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public cessation of business； but as they were holding an assembly
near the temple of Castor and Pollux； he let loose the rabble upon
them； and amongst many others slew the consul Pompeius's young son
in the forum； Pompeius himself hardly escaping in the crowd。 Sylla；
being closely pursued into the house of Marius； was forced to come
forth and dissolve the cessation； and for his doing this； Sulpicius；
having deposed Pompeius； allowed Sylla to continue his consulship；
only transferring the Mithridatic expedition to Marius。
There were immediately despatched to Nola tribunes to receive the
army； and bring it to Marius； but Sylla； having got first to the camp；
and the soldiers； upon hearing the news； having stoned the tribunes；
Marius； in requital； proceeded to put the friends of Sylla in the city
to the sword； and rifled their goods。 Every kind of removal and flight
went on； some hastening from the camp to the city； others from the
city to the camp。 The senate； no more in its own power； but wholly
governed by the dictates of Marius and Sulpicius； alarmed at the
report of Sylla's advancing with his troops towards the city； sent
forth two of the praetors； Brutus and Servilius； to forbid his
nearer approach。 The soldiers would have slain these praetors in a
fury； for their bold language to Sylla； contenting themselves；
however； with breaking their rods； and tearing off their
purple…edged robes； after much contumelious usage they sent them back；
to the sad dejection of the citizens； who beheld their magistrates
despoiled of their badges of office； and announcing to them that
things were now manifestly come to a rupture past all cure。 Marius put
himself in readiness； and Sylla with his colleague moved from Nola； at
the head of six complete legions； all of them willing to march up
directly against the city； though he himself as yet was doubtful in
thought； and apprehensive of the danger。 As he was sacrificing；
Postumius the soothsayer； having inspected the entrails； stretching
forth both hands to Sylla； required to be bound and kept in custody
till the battle was over； as willing； if they had not speedy and
complete success； to suffer the utmost punishment。 It is said； also；
that there appeared to Sylla himself； in a dream； a certain goddess；
whom the Romans learnt to worship from the Cappadocians； whether it be
the Moon； or Pallas； or Bellona。 This same goddess； to his thinking；
stood by him； and put into his hand thunder and lightning； then naming
his enemies one by one； bade him strike them； who； all of them； fell
on the discharge and disappeared。 Encouraged by this vision； and
relating it to his colleague； next day he led on towards Rome。 About
Picinae being met by a deputation； beseeching him not to attack at
once； in the heat of a march； for that the senate had decreed to do
him all the right imaginable； he consented to halt on the spot； and
sent his officers to measure out the ground； as is usual； for a
camp； so that the deputation； believing it； returned。 They were no
sooner gone； but he sent a party on under the command of Lucius
Basillus and Caius Mummius； to secure the city gate； and the walls
on the side of the Esquiline hill； and then close at their heels
followed himself with all speed。 Basillus made his way successfully
into the city； but the unarmed multitude； pelting him with stones
and tiles from off the houses； stopped his further progress； and
beat him back to the wall。 Sylla by this time was come up； and
seeing what was going on； called aloud to his men to set fire to the
houses； and taking a flaming torch； he himself led the way； and
commanded the archers to make use of their fire…darts； letting fly
at the tops of houses； all which he did； not upon any plan； but simply
in his fury； yielding the conduct of that day's work to passion； and
as if all he saw were enemies； without respect or pity either to
friends； relations； or acquaintance； made his entry by fire； which
knows no distinction betwixt friend or foe。
In this conflict； Marius； being driven into the temple of
Mother…Earth； thence invited the slaves by proclamation of freedom；
but the enemy coming on he was overpowered and fled the city。
Sylla having called a senate； had sentence of death passed on
Marius； and some few others； amongst whom was Sulpicius； tribune of
the people。 Sulpicius was killed； being betrayed by his servant；
whom Sylla first made free； and then threw him headlong down the
Tarpeian rock。 As for Marius； he set a price on his life； by
proclamation； neither gratefully nor politically； if we consider
into whose house； not long before； he put himself at mercy； and safely
dismissed。 Had Marius at that time not let Sylla go； but suffered
him to be slain by the hands of Sulpicius； he might have been lord
of all： nevertheless he spared his life； and a few days after； when in
a similar position himself； received a different measure。
By these proceedings Sylla excited the secret distaste of the
senate； but the displeasure and free indignation of the commonalty
showed itself plainly by their actions。 For they ignominiously
rejected Nonius； his nephew； and Servius； who stood for offices of
state by his interest； and elected others as magistrates； by honouring
whom they thought they should most annoy him。 He made semblance of
extreme satisfaction at all this； as if the people by his means had
again enjoyed the liberty of doing what seemed best to them。 And to
pacify the public hostility； he created Lucius Cinna consul； one of
the adverse party； having first bound him under oaths and imprecations
to be favourable to his interest。 For Cinna； ascending the capitol
with a stone in his hand； swore solemnly； and prayed with direful
curses； that he himself； if he were not true to his friendship with
Sylla； might be cast out of the city； as that stone out of his hand；
and thereupon cast the stone to the ground； in the presence of many
people。 Nevertheless Cinna had no sooner entered on his charge； but he
took measures to disturb the present settlement； having prepared an
impeachment against Sylla； got Virginius； one of the tribunes of the
people； to be his accuser； but Sylla； leaving him and the court of
judicature to themselves； set forth against Mithridates。
About the time that Sylla was making ready to put off with his force
from Italy； besides many other omens which befell Mithridates； then
staying at Pergamus； there goes a story that a figure of Victory； with
a crown in her hand； which the Pergamenians by machinery from above
let down on him； when it had almost reached his head； fell to
pieces； and the crown tumbling down into the midst of the theatre；
there broke against the ground； occasioning a general alarm among
the populace； and considerably disquieting Mithridates himself；
although his affairs at that time were succeeding beyond
expectation。 For having wrested Asia from the Romans； and Bithynia and
Cappadocia from their kings； he made Pergamus his royal seat；
distributing among his friends riches； principalities； and kingdoms。
Of his sons； one residing in Pontus and Bosporus held his ancient
realm as far as the deserts beyond the lake Ma