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replied； 〃My good friends； you may put up your speeches and be gone。 I
was sent by the Romans to Athens； not to take lessons； but to reduce
rebels to obedience。〃
In the meantime news came to Sylla that some old men； talking in the
Ceramicus； had been overheard to blame the tyrant for not securing the
passages and approaches near the Heptachalcum； the one point where the
enemy might easily get over。 Sylla neglected not the report； but going
in the night； and discovering the place to be assailable； set
instantly to work。 Sylla himself makes mention in his Memoirs that
Marcus Teius； the first man who scaled the wall； meeting with an
adversary； and striking him on the headpiece a home…stroke； broke
his own sword； but； notwithstanding； did not give ground； but stood
and held him fast。 The city was certainly taken from that quarter；
according to the tradition of the oldest of the Athenians。
When they had thrown down the wall； and made all level betwixt the
Piraic and Sacred Gate； about midnight Sylla entered the breach；
with all the terrors of trumpets and cornets sounding； with the
triumphant shout and cry of an army let loose to spoil and
slaughter； and scouring through the streets with swords drawn。 There
was no numbering the slain； the amount is to this day conjectured only
from the space of ground overflowed with blood。 For without mentioning
the execution done in other quarters of the city； the blood that was
shed about the market…place spread over the whole Ceramicus within the
Double…gate； and； according to most writers； passed through the gate
and overflowed the suburb。 Nor did the multitudes which fell thus
exceed the number of those who； out of pity and love for their country
which they believed was now finally to perish； slew themselves； the
best of them； through despair of their country's surviving； dreading
themselves to survive； expecting neither humanity nor moderation in
Sylla。 At length； partly at the instance of Midias and Calliphon；
two exiled men； beseeching and casting themselves at his feet；
partly by the intercession of those senators who followed the camp；
having had his fill of revenge； and making some honourable mention
of the ancient Athenians； 〃I forgive；〃 said he； 〃the many for the sake
of the few； the living for the dead。〃 He took Athens； according to his
own Memoirs； on the calends of March； coinciding pretty nearly with
the new moon of Anthesterion； on which day it is the Athenian usage to
perform various acts in commemoration of the ruins and devastations
occasioned by the deluge； that being supposed to be the time of its
occurrence。
At the taking of the town； the tyrant fled into the citadel； and was
there besieged by Curio； who had that charge given him。 He held out
a considerable time； but at last yielded himself up for want of water；
and divine power immediately intimated its agency in the matter。 For
on the same day and hour that Curio conducted him down； the clouds
gathered in a clear sky； and there came down a great quantity of
rain and filled the citadel with water。
Not long after； Sylla won the Piraeus； and burnt most of it； amongst
the rest； Philo's arsenal； a work very greatly admired。
In the meantime Taxiles； Mithridates's general； coming down from
Thrace and Macedon； with an army of one hundred thousand foot； ten
thousand horse； and ninety chariots； armed with scythes at the wheels；
would have joined Archelaus； who lay with a navy on the coast near
Munychia； reluctant to quit the sea； and yet unwilling to engage the
Romans in battle； but desiring to protract the war and cut off the
enemy's supplies。 Which Sylla perceiving much better than himself；
passed with his forces into Boeotia； quitting a barren district
which was inadequate to maintain an army even in time of peace。 He was
thought by some to have taken false measures in thus leaving Attica； a
rugged country； and ill suited for cavalry to move in； and entering
the plain and open fields of Boeotia； knowing as he did the
barbarian strength to consist most in horses and chariots。 But as
was said before； to avoid famine and scarcity； he was forced to run
the risk of a battle。 Moreover he was in anxiety for Hortensius； a
bold and active officer； whom on his way to Sylla with forces from
Thessaly； the barbarians awaited in the straits。 For these reasons
Sylla drew off into Boeotia。 Hortensius； meantime； was conducted by
Caphis； our countryman； another way unknown to the barbarians； by
Parnassus； just under Tithora； which was then not so large a town as
it is now； but a mere fort； surrounded by steep precipices whither the
Phocians also； in old times； when flying from the invasion of
Xerxes； carried themselves and their goods and were saved。 Hortensius；
encamping here； kept off the enemy by day； and at night descending
by difficult passages to Patronis； joined the forces of Sylla who came
to meet him。 Thus united they posted themselves on a fertile hill in
the middle of the plain of Elatea； shaded with trees and watered at
the foot。 It is called Philoboeotus； and its situation and natural
advantages are spoken of with great admiration by Sylla。
As they lay thus encamped； they seemed to the enemy a contemptible
number； for there were not above fifteen hundred horse； and less
than fifteen thousand foot。 Therefore the rest of the commanders；
over…persuading Archelaus and drawing up the army； covered the plain
with horses； chariots； bucklers； targets。 The clamour and cries of
so many nations forming for battle rent the air； nor was the pomp
and ostentation of their costly array altogether idle and
unserviceable for terror； for the brightness of their armour；
embellished magnificently with gold and silver； and the rich colours
of their Median and Scythian coats； intermixed with brass and
shining steel； presented a flaming and terrible sight as they swayed
about and moved in their ranks； so much so that the Romans shrunk
within their trenches； and Sylla； unable by any arguments to remove
their fear； and unwilling to force them to fight against their
wills； was fain to sit down in quiet； ill…brooking to become the
subject of barbarian insolence and laughter。 This； however； above
all advantaged him； for the enemy； from contemning of him； fell into
disorder amongst themselves； being already less thoroughly under
command； on account of the number of their leaders。 Some few of them
remained within the encampment； but others； the major part； lured
out with hopes of prey and rapine； strayed about the country many
days' journey from the camp； and are related to have destroyed the
city of Panope； to have plundered Lebadea； and robbed the oracle
without any orders from their commanders。
Sylla； all this while； chafing and fretting to see the cities all
around destroyed； suffered not the soldiery to remain idle； but
leading them out； compelled them to divert the Cephisus from its
ancient channel by casting up ditches； and giving respite to none；
showed himself rigorous in punishing the remiss； that growing weary of
labour； they might be induced by hardship to embrace danger。 Which
fell out accordingly； for on the third day； being hard at w