing of cities； taking away of kingdoms； and bestowing them
at pleasure。 He conducted the sale of confiscated property after
such an arbitrary； imperious way； from the tribunal； that his gifts
excited greater odium even than his usurpations； women； mimes； and
musicians； and the lowest of the freed slaves had presents made them
of the territories of nations and the revenues of cities： and women of
rank were married against their will to some of them。 Wishing to
insure the fidelity of Pompey the Great by a nearer tie of blood； he
bade him divorce his present wife； and forcing Aemilia； the daughter
of Scaurus and Metella； his own wife； to leave her husband； Manius
Glabrio； he bestowed her； though then with child； on Pompey； and she
died in childbirth at his house。
When Lucretius Ofella； the same who reduced Marius by siege； offered
himself for the consulship； he first forbade him； then； seeing he
could not restrain him； on his coming down into the forum with a
numerous train of followers； he sent one of the centurions who were
immediately about him； and slew him； himself sitting on the tribunal
in the temple of Castor； and beholding the murder from above。 The
citizens apprehending the centurion； and dragging him to the tribunal；
he bade them cease their clamouring and let the centurion go； for he
had commanded it。
His triumph was； in itself； exceedingly splendid； and
distinguished by the rarity and magnificence of the royal spoils；
but its yet greatest glory was the noble spectacle of the exiles。
For in the rear followed the most eminent and most potent of the
citizens； crowned with garlands； and calling Sylla saviour and father；
by whose means they were restored to their own country； and again
enjoyed their wives and children。 When the solemnity was over； and the
time come to render an account of his actions； addressing the public
assembly； he was as profuse in enumerating the luc