Plutarch's Lives of Noble Romans — Sulla

Λεύκιος δὲ Κορνήλιος Σύλλας γένει μὲν ἦν ἐκ πατρικίων, 
Lucius Cornelius Sulla belonged to a patrician,  

οὓς εὐπατρίδας ἄν τις εἴποι, τῶν δὲ προγόνων αὐτοῦ 
or noble, family, and one of his ancestors, is said to have been 

λέγουσι Ῥουφῖνον ὑπατεῦσαι, καὶ τούτῳ δὲ τῆς τιμῆς 
Rufinus, a consul, although he was not so conspicuous for this honour 

ἐπιφανεστέραν γενέσθαι τὴν ἀτιμίαν.
as for the dishonour which he incurred.

εὑρέθη γὰρ ἀργυρίου κοίλου κεκτημένος ὑπὲρ δέκα
For he was found to be possessed of more than ten pounds of 

λίτρας, τοῦ νόμου μὴ διδόντος: ἐπὶ τούτῳ δὲ τῆς
silver plate, contrary to the law, and was for this reason expelled 

βουλῆς ἐξέπεσεν.
from the senate.

οἱ δὲ μετ᾽ ἐκεῖνον ἤδη ταπεινὰ πράττοντες διετέλεσαν, 
His posterity became at once obscure, and continued so, 

αὐτός τε Σύλλας ἐν οὐκ ἀφθόνοις ἐτράφη τοῖς πατρῴοις.
nor did Sulla himself enjoy a wealthy parentage.

γενόμενος δὲ μειράκιον ᾤκει παρ᾽ ἑτέροις ἐνοίκιον
When he was a youth, he lived in lodgings, at a low price, 

οὐ πολὺ τελῶν, ὡς ὕστερον ὠνειδίζετο παρ᾽ ἀξίαν
and this was afterwards cast in his teeth when men thought him

εὐτυχεῖν δοκῶν, σεμνυνομένῳ μὲν γὰρ αὐτῷ καὶ
unduly prosperous.  For instance, we are told that when he was

μεγαληγοροῦντι μετὰ τὴν ἐν Λιβύῃ στρατείαν λέγεταί
putting on boastful airs after his campaign in Libya,

τις εἰπεῖν τῶν καλῶν τε κἀγαθῶν ἀνδρῶν, “καὶ πῶς
a certain nobleman said to him: “How canst 

ἂν εἴης σὺ χρηστός, ὃς τοῦ πατρός σοι μηδὲν
you be an honest man, when thy father left you 

καταλιπόντος τοσαῦτα κέκτησαι;”
nothing, and yet you art so rich?”

καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἔτι τῶν βίων ἐν ἤθεσιν ὀρθίοις καὶ καθαροῖς 
For although the Romans of that time no longer retained their ancient 

μενόντων, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγκεκλικότων καὶ παραδεδεγμένων 
purity and uprightness of life, but had degenerated, and yielded 

τρυφῆς καὶ πολυτελείας ζῆλον, εἰς ἴσον ὅμως ὄνειδος 
to the appetite for luxury and extravagance, they nevertheless held 

ἐτίθεντο τοὺς ὑπάρχουσαν εὐπορίαν ἀπολέσαντας 
in equal opprobrium those who lost an inherited wealth and 

καὶ τοὺς πενίαν πατρῴαν μὴ διαφυλάξαντας.
those who forsook an ancestral poverty. 

ὕστερον δὲ ἤδη κρατοῦντος αὐτοῦ καὶ πολλοὺς
And afterwards, when he had at last become absolute in 

ἀποκτιννύντος, ἀπελευθερικὸς ἄνθρωπος, δοκῶν
power, and was putting many to death, a freedman, who 

κρύπτειν ἕνα τῶν προγεγραμμένων καὶ
was thought to be concealing one of the proscribed, 

κατακρημνίζεσθαι διὰ τοῦτο μέλλων, ὠνείδισε τὸν
and was therefore to be thrown down the Tarpeian rock, cast 

Σύλλαν ὅτι πολὺν χρόνον ἐν μιᾷ συνοικίᾳ διῃτῶντο,
it in his teeth that they had long lived together in one lodging 

φέροντες ἐνοίκιον αὐτός μὲν τῶν ἄνω δισχιλίους
house, himself renting the upper rooms at two yousand sesterces, 

νούμμους, ἐκεῖνος δὲ τῶν ὑποκάτω τρισχιλίους, ὥστε
and Sulla the lower rooms at three yousand. The difference 

τῆς τύχης αὐτῶν τὸ μεταξὺ χιλίους εἶναι νούμμους,
in their fortunes, therefore, was only a yousand sesterces, 

οἳ πεντήκοντα καὶ διακοσίας δραχμὰς Ἀττικὰς
which are equivalent to two hundred and fifty Attic drachmas. 

δύνανται, ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἱστοροῦσι περὶ τῆς παλαιᾶς
Such, then, is the account we find of Sulla's  

τοῦ Σύλλα τύχης.
earlier fortune.

Chapter 2
τοῦ δὲ σώματος αὐτοῦ τὸ μὲν ἄλλο εἶδος ἐπὶ τῶν
His personal appearance, in general, is given by his 

ἀνδριάντων φαίνεται, τὴν δὲ τῶν ὀμμάτων γλαυκότητα
statues; but the gleam of his gray eyes, which was terribly 

δεινῶς πικρὰν καὶ ἄκρατον οὖσαν ἡ χρόα τοῦ
sharp and powerful, was rendered even more  

προσώπου φοβερωτέραν ἐποίει προσιδεῖν. ἐξήνθει γὰρ
fearful by the complexion of his face. This was covered with  

τὸ ἐρύθημα τραχὺ καὶ σποράδην καταμεμιγμένον τῇ
coarse blotches of red, interspersed with white. 

λευκότητι: πρὸς ὃ καὶ τοὔνομα λέγουσιν αὐτῷ
For this reason, they say, his surname was given him because 

γενέσθαι τῆς χρόας ἐπίθετον, καὶ τῶν Ἀθήνησι
of his complexion, and it was in allusion to this that a 

γεφυριστῶν ἐπέσκωψέ τις εἰς τοῦτο ποιήσας:
scurrilous jester at Athens made the verse: 

“συκάμινόν ἐσθ᾽ ὁ Σύλλας ἀλφίτῳ πεπασμένον.”
“Sulla is a mulberry sprinkled o'er with meal.”

τοῖς δὲ τοιούτοις τῶν τεκμηρίων οὐκ ἄτοπόν ἐστι
Nor is it out of place to mention such testimonies in 

χρῆσθαι περὶ ἀνδρός, ὃν οὕτω φιλοσκώμμονα φύσει
the case of a man said to have been by nature so fond 

γεγονέναι λέγουσιν, ὥστε νέον μὲν ὄντα καὶ ἄδοξον
of raillery, that when he was still young and obscure 

ἔτι μετὰ μίμων καὶ γελωτοποιῶν διαιτᾶσθαι καὶ
he spent much time with actors and buffoons and shared 

συνακολασταίνειν, ἐπεὶ δὲ κύριος ἁπάντων κατέστη,
their dissolute life; and when he had made himself supreme 

συναγαγόντα τῶν ἀπὸ σκηνῆς καὶ θεάτρου τοὺς
master, he would daily assemble the most reckless 

ἰταμωτάτους ὁσημέραι πίνειν καὶ διαπληκτίζεσθαι
stage and theatre folk to drink and bandy jests with 

τοῖς σκώμμασι, τοῦ τε γήρως ἀωρότερα πράττειν
them, although men thought that he disgraced his years, 

δοκοῦντα καὶ πρὸς τῷ καταισχύνειν τὸ ἀξίωμα τῆς ἀρχῆς  
and although he not only dishonoured his high office, 

πολλὰ τῶν δεομένων ἐπιμελείας προϊέμενον.
but neglected much that required attention.

οὐ γὰρ ἦν τῷ Σύλλᾳ περὶ δεῖπνον ὄντι χρήσασθαι
For when Sulla was once at table, he refused to be serious 

σπουδαῖον οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐνεργὸς ὢν καὶ
at all, but, although at other times he was a man of 

σκυθρωπότερος παρὰ τὸν ἄλλον χρόνον, ἀθρόαν
business and wore an austere look, he underwent a complete 

ἐλάμβανε μεταβολὴν ὁπότε πρῶτον ἑαυτὸν εἰς
change as soon as he betook himself to good-fellowship 

συνουσίαν καταβάλοι καὶ πότον, ὥστε μιμῳδοῖς καὶ
and drinking, so that comic singers and dancers found him 

ὀρχησταῖς τιθασὸς εἶναι καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν ἔντευξιν
anything but ferocious, and ready to listen and yield to 

ὑποχείριος καὶ κατάντης. ταύτης δὲ τῆς ἀνέσεως
every request. It was this laxity, as it seems, which 

ἔοικε γεγονέναι νόσημα καὶ ἡ πρὸς τοὺς ἔρωτας
produced in him a diseased propensity to amorous indulgence 

εὐχέρεια καὶ ῥύσις αὐτοῦ τῆς φιληδονίας, ἧς οὐδὲ
and an unrestrained voluptuousness, from which he did not 

γηράσας ἐπαύσατο,
refrain even in his old age,

Μητροβίου δὲ τῶν ἀπὸ σκηνῆς τινος ἐρῶν διετέλεσεν
but continued his youthful love for Metrobius, an actor, and had the 

ἔτι νέος ὤν.
following experience.

καὶ συνήντησεν αὐτῷ τὸ τοιοῦτον ἀρξάμενος γὰρ ἐρᾶν
He met and began loving a wealthy but

κοινῆς μέν, εὐπόρου δὲ γυναικός, ὄνομα Νικοπόλεως,
common woman, her name being Nicopolis, and such was 

καὶ διὰ συνήθειαν καὶ χάριν, ἣν ἀφ᾽
the charm of his intimacy and youthful 

ὥρας εἶχεν, εἰς ἐρωμένου σχῆμα περιελθών, ἀπελείφθη
grace that in the end he was beloved by her, and was left

κληρονόμος ὑπὸ τῆς ἀνθρώπου τελευτώσης.
as her heir when she died.

ἐκληρονόμησε δὲ καὶ τὴν μητρυιάν, ἀγαπηθεὶς ὥσπερ
He also inherited the property of his step-mother, who loved him as

υἱὸς ὑπ᾽ αὐτῆς˙ καὶ μετρίως μὲν ἀπὸ τούτων εὐπόρησεν.
her own son. By these means he became moderately well off.

Chapter 3
ἀποδειχθεὶς δὲ ταμίας ὑπατεύοντι Μαρίῳ τὴν πρώτην
Having been appointed quaestor to Marius in his first 

ὑπατείαν, συνεξέπλευσεν εἰς Λιβύην πολεμήσων
consulship, he sailed with him to Libya, to make war upon

Ἰογόρθαν.
Jugurtha.

γενόμενος δὲ ἐπὶ στρατοπέδου τά τε ἄλλα παρεῖχεν
He was put in charge of the camp, and won great credit 

ἑαυτὸν εὐδόκιμον, καὶ καιρῷ παραπεσόντι χρησάμενος
for himself, especially by improving a favourable opportunity 

εὖ φίλον ἐποιήσατο τὸν τῶν Νομάδων βασιλέα Βόκχον.
and making a friend of Bocchus, the king of Numidia.

πρεσβευτὰς γὰρ αὐτοῦ λῃστήριον Νομαδικὸν
For the ambassadors of the king, who escaped Numidian robbers

ἐκφυγόντας ὑποδεξάμενος καὶ φιλοφρονηθείς, δῶρα καὶ
he hospitably entertained, and with gifts sent 

πομπὴν ἀσφαλῆ παρασχὼν ἀπέστειλεν.
them on their way with a safe escort.

ὁ δὲ Βόκχος ἐτύγχανε μὲν ἔτι γε πάλαι γαμβρὸν ὄντα
Now Bocchus had for a long time his son-in-law, he

μισῶν καὶ φοβούμενος τὸν Ἰογόρθαν, τότε δὲ
hated and feared, Jugurtha, who had 

ἡττημένῳ καὶ πεφευγότι πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐπιβουλεύων
been defeated and had fled to him for safety, and was plotting  

ἐκάλει τὸν Σύλλαν, δι᾽ ἐκείνου μάλιστα βουλόμενος
against him, he invited Sulla to come to him, wishing 

τὴν σύλληψιν καὶ παράδοσιν τοῦ Ἰογόρθα γενέσθαι ἢ
to seize and have surrendered Jugurtha effected through Sulla not  

δι᾽ αὑτοῦ, κοινωσάμενος δὲ τῷ Μαρίῳ καὶ λαβὼν
himself.  Having imparted the matter to Marius, and taking 

στρατιώτας ὀλίγους ὁ Σύλλας τὸν μέγιστον ὑπέδυ
with him a few soldiers, Sulla underwent the greatest 

κίνδυνον, ὅτι βαρβάρῳ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς οἰκειοτάτους
peril; he put faith in a Barbarian, who was faithless towards his own relations,

ἀπίστῳ πιστεύσας, ὑπὲρ τοῦ παραλαβεῖν ἕτερον
and to secure his surrender of another, 

ἑαυτὸν ἐνεχείρισεν.
placed himself in his hands.

ὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ ὁ Βόκχος ἀμφοτέρων κύριος γενόμενος,καὶ
However, Bocchus, now that he had both in his power, and 

καταστήσας ἑαυτὸν εἰς ἀνάγκην τοῦ παρασπονδῆσαι
had laid himself under the necessity of proving false 

τὸν ἕτερον, καὶ πολλὰ διενεχθεὶς τῇ γνώμῃ,τέλος
to one or the other, although he vacillated long, finally decided 

ἐκύρωσε τὴν πρώτην προδοσίαν καὶ παρέδωκε τῷ 
upon his original betrayal, and handed over to

Σύλλᾳ τὸν Ἰογόρθαν.
Sulla, Jugurtha.

ὁ μὲν οὖν θριαμβεύων ἐπὶ τούτῳ Μάριος ἦν,̣ δὲ 
It is true that the one who celebrated a triumph for this was Marius,

δόξα τοῦ κατορθώματος, ἣν ὁ Μαρίου φθόνος 
but those who envied him attributed the glory of the success to

Σύλλᾳ προσετίθει, παρελύπει τὸν Μάριον ἡσυχῇ.
Sulla, and this secretly annoyed Marius.

καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸς ὁ Σύλλας φύσει τε μεγάλαυχος ὢν καὶ
And indeed Sulla himself was naturally vainglorious, and now 

τότε πρῶτον ἐκ βίου ταπεινοῦ καὶ ἀγνῶτος ἔν τινι
he had for the first time emerged from his lowly, obscure condition and

λόγῳ γεγονὼς παρὰ τοῖς πολίταις, καὶ τοῦ τιμᾶσθαι
become of some account among his countrymen, and was enjoying

γευόμενος, εἰς τοῦτο φιλοτιμίας προῆλθεν ὥστε
a taste of honour, he was arrogant enough to have a 

γλυψάμενος ἐν δακτυλίῳ φορεῖν εἰκόνα τῆς πράξεως, 
representation of his exploit engraved on a seal-ring which

καὶ ταύτῃ γε χρώμενος ἀεὶ διετέλεσεν.
he wore, and continued to use it ever after.

ἦν δὲ ἡ γραφὴ Βόκχος μὲν παραδιδούς, Σύλλας δὲ
The device was, Bocchus delivering, and Sulla 

παραλαμβάνων τὸν Ἰογόρθαν.
receiving, Jugurtha.

Chapter 4
ἠνία μὲν οὖν ταῦτα τὸν Μάριον˙ ἔτι δὲ ἡγούμενος
Of course this distressed Marius; but since he considered 

ἐλάττονα τοῦ φθονεῖσθαι τὸν Σύλλαν, ἐχρῆτο πρὸς
Sulla to be beneath his envy, he used him in 

τὰς στρατείας, τὸ μὲν δεύτερον ὑπατεύων
his campaigns, during his second consulship as legate, 

πρεσβευτῇ, τὸ δὲ τρίτον χιλιάρχῳ, καὶ πολλὰ δι᾽
or lieutenant, and during his third as military tribune, and through 

ἐκείνου τῶν χρησίμων κατωρθοῦτο.
his agency performed many successful services.

πρεσβεύων τε γὰρ ἡγεμόνα Τεκτοσάγων Κόπιλλον
As legate, Sulla captured Copillus, chieftain of the Tectosages;

εἷλε, καὶ χιλιαρχῶν μέγα καὶ πολυάνθρωπον ἔθνος
and as tribune, he persuaded the great and populous nation 

Μαρσοὺς ἔπεισε φίλους γενέσθαι καὶ συμμάχους
of the Marsi to become friends and allies 

Ῥωμαίων,
of Rome.

ἐκ δὲ τούτων τὸν Μάριον αἰσθόμενος ἀχθόμενον αὐτῷ
But perceiving that Marius was vexed with him for these successes, 

καὶ μηκέτι προϊέμενον ἡδέως πράξεων ἀφορμάς, ἀλλὰ
and that he was no longer glad to give him opportunities for action, but

ἐνιστάμενον τῇ αὐξήσει, Κάτλῳ, τῷ συνάρχοντι τοῦ
opposed his advancement, he attached himself to Catulus, 

Μαρίου, προσένειμεν ἑαυτόν, ἀνδρὶ χρηστῷ
the colleague of Marius in the consulship, a worthy man, 

μέν, ἀμβλυτέρῳ δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀγῶνας, 
but too sluggish for arduous contests.

ὑφ᾽ οὗ τὰ πρῶτα καὶ μέγιστα πιστευόμενος εἰς 
By him he was entrusted with the leading and most important enterprises, 

δύναμιν ἅμα δόξῃ προῄει.
and rose to power and fame.

καὶ πολέμῳ μὲν αἱρεῖ πολὺ μέρος τῶν ἐν ταῖς Ἄλπεσι βαρβάρων, 
He not only subdued in war a large part of the Barbarians of the Alps,

ἐπιλιπούσης δὲ τῆς ἀγορᾶς ἀναδεξάμενος
but when provisions ran low, he undertook 

τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν τοσαύτην ἐποίησε περιουσίαν, 
the task of furnishing them, and made them so abundant 

ὥστε τῶν Κάτλου στρατιωτῶν ἐν ἀφθόνοις διαγόντων καὶ
that the soldiers of Catulus lived in plenty, and had 

τοῖς Μαρίου προσπαρασχεῖν.
some to spare for those of Marius.

ἐφ᾽ ᾧ φησιν αὐτὸς ἰσχυρῶς ἀνιᾶσαι τὸν Μάριον.
At this, as Sulla himself says, Marius was greatly distressed.

ἡ μὲν οὖν ἔχθρα βραχεῖαν οὕτω καὶ μειρακιώδη
So slight and puerile were the first foundations and 

λαβοῦσα τὴν πρώτην ὑπόθεσιν καὶ ἀρχήν, εἶτα χωροῦσα
occasions of that hatred between them, which afterwards led 

δι᾽ αἵματος ἐμφυλίου καὶ στάσεων ἀνηκέστων ἐπὶ
them through civil bloodshed and irreparable discords 

τυραννίδα καὶ σύγχυσιν ἁπάντων πραγμάτων,
to tyranny and the confusion of the whole state.

ἀπέδειξε τὸν Εὐριπίδην σοφὸν ἄνδρα καὶ πολιτικῶν 
This proved that Euripides was a wise man, and acquainted 

ἐπιστήμονα νοσημάτων, διακελευσάμενον φυλάττεσθαι 
with the distempers of civil government, when he exhorted 

τὴν φιλοτιμίαν ὡς ὀλεθριωτάτην καὶ κακίστην δαίμονα
men to beware of ambition as a deity most injurious and fatal 

τοῖς χρωμένοις.
to its votaries.

Chapter 5
ὁ δὲ Σύλλας οἰόμενος αὑτῷ τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν πολεμικῶν in war
Sulla now thought that the reputation which he had won 

δόξαν ἐπὶ τὰς πολιτικὰς πράξεις διαρκεῖν, καὶ δοὺς
was sufficient to justify political activities, and 

ἑαυτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς στρατείας εὐθὺς ἐπὶ τὴν τοῦ δήμου
therefore at once exchanged military service for public 

πρᾶξιν, ἐπὶ στρατηγίαν πολιτικὴν ἀπεγράψατο καὶ
life, offered himself as a candidate for the city praetorship, 

διεψεύσθη: 
and was defeated.

τὴν δ᾽ αἰτίαν τοῖς ὄχλοις ἀνατίθησι.
And he assigns the cause to the populace. 

φησὶ γὰρ αὐτοὺς τὴν πρὸς Βόκχον εἰδότας φιλίαν, καὶ
They knew, he says, about his friendship with Bocchus, and expected 

προσδεχομένους, εἰ πρὸ τῆς στρατηγίας
that if he should be made aedile before his praetorship, 

ἀγορανομοίη, κυνηγέσια λαμπρὰ καὶ Λιβυκῶν θηρίων
he would treat them to splendid hunting scenes and combats of Libyan 

ἀγῶνας, ἑτέρους ἀποδεῖξαι στρατηγοὺς ὡς αὐτὸν
wild beasts, and therefore appointed others to the praetorship, 

ἀγορανομεῖν ἀναγκάσοντας.
in order to force him into the aedileship.

ἔοικε δὲ τὴν ἀληθῆ τῆς ἀποτεύξεως αἰτίαν οὐχ
But subsequent events would seem to show that Sulla 

ὁμολογῶν ὁ Σύλλας ἐλέγχεσθαι τοῖς πράγμασιν.
does not confess the real reason for his failure.

ἐνιαυτῷ γὰρ κατόπιν ἔτυχε τῆς στρατηγίας, τοῦ δήμου
For in the following year he obtained the praetorship, partly because he was 

τὸ μέν τι θεραπείᾳ, τὸ δὲ καὶ χρήμασι προσαγαγόμενος.
subservient to the people, and partly because he used money to win their support.

διὸ δὴ καὶ στρατηγοῦντος αὐτοῦ, καὶ πρὸς Καίσαρα
And so it happened that, during his praetorship, when he told Caesar

μετ᾽ ὀργῆς εἰπόντος ὡς χρήσεται τῇ ἰδίᾳ πρὸς αὐτὸν
angrily that he would use his own authority 

ἐξουσίᾳ, γελάσας ὁ Καῖσαρ, “ὀρθῶς,” ἔφη,  “τὴν
against him, Caesar laughed and said: "You do well to 

ἀρχὴν ἰδίαν νομίζεις˙ ἔχεις γὰρ αὐτὴν πριάμενος”
consider the office your own, for you bought it."

μετὰ δὲ τὴν στρατηγίαν εἰς τὴν Καππαδοκίαν ἀποστέλλεται,
After his praetorship, he was sent out to Cappadocia, 

τὸν μέν ἐμφανῆ λόγον ἔχων πρὸς τὴν στρατείαν
having a plausible pretext to bring down 

Ἀριοβαρζάνην καταγαγεῖν, αἰτίαν δὲ ἀληθῆ
Ariobarzanes from his command, but the true 

Μιθριδάτην ἐπισχεῖν πολυπραγμονοῦντα καὶ
reason was to curb Mithridates, who was busy and 

περιβαλλόμενον ἀρχὴν καὶ δύναμιν οὐκ ἐλάττονα τῆς
had amassed power and influence not inferior to what he 

ὑπαρχούσης.
already possessed.

ἰδίαν μέν οὖν δύναμιν οὐ πολλὴν ἐπήγετο, χρησάμενος
Accordingly, he took out with him no large force of his own, but 

δὲ τοῖς συμμάχοις προθύμοις, καὶ πολλοὺς μέν αὐτῶν
made use of the allies, whom he found eager to serve him, and after 

Καππαδοκῶν, πλείονας δ᾽ αὖθις Ἀρμενίων
slaying many of the Cappadocians themselves, and yet more of the Armenians

προσβοηθοῦντας ἀποκτείνας, Γόρδιον μέν
who came to their aid, he drove out Gordius

ἐξήλασεν, Ἀριοβαρζάνην δὲ ἀπέδειξε βασιλέα.
and made Ariobarzanes king again.

διατρίβοντι δὲ αὐτῷ παρὰ τὸν Εὐφράτην ἐντυγχάνει
As he lingered on the banks of the Euphrates, he received a visit from 

Πάρθος Ὀρόβαζος, Ἀρσάκου βασιλέως πρεσβευτής,οὔπω
Orobazus, a Parthian, who came as an ambassador from king Arsaces, although 

πρότερον ἀλλήλοις ἐπιμεμιγμένων τῶν γενῶν˙ 
up to this time the two nations had held no intercourse with one another.

ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦτο τῆς μεγάλης δοκεῖ Σύλλα τύχης
This also is thought to have been part of Sulla's great good 

γενέσθαι, τὸ πρώτῳ Ῥωμαίων ἐκείνῳ Πάρθους 
fortune, that he should be the first Roman with whom the Parthians

συμμαχίας καὶ φιλίας δεομένους διὰ λόγων
held conference when they wanted alliance and 

ἐλθεῖν.
friendship.

ὅτε καὶ λέγεται τρεῖς δίφρους προθέμενος, τὸν μέν
On this occasion, too, it is said that he ordered three chairs to be set, 

Ἀριοβαρζάνῃ, τὸν δὲ Ὀροβάζῳ, τὸν δὲ αὐτῷ, μέσος
one for Ariobarzanes, one for Orobazus, and one for himself, and that 

ἀμφοῖν καθεζόμενος χρηματίζειν.
he sat between them both and gave them audience.

ἐφ᾽ ᾧ τὸν μέν Ὀρόβαζον ὕστερον ὁ τῶν Πάρθων
For this the king of Parthia afterwards put Orobazus 

βασιλεὺς ἀπέκτεινε, τὸν δὲ Σύλλαν οἱ μέν ἐπῄνεσαν
to death; and while some people commended Sulla for the airs 

ἐντρυφήσαντα τοῖς βαρβάροις, οἱ δὲ ὡς φορτικὸν
which he assumed with the Barbarians, others accused him 

ᾐτιάσαντο καὶ ἀκαίρως φιλότιμον.
of vulgarity and ill-timed arrogance.

ἱστορεῖται δέ τις ἀνὴρ τῶν μετὰ Ὀροβάζου καταβεβηκότων, 
It is also recorded that a certain man in the retinue of Orobazus, 

Χαλδαῖος, εἰς τὸ τοῦ Σύλλα πρόσωπον ἀπιδὼν καὶ ταῖς κινήσεσι 
a Chaldaean, after looking Sulla intently in the face, and studying 

τῆς τε διανοίας καὶ τοῦ σώματος οὐ παρέργως ἐπιστήσας,
carefully the movements of his mind and body,

ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὰς τῆς τέχνης ὑποθέσεις τὴν φύσιν
and investigating his nature according to the principles of 

ἐπισκεψάμενος, εἰπεῖν ὡς ἀναγκαῖον εἴη τοῦτον τὸν
his peculiar art, declared that this man must of necessity become 

ἄνδρα μέγιστον γενέσθαι, θαυμάζειν δὲ καὶ νῦν πῶς
the greatest in the world, and that even now the wonder was that 

ἀνέχεται μὴ πρῶτος ὢν ἁπάντων,
he consented not to be first of all men. 

ἀναχωρήσαντι δὲ αὐτῷ δίκην ἔλαχε δώρων Κηνσωρῖνος, 
When Sulla came back to Rome, however, Censorinus brought 

ὡς πολλὰ χρήματα συνειλοχότι 
suit against him for bribery, alleging that he had collected large sums of money

παρὰ τὸν νόμον ἐκ φίλης καὶ συμμάχου βασιλείας,
illegally from a friendly and allied kingdom. 

οὐ μὴν ἀπήντησεν ἐπὶ τὴν κρίσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀπέστη 
However, Censorinus did not put in an appearance at the trial, 

τῆς κατηγορίας.
but dropped his impeachment.

Chapter 6
ἡ μέντοι πρὸς Μάριον αὐτῷ στάσις ἀνερριπίζετο
Moreover, Sulla's quarrel with Marius broke out afresh on 

καινὴν ὑπόθεσιν λαβοῦσα τὴν Βόκχου φιλοτιμίαν, ὃς
being supplied with fresh material by the ambition of Bocchus, who, desiring

τόν τε δῆμον ἅμα θεραπεύων ἐν Ῥώμῃ καὶ τῷ Σύλλᾳ
to please the people at Rome, and at the same time to gratify Sulla,

χαριζόμενος ἀνέθηκε εἰκόνας ἐν Καπιτωλίῳ
dedicated on the Capitol some images bearing trophies,

τροπαιοφόρους καὶ παρ᾽ αὐταῖς χρυσοῦν Ἰογόρθαν ὑφ᾽
and beside them gilded figures representing Jugurtha 

ἑαυτοῦ Σύλλᾳ παραδιδόμενον.
being surrendered by Bocchus to Sulla.

ἐφ᾽ ᾧ τοῦ Μαρίου βαρυθυμουμένου καὶ καθαιρεῖν
Thereupon Marius was very angry, and tried to have the figures taken 

ἐπιχειροῦντος, ἑτέρων δὲ ἀμύνειν τῷ Σύλλᾳ, καὶ τῆς
down, but others were minded to aid Sulla in opposing this, and the 

πόλεως ὅσον οὔπω διακεκαυμένης ὑπ᾽ ἀμφοῖν,ὁ
city was all but in flames with their dispute, when the  

συμμαχικὸς πόλεμος πάλαι τυφόμενος ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν
Social war, which had long been smouldering, blazed up against  

ἀναλάμψας τότε τὴν στάσιν ἐπέσχεν.
the city and put a stop for the time being to the quarrel. 

ἐν τούτῳ, μεγίστῳ καὶ ποικιλωτάτῳ γενομένῳ 
In this war, which proved of the greatest moment and most varied fortunes,

καὶ πλεῖστα κακὰ καὶ βαρυτάτους παρασχόντι κινδύνους
and brought innumerable mischiefs and the gravest perils 

Ῥωμαίοις, Μάριος μὲν οὐδὲν ἀποδεῖξαι μέγα δυνηθεὶς
upon the Romans, Marius was unable to render any great service, and proved 

ἤλεγχε τὴν πολεμικὴν ἀρετὴν ἀκμῆς καὶ ῥώμης
that military excellence requires a man's highest strength and 

δεομένην.
vigour.

Σύλλας δὲ πολλὰ δράσας ἄξια λόγου δόξαν ἔσχεν
Sulla, on the other hand, did much that was memorable, and achieved the 

ἡγεμόνος μεγάλου μὲν παρὰ τοῖς πολίταις, μεγίστου
reputation of a great leader among his fellow-citizens, that of the greatest 

δὲ παρὰ τοῖς φίλοις, εὐτυχεστάτου δὲ καὶ παρὰ τοῖς
of leaders among his friends, and that of the most fortunate even among his 

ἐχθροῖς.
enemies.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἔπαθε ταὐτὸ Τιμοθέῳ τῷ τοῦ Κόνωνος, ὅς,εἰς
But he did not feel about this as Timotheus the son of Conon did, who, when 

τὴν τύχην αὐτοῦ τὰ κατορθώματα τῶν ἐχθρῶν
his adversaries ascribed his successes to Fortune, and had him 

τιθεμένων καὶ γραφόντων ἐν πίναξι;
represented in a painting as lying asleep.

κοιμώμενον ἐκεῖνον, τὴν δὲ Τύχην δικτύῳ τὰς πόλεις
While Fortune cast her net about the cities, 

περιβάλλουσαν, ἀγροικιζόμενος καὶ χαλεπαίνων πρὸς
was rudely angry with those who had done this, because, as he 

τοὺς ταῦτα ποιοῦντας ὡς ἀποστερούμενος ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν
thought, they were robbing him of the glory due to 

τῆς ἐπὶ ταῖς πράξεσι δόξης, ἔφη ποτὲ πρὸς τόν
his exploits, and said to the people once, on 

δῆμον, ἐπανήκων ἐκ στρατείας εὖ κεχωρηκέναι
returning from a campaign in which he was thought 

δοκούσης, ‘ἀλλὰ ταύτης γε τῆς στρατείας
to have been successful: "In this campaign, 

οὐδέν, ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, τῇ τύχῃ μέτεστι.
at least, men of Athens, Fortune has no share.

πρὸς Τιμόθεον μὲν οὖν φασιν οὕτω φανέντα φιλότιμον
Upon Timotheus, then, who had shown himself so covetous of honour, 

ἀντιμειρακιεύεσθαι τὸ δαιμόνιον, ὥστε μηδὲν ἔτι
the deity is said to have requited his youthful petulance, so that 

πρᾶξαι λαμπρόν, ἀλλὰ ὅλως ἀποτυγχάνοντα ταῖς
from that time on he did nothing brilliant, but miscarried in 

πράξεσι καὶ προσκρούοντα τῷ δήμῳ τέλος ἐκπεσεῖν
all his undertakings, gave offence to the people, and was finally 

τῆς πόλεως˙
banished the city;

Σύλλας δὲ οὐ μόνον ἡδέως προσιέμενος τόν τοιοῦτον
whereas Sulla not only accepted with pleasure such 

εὐδαιμονισμὸν καὶ ζῆλον, ἀλλὰ καὶ συναύξων καὶ
felicitations and admiration, but actually joined in magnifying the 

συνεπιθειάζων τὰ πραττόμενα, τῆς τύχης
aid of Heaven, gave the credit of it to Fortune, either 

ἐξῆπτεν, εἴτε κόμπῳ χρώμενος εἴθ᾽ οὕτως ἔχων τῇ
out of boastfulness, or because he had such a belief in 

δόξῃ πρὸς τὸ θεῖον,
the divine agency. 

καὶ γὰρ ἐν τοῖς ὑπομνήμασι γέγραφεν ὅτι τῶν καλῶς αὐτῷ βεβουλεῦσθαι
For in his Memoirs he writes that, of the undertakings which men thought well-advised, 

δοκούντων αἱ μὴ κατὰ γνώμην, ἀλλὰ πρὸς καιρὸν ἀποτολμώμεναι
those upon which he had boldly ventured, not after deliberation, 

πράξεις ἔπιπτον εἰς ἄμεινον.
but on the spur of the moment, turned out for the better.

ἔτι δὲ καὶ δι᾽ ὧν φησι πρὸς τύχην εὖ πεφυκέναι
And further, from what he says about his being well endowed by 

μᾶλλον ἢ πρὸς πόλεμον, τῇ τύχῃ τῆς ἀρετῆς πλέον
nature for Fortune rather than for war, he seems to attribute more 

ἔοικε νέμειν καὶ ὅλως ἑαυτὸν τοῦ δαίμονος ποιεῖν, 
to Fortune than to his own excellence, and to make himself 

ὅς γε καὶ τῆς πρὸς Μέτελλον
entirely the creature of this deity, since he accounts even his concord with Metellus,

ὁμονοίας, ἰσότιμον ἄνδρα καὶ κηδεστήν, εὐτυχίαν
a man his equal in rank, and a relative by marriage,

τινὰ θείαν αἰτιᾶται˙ πολλὰ γὰρ αὐτῷ πράγματα
a piece of divine felicity; for whereas he expected much

παρέξειν ἐπίδοξον ὄντα πρᾳότατον ἐν τῇ κοινωνίᾳ
annoyance from him as a colleague in office, he 

γενέσθαι τῆς ἀρχῆς,
found him most obliging. 

ἔτι δὲ Λευκόλλῳ μὲν ἐν τοῖς ὑπομνήμασιν, ὧν ἐκείνῳ τὴν γραφὴν
And still further, in the dedication of his Memoirs 

ἀνατέθεικε, παραινεῖ μηδὲν οὕτως ἡγεῖσθαι 
to Lucullus, he advises him to deem nothing so secure 

βέβαιον ὡς ὅ τι ἂν αὐτῷ προστάξῃ νύκτωρ τὸ δαιμόνιον.
as what the divine power enjoins upon him in his dreams.

ἐκπεμπομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ μετὰ δυνάμεως εἰς τὸν
As he was setting forth with his forces to the  

συμμαχικὸν πόλεμον ἱστορεῖ χάσμα τῆς γῆς μέγα
allied war, it is reported that a great chasm occurred in the 

γενέσθαι περὶ Λαβέρνην˙ ἐκ δὲ τούτου πῦρ ἀναβλῦσαι
land around Lavrion.  And from this, a much-reaching fire burst 

πολὺ καὶ φλόγα λαμπρὰν στηρίσαι πρὸς τόν οὐρανόν.
forth and a bright flame rose towards the sky.

εἰπεῖν δὴ καὶ τοὺς μάντεις ὡς ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς ὄψει
To say it, indeed, the prophets will declare that a good man, 

διάφορος καὶ περιττὸς ἄρξας ἀπαλλάξει τῇ πόλει
distinct and exceptional in appearance, starting off, will free the city from 

ταραχὰς τὰς παρούσας, τοῦτον δὲ αὑτὸν εἶναι φησιν
its present disturbances. Sulla says that this man will be himself, 

ὁ Σύλλας: τῆς μὲν γὰρ ὄψεως ἴδιον εἶναι τὸ περὶ
asserting that his distinctive feature will be the golden color around  

τὴν κόμην χρυσωπόν, ἀρετὴν δὲ οὐκ αἰσχύνεσθαι
his hair, moreover, he claims not to be ashamed of virtue, bearing 

μαρτυρῶν ἑαυτῷ μετὰ πράξεις καλὰς οὕτω καὶ μεγάλας.
witness to himself with deeds both beautiful and great. 

ταῦτα μὲν οὖν περὶ τῆς θειότητος.
So much, then, regarding his attitude towards the divine powers.

τὸν δὲ ἄλλον τρόπον ἀνώμαλός τις ἔοικε γεγονέναι
In other respects he seems to have been of very uneven character, 

καὶ διάφορος πρὸς ἑαυτόν, ἀφελέσθαι πολλά,
and at variance with himself; he robbed much, but gave more; 

χαρίσασθαι πλείονα, τιμῆσαι παραλόγως, παραλόγως ἐφυβρίσαι, 
bestowed his honours unexpectedly, as unexpectedly his insults; 

θεραπεύειν ὧν δέοιτο, θρύπτεσθαι πρὸς
fawned on those he needed, but gave himself airs towards those 

τοὺς δεομένους, ὥστε ἀγνοεῖσθαι πότερον ὑπερόπτης
who needed him; so that one cannot tell whether he was more inclined 

φύσει μᾶλλον ἢ κόλαξ γέγονε.
by nature to disdain or flattery.

τὴν μὲν γὰρ ἐν ταῖς τιμωρίαις ἀνωμαλίαν, ἐξ ὧν ἔτυχεν αἰτιῶν
For as regards the irregularity of his punishments, 

ἀποτυμπανίζοντος αὐτοῦ καὶ πάλιν τὰ
cudgelling to death as he did on any chance grounds, 

μέγιστα τῶν ἀδικημάτων πρᾴως φέροντος, καὶ
and again gently submitting to the greatest wrongs 

διαλλαττομένου μὲν ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀνηκέστοις μετὰ
readily open to reconciliation after the most irreparable 

εὐκολίας, τὰ δὲ μικρὰ καὶ φαῦλα προσκρούσματα
injuries, but visiting small and insignificant offences 

σφαγαῖς καὶ δημεύσεσιν οὐσιῶν μετιόντος, οὕτως ἄν
with death and confiscation of goods; here one might 

τις διαιτήσειεν ὡς φύσει μὲν ὀργὴν χαλεπὸν ὄντα καὶ τιμωρητικόν,
decide that he was naturally of a stern and revengeful 

ὑφιέμενον δὲ τῆς πικρίας λογισμῷ
temper, but relaxed his severity out of calculating regard 

πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον,
for his interests.

ἐν αὐτῷ γε τούτῳ τῷ συμμαχικῷ πολέμῳ τῶν
In this very Social war, for example, when his soldiers 

στρατιωτῶν αὐτοῦ στρατηγικὸν ἄνδρα
with clubs and stones did to death a legate, 

πρεσβευτήν, Ἀλβῖνον ὄνομα, ξύλοις καὶ λίθοις
a man of praetorian dignity, Albinus by name, he passed 

διαχρησαμένων, παρῆλθε καὶ οὐκ ἐπεξῆλθεν ἀδίκημα
over wiyout punishment this flagrant crime, and solemnly 

τοσοῦτον, ἀλλὰ καὶ σεμνυνόμενος διεδίδου λόγον ὡς
sent the word about that he would find his men more ready 

προθυμοτέροις διὰ τοῦτο χρήσοιτο πρὸς τόν πόλεμον
and willing for the war on account of this transgression, 

αὐτοῖς ἰωμένοις τὸ ἁμάρτημα δι᾽ ἀνδραγαθίας.
since they would try to atone for it by their bravery.

τῶν δ᾽ ἐγκαλούντων οὐδὲν ἐφρόντιζεν, ἀλλὰ ἤδη
To those who censured the crime he paid no heed, but purposing 

καταλῦσαι Μάριον διανοούμενος καὶ τοῦ πρὸς τοὺς
already to put down the power of Marius and, now that the 

συμμάχους πολέμου τέλος ἔχειν δοκοῦντος
Social war was thought to be at an end, to get himself 

ἀποδειχθῆναι στρατηγὸς ἐπὶ Μιθριδάτην,ἐθεράπευε
appointed general against Mithridates, he treated the soldiers 

τὴν ὑφ᾽ ἑαυτῷ στρατιάν.
under him with deference.

καὶ παρελθὼν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ὕπατος μὲν ἀποδείκνυται
When he returned to the city, he was appointed consul with 

μετὰ Κοΐντου Πομπηΐου, πεντήκοντα ἔτη
Quintus Pompeius,  in the fiftieth year of his 

γεγονώς, γαμεῖ δὲ γάμον ἐνδοξότατον Καικιλίαν τὴν
age, and made a most illustrious marriage with Caecilia, the 

Μετέλλου θυγατέρα τοῦ ἀρχιερέως.
daughter of Metellus, the Pontifex Maximus.

ἐφ᾽ ᾧ πολλὰ μὲν εἰς αὑτὸν ᾖδον οἱ δημοτικοί, πολλοὶ
Because of which, many common people sang praises for themselves, while many 

δὲ τῶν πρώτων ἐν ἐνεμέσων, οὐκ ἄξιον ἡγούμενοι τῆς
of the prominent citizens harbored envy, considering him unworthy of the 

γυναικὸς ὃν ἄξιον ὑπατείας ἔκριναν,
woman whom they deemed worthy of the consulship.

ὥς φησιν ὁ Τίτος, οὐ μόνην δὲ ταύτην ἔγημεν,ἀλλὰ
As Titus says, he not only married this woman Clodia, 

πρώτην μὲν ἔτι μειράκιον ὢν Ἰλίαν ἔσχε τὴν καὶ
but first, while still a young man, he had Iulia, 

θυγάτριον αὐτῷ τεκοῦσαν.
who bore him a daughter. 

εἶτα μετ᾽ ἐκείνην Αἰλίαν τρίτην δὲ Κλοιλίαν, ἣν 
After her, he had Aelia, and thirdly, Clodia. 

ἀπεπέμψατο μὲν ὡς στεῖραν ἐντίμως καὶ μετ᾽ 
He divorced Clodia, treating her honorably, 

εὐφημίας καὶ δῶρα προσθείς.
offering praise and gifts.

ὀλίγαις δὲ ὕστερον ἡμέραις ἀγαγόμενος τὴν 
But since he married Metella only a few days 

Μετέλλαν ἔδοξε διὰ τοῦτο τὴν Κλοιλίαν οὐ καλῶς
afterwards, he was thought to have accused Clodia 

αἰτιάσασθαι.
unfairly.

ἐδόκει δὲ καὶ τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις ἑλὼν τὸ ἄστυ
It was thought also that when he took the city of 

προσενεχθῆναι τραχύτερον, ὅτι τὴν Μετέλλαν ἀπὸ τοῦ
Athens, he treated its people more harshly because they had 

τείχους γεφυρίζοντες ἐλοιδόρησαν.
scurrilously abused Metella from the walls.

ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν ὕστερον.
But this was later.

Chapter 7
τότε δὲ τὴν ὑπατείαν πρὸς τὰ μέλλοντα μικρὸν
At the time of which I speak, deeming the consulship a slight matter in

ἡγούμενος, ἐπτόητο τῇ γνώμῃ πρὸς τὸν Μιθριδατικὸν
comparison with things to come, his thoughts soared to the Mithridatic

πόλεμον.
war.

ἀντανίστατο δὲ αὐτῷ Μάριος ὑπὸ δοξομανίας καὶ
His rival was Marius, who was possessed by ambition and a mad desire 

φιλοτιμίας, ἀγηράτων παθῶν, ἀνὴρ τῷ τε σώματι
for fame, those never ageing passions. He was now unwieldy 

βαρὺς καὶ ταῖς ἔναγχος ἀπειρηκὼς στρατείαις διὰ
in body, and in the recent campaigns had given up service on account of 

γῆρας ἐκδήμων καὶ διαποντίων πολέμων ἐφιέμενος.
his age, and yet set his heart upon foreign wars beyond the seas.

καὶ τοῦ Σύλλα πρὸς τὰς ἐπιλιπεῖς πράξεις
And when Sulla had set out for his camp on 

ὁρμήσαντος εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον, αὐτὸς οἰκουρῶν
unfinished business, he himself kept at home 

ἐτεκταίνετο τὴν ὀλεθριωτάτην ἐκείνην καὶ ὅσα
and contrived that most fatal sedition, which 

σύμπαντες οἱ πόλεμοι τὴν Ῥώμην οὐκ ἔβλαψαν
wrought Rome more harm than all her wars together 

ἀπεργασαμένην στάσιν, ὡς καὶ τὸ δαιμόνιον αὐτοῖς
had done, as indeed the heavenly powers foreshowed 

προεσήμηνε.
to them.

πῦρ μὲν γὰρ αὐτόματον ἐκ τῶν τὰ σημεῖα δοράτων 
For fire broke forth of its own accord from the staves which 

ὑποφερόντων ἀνέλαμψε καὶ κατεσβέσθη μόλις, 
supported the ensigns, and was with difficulty extinguished; 

κόρακες δὲ τρεῖς τοὺς νεοσσοὺς εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν
and three ravens brought their young forth into the street 

προαγαγόντες κατέφαγον, τὰ δὲ λείψανα πάλιν εἰς
and devoured them, and then carried the remains back again 

τὴν νεοσσιὰν ἀνήνεγκαν.
into their nest;

καὶ μυῶν δὲ ἐν ἱερῷ χρυσὸν ἀνακείμενον διαφαγόντων
and after mice had gnawed consecrated gold in a temple, the keepers 

μίαν οἱ ζάκοροι πάγῃ θήλειαν λαμβάνουσιν, ἡ δὲ ἐν
caught one of them, a female, in a trap, and in the very trap 

αὐτῇ τῇ πάγῃ τεκοῦσα πέντε κατανάλωσε τὰ τρία.
she brought forth five young ones, and ate up three of them.

τὸ δὲ πάντων μέγιστον, ἐξ ἀνεφέλου καὶ διαίθρου
But most important of all, out of a cloudless and clear

τοῦ περιέχοντος ἤχησε φωνὴ σάλπιγγος ὀξὺν
air there rang out the voice of a trumpet, 

ἀποτείνουσα καὶ θρηνώδη φθόγγον, ὥστε πάντας
prolonging a shrill and dismal note, so that 

ἔκφρονας γενέσθαι καὶ καταπτῆξαι διὰ τὸ μέγεθος.
all were amazed and terrified at its loudness. 

Τυρρηνῶν δὲ οἱ λόγιοι μεταβολὴν ἑτέρου γένους
The Tuscan wise men declared that the prodigy 

ἀπεφαίνοντο καὶ μετακόσμησιν ἀποσημαίνειν τὸ τέρας,
foretokened a change of conditions and the advent of a new age.

εἶναι μὲν γὰρ ὀκτὼ τὰ σύμπαντα γένη, διαφέροντα
For according to them there are eight ages in all, differing from 

τοῖς βίοις καὶ τοῖς ἤθεσιν ἀλλήλων, ἑκάστῳ δὲ
one another in the lives and customs of men, and to each of these 

ἀφωρίσθαι χρόνων ἀριθμὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ
God has appointed a definite number of times and seasons, 

συμπεραινόμενον ἐνιαυτοῦ μεγάλου περιόδῳ.
which is completed by the circuit of a great year.

καὶ ὅταν αὕτη σχῇ τέλος, ἑτέρας ἐνισταμένης
And whenever this circuit has run out, and another begins, some 

κινεῖσθαί τι σημεῖον ἐκ γῆς ἢ οὐρανοῦ θαυμάσιον,ὡς
wonderful sign is sent from earth or heaven, so that it is at once 

δῆλον εἶναι τοῖς πεφροντικόσι τὰ τοιαῦτα καὶ
clear to those who have studied such subjects and 

μεμαθηκόσιν εὐθὺς ὅτι καὶ τρόποις ἄλλοις καὶ βίοις
are versed in them, that men of other habits and modes of life have come into 

ἄνθρωποι χρώμενοι γεγόνασι, καὶ θεοῖς ἧττον ἢ
the world, who are either more or less of concern to the gods 

μᾶλλον τῶν προτέρων μέλοντες.
than their predecessors were. 

τά τε γὰρ ἄλλα φασὶν ἐν τῇ τῶν γενῶν ἀμείψει
All things, they say, undergo great changes, as one age 

λαμβάνειν μεγάλας καινοτομίας, καὶ τὴν μαντικὴν
succeeds another, and especially the art of divination; 

ποτὲ μὲν αὔξεσθαι τῇ τιμῇ καὶ κατατυγχάνειν ταῖς
at one period it rises in esteem and is successful in its 

προαγορεύσεσι, καθαρὰ καὶ φανερὰ σημεῖα τοῦ
predictions, because manifest and genuine signs are 

δαιμονίου προπέμποντος, αὖθις δ᾽ ἐν ἑτέρῳ γένει
sent forth from the Deity; and again, in another age, it 

ταπεινὰ πράττειν, αὐτοσχέδιον οὖσαν τὰ πολλὰ καὶ
is in small repute, being off-hand, for the most part, and 

δι᾽ ἀμυδρῶν καὶ σκοτεινῶν ὀργάνων τοῦ μέλλοντος
seeking to grasp the future by means of faint and blind 

ἁπτομένην.
senses.

ταῦτα μὲν οὖν οἱ λογιώτατοι Τυρρηνῶν καὶ πλέον τι
Such, at any rate, was the tale told by the wisest of the Tuscans, who 

τῶν ἄλλων εἰδέναι δοκοῦντες ἐμυθολόγουν.
were thought to know much more about it than the rest.

τῆς δὲ συγκλήτου τοῖς μάντεσι περὶ τούτων
Moreover, while the senate was busied with the soothsayers about 

σχολαζούσης καὶ καθημένης ἐν τῷ ναῷ τῆς
these prodigies, and holding its session in the temple of 

Ἐνυοῦς, στρουθὸς εἰσέπτη πάντων ὁρώντων τέττιγα
Bellona, a sparrow came flying in, before the eyes of all, with a grasshopper

φέρων τῷ στόματι, καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐκβαλὼν μέρος αὐτοῦ
in its mouth, a part of which it threw down and left there, 

κατέλιπε, τὸ δὲ ἔχων ἀπῆλθεν.
and then went away with the other part.

ὑφεωρῶντο δὴ στάσιν οἱ τερατοσκόποι καὶ διαφορὰν
From this the diviners apprehended a quarrelsome dissension between 

τῶν κτηματικῶν πρὸς τὸν ἀστικὸν ὄχλον καὶ ἀγοραῖον
the landed proprietors and the populace of the city and forum; for the 

φωνάεντα γὰρ τοῦτον εἶναι καθάπερ τέττιγα, τοὺς δὲ
latter is vociferous like a grasshopper, while the former haunt the fields 

χωρίτας ἀρουραίους.
(like the sparrow). 

Chapter 8
Μάριος δὴ προσλαμβάνει δημαρχοῦντα Σουλπίκιον,
Marius now made alliance with Sulpicius who 

ἄνθρωπον οὐδενὸς δεύτερον ἐν ταῖς ἄκραις
was a tribune of the people, a man second to none in prime 

κακίαις, ὥστε μὴ ζητεῖν τίνος ἐστὶν ἑτέρου
villainies, so that the question was not whom else he surpassed 

μοχθηρότερος, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τί μοχθηρότατος ἑαυτοῦ,
in wickedness, but in what he surpassed his own wickedness.

καὶ γὰρ ὠμότης καὶ τόλμα καὶ πλεονεξία περὶ αὐτὸν ἦν
For the combination of cruelty, effrontery, and rapacity in him 

ἀπερίσκεπτος αἰσχροῦ καὶ παντὸς κακοῦ, ὅς γε τὴν
was regardless of shame and of all evil, since he sold the 

Ῥωμαίων πολιτείαν ἐξελευθερικοῖς καὶ μετοίκοις πωλῶν
Roman citizenship to freedmen and aliens at public sale, 

ἀναφανδὸν ἠρίθμει τιμὴν διὰ τραπέζης ἐν
and counted out the price on a money-table which stood 

ἀγορᾷ κειμένης,
in the forum.

ἔτρεφε δὲ τρισχιλίους μαχαιροφόρους, καὶ πλῆθος
Moreover, he maintained three yousand swordsmen, and had about 

ἱππικῶν νεανίσκων πρὸς ἅπαν ἑτοίμων περὶ αὑτὸν
him a body of young men of the equestrian order who were ready 

εἶχεν, οὓς ἀντισύγκλητον ὠνόμαζε.
for everything, and whom he called his anti-senate.

νόμον δὲ κυρώσας μηδένα συγκλητικὸν ὑπὲρ δισχιλίας
Further, he got a law passed that no senator should incur 

δραχμὰς ὀφείλειν, αὐτὸς ἀπέλιπε μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν
a debt of more than two yousand drachmas, he himself left behind 

ὀφλήματος μυριάδας τριακοσίας.
him after death a debt of three millions.

οὗτος εἰς τὸν δῆμον ἀφεθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Μαρίου, καὶ
This man was now let loose upon the people by Marius, and 

συνταράξας πάντα τὰ πράγματα βίᾳ καὶ σιδήρῳ,νόμους
after confounding all things by force and the sword, he proposed 

ἔγραφεν ἄλλους τε μοχθηροὺς καὶ τὸν διδόντα Μαρίῳ
certain vicious laws, and particularly one offering to Marius 

τοῦ Μιθριδατικοῦ πολέμου τὴν ἡγεμονίαν.
the command in the Mithridatic war. 

ἀπραξίας δὲ διὰ ταῦτα τῶν ὑπάτων ψηφισαμένων,
To prevent voting on these, the consuls decreed suspension 

ἐπαγαγὼν αὐτοῖς ἐκκλησιάζουσι περὶ
And after the consuls had passed this decree 

τὸν νεὼν τῶν διοσκούρων ὄχλον ἄλλους τε πολλοὺς
as they were holding an assembly near the temple of Castor and Pollux, 

καὶ τὸ Πομπηΐου τοῦ ὑπάτου μειράκιον ἐπὶ τῆς
and, amongst many others, slew also the young son of Pompeius the

ἀγορᾶς ἀνεῖλεν: αὐτὸς δὲ Πομπήϊος λαθὼν ἐξέφυγε.
consul in the forum; but Pompeius himself made his escape  unnoticed.

Σύλλας δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ Μαρίου συνδιωχθεὶς
Sulla, however, after having been pursued into the house of Marius, 

ἠναγκάσθη προελθὼν τὰς ἀπραξίας λῦσαι˙
was forced forth to rescind the decree for suspension of public business; 

καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τὸν Πομπήϊον ἐπάρχοντα παύσας ὁ
and because he did this, Sulpicius, although he deposed Pompeius,

Σουλπίκιος οὐκ ἀφείλετο τοῦ Σύλλα τὴν ὑπατείαν, 
did not take the consulship away from Sulla, 

ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐπὶ Μιθριδάτην στρατείαν μόνον εἰς 
but merely transferred the expedition against Mithridates 

Μάριον μετήνεγκε:
to the command of Marius.

καὶ πέμπει χιλιάρχους εὐθὺς εἰς Νῶλαν
He also sent military tribunes at once to Nola,

παραληψομένους τὸ στράτευμα καὶ πρὸς τὸν Μάριον ἄξοντας.
who were to take over the army there and conduct it to Marius.

Chapter 9
φθάσαντος δὲ τοῦ Σύλλα διαφυγεῖν εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον,
Reaching the camp first, Sulla succeeded in making his escape

καὶ τῶν στρατιωτῶν, ὡς ἐπύθοντο ταῦτα,
and his soldiers, when they learned what had happened,

καταλευσάντων τοὺς χιλιάρχους, οἱ περὶ τὸν
stoned the tribunes to death; in return for which, 

Μάριον αὖθις ἐν τῇ πόλει τοὺς Σύλλα φίλους ἀνῄρουν 
Marius and his partisans in the city began slaying friends of Sulla

καὶ χρήματα διήρπαζον αὐτῶν, ἦσαν δὲ μεταστάσεις
and plundering their property. Then there were removals

καὶ φυγαί, τῶν μὲν εἰς πόλιν ἀπὸ στρατοπέδου, τῶν
and flights, some passing continually from camp to city,

δ᾽ ἐκεῖσε διαφοιτώντων ἐκ τῆς πόλεως,
and others from city to camp.

ἡ δὲ σύγκλητος ἦν μὲν οὐχ αὑτῆς, ἀλλὰ τοῖς Μαρίου
The senate was not its own master, but was governed by the dictates

καὶ Σουλπικίου διῳκεῖτο προστάγμασι, πυθομένη δὲ
of Marius and Sulpicius, and when it learned that

τὸν Σύλλαν ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν ἐλαύνειν ἔπεμψε δύο τῶν
Sulla was marching against the city, it sent two of

στρατηγῶν, Βροῦτον καὶ Σερουΐλιον, ἀπαγορεύσοντας
the praetors, Brutus and Servilius, to forbid

αὐτῷ βαδίζειν.
his advance.

τούτους θρασύτερον Σύλλᾳ διαλεχθέντας ὥρμησαν μὲν
These men addressed Sulla far to boldly, and his soldiers would 

ἀνελεῖν οἱ στρατιῶται, τὰς δὲ ῥάβδους κατέκλασαν
have gladly torn them to pieces, but contented themselves with breaking their 

καὶ τὰς περιπορφύρους ἀφείλοντο καὶ πολλὰ
fasces, stripping them of their senatorial togas, insulting them in 

περιυβρισμένους ἀπέπεμψαν, 
many ways, and then sending them back to the city. 

αὐτόθεν τε δεινὴν κατήφειαν, ὁρωμένους τῶν 
Here a terrible dejection was produced by the mere sight of them, stripped 

στρατηγικῶν παρασήμων ἐρήμους, καὶ τὴν στάσιν 
of their praetorial insignia, and their announcement that the sedition 

οὐκέτι καθεκτήν,ἀλλ᾽ ἀνήκεστον ἀπαγγέλλοντας.
could no longer be checked, but must run its course.

οἱ μὲν οὖν περὶ τὸν Μάριον ἐν παρασκευαῖς ἦσαν: ὁ
Marius and his partisans, then, busied themselves with preparations; 

δὲ Σύλλας ἄγων ἓξ τάγματα τέλεια μετὰ τοῦ
while Sulla, at the head of six full legions, moved 

συνάρχοντος ἀπὸ Νώλης ἐκίνει, τὸν μὲν στρατὸν ὁρῶν
with his colleague from Nola, his army, as he saw, being 

πρόθυμον ὄντα χωρεῖν εὐθὺς ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν, ἐνδοιάζων
eager to march at once against the city, although he himself 

δὲ τῇ γνώμῃ παρ᾽ ἑαυτῷ καὶ δεδοικὼς τὸν κίνδυνον.
wavered in his own mind, and feared the danger. 

ὁ δὲ μάντις Ποστούμιος θύσαντος αὐτοῦ καταμαθὼν τὰ
But after he had offered a sacrifice, Postumius the soothsayer learned 

σημεῖα, καὶ τὰς χεῖρας ἀμφοτέρας τῷ Σύλλᾳ προτείνας, 
what the omens were, and stretching out both hands to Sulla, begged that 

ἠξίου δεθῆναι καὶ φυλάττεσθαι μέχρι τῆς μάχης, ὡς, εἰ 
he might be bound and kept a prisoner until the battle, assuring him that 

μὴ πάντα ταχὺ καὶ καλῶς αὐτῷ συντελεσθείη, τὴν 
he was willing to undergo the extremest penalty if all things did 

ἐσχάτην δίκην ὑποσχεῖν βουλόμενος.
not speedily come to a good issue for him.

λέγεται δὲ καὶ κατὰ τοὺς ὕπνους αὑτῷ Σύλλᾳ φανῆναι
It is said, also, that to Sulla himself there appeared in his dreams 

θεὸν ἣν τιμῶσι Ῥωμαῖοι παρὰ Καππαδοκῶν
a goddess whom the Romans learned to worship from the Cappadocians,

μαθόντες, εἴτε δὴ Σελήνην οὖσαν εἴτε Ἀθηνᾶν εἴτε Ἐνυώ.
whether she is Luna, or Minerva, or Bellona. 

ταύτην ὁ Σύλλας ἔδοξεν ἐπιστᾶσαν ἐγχειρίσαι
This goddess, as Sulla fancied, stood by his side and 

κεραυνὸν αὑτῷ, καὶ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἕκαστον ὀνομάζουσαν
put into his hand a thunder-bolt, and naming his enemies one 

τῶν ἐκείνου βάλλειν κελεῦσαι, τοὺς δὲ πίπτειν
by one, bade him smite them with it; and they were all 

βαλλομένους καὶ ἀφανίζεσθαι.
smitten, and fell, and vanished away.

θαρσήσας δὲ τῇ ὄψει καὶ φράσας τῷ συνάρχοντι μεθ᾽
Encouraged by the vision, he told it to his colleague, and 

ἡμέραν ἐπὶ τὴν Ῥώμην ἡγεῖτο.
at break of day led on towards Rome. 

καὶ περὶ Πικτὰς αὐτῷ πρεσβείας ἐντυχούσης καὶ
When he had reached Pictae, he was met by a deputation from 

δεομένης μὴ βαδίζειν εὐθὺς ἐξ ἐφόδου, πάντα γὰρ
the city, who begged him not to advance to an immediate attack, 

ἔσεσθαι τὰ δίκαια τῆς βουλῆς ψηφισαμένης, ὡμολόγησε
since the senate had voted that he should have all his rights; he 

μὲν αὐτοῦ καταστρατοπεδεύσειν καὶ διαμετρεῖν
therefore agreed to encamp there, and ordered his officers 

ἐκέλευε χώρας, ὥσπερ εἰώθει, τῷ στρατοπέδῳ τοὺς
to measure out the ground, as was usual, for the camp, so that 

ἡγεμόνας, ὥστε τοὺς πρέσβεις ἀπελθεῖν πιστεύσαντας:
the deputation returned to the city believing that he would do so.

ἐκείνων δὲ ἀπελθόντων εὐθὺς ἐκπέμψας Λεύκιον Βάσιλλον 
But no sooner were they gone than he sent forward Lucius Basillus and 

καὶ Γάϊον Μόμμιον καταλαμβάνει τὴν πύλην δι᾽ αὐτῶν 
Caius Mummius, who seized for him the city-gate and the walls on the 

καὶ τὰ τείχη τὰ περὶ τὸν λόφον τὸν Αἰσκυλῖνον: εἶτ᾽
Esquiline hill; then he himself followed hard after them with all speed.

αὐτὸς ἁπάσῃ σπουδῇ συνῆπτε τῶν δὲ περὶ τὸν
Basillus and his men burst into the city and 

Βάσιλλον εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐμπεσόντων καὶ κρατούντων,
were forcing their way along, when the unarmed multitude 

ὁ πολὺς καὶ ἄνοπλος δῆμος ἀπὸ τῶν τεγῶν κεράμῳ καὶ λίθῳ βάλλοντες
pelted them with stones and tiles from the roofs of the houses,

ἐπέσχον αὐτοὺς τοῦ πρόσω χωρεῖν καὶ συνέστειλαν εἰς τὸ τεῖχος, 
stopped their further progress, and crowded them back to the wall.

ἐν τούτῳ δὲ ὁ Σύλλας παρῆν ἤδη, καὶ συνιδὼν τὸ γινόμενον
But by this time Sulla was at hand, and seeing what was going on,

ἐβόα τὰς οἰκίας ὑφάπτειν, καὶ λαβὼν δᾷδα 
shouted orders to set fire to the houses, and seizing a blazing torch,

καιομένην ἐχώρει πρῶτος αὐτός, καὶ τοὺς τοξότας ἐκέλευε
led the way himself, and ordered his archers 

χρῆσθαι τοῖς πυροβόλοις ἄνω τῶν στεγασμάτων ἐφιεμένους,
to use their fire-bolts and shoot them up at the roofs.

κατ᾽ οὐδένα λογισμόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐμπαθὴς ὢν καὶ τῷ θυμῷ
This he did not from calm calculation, but in a passion, having

παραδεδωκὼς τὴν τῶν πρασσομένων ἡγεμονίαν,
surrendered to his anger the command over his actions,

ὅς γε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς μόνον ἑώρα, φίλους δὲ καὶ συγγενεῖς
since he thought only of his enemies, and wiyout any regard or even

καὶ οἰκείους εἰς οὐδένα λόγον θέμενος οὐδ᾽ οἶκτον κατῄει διὰ
pity for friends, kindred and relations, made entry by aid of fire, which 

πυρός, ᾧ τῶν αἰτίων καὶ μὴ διάγνωσις οὐκ ἦν.
made no distinction between the guilty and the innocent.

τούτων δὲ γινομένων Μάριος ἐξωσθεὶς πρὸς τὸ τῆς Γῆς ἱερὸν
Meanwhile Marius, who had been driven back to the temple of Tellus,

ἐκάλει διὰ κηρύγματος ἐπ᾽ ἐλευθερίᾳ τὸ
proclamated, calling slaves to his support promising them freedom;

οἰκετικόν ἐπελθόντων δὲ τῶν πολεμίων κρατηθεὶς
but the enemy coming on, he was overpowered 

ἐξέπεσε τῆς πόλεως.
and fled from the city.

Chapter 10
Σύλλας δὲ τὴν βουλὴν συναγαγὼν καταψηφίζεται
Sulla now called together the senate, and had sentence of 

θάνατον αὐτοῦ τε Μαρίου καὶ ὀλίγων ἄλλων, ἐν οἷς
death passed on Marius himself and a few others, among whom was 

Σουλπίκιος ἦν ὁ δήμαρχος, 
Sulpicius the tribune of the people.

ἀλλὰ Σουλπίκιος μέν ἀπεσφάγη προδοθεὶς ὑπὸ θεράποντος,
But Sulpicius was killed, after he had been betrayed by a servant, to whom

ὃν ὁ Σύλλας ἠλευθέρωσεν, εἶτα κατεκρήμνισε,
Sulla first gave freedom, then had him thrown down a precipice;

Μαρίῳ δ᾽ἐπεκήρυξεν ἀργύριον, οὐκ εὐγνωμόνως οὐδὲ πολιτικῶς,
he then set a price on the head of Marius, an act both ungrateful and impolitic,

ᾧ γε μικρὸν ἔμπροσθεν ὑποχείριον εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν
since it was in his house that he had found refuge and

δοὺς ἑαυτὸν ἀσφαλῶς ἀφείθη.
surrendered himself a little before this, and was let off safe.

καίτοι Μαρίῳ τότε μὴ διέντι Σύλλαν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀποθανεῖν
And yet had Marius at that time not let Sulla go, but given him up to death 

ὑπὸ Σουλπικίου προεμένῳ, πάντων κρατεῖν
at the hands of Sulpicius, he might have been absolute master in Rome;

ὑπῆρχεν, ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως ἐφείσατο καὶ μεθ᾽ ἡμέρας ὀλίγας
nevertheless he spared his life, and when after a few days he 

τὴν αὐτὴν λαβὴν παρασχὼν οὐκ ἔτυχε τῶν ὁμοίων.
had given him the same opportunity, he did not obtain like mercy.

ἐφ᾽ οἷς ὁ Σύλλας τὴν μέν σύγκλητον ἀδήλως ἠνίασεν
By these proceedings Sulla won the secret dislike of the senate;

ἡ δὲ παρὰ τοῦ δήμου δυσμένεια καὶ νέμεσις αὐτῷ
but the people's hatred and indignation was 

φανερὰ δι᾽ ἔργων ἀπήντα.
made manifest to him by their acts.

Νώνιον μέν γε τὸν ἀδελφιδοῦν αὐτοῦ καὶ Σερουήϊον
For instance, they ignominiously rejected Nonius his nephew, and Servius,

ἀρχὰς μετιόντας ἀποψηφισάμενοι καὶ καθυβρίσαντες
who were his candidates for offices, and appointed 

ἑτέρους κατέστησαν ἄρχοντας, οὓς μάλιστα τιμῶντες
others, whose preferment they thought would be most vexing 

ᾤοντο λυπεῖν ἐκεῖνον, ὁ δὲ τούτοις τε προσεποιεῖτο
to him. But he pretended to be pleased at this, saying that 

χαίρειν, ὡς τοῦ δήμου τῷ ποιεῖν ἃ βούλοιτο δι᾽ αὐτὸν 
the people, in doing as it pleased, enjoyed a freedom which was 

ἀπολαύοντος τῆς ἐλευθερίας, καὶ θεραπεύων τὸ
due to him, and out of deference to the hatred of the 

τῶν πολλῶν μῖσος ὕπατον κατέστησεν ἀπὸ τῆς
multitude allowed a man of the opposite faction,

ἐναντίας στάσεως Λεύκιον Κίνναν, ἀραῖς καὶ ὅρκοις
Lucius Cinna, to be invested with the consulship, after binding 

καταλαβὼν εὐνοήσειν τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ πράγμασιν.
him by solemn oaths to be favourable to his policies. 

ὁ δὲ ἀναβὰς εἰς τὸ Καπιτώλιον ἔχων ἐν τῇ χειρὶ λίθον
And Cinna went up to the Capitol with a stone in his hand and 

ὤμνυεν, εἶτα ἐπαρασάμενος ἑαυτῷ μὴ φυλάττοντι τὴν
took the oaths, and then, after praying that if he did not maintain

πρὸς ἐκεῖνον εὔνοιαν ἐκπεσεῖν τῆς πόλεως,
his goodwill towards Sulla, he might be cast out of the city,

ὥσπερ ὁ λίθος διὰ τῆς χειρός, κατέβαλε χαμᾶζε τὸν λίθον
as the stone from his hand, he threw the stone upon the ground

οὐκ ὀλίγων παρόντων, παραλαβὼν δὲ
in the sight of many people. But as soon as he 

τὴν ἀρχὴν εὐθὺς ἐπεχείρει τὰ καθεστῶτα κινεῖν, καὶ
had entered upon his office, he tried to subvert the existing order 

δίκην ἐπὶ τὸν Σύλλαν παρεσκεύασε καὶ κατηγορεῖν
of things, and had an impeachment prepared against Sulla, and 

ἐπέστησεν Οὐεργίνιον, ἕνα τῶν δημάρχων, ὃν ἐκεῖνος
appointed Virginius, a tribune of the people, to be his accuser. 

ἅμα τῷ δικαστηρίῳ χαίρειν ἐάσας ἐπὶ Μιθριδάτην ἀπῆρε.
But Sulla, ignoring alike accuser and court, set out against Mithridates.

Chapter 11
λέγεται δὲ ὑπὸ τάς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας ἐν αἷς ὁ Σύλλας
And it is said that about the time when Sulla was moving his 

ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰταλίας ἐκίνει τὸν στόλον, ἄλλα τε πολλὰ Μιθριδάτῃ διατρίβοντι
armament from Italy, Mithridates, who was staying  

περὶ τὸ Πέργαμον ἐπισκῆψαι δαιμόνια, καὶ Νίκην στεφανηφόρον
at Pergamum, was visited with many other portents from Heaven,  

καθιεμένην ὑπὸ τῶν Περγαμηνῶν ἐπ᾽
and a Victory with a crown in her hand, which the Pergamenians 

αὐτὸν ἔκ τινων ὀργάνων ἄνωθεν
were lowering towards him by machinery of some sort, was 

ὅσον οὔπω τῆς κεφαλῆς ψαύουσαν συντριβῆναι, καὶ τὸν
broken to pieces just as she was about to touch his head, and 

στέφανον ἐκπεσόντα κατὰ τοῦ θεάτρου φέρεσθαι
the crown went tumbling from her hand to the ground in 

χαμᾶζε διαθρυπτόμενον, ὥστε φρίκην μὲν τῷ δήμῳ, 
the midst of the theatre, and was shattered, whereat the people

ἀθυμίαν δὲ πολλὴν Μιθριδάτῃ παρασχεῖν,καίπερ αὐτῷ 
shuddered, and Mithridates was greatly dejected, although 

τότε τῶν πραγμάτων ἐλπίδος πέρα προχωρούντων.
at that time his affairs were prospering beyond his hopes.

αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ Ἀσίαν τε Ῥωμαίων καὶ Βιθυνιαν καὶ
For he himself had wrested Asia from the Romans, and Bithynia 

Καππαδοκίαν τῶν βασιλέων ἀφῃρημένος ἐν Περγάμῳ
and Cappadocia from their kings, and was now set down in Pergamum,

καθῆστο, πλούτους καὶ δυναστείας καὶ τυραννίδας
dispensing riches, principalities, and sovereignties 

διανέμων τοῖς φίλοις, τῶν δὲ παίδων ὁ μὲν ἐν Πόντῳ καὶ Βοσπόρῳ
to his friends; and of his sons, one was in Pontus and Bosporus, 

τὴν παλαιὰν ἄχρι τῶν ὑπὲρ τὴν Μαιῶτιν ἀοικήτων
holding wiyout any opposition the ancient realm as far 

ἀρχὴν κατεῖχεν οὐδενὸς παρενοχλοῦντος, Ἀριαράθης δὲ
as the deserts beyond Lake Maeotis, while Ariarathes was 

Θρᾴκην καὶ Μακεδονίαν ἐπῄει στρατῷ
overrunning Thrace and Macedonia with a large army, and 

μεγάλῳ προσαγόμενος,
trying to win them over;

ἄλλους δὲ οἱ στρατηγοὶ τόπους ἐχειροῦντο δυνάμεις ἔχοντες,
his generals, too, with forces under them, were subduing other regions, 

ὧν ὁ μέγιστος Ἀρχέλαος ταῖς μὲν ναυσὶν
and the greatest of them, Archelaos, who with his fleet 

ὁμοῦ τι συμπάσης ἐπικρατῶν τῆς θαλάττης τάς τε Κυκλάδας
controlled the entire sea, was subjugating the Cyclades, and 

νήσους ἐδουλοῦτο καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὅσαι Μαλέας
all the other islands which lie to the east of Cape Malea, 

ἐντὸς ἵδρυνται, καὶ τὴν Εὔβοιαν αὐτὴν εἶχεν, 
and was in possession of Euboea itself, while from his head-quarters 

ἐκ δὲ Ἀθηνῶν ὁρμώμενος τὰ μέχρι Θετταλίας ἔθνη τῆς 
at Athens he was bringing into revolt from Rome the peoples of Greece 

Ἑλλάδος ἀφίστη, μικρὰ προσκρούσας περὶ Χαιρώνειαν.
as far as Thessaly, although he met with slight reverses at Chaeroneia.

ἐνταῦθα γὰρ αὐτῷ Βρέττιος Σούρρας ἀπήντησε, 
For here he was confronted by Bruttius Sura, 

πρεσβευτὴς μὲν ὢν Σεντίου, τοῦ στρατηγοῦ τῆς 
who was a lieutenant of Sentius the praetor of 

Μακεδονίας, ἀνὴρ δὲ τόλμῃ καὶ φρονήσει διαφέρων,
Macedonia, and a man of superior courage and prudence.

οὗτος Ἀρχελάῳ δίκην ῥεύματος φερομένῳ διὰ τῆς 
This man, as Archelaos came rushing like a torrent 

Βοιωτίας ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ἀντιστάς, καὶ τρισὶ μάχαις 
through Boeotia, opposed him most fiercely, and after 

διαγωνισάμενος περὶ Χαιρώνειαν, ἐξέωσε καὶ
thrice giving him battle at Chaeroneia, repulsed 

συνέστειλε πάλιν ἐπὶ τὴν θάλατταν.
him, and drove him back to the sea.

Λευκίου δὲ Λευκόλλου κελεύσαντος αὐτὸν ὑποχωρεῖν ἐπιόντι Σύλλᾳ
But when Lucius Lucullus ordered him to give place to Sulla, 

καὶ τὸν ἐψηφισμένον ἐκείνῳ ἐᾶν πόλεμον,
who was coming, and to leave the conduct of the war to 

εὐθὺς ἐκλιπὼν τὴν Βοιωτίαν ὀπίσω πρὸς
him, as the senate had voted, he at once abandoned Boeotia 

Σέντιον ἀπήλαυνε, καίπερ αὐτῷ τῶν πραγμάτων
and marched back to Sentius, although his efforts were proving

ἐλπίδος πέρα προχωρούντων καὶ τῆς Ἑλλάδος οἰκείως ἐχούσης
successful beyond hope, and although the nobility of his bearing

πρὸς μεταβολὴν διὰ τὴν ἐκείνου καλοκἀγαθίαν.
was making Greece well-disposed towards a change of allegiance.

ἀλλὰ γὰρ Βρεττίῳ μὲν ταῦτα λαμπρότατα τῶν πεπραγμένων.
However, these were the most brilliant achievements of Bruttius.

Chapter 12
Σύλλας δὲ τὰς μὲν ἄλλας πόλεις εὐθὺς εἶχεν
As for Sulla, from the other cities, he at once received 

ἐπιπρεσβευομένας καὶ καλούσας, ταῖς δὲ Ἀθήναις διὰ
deputations and invitations, but Athens was compelled by 

τὸν τύραννον Ἀριστίωνα βασιλεύεσθαι ἠναγκασμέναις
the tyrant Aristion, to side with Mithridates.  Against this city, 

ἄθρους ἐπέστη καὶ τὸν Πειραιᾶ περιλαβὼν
therefore, Sulla led up all his forces, and encircling Piraeus, 

ἐπολιόρκει, μηχανήν τε πᾶσαν ἐφιστὰς καὶ μάχας
besieged it, bringing to bear upon it every sort of siege-engine, and 

παντοδαπὰς ποιούμενος.
making all sorts of assaults upon it.

καίτοι χρόνον οὐ πολὺν ἀνασχομένῳ παρῆν ἀκινδύνως
And yet if he had been patient a little while, he might have 

ἑλεῖν τὴν ἄνω πόλιν, ὑπὸ λιμοῦ συνηγμένην ἤδη τῇ
captured the upper city wiyout hazard, since it lacked the 

χρείᾳ τῶν ἀναγκαίων εἰς τὸν ἔσχατον καιρόν ἀλλ᾽ ἐπειγόμενος
necessities of life and was already reduced by famine to the last extremity.

εἰς Ῥώμην καὶ δεδιὼς τὸν ἐκεῖ νεωτερισμόν,
But since he was eager to get back to Rome,

πολλοῖς μὲν κινδύνοις, πολλαῖς δὲ μάχαις,
and feared the spirit of revolution there, he ran

μεγάλαις δὲ δαπάναις κατέσπευδε τὸν
many risks, fought many battles, and made great outlays that

πόλεμον, ᾧ γε δίχα τῆς ἄλλης παρασκευῆς ἡ περὶ τὰ
he might hasen on the war, in which, not to speak of his other 

μηχανήματα πραγματεία ζεύγεσι μυρίοις ὀρικοῖς
munitions, the operation of the siege-engines called for ten yousand

ἐχορηγεῖτο, καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ἐνεργοῖς οὖσι πρὸς τήν ὑπηρεσίαν.
pairs of mules, which were employed daily for this service.

ἐπιλειπούσης δὲ τῆς ὕλης διὰ τὸ κόπτεσθαι πολλὰ
And when timber began to fail, owing to the destruction of many 

τῶν ἔργων περικλώμενα τοῖς αὑτῶν βρίθεσι καὶ
of the works, which broke down of their own weight, and to 

πυρπολεῖσθαι βαλλόμενα συνεχῶς ὑπὸ τῶν
the burning of those which were continually smitten by 

πολεμίων, ἐπεχείρησε τοῖς ἱεροῖς ἄλσεσι, καὶ τήν
the enemy's fire-bolts, he laid hands upon the sacred groves, and 

τε Ἀκαδήμειαν ἔκειρε δενδροφορωτάτην προαστείων
ravaged the Academy, which was the most wooded of the city's suburbs, 

οὖσαν καὶ τὸ Λύκειον.
as well as the Lyceum.

ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ χρημάτων ἔδει πολλῶν πρὸς τὸν πόλεμον,
And since he needed much money also for the war, he 

ἐκίνει τὰ τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἄσυλα, τοῦτο μὲν ἐξ
diverted to his uses the sacred treasures of Hellas, partly from 

Ἐπιδαύρου, τοῦτο δὲ ἐξ Ὀλυμπίας, τὰ κάλλιστα καὶ
Epidaurus, and partly from Olympia, sending for the most beautiful and

πολυτελέστατα τῶν ἀναθημάτων μεταπεμπόμενος.
most precious of the offerings there.

ἔγραψε δὲ καὶ τοῖς Ἀμφικτύοσιν εἰς Δελφοὺς ὅτι τὰ
He wrote also to the Amphictyons at Delphi that it was 

χρήματα τοῦ θεοῦ βέλτιον εἴη κομισθῆναι πρὸς αὐτόν
better to have the treasures of the god sent to him; 

ἢ γὰρ φυλάξειν ἀσφαλέστερον ἢ καὶ ἀποχρησάμενος
for he would either keep them more safely, or, if he spent 

ἀποδώσειν οὐκ ἐλάττω˙
them, would restore as much. 

καὶ τῶν φίλων ἀπέστειλε Κάφιν τὸν Φωκέα 
And he sent Caphis, the Phocian, one of his friends, with the letter,

κελεύσας σταθμῷ παραλαβεῖν ἕκαστον.
bidding him receive each article by weight. 

ὁ δὲ Κάφις ἧκε μὲν εἰς Δελφούς, ὤκνει δὲ τῶν ἱερῶν
Caphis came to Delphi, but was loth to touch the sacred objects, 

θιγεῖν, καὶ πολλὰ τῶν Ἀμφικτυόνων παρόντων
and shed many tears, in the presence of the Amphictyons, 

ἀπεδάκρυσε τήν ἀνάγκην.
over the necessity of it.

ἐνίων δὲ φασκόντων ἀκοῦσαι φθεγγομένης τῆς ἐν τοῖς
And when some of them declared they heard the sound of the god's 

ἀνακτόροις κιθάρας, εἴτε πιστεύσας εἴτε τὸν Σύλλαν
lyre in the inner sanctuary, Caphis, either because he believed them,

βουλόμενος ἐμβαλεῖν εἰς δεισιδαιμονίαν, ἐπέστειλε
or because he wished to strike Sulla with superstitious fear, sent word

πρὸς αὐτόν, ὁ δὲ σκώπτων ἀντέγραψε θαυμάζειν τὸν
 to him about it. But Sulla wrote back jocosely, 

Κάφιν, εἰ μὴ συνίησιν ὅτι χαίροντος, οὐ expressing his amazement
that Caphis did not understand 

χαλεπαίνοντος, εἴη τὸ ᾄδειν: ὥστε θαρροῦντα
that singing was done in joy, not anger; his orders were 

λαμβάνειν ἐκέλευσεν, ὡς ἡδομένου τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ
therefore to take boldly, assured that the god was willing 

διδόντος.
and glad to give.

τὰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλα διέλαθε τούς γε πολλοὺς Ἕλληνας
Accordingly, the treasures were sent away wiyout most knowing,

ἐκπεμπόμενα, τὸν δὲ ἀργυροῦν πίθον, ὃς ἦν
certainly, of the Greeks; but the silver jar, the only one

ὑπόλοιπος ἔτι τῶν βασιλικῶν, διὰ βάρος καὶ μέγεθος
of the royal gifts which still remained, was too large

οὐ δυναμένων ἀναλαβεῖν τῶν ὑποζυγίων,
and heavy for any beast of burden to carry, and the

ἀναγκαζόμενοι κατακόπτειν οἱ Ἀμφικτύονες εἰς
Amphictyons were compelled to cut it into pieces. 

μνήμην ἐβάλοντο τοῦτο μὲν Τίτον Φλαμινῖνον καὶ
They recalled, as they did so, Titus Flamininus and 

Μάνιον Ἀκύλιον, τοῦτο δὲ Αἰμίλιον Παῦλον, ὧν ὁ μὲν
Manius Acilius, and now Aemilius Paulus, of whom one had driven 

Ἀντίοχον ἐξελάσας τῆς Ἑλλάδος, οἱ δὲ τούς
Antiochus out of Greece, and the others had subdued in 

Μακεδόνων βασιλεῖς καταπολεμήσαντες οὐ μόνον
war the kings of Macedonia; these had not only spared the 

ἀπέσχοντο τῶν ἱερῶν τῶν Ἑλληνικῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ δῶρα
sanctuaries of the Greeks, but had even made additional gifts 

καὶ τιμὴν αὐτοῖς καὶ σεμνότητα πολλὴν προσέθεσαν.
to them, and greatly increased their honour and dignity.

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκεῖνοι μὲν ἀνδρῶν τε σωφρόνων καὶ
But these were lawful commanders of men who 

μεμαθηκότων σιωπῇ τοῖς ἄρχουσι παρέχειν τὰς χεῖρας
were self-restrained and had learned to serve their leaders 

ἡγούμενοι κατὰ νόμον, αὐτοί τε ταῖς ψυχαῖς βασιλικοὶ 
wiyout a murmur, and they were themselves kingly 

καὶ ταῖς δαπάναις εὐτελεῖς ὄντες,
in spirit and simple in their personal expenses, 

μετρίοις ἐχρῶντο καὶ τεταγμένοις ἀναλώμασι, τὸ
and indulged in moderate and specified public expenditures, 

κολακεύειν τούς στρατιώτας αἴσχιον ἡγούμενοι τοῦ
deeming it more disgraceful to flatter their soldiers 

δεδιέναι τούς πολεμίους:
than to fear their enemies;

οἱ δὲ τότε στρατηγοὶ βίᾳ τὸ πρωτεῖον, οὐκ
the generals of this later time, however, who won their primacy by force,

ἀρετῇ, κτώμενοι, καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπ᾽ ἀλλήλους δεόμενοι
not merit, and who needed their armies for service against one another,

τῶν ὅπλων ἢ τούς πολεμίους, ἠναγκάζοντο δημαγωγεῖν
rather than against the public enemy, were compelled to merge

ἐν τῷ στρατηγεῖν, εἶθ᾽ ὧν εἰς τὰς ἡδυπαθείας τοῖς
the general in the demagogue, and then, by purchasing the services of

στρατευομένοις ἀνήλισκον ὠνούμενοι τούς πόνους
their soldiers with lavish sums to be spent on luxurious living,

αὑτῶν, ἔλαθον ὤνιον ὅλην τήν πατρίδα ποιήσαντες
they unwittingly made their whole country a thing for sale, and

ἑαυτούς τε δούλους τῶν κακίστων ἐπὶ τῷ τῶν
themselves slaves of the basest men for the sake 

βελτιόνων ἄρχειν.
of ruling over the better.

ταῦτα ἐξήλαυνε Μάριον, εἶτ᾽ αὖθις ἐπὶ Σύλλαν
This was what drove out Marius, and then brought 

κατῆγε, ταῦτα Ὀκταουΐου τούς περὶ Κίνναν,ταῦτα
him back again against Sulla; this made Cinna the 

Φλάκκου τούς περὶ Φιμβρίαν αὐτόχειρας ἐποίησεν.
assassin of Octavius, and Fimbria of Flaccus. 

ὧν οὐχ ἥκιστα Σύλλας ἐνέδωκεν ἀρχάς, ἐπὶ τῷ
And it was Sulla who, more than any one else, paved 

διαφθείρειν καὶ μετακαλεῖν τούς ὑπ᾽ ἄλλοις ταττομένους καταχορηγῶν
the way for these horrors, by making lavish expenditures 

εἰς τούς ὑφ᾽ αὑτῷ καὶ δαπανώμενος,
upon the soldiers under his own command that he 

ὥστε ἅμα τούς ἄλλους μὲν εἰς προδοσίαν,
might corrupt and win over those whom others commanded, 

τούς δὲ ὑφ᾽ αὑτῷ εἰς ἀσωτίαν διαφθείρων
so that in making traitors of the rest, and profligates 

χρημάτων δεῖσθαι πολλῶν, καὶ μάλιστα πρὸς τὴν
of his own soldiers, he had need of much money, and 

πολιορκίαν ἐκείνην.
especially for this siege.

Chapter 13
δεινὸς γάρ τις ἄρα καὶ ἀπαραίτητος εἶχεν αὐτὸν ἔρως
For he was possessed by some dreadful and inexorable passion 

ἑλεῖν τὰς Ἀθήνας, εἴτε ζήλῳ τινὶ πρὸς τὴν πάλαι σκιαμαχοῦντα
for the capture of Athens, either because he was fighting 

τῆς πόλεως δόξαν, εἴτε θυμῷ τὰ σκώμματα φέροντα
with an ardour against the shadow of the city's former glory,

καὶ τὰς βωμολοχίας, αἷς αὐτόν τε
or was provoked to anger by scurrilous abuse showered 

καὶ τὴν Μετέλλαν ἀπὸ τῶν τειχῶν ἑκάστοτε γεφυρίζων
upon himself and Metella from the walls by the tyrant

καὶ κατορχούμενος ἐξηρέθιζεν ὁ τύραννος Ἀριστίων,
Aristion, who always danced in mockery as he scoffed.

ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἀσελγείας ὁμοῦ καὶ ὠμότητος ἔχων
This man's spirit was compounded 

συγκειμένην τὴν ψυχήν, 
of licentiousness and cruelty; he had made himself a 

καὶ τὰ χείριστα τῶν Μιθριδατικῶν συνερρυηκότα
sink for the worst of the diseases and passions of Mithridates;

νοσημάτων καὶ παθῶν εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἀνειληφώς, καὶ τῇ
and in these his last days he had fixed himself, like a fatal malady,

πόλει μυρίους μὲν πολέμους, πολλὰς δὲ τυραννίδας
upon a city which had passed safely through countless wars, 

καὶ στάσεις διαπεφευγυίᾳ πρότερον ὥσπερ νόσημα
and many usurpations and seditions.

θανατηφόρον εἰς τοὺς ἐσχάτους καιροὺς ἐπιτιθέμενος˙
This man, although at the time a bushel of wheat sold in the 

ὅς, χιλίων δραχμῶν ὠνίου τοῦ μεδίμνου τῶν πυρῶν 
city for a yousand drachmas, and although men made 

ὄντος ἐν ἄστει τότε,τῶν ἀνθρώπων σιτουμένων τὸ 
food for themselves of the fever-few 

περὶ τὴν ἀκρόπολιν φυόμενον παρθένιον,
which grew on the acropolis, and 

ὑποδήματα δὲ καὶ ληκύθους ἑφθὰς ἐσθιόντων, αὐτὸς
boiled down shoes and leather oil-flasks to eat, was himself 

ἐνδελεχῶς πότοις μεθημερινοῖς καὶ κώμοις χρώμενος
continually indulging in drinking-bouts and revels by daylight, 

καὶ πυρριχίζων καὶ γελωτοποιῶν πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους
dancing in armour and making jokes to deride the enemy, while 

τὸν μὲν ἱερὸν τῆς θεοῦ λύχνον ἀπεσβηκότα διὰ
he suffered the sacred lamp of the goddess to go out for lack 

σπάνιν ἐλαίου περιεῖδε, τῇ δὲ ἱεροφάντιδι πυρῶν
of oil; and when the chief priestess begged him for a twelfth 

ἡμίεκτον προσαιτούσῃ πεπέρεως ἔπεμψε, τοὺς δὲ
of a bushel of wheat, he sent her so much pepper; and when 

βουλευτὰς καὶ ἱερεῖς ἱκετεύοντας οἰκτεῖραι τὴν
senators and priests came in suppliant array, and entreated 

πόλιν καὶ διαλύσασθαι πρὸς Σύλλαν τοξεύμασι βάλλων
him to take pity on the city and come to terms with Sulla, he scattered 

διεσκέδασεν.
them with a volley of arrows.

ὀψὲ δὲ ἤδη που μόλις ἐξέπεμψεν ὑπὲρ εἰρήνης δύο ἢ
After a long time, with much ado, he sent out two or three of 

τρεῖς τῶν συμποτῶν πρὸς οὓς οὐδὲν ἀξιοῦντας
his fellow-revellers to treat for peace, when they made no demands 

σωτήριον, ἀλλὰ τὸν Θησέα καὶ τὸν Εὔμολπον καὶ τὰ
which could save the city, but talked in lofty strains about Theseus 

Μηδικὰ σεμνολογουμένους ὁ Σύλλας:
and Eumolpus and the Persian wars, Sulla said:

‘ἄπιτε, ’ εἶπεν, ‘ὦ μακάριοι, τοὺς λόγους τούτους
"Be off, my dear Sirs, and take these speeches with 

ἀναλαβόντες: ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐ φιλομαθήσων εἰς Ἀθήνας ὑπὸ
you; for I was not sent to Athens by the  

Ῥωμαίων ἐπέμφθην, ἀλλὰ τοὺς ἀφισταμένους καταστρεψόμενος.
Romans to learn its history, but to subdue its rebels. 

Chapter 14
ἐν δὲ τούτῳ λέγεταί τινας ἐν Κεραμεικῷ πρεσβυτῶν
At this point, it is said, certain soldiers in the Cerameicus overheard some old men 

ἀκούσαντας διαλεγομένων πρὸς ἀλλήλους καὶ κακιζόντων τὸν τύραννον, 
talking with one another, and abusing the tyrant because he did not guard 

ὡς μὴ φυλάττοντα τοῦ τείχους τὴν περὶ τὸ 
the approaches to the wall at the Heptachalcum, at which point alone it was possible 

Ἑπτάχαλκον ἔφοδον καὶ προσβολήν, ᾗ μόνῃ δυνατὸν εἶναι 
and easy for the enemy to get over. When this was reported to Sulla, he did not make 

καὶ ῥᾴδιον ὑπερβῆναι τοὺς πολεμίους, ἀπαγγεῖλαι ταῦτα 
light of it, but went there by night, and seeing that the place could be taken, 

πρὸς τὸν Σύλλαν.
set himself to the work. 

ὁ δὲ οὐ κατεφρόνησεν, ἀλλὰ ἐπελθὼν νυκτὸς καὶ
But he did not despise it, instead, coming upon it by night and 

θεασάμενος τὸν τόπον ἁλώσιμον εἴχετο τοῦ
seeing that the place was capable of being captured, he undertook the 

ἔργου, λέγει δὲ αὐτός ὁ Σύλλας ἐν τοῖς ὑπομνήμασι
task himself. However, Sulla, in his memoirs, says that when the 

τὸν πρῶτον ἐπιβάντα τοῦ τείχους Μάρκον Ἀτήϊον
first man to scale the wall, Marcus Attilius, 

ἀντιστάντος αὐτῷ πολεμίου δόντα πληγὴν ἐκ
met an enemy resisting him, who dealt a blow at his helmet 

καταφορᾶς τῷ κράνει περικλάσαι τὸ ξίφος, οὐ μὴν
with a downward stroke, he did not draw back 

ὑφέσθαι τῆς χώρας, ἀλλὰ μεῖναι καὶ κατασχεῖν.
from the ground but stayed and gained possession.

κατελήφθη μὲν οὖν ἡ πόλις ἐκεῖθεν, ὡς Ἀθηναίων οἱ
At any rate, the city was taken at this point, as 

πρεσβύτατοι διεμνημόνευον.
the oldest Athenians used to testify. 

αὐτός δὲ Σύλλας τὸ μεταξὺ τῆς Πειραϊκῆς πύλης καὶ
And Sulla himself, after he had thrown down and levelled with the 

τῆς ἱερᾶς κατασκάψας καὶ συνομαλύνας, περὶ μέσας
ground the wall between the Piraikes and the Sacred Gate, led his 

νύκτας εἰσήλαυνε, 
army into the city at midnight.

φρικώδης ὑπό τε σάλπιγξι καὶ κέρασι πολλοῖς, ἀλαλαγμῷ 
The sight of him was made terrible by blasts of many trumpets and 

καὶ κραυγῇ τῆς δυνάμεως ἐφ᾽ ἁρπαγὴν καὶ φόνον 
bugles, and by the cries and yells of the soldiery now 

ἀφειμένης ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, καὶ φερομένης διὰ τῶν στενωπῶν
let loose by him for plunder and slaughter, and rushing through 

ἐσπασμένοις τοῖς ξίφεσιν, ὥστε ἀριθμὸν μηδένα γενέσθαι
the narrow streets with drawn swords. There was therefore no counting 

τῶν ἀποσφαγέντων, ἀλλὰ τῷ τόπῳ τοῦ ῥυέντος αἵματος 
of the slain, but their numbers are to this day determined only 

ἔτι νῦν μετρεῖσθαι τὸ πλῆθος.
by the space that was covered with blood.

ἄνευ γὰρ τῶν κατὰ τὴν ἄλλην πόλιν ἀναιρεθέντων ὁ
For wiyout mention of those who were killed in the rest of the 

περὶ τὴν ἀγορὰν φόνος ἐπέσχε πάντα τὸν ἐντὸς τοῦ
city, the blood that was shed in the market-place covered all the 

Διπύλου Κεραμεικόν πολλοῖς δὲ λέγεται καὶ διὰ
Cerameicus inside the Dipylon gate; nay, many say that it flowed 

πυλῶν κατακλύσαι τὸ προάστειον.
through the gate and deluged the suburb.

ἀλλὰ τῶν οὕτως ἀποθανόντων, τοσούτων γενομένων, οὐκ
But although those who were thus slain were so many, there were yet 

ἐλάσσονες ἦσαν οἱ σφᾶς αὐτοὺς διαφθείροντες οἴκτῳ
more who slew themselves, out of yearning pity for their native 

καὶ πόθῳ τῆς πατρίδος ὡς ἀναιρεθησομένης.
city, which they thought was going to be destroyed.

τοῦτο γὰρ ἀπογνῶναι καὶ φοβηθῆναι τὴν σωτηρίαν
For this conviction made the best of them give up in 

ἐποίησε τοὺς βελτίστους, οὐδὲν ἐν τῷ Σύλλᾳ
despair and fear to survive, since they expected 

φιλάνθρωπον οὐδὲ μέτριον ἐλπίσαντας.
no humanity or moderation in Sulla. 

ἀλλὰ γὰρ τοῦτο μὲν Μειδίου καὶ Καλλιφῶντος τῶν
However, partly at the instance of the exiles Meidias and Calliphon, 

φυγάδων δεομένων καὶ προκυλινδουμένων αὐτοῦ, τοῦτο
who threw themselves at his feet in supplication, and partly because 

δὲ τῶν συγκλητικῶν, ὅσοι συνεστράτευον, ἐξαιτουμένων 
all the Roman senators who were in his following interceded for the city, 

τὴν πόλιν, αὐτός τε μεστὸς ὢν ἤδη τῆς τιμωρίας, 
being himself also by this time sated with vengeance, after some words 

ἐγκώμιόν τι τῶν παλαιῶν Ἀθηναίων ὑπειπὼν ἔφη 
in praise of the ancient Athenians, he said that he forgave a few 

χαρίζεσθαι πολλοῖς μὲν ὀλίγους, ζῶντας δὲ τεθνηκόσιν.
for the sake of many, the living for the sake of the dead. 

ἑλεῖν δὲ τὰς Ἀθήνας αὐτός φησιν ἐν τοῖς ὑπομνήμασι
He took Athens, as he says himself in his Memoirs, on the 

Μαρτίαις καλάνδαις, ἥτις ἡμέρα μάλιστα συμπίπτει
Calends of March, a day which corresponds very nearly 

τῇ νουμηνίᾳ τοῦ Ἀνθεστηριῶνος μηνός, ἐν ᾧ κατὰ
with the first of the month Anthesterion. In this month, 

τύχην ὑπομνήματα πολλὰ τοῦ διὰ τὴν ἐπομβρίαν ὀλέθρου 
as it happens, the Athenians perform many rites commemorating the destruction

καὶ τῆς φθορᾶς ἐκείνης δρῶσιν, ὡς τότε καὶ περὶ τὸν 
and devastation caused by the flood, believing 

χρόνον ἐκεῖνόν μάλιστα τοῦ κατακλυσμοῦ συμπεσόντος,
that the ancient deluge occurred at about this time.

ἑαλωκότος δὲ τοῦ ἄστεος ὁ μὲν τύραννος εἰς τὴν
On the capture of the town, the tyrant took refuge in 

ἀκρόπολιν καταφυγὼν ἐπολιορκεῖτο, Κουρίωνος ἐπὶ
the acropolis, and was besieged there by Curio, who was 

τούτῳ τεταγμένου.
appointed to this task.

καὶ χρόνον ἐγκαρτερήσας συχνὸν αὐτός ἑαυτὸν ἐνεχείρισε 
He held out for a considerable time, but was driven by the 

δίψει πιεσθείς, καὶ τὸ δαιμόνιον εὐθὺς ἐπεσήμηνε.
pangs of thirst to give himself up.

τῆς γὰρ αὐτῆς ἡμέρας τε καὶ ὥρας ἐκεῖνόν τε
And the Deity at once gave a manifest token in the matter; for at 

Κουρίων κατῆγε, καὶ νεφῶν ἐξ αἰθρίας συνδραμόντων
the very hour of the day when Curio brought his prisoner down, clouds 

πλῆθος ὄμβρου καταρραγὲν ἐπλήρωσεν ὕδατος τὴν
gathered in an open sky, and a quantity of rain fell and filled the 

ἀκρόπολιν.
acropolis with water.

εἷλε δὲ καὶ τὸν Πειραιᾶ μετ᾽ οὐ πολὺν χρόνον ὁ Σύλλας, 
Not long after, Sulla took the Piraeus also,  

καὶ τὰ πλεῖστα κατέκαυσεν, ὧν ἦν καὶ ἡ
and burnt most of it, including the arsenal 

Φίλωνος ὁπλοθήκη, θαυμαζόμενον ἔργον.
of Philo, a marvellous work.

Chapter 15
ἐν δὲ τούτῳ Ταξίλης ὁ Μιθριδάτου στρατηγὸς ἐκ
Meanwhile Taxiles, the general of Mithridates had come down 

Θρᾴκης καὶ Μακεδονίας καταβεβηκὼς δέκα μυριάσι πεζῶν 
from Thrace and Macedonia with a hundred yousand footmen, 

καὶ μυρίοις ἱππεῦσι καὶ τεθρίπποις ἐνενήκοντα δρεπανηφόροις
ten yousand horse, and ninety scythe-bearing four-horse chariots, 

ἐκάλει τὸν Ἀρχέλαον, ἔτι ναυλοχοῦντα περὶ τὴν Μουνυχίαν
and summoned Archelaon to join him. Archelaon still lay with his fleet at Munychia, 

καὶ μήτε τῆς θαλάττης βουλόμενον ἀποστῆναι μήτε πρόθυμον ὄντα
and was neither willing to quit the sea, nor eager 

συμπλέκεσθαι τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις, ἀλλὰ χρονοτριβεῖν τὸν
to join battle with the Romans, but planned to protract 

πόλεμον καὶ τὰς εὐπορίας αὐτῶν ἀφαιρεῖν.
the war and cut off their supplies.

ἃ δὴ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἐκείνου συνορῶν ὁ Σύλλας
But Sulla understood the situation much better than Archelaon did, and therefore 

ἀνέζευξεν εἰς Βοιωτίαν ἐκ χωρίων γλίσχρων καὶ μηβὲ
transferred his forces into Boeotia, away from regions that were far from

ἐν εἰρήνῃ τρέφειν ἱκανῶν ὄντων, καὶ τοῖς πολλοῖς
fertile, and unable to maintain a population even in time of peace.

ἐδόκει σφάλλεσθαι τὸν λογισμόν, ὅτι τὴν Ἀττικὴν
Most thought he had erred in his calculations, because he abandoned Attica, 

τραχεῖαν οὖσαν καὶ δύσιππον ἀπολιπὼν ἐνέβαλεν
which was a rough country and ill-suited for cavalry movements,

ἑαυτὸν πεδιάσι καὶ ἀναπεπταμέναις ταῖς περὶ τὴν
and thrown himself into the plains and open districts 

Βοιωτίαν χώραις, ὁρῶν ἐν ἅρμασι καὶ ἵπποις τὴ;ν
of Boeotia, although he saw that the strength of the Barbarians consisted 

βαρβαρικὴν οὖσαν ἀλκήν.
in chariots and cavalry.

ἀλλὰ φεύγων, ὥσπερ εἴρηται, λιμὸν καὶ σπάνιν
But in flying from scarcity and famine, as has been said, 

ἠναγκάζετο διώκειν τὸν ἐκ τῆς μάχης κίνδυνον.
he was compelled to pursue the danger arising from battle.

ἔτι δὲ Ὁρτήσιος αὐτὸν ἐφόβει, στρατηγικὸς ἀνὴρ καὶ
And furthermore, he was anxious about Hortensius, a bold and 

φιλόνεικος, ὃν ἐκ Θετταλίας ἄγοντα τῷ Σύλλᾳ
capable general, who was leading a force from Thessaly 

δύναμιν ἐν τοῖς στενοῖς οἱ βάρβαροι
to Sulla while the Barbarians were closely watching 

παρεφύλαττον.
for him in the passes.

διὰ ταῦτα μὲν εἰς τὴν Βοιωτίαν ἀνέζευξεν ὁ Σύλλας˙
For these reasons Sulla transferred his army into Boeotia. 

Ὁρτήσιον δὲ Κάφις, ἡμέτερος ὤν, ἑτέραις ὁδοῖς
But Hortensius was rescued by Caphis, a countryman of mine,

ψευσάμενος τοὺς βαρβάρους διὰ τοῦ Παρνασσοῦ
and conducted by different routes, of which the Barbarians were ignorant,

κατῆγεν ὑπ᾽ αὐτὴν τὴν Τιθόραν, οὔπω τοσαύτην πόλιν
past Parnassus to a spot just

οὖσαν ὅση νῦν ἐστιν,
below Tithora. 

ἀλλὰ φρούριον ἀπορρῶγι κρημνῷ περικοπτόμενον, 
But a fortress inaccessible by a cliff, into which 

εἰς ὃ καὶ πάλαι ποτὲ Φωκέων οἱ Ξέρξην ἐπιόντα 
even in former times the Phocians, when Xerxes 

φεύγοντες ἀνεσκευάσαντο καὶ διεσώθησαν,
was advancing, took refuge and were saved. 

ἐνταῦθα καταστρατοπεδεύσας Ὁρτήσιος ἡμέρας μὲν 
Having encamped here, Hortensius repulsed the enemy 

ἀπεκρούσατο τοὺς πολεμίους, νύκτωρ δ᾽ ἐπὶ 
by day, and at night descended to Patronis 

Πατρωνίδα ταῖς δυσχωρίαις καταβὰς ἀπαντήσαντι τῷ Σύλλᾳ
by difficult paths and made a junction with Sulla, 

μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως συνέμιξε.
who came to meet him with his army.

Chapter 16
γενόμενοι δὲ κοινῇ καταλαμβάνονται βουνὸν ἐκ μέσων
When they had thus united their forces, they occupied a hill which rose out 

ἑστῶτα τῶν Ἐλατικῶν πεδίων, εὔγεων καὶ ἀμφιλαφῆ
of the midst of the plains of Elatea, a fertile hill, thickly grown with 

καὶ παρὰ τήν ῥίζαν ὕδωρ ἔχοντα.
trees, and supplied with water at its base.
 
Φιλοβοιωτὸς καλεῖται, καὶ τήν φύσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ τήν
Philoboeotus is its name, and its situation and natural advantages 

θέσιν ἐπαινεῖ θαυμασίως ὁ Σύλλας.
are most highly praised by Sulla.

στρατοπεδεύσαντες δὲ παντάπασιν ὀλίγοι τοῖς
As they lay encamped here, they appeared to 

πολεμίοις κατεφάνησαν ἱππεῖς μὲν γὰρ οὐ πλείους
the enemy altogether few in numbers; for they were not more than

πεντακοσίων καὶ χιλίων ἐγένοντο, πεζοὶ δὲ
fifteen hundred horse, and less 

πεντακισχιλίων καὶ μυρίων ἐλάττους.
than fifteen yousand foot.

ὅθεν ἐκβιασάμενοι τόν Ἀρχέλαον οἱ λοιποὶ στρατηγοὶ
Wherefore the rest of his generals overpowered the objections 

καὶ παρατάξαντες τήν δύναμιν, ἐνέπλησαν ἵππων,
of Archelaon and drew up for battle, filling the plain with their horses,

ἁρμάτων, ἀσπίδων, θυρεῶν τὸ πεδίον.
chariots, shields, and bucklers.

τὴν δὲ κραυγὴν καὶ ἀλαλαγμὸν οὐκ ἔστεγεν ὁ ἀὴρ
The air could not contain the shouts and clamour 

ἐθνῶν τοσούτων ἅμα καθισταμένων εἰς τάξιν.
of so many nations forming in array.

ἦν δὲ ἅμα καὶ τὸ κομπῶδες καὶ σοβαρὸν αὐτῶν τῆς
At the same time also the pomp and ostentation of their costly 

πολυτελείας οὐκ ἀργὸν οὐδὲ ἄχρηστον εἰς
equipment was not wiyout its effect and use in exciting 

ἔκπληξιν, ἀλλ᾽ αἵ τε μαρμαρυγαὶ τῶν ὅπλων
terror; indeed, the flashing of their armour, which 

ἠσκημένων χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ διαπρεπῶς,
was magnificently embellished with gold and silver, 

αἵ τε βαφαὶ τῶν Μηδικῶν καὶ Σκυθικῶν χιτώνων
and the rich colours of their Median and Scythian vests, 

ἀναμεμιγμέναι χαλκῷ καὶ σιδήρῳ λάμποντι πυροειδῆ
intermingled with bronze and flashing steel, presented a flaming 

καὶ φοβερὰν ἐν τῷ σαλεύεσθαι καὶ διαφέρεσθαι
and fearful sight as they surged to and fro, 

προσέβαλον ὄψιν, ὥστε τοὺς Ῥωμαίους ὑπὸ τόν χάρακα
so that the Romans huddled together behind their trenches, 

συστέλλειν ἑαυτούς, καὶ τόν Σύλλαν μηδενὶ λόγῳ τὸ
and Sulla, unable by any reasoning to remove their fear, and 

θάμβος αὐτῶν ἀφελεῖν δυνάμενον, βιάζεσθαί τε
unwilling to force them into a fight from which they 

ἀποδιδράσκοντας οὐ βουλόμενον, ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν καὶ
wanted to run away, had to sit still and endure as best he 

φέρειν βαρέως ἐφυβρίζοντας ὁρῶντα κομπασμῷ καὶ
could the sight of the Barbarians insulting him with boasts 

γέλωτι τοὺς βαρβάρους, ὤνησε μέντοι τοῦτο μάλιστα
and laughter. This, however, was of service to him above 

πάντων αὐτόν,
all else. 

οἱ γὰρ ἐναντίοι καταφρονήσαντες ἐτράποντο πρὸς ἀταξίαν πολλήν,
For owing to their contempt of him, his opponents lapsed into great disorder, 

οὐδὲ ἄλλως ὑπήκοοι τῶν στρατηγῶν
since even at their best they were not obedient to their generals, owing 

διὰ πολυαρχίαν ὄντες.
to the great number in command.

ὥστε ὀλίγοι μὲν ἐν τῷ χάρακι διεκαρτέρουν, ὁ δὲ πλεῖστος ὄχλος
Few of them therefore consented to remain within their entrenchments, but 

ἁρπαγαῖς καὶ πορθήμασι δελεαζόμενος
the largest part of the throng was lured away by plunder and pillage, and 

ὁδὸν ἡμερῶν πολλῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ στρατοπέδου διεσπείρετο.
was scattered about the country many days march from their camp.

καὶ τήν τε τῶν Πανοπέων πόλιν ἐκκόψαι λέγονται καὶ
They are said to have destroyed the city of Panope, and to have 

τήν Λεβαδέων διαρπάσαι καὶ συλῆσαι τὸ μαντεῖον, 
sacked Lebadeia and despoiled its oracle, although 

οὐδενὸς στρατηγοῦ πρόσταγμα δόντος.
none of their generals ordered them to do so. 

ὁ δὲ Σύλλας, ἐν ὄμμασιν αὐτοῦ πόλεων
But Sulla, though chafing and fretting while 

ἀπολλυμένων, δυσανασχετῶν καὶ λυπούμενος, οὐκ εἴα
cities were destroyed before his eyes, would not suffer 

τοὺς στρατιώτας σχολάζειν, ἀλλὰ προσάγων αὐτοὺς
his soldiers to be idle, but led them out and forced 

ἠνάγκαζε τόν τε Κηφισὸν ἐκ τοῦ ῥείθρου παρατρέπειν
them to dig ditches and divert the Cephisus from its channel, 

καὶ τάφρους ὀρύσσειν, ἀνάπαυλαν οὐδενὶ διδοὺς καὶ
giving no man a respite, and showing himself an inexorable 

τῶν ἐνδιδόντων ἀπαραίτητος ἐφεστὼς κολαστής,ὅπως
chasiser of those who were remiss, in order that they 

ἀπαγορεύσαντες πρὸς τὰ ἔργα διὰ τόν πόνον
might be worn out at their tasks and induced by 

ἀσπάσωνται τόν κίνδυνον.
their hardships to welcome danger. 

ὃ καὶ συνέβη, τρίτην γὰρ ἡμέραν ἐργαζόμενοι τοῦ
And this indeed happened.  For on the third day of their drudgery, 

Σύλλα παρεξιόντος ἐδέοντο μετὰ κραυγῆς ἄγειν ἐπὶ
as Sulla passed by, they begged and clamoured to be led 

τοὺς πολεμίους, 
against the enemy.

ὁ δὲ οὐ μάχεσθαι βουλομένων, ἀλλὰ μὴ βουλομένων
But Sulla said their words showed not a willingness to fight, 

πονεῖν ἔφησεν εἶναι τόν λόγον εἰ δὲ ὄντως ἔχουσιν
but an unwillingness to labour; if, however, they were really 

ἀγωνιστικῶς, ἐκέλευσεν ἤδη μετὰ τῶν ὅπλων ἐλθεῖν
disposed to fight, then he bade them take their arms and 

ἐκεῖσε, δείξας αὐτοῖς τήν πρότερον μὲν γενομένην
go at once yonder, pointing them to what had formerly been 

ἀκρόπολιν τῶν Παραποταμίων,
the acropolis of Parapotamii. 

τότε δὲ ἀνῃρημένης τῆς πόλεως λόφος ἐλείπετο πετρώδης 
At this time, however, the city had been destroyed, and only a rocky 

καὶ περίκρημνος, τοῦ Ἡδυλίου διωρισμένος
and precipitous crest remained, separated from Mount Hedylium by the 

ὄρους ὅσον ὁ Ἄσσος ἐπέχει ῥέων, εἶτα συμπίπτων ὑπὸ
breadth of the river Assus, which then falls into the Cephisus at the 

τήν ῥίζαν αὐτὴν τῷ Κηφισῷ καὶ συνεκτραχυνόμενος
very base of the mountain, becomes impetuous in its flow after the 

ὀχυρὰν ἐνστρατοπεδεῦσαι τήν ἄκραν ποιεῖ, διὸ καὶ
confluence, and makes the citadel a strong place for a camp. For this reason, 

τοὺς χαλκάσπιδας ὁρῶν τῶν πολεμίων ὠθουμένους ἐπ᾽
and because he saw the Chalcaspides, or Bronze-shields, of the enemy pushing their

αὐτὴν ὁ Σύλλας ἐβούλετο φθῆναι καταλαβὼν τόν τόπον
way towards it, Sulla wished to occupy the place first; 

καὶ κατέλαβε χρησάμενος τοῖς στρατιώταις προθύμοις.
and he did occupy it, now that he found his soldiers eager for action.

ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀποκρουσθεὶς ἐκεῖθεν ὁ Ἀρχέλαος ὥρμησεν
And when Archelaon, repulsed from this site, set out 

ἐπὶ τήν Χαιρώνειαν, οἱ δὲ συστρατευσάμενοι τῶν
against Chaeroneia, and the Chaeroneians in Sulla's 

Χαιρωνέων ἐδέοντο τοῦ Σύλλα μὴ προέσθαι τήν
army besought him not to abandon their city to its 

πόλιν, ἐκπέμπει τῶν χιλιάρχων ἕνα Γαβίνιον μετὰ
fate, he sent out Gabinius, one of his tribunes, with 

τάγματος ἑνὸς καὶ τοὺς Χαιρωνεῖς
one legion, and let the Chaeroneians 

ἀφίησι, βουληθέντας μέν, οὐ μὴν δυνηθέντας φθῆναι
also go, who wished, but were unable, to get into the 

τόν Γαβίνιον.
city before Gabinius.

οὕτως ἦν ἀγαθὸς καὶ προθυμότερος εἰς τὸ σῶσαι τῶν
So efficient was he, and more eager to bring succour than those 

σωθῆναι δεομένων.
who begged that succour should be given.

ὁ δὲ Ἰόβας οὐ Γαβίνιόν φησι πεμφθῆναι, ἀλλὰ Ἐρίκιον.
Juba, however, says it was not Gabinius, but Ericius, who was thus sent.

ἡ μὲν οὖν πόλις ἡμῶν παρὰ τοσοῦτον ἐξέφυγε τόν κίνδυνον.
At any rate, so narrowly did my native city escape its peril.

Chapter 17
περὶ ὧν οἱ μὲν ἐπιχώριοι πλείονα λέγουσιν ὡς δὲ
Of these the inhabitants of the country have more to say; 

Σύλλας αὐτὸς ἐν δεκάτῳ τῶν ὑπομνημάτων
but Sulla himself in his Memoirs in the tenth book 

γέγραφε, Κόϊντος Τίτιος, οὐκ ἀφανὴς ἀνὴρ τῶν ἐν τῇ
has written how Quintus Titius, a prominent man among the Romans doing 

Ἑλλάδι πραγματευομένων, ἧκε πρὸς αὐτὸν ἤδη τὴν ἐν
business in Greece, came to him immediately after he had

Χαιρωνείᾳ νενικηκότα μάχην, ἀπαγγέλλων ὅτι καὶ
won his victory at Chaeroneia, with tidings that 

δευτέραν ὁ Τροφώνιος αὐτόθι μάχην καὶ νίκην
Trophonius predicted for him a second battle and victory 

προσημαίνει ἐντὸς ὀλίγου χρόνου,
in that neighbourhood within a short time. 

μετὰ δὲ τοῦτον ἀνὴρ τῶν ἐν τάξει στρατευομένων ὄνομα Σαλουήνιος
And after him, a legionary soldier, Salvenius by name, 

ἀνήνεγκε παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τέλος οἷον
brought him from the god a statement of the issue 

αἱ κατὰ τὴν Ἰταλίαν πράξεις ἔμελλον ἕξειν.
which affairs in Italy were going to have.

ἀμφότεροι δὲ ταὐτὰ περὶ τῆς ὀμφῆς ἔφραζον τῷ γὰρ
But both agreed about the source of their oracle; for they 

Ὀλυμπίῳ Διῒ καὶ τὸ κάλλος καὶ τὸ μέγεθος
said they had beheld one who in beauty and majesty 

παραπλήσιον ἰδεῖν ἔφασαν.
was like unto Olympian Jove. 

ἐπειδὴ δὲ διέβη τὸν Ἄσσον ὁ Σύλλας, παρελθὼν ὑπὸ
Sulla now crossed the Assus, and after advancing to the foot 

τὸ Ἡδύλιον τῷ Ἀρχελάῳ παρεστρατοπέδευσε,βεβλημένῳ
of Mount Hedylium, encamped over against Archelaon, who had 

χάρακα καρτερὸν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Ἀκοντίου καὶ τοῦ
thrown up strong entrenchments between Mounts Acontium 

Ἡδυλίου πρὸς τοῖς λεγομένοις Ἀσσίοις.
and Hedylium, at the so-called Assian plain.

ὁ μέντοι τόπος ἐν ᾧ κατεσκήνωσεν ἄχρι νῦν Ἀρχέλαος
The spot in which he encamped, moreover, is to this day called Archelaon, 

ἀπ᾽ ἐκείνου καλεῖται, διαλιπὼν δὲ μίαν ἡμέραν ὁ Σύλλας Μουρήναν
after him. After one day's respite, Sulla left Murena behind with 

μὲν ἔχοντα τάγμα καὶ σπείρας δύο
one legion and two cohorts, to obstruct the enemy if they attempted 

πρὸς τὸ τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐνοχλῆσαι παραταττομένοις
to draw up their forces, while he himself held sacrifices on the 

ἀπέλιπεν,
banks of the Cephisus, 

αὐτὸς δὲ παρὰ τὸν Κηφισὸν ἐσφαγιάζετο, καὶ τῶν Χαιρώνειαν,
and, when the rites were over, moved on towards Chaeroneia, 

ἱερῶν γενομένων ἐχώρει πρὸς τὴν ἀναληψόμενός
to pick up the forces stationed there,

τε τὴν αὐτόθι στρατιὰν καὶ κατοψόμενος τὸ καλούμενον Θούριον 
and to reconnoitre Thurium, as it is called, which had been

ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων προκατειλημμένον.
already occupied by the enemy.

ἔστι δὲ κορυφὴ τραχεῖα καὶ στροβιλῶδες ὄρος, ὃ
This is a conical-shaped hill with a craggy peak 

καλοῦμεν Ὀρθόπαγον, ὑπὸ δὲ αὐτὸ τὸ ῥεῦμα τοῦ Μόλου
(we call it Orthopagus), and at its foot is the river 

καὶ Θουρίου νεὼς Ἀπόλλωνος.
Molus and a temple of Apollo Thurius.

ὠνόμασται δὲ ὁ θεὸς ἀπὸ Θουροῦς, τῆς Χαίρωνος μητρός, 
The god got this surname from Thuro, the mother of Chaeron, 

ὃν οἰκιστὴν γεγονέναι τῆς Χαιρωνείας ἱστοροῦσιν.
who was founder of Chaeroneia, according to tradition. 

οἱ δέ φασι τὴν Κάδμῳ δοθεῖσαν ὑπὸ τοῦ Πυθίου
But some say that the cow which was given by Apollo 

καθηγεμόνα βοῦν ἐκεῖ φανῆναι, καὶ τὸν τόπον ἀπ᾽
to Cadmus as his guide, appeared there, and that the place 

αὐτῆς οὕτω προσαγορευθῆναι θὼρ γὰρ οἱ Φοίνικες τὴν
was named as it is from her, ‘thor’ being the Phoenician 

βοῦν καλοῦσι.
word for cow.

προσιόντος δὲ τοῦ Σύλλα πρὸς τὴν Χαιρώνειαν ὁ τεταγμένος ἐν τῇ 
As Sulla drew near to Chaeroneia, the tribune who had been 

πόλει χιλίαρχος, ἐξωπλισμένους ἄγων τοὺς 
stationed in the city, with his men in full armour, 

στρατιώτας, ἀπήντησε στέφανον δάφνης κομίζων,
came to meet him, carrying a wreath of laurel.

ὡς δὲ δεξάμενος ἠσπάσατο τοὺς στρατιώτας καὶ
After Sulla had accepted this, greeted the soldiers, and 

παρώρμησε πρὸς τὸν κίνδυνον, ἐντυγχάνουσιν αὐτῷ
animated them for the coming danger, 

δύο τῶν Χαιρωνέων ἄνδρες, Ὁμολόϊχος καὶ
two men of Chaeroneia accosted him, Homoloichus 

Ἀναξίδαμος, ὑφιστάμενοι τοὺς τὸ Θούριον κατασχόντας ἐκκόψειν,
and Anaxidamus, and engaged to cut off the troops in possession of Thurium 

ὀλίγους στρατιώτας παρ᾽ ἐκείνου λαβόντες˙ ἀτραπὸν γὰρ εἶναι
if he would give them a few soldiers; for there was a path 

τοῖς βαρβάροις ἄδηλον, ἀπὸ τοῦ καλουμένου Πετράχου
out of sight of the Barbarians, leading from the so-called Petrachus 

παρὰ τὸ Μουσεῖον ἐπὶ τὸ Θούριον ὑπὲρ 
along past the Museum to that part of Thurium which was 

κεφαλῆς ἄγουσαν, ᾗ πορευθέντες οὐ χαλεπῶς
over their heads, and by taking this path it would not be difficult, 

ἐπιπεσεῖσθαι καὶ καταλεύσειν ἄνωθεν
they said, to fall upon them and either stone them to death

αὐτοὺς ἢ συνώσειν εἰς τὸ πεδίον,
from above, or force them into the plain. 

τοῦ δὲ Γαβινίου τοῖς ἀνδράσι μαρτυρήσαντος
After Gabinius had borne testimony to the men's 

ἀνδρείαν καὶ πίστιν, ἐκέλευσεν ἐπιχειρεῖν ὁ
courage and fidelity, Sulla ordered them to make 

Σύλλας: αὐτὸς δὲ συνέταττε τὴν φάλαγγα καὶ
the attempt, while he himself proceeded to form his line of battle,

διένειμε τοὺς ἱππότας ἐπὶ κέρως ἑκατέρου, τὸ
and to dispose his cavalry on either wing, 

δεξιὸν αὐτὸς ἔχων, τὸ δ᾽ εὐώνυμον ἀποδοὺς Μουρήνᾳ.
taking command of the right himself, and assigning the left to Murena.

Γάλβας δὲ καὶ Ὁρτήσιος οἱ πρεσβευταὶ σπείρας
His lieutenants, Galba and Hortensius, with cohorts 

ἐπιτάκτους ἔχοντες ἔσχατοι παρενέβαλον ἐπὶ τῶν
of reserves, stationed themselves on the 

ἄκρων φύλακες πρὸς τὰς κυκλώσεις˙ ἑωρῶντο γὰρ οἱ
heights in the rear, to guard against attacks on the flanks.

πολέμιοι κατασκευάζοντες ἱππεῦσι πολλοῖς καὶ
For the enemy were observed to be making their wing 

ψιλοῖς ποδώκεσιν εἰς ἐπιστροφὴν τὸ κέρας εὐκαμπὲς
flexible and light for evolution with large bodies of horse

καὶ κοῦφον, ὡς μακρὰν ἀνάξοντες καὶ κυκλωσόμενοι
and light infantry, purposing to extend it and envelop

τοὺς Ῥωμαίους.
the Romans. 

Chapter 18
ἐν δὲ τούτῳ τῶν Χαιρωνέων Ἐρίκιον ἄρχοντα παρὰ τοῦ
Meanwhile the Chaeroneians, over whom Ericius had been placed in command 

Σύλλα λαβόντων καί περιελθόντων ἀδήλως τὸ Θούριον, εἶτα
by Sulla, made their way unnoticed around Thurium and then 

ἐπιφανέντων, θόρυβος ἦν πολὺς καί φυγὴ τῶν βαρβάρων
showed themselves suddenly, producing great confusion and rout among the Barbarians,

καί φόνος ὑπ᾽ ἀλλήλων ὁ πλεῖστος, 
and slaughter at one another's hands for the most part. 

οὐ γὰρ ὑπέμειναν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ πρανοῦς φερόμενοι 
For they did not hold their ground, but rushed down the steeps,

τοῖς τε δόρασι περιέπιπτον αὐτοὶ τοῖς ἑαυτῶν καί 
falling upon their own spears and crowding one 

κατεκρήμνιζον ὠθοῦντες ἀλλήλους, ἄνωθεν
another down the precipices, while their enemies 

ἐπικειμένων τῶν πολεμίων καί τὰ γυμνὰ παιόντων, 
pressed upon them from above and smote their exposed bodies, 

ὥστε τρισχιλίους πεσεῖν περὶ τὸ Θούριον.
so that three yousand of them fell on Thurium. 

τῶν δὲ φευγόντων τοὺς μὲν εἰς τάξιν ἤδη καθεστὼς ὁ Μουρήνας
Of the fugitives, some were met by Murena,  

ἀπετέμνετο καί διέφθειρεν ὑπαντιάζων, 
who had already formed his array, and were cut off and slain; 

οἱ δὲ ὠσάμενοι πρὸς τὸ φίλιον στρατόπεδον καί τῇ φάλαγγι
others pushed their way towards the camp of their friends, and falling 

φύρδην ἐμπεσόντες ἀνέπλησαν δέους καί
pell-mell upon their lines, filled the greater part 

ταραχῆς τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος, καί διατριβὴν τοῖς
of them with terror and confusion, and inflicted a delay 

στρατηγοῖς ἐνεποίησαν οὐχ ἥκιστα βλάψασαν αὐτούς, 
upon their generals which was especially harmful to them. 

ὀξέως γὰρ ὁ Σύλλας ταρασσομένοις ἐπαγαγὼν
For Sulla promptly charged upon them while they were in confusion, 

καί τὸ μέσον διάστημα τῷ τάχει συνελὼν ἀφείλετο
and by abridging the space between the armies with the speed of his approach,

τὴν τῶν δρεπανηφόρων ἐνέργειαν.
robbed the scythe-bearing chariots of their efficiency.

ἔρρωται γὰρ μάλιστα μήκει δρόμου σφοδρότητα καὶ
For these are of most avail after a long course, which gives them 

ῥύμην τῇ διεξελάσει διδόντος, αἱ δὲ ἐκ βραχέος
velocity and impetus for breaking through an opposing line, but short 

ἀφέσεις ἄπρακτοι καί ἀμβλεῖαι, καθάπερ βελῶν τάσιν
starts are ineffectual and feeble, as in the case of missiles which do 

οὐ λαβόντων.
not get full propulsion. 

ὃ δὴ καί τότε τοῖς βαρβάροις ἀπήντα καί τὰ πρῶτα
And this proved true now in the case of the Barbarians, the 

τῶν ἁρμάτων ἀργῶς ἐξελαυνόμενα καί προσπίπτοντα
first of their chariots were driven along feebly and engaged 

νωθρῶς ἐκκρούσαντες οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι μετὰ κρότου καὶ
sluggishly, so that the Romans, after repulsing them, clapped 

γέλωτος ἄλλα ᾔτουν, ὥσπερ εἰώθασιν ἐν ταῖς
their hands and laughed and called for more, as they 

θεατρικαῖς ἱπποδρομίαις.
are wont to do at the races in the circus. 

τοὐντεῦθεν αἱ πεζαὶ δυνάμεις συνερράγησαν, τῶν μὲν βαρβάρων
Thereupon the infantry forces engaged, the Barbarians  

προβαλλομένων τὰς σαρίσας μακρὰς καί
holding their pikes before them at full length, and 

πειρωμένων τῷ συνασπισμῷ τὴν φάλαγγα διατηρεῖν ἐν
endeavouring, by locking their shields together, to keep their line of battle 

τάξει, τῶν δὲ Ῥωμαίων τοὺς μὲν ὑσσοὺς αὐτοῦ
intact; while the Romans threw down their javelins, 

καταβαλ́όντων, σπασαμένων δὲ τὰς μαχαίρας καί
drew their swords, and sought to dash the pikes aside, 

παρακρουομένων τὰς σαρίσας, ὡς τάχιστα προσμίξειαν
that they might get at their enemies as soon as possible, in 

αὐτοῖς δι᾽ ὀργήν.
the fury that possessed them. 

προτεταγμένους γὰρ ἑώρων τῶν πολεμίων μυρίους καί
For they saw drawn up in front of the enemy fifteen 

πεντακισχιλίους θεράποντας, οὓς ἐκ τῶν πόλεων
yousand slaves, whom the king's generals had 

κηρύγμασιν ἐλευθεροῦντες οἱ βασιλέως στρατηγοὶ
set free by proclamation in the cities and enrolled 

κατελόχιζον εἰς τοὺς ὁπλίτας.
among the men-at-arms. 

καί τις ἑκατοντάρχης λέγεται Ῥωμαῖος εἰπεῖν ὡς ἐν
And a certain Roman centurion is reported to have said that it was only 

Κρονίοις μόνον εἰδείη τῆς παρρησίας δούλους
at the Saturnalia, so far as he knew, that slaves participated 

μετέχοντας˙
in the general license. 

τούτους μὲν οὖν διὰ βάθος καί πυκνότητα βραδέως
These men, however, owing to the depth and density of their array, and the 

ἐξωθουμένους ὑπὸ τῶν ὁπλιτῶν καί παρὰ φύσιν μένειν
unnatural courage with which they held their ground, were only slowly repulsed 

τολμῶντας αἵ τε βελοσφενδόναι καί οἱ γρόσφοι,
by the Roman men-at-arms; but at last the fiery bolts and the javelins 

χρωμένων ἀφειδῶς τῶν κατόπιν Ῥωμαίων, ἀπέστρεφον
which the Romans in the rear ranks plied unsparingly, threw them into confusion 

καὶ συνετάραττον.
and drove them back. 

Chapter 19
Ἀρχελάου δὲ τὸ δεξιὸν κέρας εἰς κύκλωσιν
Archelaon now extended his right wing to envelop Sulla's 

ἀνάγοντος, Ὁρτήσιος ἐφῆκε τὰς σπείρας δρόμῳ
line, whereupon Hortensius sent his cohorts against him 

προσφερομένας ὡς ἐμβαλῶν πλαγίοις.
on a quick run, intending to attack his flank. 

ἐπιστρέψαντος δὲ ταχέως ἐκείνου τοὺς περὶ αὑτὸν
But Archelaon wheeled swiftly against him his two yousand 

ἱππεῖς δισχιλίους, ἐκθλιβόμενος ὑπὸ πλήθους
horsemen, and Hortensius, forced aside by superior 

προσεστέλλετο τοῖς ὀρεινοῖς, κατὰ μικρὸν
numbers, was keeping close to the hills, separating 

ἀπορρηγνύμενος τῆς φάλαγγος καὶ περιλαμβανόμενος
himself little by little from the main line, and getting surrounded

ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων,
by the enemy. 

πυθόμενος δὲ ὁ Σύλλας ἀπὸ τοῦ δεξιοῦ μήπω
When Sulla learned of this, he came swiftly to his aid

συμπεπτωκότος εἰς μάχην ἐδίωκε βοηθῶν.
from the right wing, which was not yet engaged. 

Ἀρχέλαος δὲ τῷ κονιορτῷ τῆς ἐλάσεως ὅπερ ἦν
But Archelaon, guessing the truth from the dust raised by 

τεκμηράμενος, Ὁρτήσιον μὲν εἴα χαίρειν, αὐτὸς δὲ
Sulla's troops, gave Hortensius the go-by, and wheeling, set 

ἐπιστρέψας ὥρμησεν ὅθεν ὁ Σύλλας πρός τὸ δεξιόν,ὡς
off for the right wing whence Sulla had come, thinking to surprise 

ἔρημον ἄρχοντος αἱρήσων,
it wiyout a commander. 

ἅμα δὲ καὶ Μουρήνᾳ Ταξίλης ἐπῆγε τοὺς χαλκάσπιδας, 
At the same time Murena also was attacked by Taxiles with his Bronze-shields, 

ὥστε τῆς κραυγῆς διχόθεν φερομένης καὶ τῶν ὀρῶν 
so that when shouts were borne to his ears from both places, and echoed 

ἀνταποδιδόντων τὴν περιήχησιν, ἐπιστήσαντα τὸν Σύλλαν διαπορεῖν
by the surrounding hills, Sulla halted, and not knowing  

ὁποτέρωσε χρὴ προσγενέσθαι.
which of the two directions he ought to betake himself. 

δόξαν δὲ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ τάξιν ἀναλαμβάνειν, Μουρήνᾳ μὲν
But having decided to resume his own post, 

ἀρωγὸν ἔπεμψεν Ὁρτήσιον ἔχοντα τέσσαρας
he sent Hortensius with four cohorts to help Murena, while 

σπείρας, αὐτὸς δὲ τὴν πέμπτην ἕπεσθαι κελεύσας ἐπὶ
he himself, bidding the fifth cohort to follow, hasened 

τὸ δεξιὸν ἠπείγετο καὶ καθ᾽ ἑαυτὸ μὲν ἀξιομάχως
to the right wing, those had already engaged Archelaon 

ἤδη τῷ Ἀρχελάῳ συνεστηκός, ἐκείνου δὲ ἐπιφανέντος
on equal terms, but when Sulla appeared, they drove 

παντάπασιν ἐξεβιάσαντο, καὶ κρατήσαντες ἐδίωκον
the enemy back at all points, obtained the mastery, 

πρός τε τὸν ποταμὸν καὶ τὸ Ἀκόντιον ὄρος
and pursued them to the river and Mount Acontium 

προτροπάδην φεύγοντας,
in a headlong flight.

οὐ μὴν ὅ γε Σύλλας ἠμέλησε Μουρήνα κινδυνεύοντος,
Sulla, however, did not neglect Murena in his peril, 

ἀλλὰ ὥρμησε τοῖς ἐκεῖ βοηθεῖν ἰδὼν
but set out to aid the forces in that quarter; he saw, however, 

δὲ νικῶντας, τότε τῆς διώξεως μετεῖχε.
that they were victorious, and then joined in the pursuit. 

πολλοὶ μὲν οὖν ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ τῶν βαρβάρων ἀνῃροῦντο,
Many of the Barbarians, then, were slain in the plain, 

πλεῖστοι δὲ τῷ χάρακι προσφερόμενοι
but most were cut to pieces as they rushed for their 

κατεκόπησαν, ὥστε μυρίους διαπεσεῖν εἰς Χαλκίδα
entrenchments, so that only ten yousand out of so many 

μόνους ἀπὸ τοσούτων μυριάδων,
myriads made their escape into Chalcis. 

ὁ δὲ Σύλλας λέγει τέσσαρας καὶ δέκα ἐπιζητῆσαι 
But Sulla says he missed only fourteen of his  

τῶν αὐτοῦ στρατιωτῶν, εἶτα καὶ τούτων δύο πρός 
soldiers, and that afterwards, towards  

τὴν ἑσπέραν παραγενέσθαι,
evening, two of these came in. 

διὸ καὶ τοῖς τροπαίοις ἐπέγραψεν Ἄρη καὶ Νίκην καὶ
He therefore inscribed upon his trophies the names of Mars, Victory 

Ἀφροδίτην, ὡς οὐχ ἧττον εὐτυχίᾳ κατορθώσας ἢ
and Venus,  in the belief that his success in the war was due

δεινότητι καὶ δυνάμει τὸν πόλεμον. 
no less to good fortune than to military skill and strength. 

ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν τὸ τρόπαιον ἕστηκε τῆς πεδιάδος μάχης ᾗ πρῶτον
This trophy of the battle in the plain stands on the spot where the

ἐνέκλιναν οἱ περὶ Ἀρχέλαον παρὰ τὸ Μόλου ῥεῖθρον,
troops of Archelaon first gave way, by the brook Molus, but there is

ἕτερον δέ ἐστι τοῦ Θουρίου κατὰ κορυφὴν βεβηκὸς
another planted on the crest of Thurium, to commemorate the

ἐπὶ τῇ κυκλώσει τῶν βαρβάρων, γράμμασιν Ἑλληνικοῖς
envelopment of the Barbarians there, and it indicates in Greek letters that

ἐπισημαῖνον Ὁμολόϊχον καὶ Ἀναξίδαμον ἀριστεῖς.
Homoloichon and Anaxidamus were the heroes of the exploit. 

ταύτης τὰ ἐπινίκια τῆς μάχης ἦγεν ἐν Θήβαις, περὶ
The festival in honour of this victory was celebrated by Sulla in Thebes, where

τὴν Οἰδιπόδειον κρήνην κατασκευάσας θυμέλην.
he prepared a stage near the fountain of Oedipus. 

οἱ δὲ κρίνοντες ἦσαν Ἕλληνες ἐκ τῶν ἄλλων
But the judges were Greeks invited from the other cities, since 

ἀνακεκλημένοι πόλεων, ἐπεὶ πρός γε Θηβαίους ἀδιαλλάκτως εἶχε,
towards the Thebans he was irreconcileably hostile. 

καὶ τῆς χώρας αὐτῶν ἀποτεμόμενος τὴν ἡμίσειαν
He also took away half of their territory and consecrated 

τῷ Πυθίῳ καὶ τῷ Ὀλυμπίῳ καθιέρωσεν,
it to Pythian Apollo and Olympian Zeus, giving orders 

ἐκ τῶν προσόδων κελεύσας ἀποδίδοσθαι
that from its revenues the moneys should be paid 

τὰ χρήματα τοῖς θεοῖς ἅπερ αὐτὸς εἰλήφει.
back to the gods which he had taken from them. 

Chapter 20
μετὰ ταῦτα πυνθανόμενος Φλάκκον ἀπὸ τῆς ἐναντίας
After this, learning that Flaccus, a man of the opposite faction, 

στάσεως ὕπατον ᾑρημένον διαπερᾶν τὸν Ἰόνιον μετὰ
had been chosen consul and was crossing the Ionian sea with 

δυνάμεως, λόγῳ μὲν ἐπὶ Μιθριδάτην, ἔργῳ δὲ ἐπ᾽
an army, ostensibly against Mithridates, but really against 

ἐκεῖνον αὐτόν, ὥρμησεν ἐπὶ Θετταλίας ὡς ἀπαντήσων.
himself, he set out towards Thessaly in order to meet him. 

γενομένῳ δὲ αὐτῷ περὶ πόλιν Μελίτειαν ἀφικνοῦντο
But when he was come to the city of Meliteia, tidings reached him from 

πολλαχόθεν ἀγγελίαι πορθεῖσθαι τὰ κατόπιν αὖθις
many quarters that the regions behind him were ravaged again by an 

οὐκ ἐλάττονι στρατιᾷ βασιλικῇ τῆς πρότερον.
army of the king which was no smaller than the former. 

Δορύλαος γὰρ εἰς Χαλκίδα καταχθεὶς παρασκευῇ νεῶν πολλῇ, 
For Dorylaos, having put in at Chalcis with a large fleet,

ἐν αἷς ἦγεν ὀκτὼ μυριάδας ἠσκημένας καὶ
on which he brought eighty yousand of the 

συντεταγμένας ἄριστα δὴ τῆς Μιθριδατικῆς στρατιᾶς,
best trained and disciplined men in the army of Mithridates, 

εὐθὺς εἰς Βοιωτίαν ἐνέβαλε καὶ κατεῖχε τὴν χώραν,
at once burst into Boeotia and occupied the country. 

προθυμούμενος εἰς μάχην ἐπισπάσασθαι τὸν Σύλλαν, οὐ προσέχων
He was eager to entice Sulla to battle, disregarding the protests

Ἀρχελάῳ διακωλύοντι, καὶ λόγον περὶ τῆς προτέρας μάχης
of Archelaos, and giving it out that in the previous battle

διαδιδοὺς ὡς οὐκ ἄνευ προδοσίας μυριάδες τοσαῦται διαφθαρεῖεν.
so many myriads had not perished wiyout treachery.

οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ ὁ Σύλλας ταχέως ὑποστρέψας ἀπέδειξε τῷ Δορυλάῳ 
Sulla, however, turning swiftly back, showed Dorylaos that 

τὸν Ἀρχέλαον ἄνδρα φρόνιμον καὶ τῆς
Archelaon was a man of prudence and best acquainted 

Ῥωμαίων ἐμπειρότατον ἀρετῆς, ὥστε μικρὰ αὐτὸν τῷ Σύλλᾳ
with the Roman valour, so that after a slight skirmish with Sulla 

περὶ τὸ Τιλφώσσιον ἐμπεσόντα πρῶτον εἶναι
near Tilphossium, he was first of those who thought it expedient 

τῶν οὐκ ἀξιούντων κρίνεσθαι διὰ μάχης, ἀλλὰ
not to decide the issue by a battle, but rather to wear 

δαπάναις καὶ χρόνῳ τρίβειν τὸν πόλεμον.
out the war by dint of time and treasure. 

ὅμως δὲ θάρσος τι τῷ Ἀρχελάῳ παρεῖχεν ὁ πρὸς
Nevertheless, Archelaon was much encouraged by the nature of 

Ὀρχομενῷ τόπος, ἐν ᾧ κατεστρατοπέδευσαν, 
the country about Orchomenus, where they were encamped, since it 

εὐφυέστατος ὢν ἱπποκρατοῦσιν ἐναγωνίσασθαι.
was most favourable as a battle-field for an army superior in cavalry. 

τῶν γὰρ Βοιωτίων πεδίων ὅ τί πέρ ἐστι κάλλιστον
For of all the plains of Boeotia this is the largest 

καὶ μέγιστον, τοῦτο τῆς Ὀρχομενίων ἐξηρτημένον
and fairest, and beginning from the city of Orchomenus, 

πόλεως ὁμαλὸν ἀναπέπταται καὶ ἄδενδρον ἄχρι τῶν
it spreads out smooth and treeless as far as the 

ἑλῶν ἐν οἷς ὁ Μέλας καταναλίσκεται ποταμός, 
marshes in which the river Melas loses itself. 

ἀνατέλλων μὲν ὑπὸ τὴν πόλιν τῶν Ὀρχομενίων πολὺς 
This rises close under the city of Orchomenus, and is the only

καὶ πλώϊμος ἐν πηγαῖς μόνος τῶν Ἑλληνικῶν ποταμῶν, 
Greek river that is copious and navigable at its sources; and  

αὐξόμενος δὲ ὑπὸ τροπὰς θερινάς, ὥσπερ ὁ Νεῖλος, καὶ 
it increases towards the time of the summer solstice, like the Nile, and 

φέρων ὅμοια τοῖς ἐκεῖ τὰ φυόμενα, πλὴν ἄκαρπα καὶ ἀναυξῆ.
produces plants like those which grow there, only stunted and wiyout fruit. 

πόρρω δὲ οὐ πρόεισιν, ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν πλεῖστον εὐθὺς
Its course is short, however, and the greater part of it disappears 

εἰς λίμνας τυφλὰς καὶ ὑλώδεις ἀφανίζεται, μέρος δὲ
at once in blind and marshy lakes, while a small portion of it 

οὐ πολὺ τῷ Κηφισῷ συμμίγνυται, περὶ ὃν μάλιστα τόπον
unites with the Cephisus, somewhere near the place in which 

ἡ λίμνη δοκεῖ τὸν αὐλητικὸν ἐκφέρειν κάλαμον.
the stagnant water is reputed to produce the famous reed for flutes. 

Chapter 21
ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐγγὺς κατεστρατοπέδευσαν, ὁ μὲν Ἀρχέλαος
When the two armies had encamped near each other, Archelaos 

ἡσύχαζεν, ὁ δὲ Σύλλας ὤρυττε τάφρους ἑκατέρωθεν, 
lay still, but Sulla proceeded to dig trenches on either side, in 

ὅπως, εἰ δύναιτο, τῶν στερεῶν καὶ ἱππασίμων
order that, if possible, he might cut the enemy off from the solid 

ἀποτεμόμενος τοὺς πολεμίους ὤσειεν εἰς τὰ ἕλη.
ground favourable for cavalry, and force them into the marshes. 

τῶν δὲ οὐκ ἀνασχομένων, ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἀφείθησαν ὑπὸ τῶν στρατηγῶν,
The enemy, however, would not suffer this, but when their generals 

ἐντόνως καὶ ῥύδην ἐλαυνόντων, οὐ μόνον οἱ περὶ τὰ
sent them forth, charged impetuously and at full speed, so that not 

ἔργα τοῦ Σύλλα διεσκεδάσθησαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ
only Sulla's labourers were dispersed, but also the greater part of 

τοῦ παρατεταγμένου συνεχύθη τὸ πλεῖστον
the corps drawn up to protect them was thrown into confusion 

φυγόντος.
fled. 

ἔνθα δὴ Σύλλας αὐτὸς ἀποπηδήσας τοῦ ἵππου καὶ
Then Sulla threw himself from his horse, 

σημεῖον ἀναρπάσας ὠθεῖτο διὰ τῶν φευγόντων εἰς
seized an ensign, and pushed his way through the fugitives 

τοὺς πολεμίους, βοῶν ‘ἐμοὶ μὲν ἐνταῦθά που καλόν, ὦ Ῥωμαῖοι,
against the enemy, crying: For me, O Romans, 

τελευτᾶν, ὑμεῖς δὲ τοῖς πυνθανομένοις ποῦ
an honourable death here; but you, when men ask you where 

προδεδώκατε τὸν αὐτοκράτορα, μεμνημένοι φράζειν ὡς
you betrayed your commander, remember to tell them, at 

ἐν Ὀρχομενῷ.
Orchomenus. 

τούτους τε δὴ τὸ ῥηθὲν ἐπέστρεψε, καὶ τῶν ἐπὶ
The fugitives rallied at these words, and two of the 

τοῦ δεξιοῦ κέρως σπειρῶν δύο προσεβοήθησαν, ἃς
cohorts on his right wing came to his aid; these whom

ἐπαγαγὼν τρέπεται τοὺς πολεμίους.
he led against the enemy and routed them. 

ἀναγαγὼν δὲ μικρὸν ὀπίσω, καὶ δοὺς ἄριστον αὐτοῖς,
Then he fell back a little distance, and after giving his men breakfast,

αὖθις ἀπετάφρευε τὸν χάρακα τῶν πολεμίων,
again proceeded to fence the enemy's

οἱ δὲ αὖθις ἐν τάξει μᾶλλον ἢ πρότερον προσεφέροντο.
entrenchments off with his ditches. 

καὶ Διογένης μὲν ὁ τῆς Ἀρχελάου γυναικὸς υἱὸς
And Diogenes, the step-son of Archelaon, 

ἀριστεύων ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ περιόπτως ἔπεσεν, οἱ δὲ τοξόται, τῶν
fought and fell gallantly on the right wing, being hard pressed by the

Ῥωμαίων ἐκβιαζομένων, οὐκ ἔχοντες ἀναστροφὴν ἀθρόοις
Romans, and their archers, had no room to draw their bows,

τοῖς ὀϊστοῖς ἐκ χειρὸς ὥσπερ ξίφεσι παίοντες ἀνέκοπτον αὐτούς,
took arrows in hand, struck with them as with swords, at close quarters,

τέλος δὲ κατακλεισθέντες εἰς τὸν χάρακα μοχθηρῶς ὑπὸ
and tried to beat back foes, but were shut up in their entrenchments, 

τραυμάτων καὶ φόνου διενυκτέρευσαν.
and had a miserable night of it with their slain and wounded. 

ἡμέρας δὲ πάλιν τῷ χάρακι τοὺς στρατιώτας
Next day Sulla again led his soldiers up to the enemy's fortifications 

προσαγαγὼν ὁ Σύλλας ἀπετάφρευεν.
and continued trenching them off, 

ἐξελθόντας δὲ τοὺς πολλοὺς ὡς ἐπὶ μάχην συμβαλὼν
When the greater part of them came out to give him battle, he engaged 

τρέπεται, καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἐκείνων φόβον οὐδενὸς
with them and routed them, and such was their panic that no resistance 

μένοντος αἱρεῖ κατὰ κράτος τὸ στρατόπεδον.
was made, and he took their camp by storm. 

καὶ κατέπλησαν ἀποθνήσκοντες αἵματος τὰ ἕλη καὶ
The marshes were filled with their blood, and the 

νεκρῶν τὴν λίμνην, ὥστε μέχρι νῦν πολλὰ βαρβαρικὰ
lake with their dead bodies, so that even to this 

τόξα καὶ κράνη καὶ θωράκων σπάσματα σιδηρῶν καὶ
day many bows, helmets, fragments of steel breastplates, 

μαχαίρας ἐμβεβαπτισμένας τοῖς τέλμασιν εὑρίσκεσθαι, 
and swords of barbarian make are found embedded in the mud,

σχεδὸν ἐτῶν διακοσίων ἀπὸ τῆς μάχης ἐκείνης διαγεγονότων.
although almost two hundred years have passed since this battle. 

τὰ μὲν οὖν περὶ Χαιρώνειαν καὶ πρὸς Ὀρχομενῷ
Such, then, are the accounts given of the actions 

τοιαῦτα λέγεται γενέσθαι.
at Chaeroneia and Orchomenus. 

Chapter 22
Κίννα δὲ καὶ Κάρβωνος ἐν Ῥώμῃ τοῖς ἐπιφανεστάτοις
Now since Cinna and Carbo at Rome were treating the most 

ἀνδράσι χρωμένων παρανόμως καὶ βιαίως, πολλοὶ τήν
eminent men with injustice and violence, many of these 

τυραννίδα φεύγοντες ὥσπερ εἰς λι μένα τοῦ Σύλλα τὸ
had fled from their tyranny and were repairing to Sulla's 

στρατόπεδον κατεφέροντο, καὶ περὶ αὐτὸν ὀλίγου
camp as to a harbour of refuge, and in a little time 

χρόνου σχῆμα βουλῆς ἐγεγόνει.
he had about him a semblance of a senate. 

καὶ Μετέλλα μόλις διακλέψασα ἑαυτὴν καὶ τοὺς παῖδας,
Metella, also, who had with difficulty stolen herself and her children 

ἧκεν ἀγγέλλουσα τήν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς ἐπαύλεις ὑπὸ 
away, came with tidings that his house and his villas had 

τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἐμπεπρῆσθαι καὶ δεομένη τοῖς
been burned by his enemies, entreating him to come help 

οἴκοι βοηθεῖν.
his partisans at home. 

ἀπορουμένῳ δ᾽ αὐτῷ, καὶ μήτε τῆς πατρίδος ἀμελεῖν
While he wavered, and could neither consent to neglect his country

ὑπομένοντι κακουμένης μήτε ὅπως ἄπεισιν ἀτελὲς
when she was outraged, nor see his way clear to go away 

λιπὼν τοσοῦτον ἔργον, τὸν Μιθριδατικὸν πόλεμον,
and leave unfinished so great a task as the war with Mithridates, 

ἐπινοοῦντι, παραγίνεται Δηλιακὸς ἔμπορος Ἀρχέλαος,
there came to him a merchant of Delos, named Archelaos, who secretly 

ἐλπίδας τινὰς καὶ λόγους κρύφα παρὰ τοῦ βασιλικοῦ κομίζων Ἀρχελάου,
brought from Archelaon the king's general certain vague hopes 

καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα Σύλλας οὕτως ἠγάπησεν
and propositions, the matter was so welcome to Sulla that he was eager

ὥστε αὐτὸς εἰς λόγους σπεῦσαι τῷ Ἀρχελάῳ συνελθεῖν˙
to have a personal conference with Archelaos and they had   

καὶ συνῆλθον ἐπὶ θαλάττῃ περὶ Δήλιον, οὗ τὸ ἱερὸν
a meeting, on the sea-coast near Delium, where the temple   

τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνός ἐστιν, ἀρξαμένου δὲ τοῦ Ἀρχελάου
of Apollo is.  Archelaos began  

διαλέγεσθαι, καὶ τὸν Σύλλαν ἀξιοῦντος ἀφέντα τήν
the conference by urging Sulla to abandon  

Ἀσίαν καὶ τὸν Πόντον ἐπὶ τὸν ἐν Ῥώμῃ πόλεμον πλεῖν,
Asia and Pontus and sail for the war in Rome,  

χρήματα λαβόντα καὶ τριήρεις καὶ δύναμιν
on condition of receiving money, triremes, and as large a force 

ὅσην βούλοιτο παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως, ὑπολαβὼν ὁ Σύλλας
as he wished, from the king, Sulla rejoined by bidding him take no further

Μιθριδάτου μὲν ἀμελεῖν ἐκέλευεν, αὐτὸν δὲ βασιλεύειν 
thought for Mithridates, but assume the crown himself 

ἀντ᾽ ἐκείνου σύμμαχον Ῥωμαίων γενόμενον
in his stead, becoming an ally of the Romans, 

καὶ παραδόντα τὰς ναῦς.
and surrendering to them his ships. 

ἀφοσιουμένου δὲ τοῦ Ἀρχελάου τήν προδοσίαν,
And when Archelaos expressed his abhorrence of such treason, 

‘εἶτα, ’ ἔφη, ‘σὺ μέν, ὦ Ἀρχέλαε, Καππαδόκης ὢν
Sulla said: "So then, you, Archelaos, who art a Cappadocian, 

καὶ βαρβάρου βασιλέως δοῦλος, εἰ δὲ βούλει, φίλος,
and a slave of a barbarian king, or, if you will, his friend, 

οὐχ ὑπομένεις ἐπὶ τηλικούτοις ἀγαθοῖς τὸ αἰσχρόν,
will not consent to a disgraceful deed for such great rewards; 

ἐμοὶ δὲ ἡγεμόνι Ῥωμαίων ὄντι καὶ Σύλλᾳ τολμᾷς
but to me, who am a Roman commander, and Sulla, you darest 

διαλέγεσθαι περὶ προδοσίας, ὥσπερ οὐκ ἐκεῖνος ὢν Ἀρχέλαος,
to propose treachery, as if you were not that Archelaon 

ὁ φυγὼν μὲν ἐκ Χαιρωνείας ὀλιγοστὸς ἀπὸ μυριάδων
who fled from Chaeroneia with a few survivors out of one hundred 

δυοκαίδεκα, κρυφθεὶς δὲ δύο ἡμέρας ἐν
and twenty yousand men, and who lay hid for two days in the 

τοῖς Ὀρχομενίων ἕλεσιν, ἄβατον δὲ τήν Βοιωτίαν ὑπὸ
marshes of Orchomenus, and who left Boeotia impassable for the 

νεκρῶν πλήθους ἀπολελοιπώς;’
multitude of dead bodies!"

ἐκ τούτου μεταβαλὼν ὁ Ἀρχέλαος καὶ προσκυνήσας
Upon this, Archelaon changed his tone, and as a humble 

ἐδεῖτο παύσασθαι τοῦ πολέμου καὶ διαλλαγῆναι πρὸς
suppliant besought him to desist from the war and be reconciled 

τὸν Μιθριδάτην.
with Mithridates. 

δεξαμένου δὲ τοῦ Σύλλα τήν πρόκλησιν ἐγένοντο
Sulla granted the request, and terms of agreement were 

συνθῆκαι, Μιθριδάτην μὲν Ἀσίαν ἀφεῖναι καὶ
made as follows: Mithridates was to renounce Asia 

Παφλαγονίαν, ἐκστῆναι δὲ Βιθυνίας Νικομήδει καὶ Καππαδοκίας
and Paphlagonia, restore Bithynia to Nicomedes and Cappadocia 

Ἀριοβαρζάνῃ, καταβαλεῖν δὲ Ῥωμαίοις δισχίλια
to Ariobarzanes, pay down to the Romans two yousand 

τάλαντα καὶ δοῦναι ναῦς ἑβδομήκοντα χαλκήρεις
talents, and give them seventy bronze-armoured ships 

μετὰ τῆς οἰκείας παρασκευῆς, Σύλλαν δὲ
with their proper equipment; Sulla, on his part, was to 

ἐκείνῳ τήν τε ἄλλην ἀρχὴν βεβαιοῦν καὶ σύμμαχον
confirm Mithridates in the rest of his dominions, and 

Ῥωμαίων ψηφίζεσθαι.
get him voted an ally of the Romans. 

Chapter 23
τούτων ὁμολογηθέντων ἀναστρέψας ἐβάδιζε διὰ
These agreements concluded, Sulla turned back and proceeded by way

Θετταλίας καὶ Μακεδονίας ἐπὶ τὸν Ἑλλήσποντον, ἔχων
of Thessaly and Macedonia towards the Hellespont, having

μεθ᾽ αὐτοῦ τὸν Ἀρχέλαον ἐν τιμῇ.  καὶ νοσήσαντος ἐπισφαλῶς
Archelaos with him, and in honour. And when Archelaos fell dangerously

περὶ Λάρισσαν ἐπιστήσας τὴν πορείαν, ὡς ἑνὸς τῶν ὑπ᾽
ill at Larissa, Sulla stopped his march, and cared for him as if

αὐτὸν ἡγεμόνων καὶ στρατηγῶν ἐπεμελήθη.
he had been one of his own commanding officers. 

ταῦτά τε δὴ διέβαλλε τὸ περὶ Χαιρώνειαν ἔργον ὡς
This raised the suspicion that the action at Chaeroneia had 

οὐχὶ καθαρῶς ἀγωνισθέν, καὶ ὅτι τοὺς ἄλλους
not been fairly fought, as well as the fact that Sulla 

Μιθριδάτῃ φίλους, οὓς εἶχεν αἰχμαλώτους, ἀποδοὺς ὁ Σύλλας
released the other friends of Mithridates whom he had taken 

Ἀριστίωνα μόνον τὸν τύραννον ἀνεῖλε διὰ φαρμάκων
captive, but put to death Aristion the tyrant alone, by poison,

Ἀρχελάῳ διάφορον ὄντα˙
who was at enmity with Archelaos; 

μάλιστα δ᾽ ἡ δοθεῖσα γῆ τῷ Καππαδόκῃ 
the most suspect, however, was his gift to the Cappadocian

μυρίων πλέθρων ἐν Εὐβοίᾳ, καὶ τὸ Ῥωμαίων φίλον αὐτὸν καὶ
of about two yousand acres in Euboea, and his bestowing 

σύμμαχον ὑπὸ Σύλλα ἀναγραφῆναι.
upon him the title of friend and ally of the Romans. 

περὶ μὲν οὖν τούτων αὐτὸς ὁ Σύλλας ἐν τοῖς
At any rate, on these points Sulla defends 

ὑπομνήμασιν ἀπολογεῖται.
himself in his Memoirs. 

τότε δὲ πρεσβευτῶν παρὰ τοῦ Μιθριδάτου
At this time also ambassadors from Mithridates arrived, 

παραγενομένων καὶ τὰ μὲν ἄλλα φασκόντων δέχεσθαι,
and when they declared that he accepted the other terms, 

Παφλαγονίαν δὲ ἀξιούντων μὴ ἀφαιρεθῆναι,
but demanded that Paphlagonia be not taken away from him, 

τὰς δὲ ναῦς οὐδὲ ὅλως ὁμολογηθῆναι,
and that as to the ships no agreement whatsoever should be made,

χαλεπήνας ὁ Σύλλας, ‘τί φατε;’ εἶπε,
Sulla flew into a passion and said: "What say ye?" 

‘Μιθριδάτης Παφλαγονίας ἀντιποιεῖται καὶ
"Mithridates maintains his claim to Paphlagonia, and 

περὶ τῶν νεῶν ἔξαρνός ἐστιν, ὃν ἐγὼ προσκυνήσειν
refuses to give the ships, when I thought he would prostrate himself humbly 

ἐνόμιζον, εἰ τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτῷ καταλείποιμι
before me if I should leave him but his right hand, 

χεῖρα, δι᾽ ἧς τοσούτους Ῥωμαίων ἀνεῖλεν;
with which he took the lives of so many Romans?" 

ἑτέρας μέντοι τάχα φωνὰς ἀφήσει διαβάντος εἰς
"However, he will quickly talk in another strain after I have crossed into

Ἀσίαν ἐμοῦ νῦν δὲ ἐν Περγάμῳ καθήμενος ὃν οὐχ
Asia; now he sits in Pergamum and directs 

ἑώρακε διαστρατηγεῖ πόλεμον.
a war which he has not seen. 

οἱ μὲν οὖν πρέσβεις φοβηθέντες ἡσύχαζον, ὁ δὲ
The ambassadors, were frightened, and held their peace; but

Ἀρχέλαος ἐδεῖτο τοῦ Σύλλα καὶ κατεπράϋνε τὴν ὀργήν,
Archelaos entreated Sulla, and tried to soften his anger,

ἁπτόμενος τῆς δεξιᾶς αὐτοῦ καὶ δακρύων.
laying hold of his right hand and weeping. 

τέλος δ᾽ ἔπεισεν ἀποσταλῆναι αὐτὸς πρὸς τὸν
And finally he obtained Sulla's consent to send him in person to 

Μιθριδάτην διαπράξεσθαι γὰρ ἐφ᾽ οἷς βούλεται τὴν
Mithridates; for he said that he would have the peace ratified on Sulla's 

εἰρήνην, εἰ δὲ μὴ πείθοι, κτενεῖν αὐτὸς αὐτόν.
terms, or, if he could not persuade the king, would kill himself. 

ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐκπέμψας ἐκεῖνον αὐτὸς εἰς τὴν
Upon these assurances Sulla sent him away, and then

Μαιδικὴν ἐνέβαλε, καὶ τὰ πολλὰ διαπορθήσας πάλιν
invaded the country of the Maedi, and after 

ἀνέστρεψεν εἰς Μακεδονίαν, καὶ τὸν Ἀρχέλαον
ravaging most of it, turned back into Macedonia, and Archelaos

ἐδέξατο περὶ Φιλίππους ἀγγέλλοντα καλῶς ἔχειν πάντα˙
welcomed him and reported all was well with the Philippian people.

δεῖσθαι δὲ πάντως αὐτῷ τὸν Μιθριδάτην εἰς λόγους ἐλθεῖν.
Archelaos said all was well, but Mithridates insisted on a conference.

αἴτιος δ᾽ ἦν μάλιστα Φιμβρίας, ὃς τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς
But most of all, Pharnabazus was responsible, who, having 

ἑτέρας στάσεως ἄρχοντα Φλάκκον ἀνελὼν καὶ τῶν
removed Flaccus, the ruler from the other faction, and having 

Μιθριδατικῶν στρατηγῶν κρατήσας ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον ἐβάδιζε.
captured the generals of the Mithridatic party, marched against him. 

ταῦτα γὰρ δείσας ὁ Μιθριδάτης μᾶλλον
For fearing these things, Mithridates chose rather to 

εἵλετο τῷ Σύλλᾳ φίλος γενέσθαι.
become a friend to Sulla.

Chapter 24
συνῆλθον οὖν τῆς Τρῳάδος ἐν Δαρδάνῳ, Μιθριδάτης μὲν ἔχων 
They met, at Dardanus, in the Troad, Mithridates having 

ναῦς αὐτόθι διακοσίας ἐνήρεις καὶ τῆς πεζῆς δυνάμεως ὁπλίτας μὲν δισμυρίους,
200 ships, equipped with oars, 20,000 men-at-arms from his infantry force,

ἱππεῖς δὲ ἑξακισχιλίους καὶ συχνὰ τῶν δρεπανηφόρων,
six yousand horse, and a throng of scythe-bearing chariots;

Σύλλας δὲ τέσσαρας σπείρας καὶ 
Sulla, on the other hand, having four cohorts and two 

διακοσίους ἱππεῖς, 
hundred horse. 

ἀπαντήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Μιθριδάτου καὶ τὴν δεξιὰν προτείναντος,
When Mithridates came towards him and put out his hand, 

ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ καταλύσεται τὸν πόλεμον ἐφ᾽ οἷς ὡμολόγησεν
Sulla asked him if he would put a stop to the war on the terms which

Ἀρχέλαος˙ σιωπῶντος δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως,
Archelaon had made, and as the king was silent,

ὁ Σύλλας ‘ἀλλὰ μήν,’ ἔφη, ‘τῶν δεομένων ἐστὶ τὸ
Sulla said: But surely it is the part of suppliants

προτέρους λέγειν, τοῖς δὲ νικῶσιν ἐξαρκεῖ τὸ σιωπᾶν.
to speak first, while victors need only to be silent. 

ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀρξάμενος τῆς ἀπολογίας ὁ Μιθριδάτης ἐπειρᾶτο
Then Mithridates began a defence of himself, and tried 

τοῦ πολέμου τὰ μὲν εἰς δαίμονας τρέπειν,
to shift the blame for the war partly upon the gods, and 

τὰ δὲ αὐτοὺς αἰτιᾶσθαι τοὺς Ῥωμαίους, ὑπολαβὼν ὁ
partly upon the Romans themselves. But Sulla cut him short, 

Σύλλας ἔφη πάλαι μὲν ἑτέρων ἀκούειν, νῦν δ᾽ αὐτὸς
saying that he had long ago heard from others, but now knew 

ἐγνωκέναι τὸν Μιθριδάτην δεινότατον ὄντα
of himself, that Mithridates was a very powerful 

ῥητορεύειν, ὃς ἐπὶ πράξεσιν οὕτω πονηραῖς καὶ
orator, since he had not been at a loss for plausible 

παρανόμοις λόγων ἐχόντων εὐπρέπειαν οὐκ ἠπόρηκεν.
arguments to defend such baseness and injustice as his.

ἐξελέγξας δὲ τὰ πεπραγμένα πικρῶς ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ κατηγορήσας,
Then he reproached him bitterly and denounced him for what he had done,

πάλιν ἠρώτησεν εἰ ποιεῖ τὰ συγκείμενα δι᾽ Ἀρχελάου.
and asked him again if he would keep the agreements made through Archelaos. 

φήσαντος δὲ ποιεῖν, οὕτως ἠσπάσατο καὶ περιλαβὼν
And when he said that he would, then Sulla greeted him with an 

ἐφίλησεν αὐτόν, Ἀριοβαρζάνην δὲ αὖθις καὶ
embrace and a kiss, and later, bringing to him Ariobarzanes 

Νικομήδην τοὺς βασιλεῖς προσαγαγὼν διήλλαξεν.
and Nicomedes the kings, he reconciled him with them. 

ὁ μὲν οὖν Μιθριδάτης ἑβδομήκοντα ναῦς παραδοὺς καὶ
Mithridates, accordingly, after handing over to Sulla seventy ships 

τοξότας πεντακοσίους εἰς Πόντον ἀπέπλευσεν.
and five hundred archers, sailed away to Pontus. 

ὁ δὲ Σύλλας, αἰσθόμενος ἀχθομένους τοὺς στρατιώτας
But Sulla perceived that his soldiers were incensed at the peace 

τῇ διαλύσει τὸν γὰρ ἔχθιστον τῶν βασιλέων καὶ
he made; they thought it a terrible thing to see the most hostile of kings,

δεκαπέντε μυριάδας ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ τῶν ἐν Ἀσίᾳ Ῥωμαίων
who caused one 150,000 of the Romans in Asia

κατασφαγῆναι παρασκευάσαντα δεινὸν ἡγοῦντο μετὰ πλούτου
to be massacred in a single day go sailing off with 

καὶ λαφύρων ὁρᾶν ἐκπλέοντα τῆς Ἀσίας, ἣν ἔτη τέσσαρα
wealth and spoils from Asia, which he had for four years

λεηλατῶν καὶ φορολογῶν διετέλεσεν, ἀπελογεῖτο
continued to plunder and levy taxes on. He therefore defended himself

πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἅμα Φιμβρίᾳ καὶ 
by saying that he would not have been able to carry on war with Fimbria

Μιθριδάτῃ πολεμεῖν, εἰ συνέστησαν ἀμφότεροι κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ δθνηθείς.
and Mithridates too, if they had both joined forces against him.

Chapter 25
ὁρμήσας δὲ ἐκεῖθεν ἐπὶ Φιμβρίαν πρὸς Θυατείροις στρατοπεδεύοντα
Then he set out against Fimbria, who was encamped near Thyateira,

καὶ πλησίον καταζεύξας, τάφρον τῷ στρατοπέδῳ περιέβαλεν.
and halting his army near by, began to fortify his camp. 

οἱ δὲ τοῦ Φιμβρίου στρατιῶται μονοχίτωνες ἐκ τοῦ στρατοπέδου
But the soldiers of Fimbria came forth from their camp 

προϊόντες ἠσπάζοντο τοὺς ἐκείνου καὶ
wiyout any armour on, and welcomed Sulla's soldiers, 

συνελάμβανον αὐτοῖς τῶν ἔργων προθύμως.
and joined them eagerly in their labours. 

ὁρῶν δὲ ὁ Φιμβρίας τὴν μεταβολὴν καὶ τὸν Σύλλαν ὡς
When Fimbria saw this change in their allegiance, fearing 

ἀδιάλλακτον δεδοικὼς αὐτὸς ἑαυτὸν ἐν τῷ στρατοπέδῳ
that Sulla was irreconcileable, he laid violent hands on 

διέφθειρε.
himself in the camp.

Σύλλας δὲ κοινῇ μὲν ἐζημίωσε τὴν Ἀσίαν δισμυρίοις
Sulla now laid a public fine upon Asia of twenty yousand 

ταλάντοις, ἰδίᾳ δὲ τοὺς οἴκους ἐξέτριψεν ὕβρει καὶ
talents, and utterly ruined individual families by the insolent 

πολιορκίᾳ τῶν ἐπισταθμευόντων.
outrages of the soldiers quartered on them. 

ἐτέτακτο γὰρ ἑκάστης ἡμέρας τῷ καταλύτῃ τὸν ξένον διδόναι 
For orders were given that the host should give his guest four 

τέσσαρα τετράδραχμα καὶ παρέχειν δεῖπνον αὐτῷ καὶ φίλοις,
tetradrachms every day, and furnish him, and as many friends as he

ὅσους ἂν ἐθέλῃ καλεῖν, ταξίαρχον
might wish to invite, with a supper; and that a military tribune

δὲ πεντήκοντα δραχμὰς λαμβάνειν τῆς ἡμέρας, ἐσθῆτα
should receive fifty drachmas a day, and two suits of clothing,

δὲ ἄλλην μὲν οἰκουρῶν, ἄλλην δὲ εἰς ἀγορὰν
one to wear when he was at home, and another 

προερχόμενος.
when he went abroad. 

Chapter 26
ἀναχθεὶς δὲ πάσαις ταῖς ναυσὶν ἐξ Ἐφέσου τριταῖος
Having put to sea with all his ships from Ephesus, on the third day 

ἐν Πειραιεῖ καθωρμίσθη καὶ μυηθεὶς ἐξεῖλεν 
he came to anchor in Piraeus and initiated into the mysteries, and seized

ἑαυτῷ τὴν Ἀπελλικῶνος τοῦ Τηΐου βιβλιοθήκην, ἐν ᾗ τὰ
for himself the library of Apellicon the Teian, in which 

πλεῖστα τῶν Ἀριστοτέλους καὶ Θεοφράστου βιβλίων
were most of the treatises of Aristotle and Theophrastus, at that 

ἦν, οὔπω τότε σαφῶς γνωριζόμενα τοῖς πολλοῖς, 
time not yet well known to the public. 

λέγεται δὲ κομισθείσης αὐτῆς εἰς Ῥώμην
But it is said that after the library was carried to Rome,

Τυραννίωνα τὸν γραμματικὸν ἐνσκευάσασθαι τὰ
Tyrannio the grammarian arranged most of 

πολλά, καὶ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ τὸν Ῥόδιον Ἀνδρόνικον
the works in it, and that Andronicus the Rhodian 

εὐπορήσαντα τῶν ἀντιγράφων εἰς μέσον θεῖναι καὶ ἀναγράψαι
was furnished by him with copies of them, and published 

τοὺς νῦν φερομένους πίνακας,
them, and drew up the lists now current. 

οἱ δὲ πρεσβύτεροι Περιπατητικοὶ φαίνονται μὲν καθ᾽ ἑαυτοὺς
The older Peripatetics were evidently of themselves  

γενόμενοι χαρίεντες καὶ φιλολόγοι, τῶν δὲ
accomplished and learned men, but with the writings of

Ἀριστοτέλους καὶ Θεοφράστου γραμμάτων οὔτε πολλοῖς
Aristotle and Theophrastus they seem to have had neither a large    

οὔτε ἀκριβῶς ἐντετυχηκότες διὰ τὸ τὸν Νηλέως τοῦ
nor an exact acquaintance, because the estate of Neleus 

Σκηψίου κλῆρον, ᾧ τὰ βιβλία κατέλιπε Θεόφραστος, 
of Scepsis, to whom Theophrastus bequeathed his books, 

εἰς ἀφιλοτίμους καὶ ἰδιώτας ἀνθρώπους περιγενέσθαι.
came into the hands of careless and illiterate people.

Σύλλᾳ δὲ διατρίβοντι περὶ τὰς Ἀθήνας ἄλγημα
While Sulla was tarrying at Athens, his feet were attacked

ναρκῶδες μετὰ βάρους εἰς τοὺς πόδας ἐνέπεσεν, ὅ
by numbness and a feeling of heaviness, 

φησιν ὁ Στράβων ποδάγρας ψελλισμὸν εἶναι.
which Strabo says is premonitory gout. 

διαπλεύσας οὖν εἰς Αἴδηψον ἐχρῆτο τοῖς θερμοῖς
He therefore crossed the straits to Aedepsus and used the hot  

ὕδασι, ῥᾳθυμῶν ἅμα καὶ συνδιημερεύων τοῖς περὶ τὸν
waters there, taking a holiday at the same time, and passing his time  

Διόνυσον τεχνίταις.
pleasantly with the theatrical artists. 

περιπατοῦντος δὲ πρὸς τὴν θάλατταν ἁλιεῖς τινες
Once, as he was walking along the seashore, certain 

ἰχθῦς αὐτῷ παγκάλους προσήνεγκαν.
fishermen brought him some very fine fish. 

ἡσθεὶς δὲ τοῖς δώροις, καὶ πυθόμενος ὡς ἐξ Ἁλῶν
Being delighted with their gift, and learning that they were from Halae,

εἶεν, ‘ἔτι γὰρ ζῇ τις Ἁλαίων;’ ἔφη˙
"What!, is any man of Halae still alive?" said he.

ἐτύγχανε γάρ, ὅτε τὴν πρὸς Ὀρχομενῷ μάχην νενικηκὼς ἐδίωκε
For when he was pursuing the enemy after his victory at Orchomenus,

τοὺς πολεμίους, ἅμα τρεῖς πόλεις
he had destroyed three cities 

τῆς Βοιωτίας, Ἀνθηδόνα, Λάρυμναν, Ἁλὰς ἀνῃρηκώς.
of Boeotia together, Anthedon, Larymna, and Halae. 

τῶν δ᾽ ἀνθρώπων ὑπὸ δέους ἀφώνων γενομένων,
The men were speechless with terror, 

διαμειδιάσας ἐκέλευσεν ἀπιέναι χαίροντας,
but Sulla smiled and bade them depart in peace, 

ὡς οὐ μετὰ φαύλων οὐδὲ ἀξίων ὀλιγωρίας
since they had brought with them no mean or despicable 

ἥκοντας παραιτητῶν.
intercessors. 

Ἁλαῖοι μὲν ἐκ τούτου λέγουσι θαρρήσαντες αὖθις εἰς
The men of Halae say that this gave them courage to go back again 

τὴν πόλιν συνελθεῖν.
in a body to their city. 

Chapter 27
Σύλλας δὲ διὰ Θετταλίας καὶ Μακεδονίας καταβὰς ἐπὶ
And now Sulla, having passed through Thessaly and Macedonia on to

θάλατταν παρεσκευάζετο χιλίαις ναυσὶ καὶ διακοσίαις
the sea, was preparing with twelve hundred ships 

ἀπὸ Δυρραχίου διαβάλλειν εἰς Βρεντέσιον
to cross from Dyrrhachium to Brundisium.

ἡ δὲ Ἀπολλωνία πλησίον ἐστί, καὶ πρὸς αὕτη τὸ Νύμφαιον,
Near by is Apollonia, and in its vicinity is the Nymphaeum, 

ἱερὸς τόπος ἐκ χλοερᾶς νάπης καὶ
a sacred precinct, which sends forth in various places from its green dell and

λειμώνων ἀναδιδοὺς πυρὸς πηγὰς σποράδας ἐνδελεχῶς ῥέοντος,
meadows, streams of perpetually flowing fire.

ἐνταῦθά φασι κοιμώμενον ἁλῶναι σάτυρον, οἷον οἱ
Here, they say, a satyr was caught asleep, such an one 

πλάσται καὶ γραφεῖς εἰκάζουσιν, ἀχθέντα δὲ ὡς
as sculptors and painters represent, and brought to 

Σύλλαν ἐρωτᾶσθαι δι᾽ ἑρμηνέων πολλῶν ὅστις
Sulla, where he was asked through many interpreters 

εἴη˙
who he was. 

φθεγξαμένου δὲ μόλις οὐδὲν συνετῶς, ἀλλὰ τραχεῖάν
And when at last he uttered nothing intelligible, but with difficulty 

τινα καὶ μάλιστα μεμιγμένην ἵππου τε χρεμετισμῷ
emitted a hoarse cry that was something between the neighing of a horse

καὶ τράγου μηκασμῷ φωνὴν ἀφέντος, ἐκπλαγέντα τὸν
and the bleating of a goat, Sulla was horrified, and 

Σύλλαν ἀποδιοπομπήσασθαι.
ordered him out of his sight.

μέλλοντος δὲ τοὺς στρατιώτας διαπεραιοῦν, καὶ δεδιότος μὴ τῆς
When Sulla was about to transport his soldiers, and was in fear lest,

Ἰταλίας ἐπιλαβόμενοι κατὰ πόλεις ἕκαστοι διαρρυῶσι,
when they had reached Italy, they should disperse to their several cities,

πρῶτον μὲν ὤμοσαν ἀφ᾽ αὑτῶν
in the first place, they took an oath of their own 

παραμενεῖν καὶ μηδὲν ἑκουσίως κακουργήσειν τὴν Ἰταλίαν,
accord to stand by him, and to do no damage to Italy wiyout his orders;

ἔπειτα χρημάτων δεόμενον πολλῶν ὁρῶντες,
and then, seeing that he needed much money, they 

ἀπήρχοντο καὶ συνεισέφερον ὡς ἕκαστος
made a free-will offering and contribution, each man according 

εἶχεν εὐπορίας.
to his abundance. 

οὐ μὴν ἐδέξατο τὴν ἀπαρχὴν ὁ Σύλλας, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπαινέσας
Sulla, however, would not accept their offering, but after thanking 

καὶ παρορμήσας διέβαινεν, ὥς φησιν αὐτός, ἐπὶ
them and rousing their courage, crossed over to confront, as he himself says,

πεντεκαίδεκα στρατηγοὺς πολεμίους πεντήκοντα καὶ
fifteen hostile commanders with four 

τετρακοσίας σπείρας ἔχοντας, 
hundred and fifty cohorts. 

ἐκδηλότατα τοῦ θεοῦ τὰς εὐτυχίας προσημαίνοντος αὐτῷ.
But the Deity gave him most unmistakable foretokens of his successes. 

θύσαντος μὲν γὰρ εὐθέως ᾗ διέβη περὶ Τάραντα, 
For after he had sacrificed at once where he landed at Tarentum, 

δάφνης στεφάνου τύπον ἔχων ὁ λοβὸς ὤφθη, 
the victim's liver was seen to have an impression of a wreath of laurel,

καὶ λημνίσκων δύο κατηρτημένων, 
with two fillets hanging from it. 

μικρὸν δὲ πρὸ τῆς διαβάσεως ἐν Καμπανίᾳ περὶ τὸ 
A little while before he crossed over from Greece, there were seen on

Τίφατον ὄρος ἡμέρας ὤφθησαν δύο τράγοι μεγάλοι
Mount Tifatum in Campania, in the day time, two 

συμφερόμενοι καὶ πάντα δρῶντες καὶ πάσχοντες ἃ 
great he-goats fighting together, and doing everything that 

συμβαίνει μαχομένοις ἀνθρώποις.
men do when they fight a battle. 

ἦν δὲ ἄρα φάσμα, καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν αἰρόμενον ἀπὸ γῆς
But it proved to be an apparition, and gradually rising from earth 

διεσπείρετο πολλαχοῦ τοῦ ἀέρος εἰδώλοις ἀμαυροῖς
it dispersed itself generally in the air, like vague phantoms, 

ὅμοιον, εἶτα οὕτως ἠφανίσθη.
and then vanished from sight. 

καὶ μετ᾽ οὐ πολὺν χρόνον ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ Μαρίου
And not long after,  in this very place, when Marius the 

τοῦ νέου καὶ Νορβανοῦ τοῦ ὑπάτου μεγάλας δυνάμεις
younger and Norbanus the consul led large forces up against 

ἐπαγαγόντων, ὁ Σύλλας οὔτε τάξιν ἀποδοὺς οὔτε
him, Sulla, wiyout either giving out an order of battle 

λοχίσας τὸ οἰκεῖον στράτευμα, ῥώμῃ δὲ προθυμίας
or forming his own army in companies, but taking advantage 

κοινῆς καὶ φορᾷ τόλμης ἀποχρησάμενος ἐτρέψατο τοὺς
of a vigorous general alacrity and a transport of courage in them,

πολεμίους καὶ κατέκλεισεν εἰς Καπύην πόλιν τὸν Νορβανόν,
routed the enemy and shut up Norbanus in the city of Capua,

ἑπτακισχιλίους ἀποκτείνας.
after slaying seven yousand of his men.

τοῦτο αἴτιον αὐτῷ γενέσθαι φησὶ τοῦ μὴ διαλυθῆναι
It was on account of this success, he says, that his soldiers did not 

τοὺς στρατιώτας κατὰ πόλεις, ἀλλὰ συμμεῖναι καὶ καταφρονῆσαι
disperse into their several cities, but held together and despised 

τῶν ἐναντίων πολλαπλασίων ὄντων, 
their opponents, though these were many times more numerous. 

ἐν δὲ Σιλβίῳ φησὶν οἰκέτην Ποντίου θεοφόρητον ἐντυχεῖν
He says, moreover, that at Silvium, a servant of Pontius met him, 

αὐτῷ λέγοντα παρὰ τῆς Ἐνυοῦς κράτος πολέμου 
in an inspired state, declaring that he brought him from 

καὶ νίκην ἀπαγγέλλειν εἰ δὲ μὴ σπεύσειεν,ἐμπεπρήσεσθαι
Bellona triumph in war and victory, but that if he did not hasen,

τὸ Καπιτώλιον ὃ καὶ συμβῆναι τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης ἧς
the Capitol would be burnt; and this actually happened, he says, on the day

ὁ ἄνθρωπος προηγόρευσεν ἦν δὲ αὕτη πρὸ μιᾶς νωνῶν
which the man foretold, namely, the sixth day of

Κυντιλίων, ἃς νῦν Ἰουλίας καλοῦμεν.
Quintilis, which we now call July. 

ἔτι δὲ Μάρκος Λεύκολλος, εἷς τῶν ὑπὸ Σύλλᾳ
And still further, when Marcus Lucullus, one of Sulla's

στρατηγούντων, περὶ Φιδεντίαν ἑκκαίδεκα σπείραις
commanders, at Fidentia, with sixteen cohorts confronted 

πρὸς πεντήκοντα τῶν πολεμίων ἀντιταχθεὶς τῇ μὲν
fifty cohorts of the enemy, although he had confidence in 

προθυμίᾳ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἐπίστευεν, ἀνόπλους δὲ
the readiness of his soldiers, still, as most of them were 

τοὺς πολλοὺς ἔχων ὤκνει.
wiyout arms, he hesitated to attack. 

βουλευομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ καὶ διαμέλλοντος, ἀπὸ τοῦ πλησίον
But while he was waiting and deliberating, from the neighbouring 

πεδίου λειμῶνα ἔχοντος αὔρα φέρουσα μαλακὴ
plain, which was a meadow, a gentle breeze brought a quantity 

πολλὰ τῶν ἀνθέων ἐπέβαλε τῇ στρατιᾷ καὶ
of flowers and scattered them down upon his army; 

κατέσπειρεν, αὐτομάτως ἐπιμένοντα καὶ περιπίπτοντα
they settled of their own accord and enveloped the shields 

τοῖς θυρεοῖς καὶ τοῖς κράνεσιν αὑτῶν, ὥστε
and helmets of the soldiers, so that to the enemy 

φαίνεσθαι τοῖς πολεμίοις ἐστεφανωμένους,
these appeared to be crowned with garlands. 

γενόμενοι δὲ ὑπὸ τούτου προθυμότεροι συνέβαλον καὶ
This circumstance made them more eager for the fray, and 

νικήσαντες ὀκτακισχιλίους ἐπὶ μυρίοις ἀπέκτειναν
they joined battle, won the victory, killed eighteen yousand 

καὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον εἷλον.
of the enemy, and took their camp. 

οὗτος ὁ Λεύκολλος ἀδελφὸς ἦν Λευκόλλου τοῦ
This Lucullus was a brother of the Lucullus 

Μιθριδάτην ὕστερον καὶ Τιγράνην καταπολεμήσαντος.
who afterwards subdued Mithridates and Tigranes. 

Chapter 28
ὁ δὲ Σύλλας ἔτι πολλοῖς στρατοπέδοις καὶ μεγάλαις δυνάμεσι
But Sulla, seeing that his enemies, with many armies and large forces, 

περικεχυμένους αὐτῷ τοὺς πολεμίους ὁρῶν πανταχόθεν
still surrounded him on all sides, he had recourse to

ἥπτετο δυνάμει καὶ δι᾽ ἀπάτης, προκαλούμενος εἰς
craft as well as force, and invited the other consul,

διαλύσεις τὸν ἕτερον τῶν ὑπάτων Σκηπίωνα.
Scipio, to make terms of peace. 

δεξαμένου δ᾽ ἐκείνου σύλλογοι μὲν ἐγίνοντο καὶ
He accepted the proposal, and several meetings and

κοινολογίαι πλείονες, ἀεὶ δέ τινα παραγωγὴν καὶ
conferences were held; but Sulla continually interposed

πρόφασιν ἐμβάλλων ὁ Σύλλας διέφθειρε τοὺς περὶ
some pretext for gaining time, and gradually corrupted

Σκηπίωνα τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ στρατιώταις, ἠσκημένοις πρὸς
Scipio's soldiers by means of his own, who were practised

ἀπάτην καὶ γοητείαν ἅπασαν ὥσπερ αὐτὸς ὁ
in deceit and every kind of jugglery, like their

ἡγεμών.
general himself. 

εἰσιόντες γὰρ εἰς τὸν χάρακα τῶν πολεμίων καὶ ἀναμιγνυμένοι
For they entered the camp of their enemies, mingled 

τοὺς μὲν εὐθὺς ἀργυρίῳ, τοὺς δὲ ὑποσχέσεσι, 
freely with them, with money, persuasive flatteries, promises,

τοὺς δὲ κολακεύ οντες καὶ ἀναπείθοντες προσήγοντο.
gradually won them over to Sulla's cause. 

τέλος δὲ τοῦ Σύλλα μετὰ σπειρῶν εἴκοσι προσελθόντος
And finally, when Sulla drew near with twenty cohorts, 

ἐγγὺς οἱ μὲν ἠσπάσαντο τοὺς τοῦ Σκηπίωνος,
his men greeted those of Scipio, who answered their 

οἱ δὲ ἀντασπασάμενοι προσεχώρησαν ὁ δὲ Σκηπίων
greetings and went over to them. Scipio, 

ἔρημος ἐν τῇ σκηνῇ ληφθεὶς ἠφείθη,
who was left alone, was taken in his tent, but dismissed;

Σύλλας δὲ ταῖς εἴκοσι σπείραις ὥσπερ ἠθάσιν ὄρνισι
while Sulla, who had used his twenty cohorts as decoy-birds

τεσσαράκοντα τὰς τῶν πολεμίων 
to catch the forty cohorts of the enemy,

παλεύσας ἀπήγαγεν εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον ἅπαντας,
led them all back to his camp. 

ὅτε καὶ Κάρβωνά φασιν εἰπεῖν 
It was on this occasion, too, that Carbo is said to 

ὡς ἀλώπεκι καὶ λέοντι πολεμῶν ἐν τῇ Σύλλα ψυχῇ 
have remarked that in making war upon the fox and 

κατοικοῦσιν ὑπὸ τῆς ἀλώπεκος ἀνιῷτο μᾶλλον.
the lion in Sulla, he was more annoyed by the fox. 

ἐκ τούτου περὶ Σίγνιον Μάριος ὀγδοήκοντα καὶ πέντε
After this, at Signia, Marius, with eighty-five cohorts, 

σπείρας ἔχων προὐκαλεῖτο Σύλλαν.
challenged Sulla to battle. 

ὁ δὲ καὶ πάνυ πρόθυμος ἦν διαγωνίσασθαι κατ᾽
Now Sulla was very eager to have the issue settled 

ἐκείνην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐτύγχανε γὰρ ὄψιν ἑωρακὼς
on that day; for he had seen a vision in his 

τοιάνδε κατὰ τοὺς ὕπνους.
dreams, as follows. 

ἐδόκει τὸν γέροντα Μάριον τεθνηκότα πάλαι τῷ παιδὶ
He thought he saw the elder Marius, who was long since 

Μαρίῳ παραινεῖν φυλάξασθαι τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν ἡμέραν ὡς
dead, advising his son Marius to beware of the ensuing day,

μεγάλην αὐτῷ δυστυχίαν φέρουσαν.
since it would bring him a great calamity. 

διὰ τοῦτο μὲν δὴ πρόθυμος ὁ Σύλλας ἦν μάχεσθαι, καὶ
For this reason, then, Sulla was eager to fight a battle, and was trying 

μετεπέμπετο τὸν Δολοβέλλαν ἄπωθεν στρατοπε δεύοντα.
to get Dolabella, who was encamped at some distance, to join him. 

τῶν δὲ πολεμίων ἐφισταμένων ταῖς ὁδοῖς καὶ
But the enemy beset the roads and hemmed Sulla in, and

ἀποφραττόντων οἱ τοῦ Σύλλα προσμαχόμενοι καὶ
his soldiers were worn out with fighting 

ὁδοποιοῦντες ἔκαμνον καὶ πολὺς ὄμβρος ἅμα τοῖς
to open a passage, much rain also came upon them while 

ἔργοις ἐπιγενόμενος μᾶλλον ἐκάκωσεν αὐτούς, 
they were at work amid added to their distress. 

ὅθεν οἱ ταξίαρχοι προσιόντες τῷ Σύλλᾳ ἐδέοντο τὴν μάχην ἀναβαλέσθαι,
The tribunes came to Sulla and begged him to defer the battle,

δεικνύντες ἅμα τοὺς στρατιώτας ἐρριμμένους ὑπὸ κόπου
showing him the soldiers prostrated with weariness

καὶ προσαναπαυομένους χαμᾶζε τοῖς θυρεοῖς κεκλιμένοις.
and resting on their shields, which they had laid upon the ground. 

ἐπεὶ δὲ συνεχώρησεν ἄκων καὶ πρόσταγμα καταζεύξεως ἔδωκεν,
Sulla yielded reluctantly, and gave orders to pitch a camp, but 

ἀρχομένων αὐτῶν τὸν χάρακα βάλλειν καὶ 
just as his men were beginning to dig a trench  

τάφρον ὀρύσσειν πρὸ τῆς στρατοπεδείας, ἐπήλαυνε
and throw the rampart before it, Marius attacked them 

σοβαρῶς ὁ Μάριος προϊππεύων ὡς ἀτάκτους καὶ
confidently, riding ahead of his lines, and hoping to 

τεθορυβημένους διασκεδάσων.
scatter his enemies while they were in disorder and confusion. 

ἐνταῦθα τῷ Σύλλᾳ τὴν κατὰ τοὺς ὕπνους φωνὴν ὁ
There the Deity fulfilled the words which Sulla had heard 

δαίμων συνετέλει.
in his dreams. 

ὀργὴ γὰρ αὐτοῦ τοῖς στρατιώταις παρέστη, καὶ
For Sulla's rage imparted itself to his soldiers, and

παυσάμενοι τῶν ἔργων τοὺς μὲν ὑσσοὺς κατέπηξαν ἐπὶ
leaving off their work, they planted their javelins in 

τῇ τάφρῳ, σπασάμενοι δὲ τὰ ξίφη καὶ συναλαλάξαντες
the trench, drew their swords, and with a general shout came 

ἐν χερσὶν ἦσαν τῶν πολεμίων.
to close quarters with their enemies. 

οἱ δὲ οὐ πολὺν ὑπέστησαν χρόνον, ἀλλὰ γίνεται πολὺς φόνος 
But they did not endure for a long time; instead, great slaughter 

αὐτῶν τραπέντων.
occurs among them when they turned.

Μάριος δὲ φεύγων εἰς Πραινεστὸν ἤδη τὰς πύλας εὗρε κεκλειμένας˙
Marius fled to Praeneste, but found the gate was already closed.

καλωδίου δὲ ἄνωθεν ἀφεθέντος ἐνζώσας ἑαυτὸν ἀνελήφθη 
But when the ladder had been set up from above, having girded himself, 

πρὸς τὸ τεῖχος, ἔνιοι δέ φασιν, ὧν καὶ Φαινεστέλλας ἐστίν, 
was taken up to the wall.  And some say, among whom is Phainestellēs,

οὐδὲ αἰσθέσθαι τῆς μάχης τὸν Μάριον, ἀλλ᾽ ἐξ ἀγρυπνιῶν
Not even to perceive the battle, Marius, fell asleep from sleeplessness

καὶ κόπων ὑπὸ σκιᾷ τινι χαμαὶ κατακλινέντα τοῦ συνθήματος 
and toils, lying on the ground under some shade, when the 

δοθέντος ἐνδοῦναι πρὸς ὕπνον, εἶτα μόλις ἐξεγείρεσθαι 
signal was given to fall asleep, and then scarcely to wake 

τῆς φυγῆς γενομένης, ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ μάχῃ. 
up when the flight had taken place.  

Σύλλας φησὶν εἰκοσιτρεῖς μόνους ἀποβαλεῖν,
In this battle Sulla says he lost only twenty-three 

ἀποκτεῖναι δὲ τῶν πολεμίων δισμυρίους
men, but killed twenty yousand of the enemy, and 

καὶ λαβεῖν ζῶντας ὀκτακισχιλίους.
took eight yousand prisoners. 

καὶ τἆλλα δὲ ὁμοίως εὐτυχεῖτο διὰ τῶν
His other plans were carried out with like success

στρατηγῶν, Πομπηΐου, Κράσσου,Μετέλλου,Σερουϊλίου.
by his generals, Pompey, Crassus, Metellus, and Servilius. 

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἢ μικρὰ προσκρούσαντες οὗτοι μεγάλας
For with few or no reverses these annihilated large 

συνέτριψαν δυνάμεις τῶν πολεμίων, ὥστε τὸν μάλιστα
forces of the enemy, so that Carbo, the chief  

τὴν ἐναντίαν στάσιν συνέχοντα Κάρβωνα νύκτωρ
supporter of the opposite faction, ran away 

ἀποδράντα τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στρατιὰν εἰς Λιβύην ἐκπλεῦσαι.
from his own army by night, and sailed off to Libya. 

Chapter 29
τὸν μέντοι τελευταῖον ἀγῶνα καθάπερ ἔφεδρος ἀθλητῇ 
However, brought forward like a reserve athlete to the 

καταπόνῳ προσενεχθεὶς ὁ Σαυνίτης Τελεσῖνος ἐγγὺς ἦλθε τοῦ
final struggle, Telésinos the Samnite, came near to the

σφῆλαι καὶ καταβαλεῖν ἐπὶ θύραις τῆς Ῥώμης.
point of overpowering and casting down at the gates of Rome.

ἔσπευδε μὲν γὰρ ἅμα Λαμπωνίῳ τῷ Λευκανῷ χεῖρα πολλὴν ἀθροίσας
For he had, with Lamponius the Lucanian, collected together a large force,

ἐπὶ Πραινεστὸν ὡς ἐξαρπασόμενος τῆς πολιορκίας
and was hasening to Praeneste, relieve Marius from the siege. 

τὸν Μάριον ἐπεὶ δὲ ᾔσθετο Σύλλαν μὲν κατὰ στόμα, Πομπήϊον
But when he learned that Sulla to his front, and Pompey 

δὲ κατ᾽ οὐρὰν βοηδρομοῦντας ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν, εἰργόμενος τοῦ
to his rear, were hurrying up against him, since he was being hemmed in

πρόσω καὶ ὀπίσω πολεμιστὴς ἀνὴρ καὶ μεγάλων ἀγώνων
before and behind, valiant and highly experienced soldier that he was,

ἔμπειρος ἄρας νυκτὸς ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν ἐχώρει παντὶ
he broke camp by night, and marched with all

τῷ στρατοπίδῳ τὴν Ῥώμην.
his army against Rome itself. 

καὶ μικροῦ μὲν ἐδέησεν ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς ἀφύλακτον 
And he came within a little of breaking into the city in its unguarded state;

ἀποσχὼν δὲ τῆς Κολλίνης πύλης δέκα σταδίους
he was only nine furlongs from the Colline gate

ἐπηυλίσατο τῇ πόλει, μεγαλοφρονῶν καὶ ταῖς ἐλπίσιν
when he bivouacked against it, highly encouraged 

ἐπηρμένος ὡς τοσούτους ἡγεμόνας καὶ τηλικούτους
and elated with hopes at the thought of having outgeneralled 

κατεστρατηγηκώς.
so many great commanders. 

ἅμα δ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ τῶν λαμπροτάτων νέων ἐξιππασαμένων
And when, at day-break, the noblest youth of the city rode out 

ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἄλλους τε πολλοὺς καὶ Κλαύδιον
against him, he overwhelmed many of them, including Appius 

Ἄππιον, εὐγενῆ καὶ ἀγαθὸν ἄνδρα,κατέβαλε,
Claudius, a man of high birth and character. 

θορύβου δ᾽, οἷον εἰκός, ὄντος ἐν τῇ πόλει καὶ βοῆς γυναικείας
There was a tumult in the city, naturally, and shrieking of women, 

καὶ διαδρομῶν ὡς ἁλισκομένων κατὰ κράτος,
and running hither and thither, as though the city were taken 

πρῶτος ὤφθη Βάλβος ἀπὸ Σύλλα προσελαύνων
by storm, when Balbus, sent forward by Sulla, was first seen 

ἀνὰ κράτος ἱππεῦσιν ἑπτακοσίοις.
riding up at full speed with seven hundred horsemen. 

διαλιπὼν δὲ ὅσον ἀναψῦξαι τὸν ἱδρῶτα τῶν ἵππων,
He paused just long enough to let the sweat of the horses cool off,

εἴτ᾽ αὖθις ἐγχαλινώσας διὰ ταχέων ἐξήπτετο
and then quickly bridled them again and attacked the 

τῶν πολεμίων.
enemy. 

ἐν τούτῳ δὲ καὶ Σύλλας ἐφαίνετο˙  καὶ τοὺς πρώτους 
At this juncture, Sulla also made his appearance, and ordering his vanguard 

εὐθὺς ἀριστᾶν κελεύων εἰς τάξιν καθίστη.
to take food at once, proceeded to form them in order of battle. 

πολλὰ δὲ Δολοβέλλα καὶ Τουρκουάτου δεομένων ἐπισχεῖν
Dolabella and Torquatus earnestly besought him to wait a while,

καὶ μὴ κατακόπους ἔχοντα τοὺς ἄνδρας ἀποκινδυνεῦσαι
and not to hazard the supreme issue with his men fatigued 

περὶ τῶν ἐσχάτων οὐ γὰρ Κάρβωνα καὶ Μάριον,
and spent; for they were to contend not with Carbo and Marius, 

ἀλλὰ Σαυνίτας καὶ Λευκανούς, τὰ ἔχθιστα τῇ
but with Samnites and Lucanians, the most inveterate enemies of 

Ῥώμῃ καὶ τὰ πολεμικώτατα φῦλα, 
Rome, and the most warlike of peoples. 

συμφέρεσθαι, παρωσάμενος αὐτοὺς ἐκέλευσε
But he put them by, and commanded 

σημαίνειν τὰς σάλπιγγας ἀρχὴν ἐφόδου, σχεδὸν εἰς
the trumpets to sound the charge, though it was now getting on 

ὥραν δεκάτην ἤδη τῆς ἡμέρας καταστρεφούσης.
towards four o'clock in the afternoon. 

γενομένου δὲ ἀγῶνος, οἷος οὐχ ἕτερος, τὸ μὲν
In the struggle which followed, and no other was so fierce, 

δεξιόν, ἐν ᾧ Κράσσος ἐτέτακτο, λαμπρῶς ἐνίκα, τῷ δὲ
the right wing, where Crassus was posted, was brilliantly successful; 

εὐωνύμῳ πονοῦντι καὶ κακῶς ἔχοντι Σύλλας
but the left was hard pressed and in a sorry plight, when Sulla

παρεβοήθει, λευκὸν ἵππον ἔχων θυμοειδῆ καὶ
came to its assistance, mounted on a white horse that was mettlesome and

ποδωκέστατον ἀφ᾽ οὗ γνωρίσαντες αὐτὸν δύο τῶν
very swift. By this horse two of enemy recognised him,

πολεμίων διετείνοντο τὰς λόγχας ὡς ἀφ᾽ σοντες.
and poised their spears for the cast. 

αὐτὸς μὲν οὖν οὐ προενόησε, τοῦ δ᾽ ἱπποκόμου
Sulla himself, now, did not notice this, but his groom did, 

μαστίξαντος τὸν ἵππον ἔφθη παρενεχθεὶς τοσοῦτον
and with a cut of the lash succeeded in sending Sulla's horse 

ὅσον περὶ τὴν οὐρὰν τοῦ ἵππου τὰς αἰχμὰς
along so that the spear-heads just grazed its tail and 

συμπεσούσας εἰς τὴν γῆν παγῆναι.
fixed themselves in the ground. 

λέγεται δὲ ἔχων τι χρυσοῦν Ἀπόλλωνος ἀγαλμάτιον ἐκ
There is also a story that Sulla had a little golden image of Apollo 

Δελφῶν ἀεὶ μὲν αὐτὸ κατὰ τὰς μάχας περιφέρειν ἐν
from Delphi which he always carried in his bosom when he was in battle, 

τῷ κόλπῳ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τότε τοῦτο καταφιλεῖν οὕτω δὴ
but that on this occasion he took it out and kissed it affectionately, 

λέγων˙
saying: 

‘ὦ Πύθιε Ἄπολλον, τὸν εὐτυχῆ Σύλλαν Κορνήλιον ἐν
"O Pythian Apollo, having raised up the fortunate Sulla Cornelius in

τοσούτοις ἀγῶσιν ἄρας λαμπρὸν καὶ μέγαν ἐνταῦθα
such great struggles, will you now cast him, illustrious and great as he is,

ῥίψεις ἐπὶ θύραις τῆς πατρίδος ἀγαγών, αἴσχιστα
at the gates of his homeland, bringing disgrace upon 

τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ συναπολούμενον πολίταις;
the citizens who are his own people?

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν Σύλλαν θεοκλυτοῦντα τοὺς μὲν
Thus invoking the god, they say, he entreated some of his men, 

ἀντιβολεῖν, τοῖς δὲ ἀπειλεῖν, τῶν δὲ ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαι˙
threatened others, and laid hands on others still; 

τέλος δὲ τοῦ εὐωνύμου συντριβέντος ἀναμιχθέντα
but at last his left wing was completely shattered, and with the 

τοῖς φεύγουσιν εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον καταφυγεῖν, 
fugitives he sought refuge in his camp, 

πολλοὺς ἀποβαλόντα τῶν ἑταίρων καὶ
Many having been cast away from the companions and 

γνωρίμων, οὐκ ὀλίγοι δὲ καὶ τῶν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἐπὶ
acquaintances, not few also of those from the city coming forth to

θέαν προελθόντες ἀπώλοντο καὶ κατεπατήθησαν,
see this battle were destroyed and trampled upon, 

ὥστε τὴν μὲν πόλιν οἴεσθαι διαπεπρᾶχθαι, παρ᾽
so as to think the city to have been overtaken, 

ὀλίγον δὲ καὶ τὴν Μαρίου πολιορκίαν λυθῆναι, πολλῶν
nearly, the siege let loose by Marius, many 

ἐκ τῆς τροπῆς ὠσαμένων ἐκεῖ καὶ τὸν ἐπὶ τῇ
from the turn being driven out there, 

πολιορκίᾳ τεταγμένον Ὀφέλλαν Λουκρήτιον
by the seige, and Ophella Lucretius who was appointed

ἀναζευγνύναι κατὰ τάχος κελευόντων, ὡς ἀπολωλότος
to quickly withdraw, as being lost and that

τοῦ Σύλλα καὶ τῆς Ῥώμης ἐχομένης ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων.
Sulla and Rome was in the hands of the enemy. 

Chapter 30
ἤδη δὲ νυκτὸς οὔσης βαθείας ἧκον εἰς τὸ τοῦ Σύλλα στρατόπεδον
But when night was now far advanced, messengers came to Sulla's camp

παρὰ τοῦ Κράσσου δεῖπνον αὐτῷ καὶ τοῖς στρατιώταις μετιόντες˙
from Crassus, to fetch supper for him and his soldiers;

ὡς γὰρ ἐνίκησε τοὺς πολεμίους, εἰς Ἄντεμναν
for after conquering the enemy, he had pursued them into Antemnae,

καταδιώξαντες ἐκεῖ κατεστρατοπέδευσαν.
and was encamped before that city. 

ταῦτ᾽ οὖν πυθόμενος ὁ Σύλλας, καὶ ὅτι τῶν 
When, therefore, Sulla learned this, and also that the 

πολεμίων οἱ πλεῖστοι διολώλασιν, ἧκεν εἰς Ἄντεμναν ἅμ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ, 
greater part of the enemy was destroyed, he came to Antemnae at daybreak.

καὶ τρισχιλίων ἐπικηρυκευσαμένων πρὸς αὐτὸν
There three yousand of the inhabitants sent a deputation to him 

ὑπέσχετο δώσειν τὴν ἀσφάλειαν, εἰ κακόν τι τοὺς 
to sue for mercy, and he promised them safety if they would do some 

ἄλλους ἐργασάμενοι πολεμίους ἔλθοιεν πρὸς αὐτόν,
mischief to the rest of his enemies before coming to him.  

οἱ δὲ πιστεύσαντες ἐπέθεντο τοῖς λοιποῖς, καὶ
So they, trusting him, attacked the rest of the people in the city, and

πολλοὶ κατεκόπησαν ὑπ᾽ ἀλλήλων.
many were slain by one another's hands. 

οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ τούτους καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τοὺς
Indeed not only these, but also those others 

περιγενομένους εἰς ἑξακισχιλίους ἀθροίσας παρὰ τὸν ἱππόδρομον,
Gathering those six yousand who survived beside the racecourse,

ἐκάλει τὴν σύγκλητον εἰς τὸ τῆς Ἐνυοῦς ἱερόν.
he summoned the assembly to the sanctuary of Enyo.

ἅμα δ᾽ αὐτός τε λέγειν ἐνήρχετο  
Simultainiously, he himself began to speak and was exhorting them.

καὶ κατέκοπτον οἱ τεταγμένοι τοὺς ἑξακισχιλίους.
While those he had arranged were cutting down the six yousand. 

κραυγῆς δέ, ὡς εἰκός, ἐν χωρίῳ μικρῷ τοσούτων σφαττομένων
The shrieks of such a multitude, who were being massacred in 

φερομένης καὶ τῶν συγκλητικῶν ἐκπλαγέντων,
filled the air, of course, and the senators were dumbfounded;

ὥσπερ ἐτύγχανε λέγων ἀτρέπτῳ καὶ
but Sulla, with the calm and unmoved countenance 

καθεστηκότι τῷ προσώπῳ προσέχειν ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς τῷ λόγῳ,
ordered them to pay attention to the standing speaker's (himself) words

τὰ δ᾽ ἔξω γινόμενα μὴ πολυπραγμονεῖν νουθετεῖσθαι
and not concern themselves with what was going on outside, 

γὰρ αὐτοῦ κελεύσαντος ἐνίους τῶν πονηρῶν.
for it was only that some criminals were being admonished, by his orders. 

τοῦτο καὶ τῷ βραδυτάτῳ Ῥωμαίων νοῆσαι παρέστησεν
This gave even the dullest Roman to understand that, in 

ὡς ἀλλαγὴ τὸ χρῆμα τυραννίδος, οὐκ ἀπαλλαγὴ γέγονε.
the matter of tyranny, there had been an exchange, but not a deliverance. 

Μάριος μὲν οὖν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς χαλεπὸς ὢν ἐπέτεινεν, οὐ μετέβαλε τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ
Marius the elder, had been harsh at the outset, and power had intensified

τὴν φύσιν Σύλλας δὲ μετρίως τὰ
his disposition; but Sulla had used his good fortune moderately, at 

πρῶτα καὶ πολιτικῶς ὁμιλήσας τῇ τύχῃ καὶ δόξαν
first, and like a statesman, and had led men to expect in him a leader

ἀριστοκρατικοῦ καὶ δημωφελοῦς ἡγεμόνος παρασχών,
attached to the aristocracy, and simultaniously helpful to the common people. 

ἔτι δὲ καὶ φιλόγελως ἐκ νέου γενόμενος καὶ πρὸς 
Furthermore, from his youth up he had been of a merry temper,

οἶκτον ὑγρός, ὥστε ῥᾳδίως ἐπιδακρύειν, εἰκότως
and easily moved to tears of pity. Naturally, 

προσετρίψατο ταῖς μεγάλαις ἐξουσίαις διαβολὴν ὡς
therefore, his conduct fixed a stigma upon offices of great power,

τὰ ἤθη μένειν οὐκ ἐώσαις ἐπὶ τῶν ἐξ ἀρχῆς
which were thought to work a change in men's 

τρόπων, ἀλλ᾽ ἔμπληκτα καὶ χαῦνα καὶ ἀπάνθρωπα ποιούσαις.
previous characters, and render them capricious, vain, and cruel. 

τοῦτο μὲν οὖν εἴτε κίνησίς ἐστι καὶ μεταβολὴ
However, whether this is a change and reversal of nature, brought 

φύσεως ὑπὸ τύχης, εἴτε μᾶλλον ὑποκειμένης ἀποκάλυψις ἐν
about by fortune, or rather a revelation, when a man is in 

ἐξουσίᾳ κακίας, ἑτέρα τις ἂν
authority, of underlying baseness, are a matter for determination 

διορίσειε πραγματεία.
for some other treatise. 

Chapter 31
τοῦ δὲ Σύλλα πρὸς τὸ σφάττειν τραπομένου καὶ φόνων
Sulla now busied himself with slaughter, and murders 

οὔτε ἀριθμὸν οὔτε ὅρον ἐχόντων ἐμπιπλάντος τὴν πόλιν, 
wiyout number or limit filled the city. 

ἀναιρουμένων πολλῶν καὶ κατ᾽ ἰδίας ἔχθρας, οἷς οὐδὲν 
Many, too, were killed to gratify private hatreds, although they had no

ἦν πρᾶγμα πρὸς Σύλλαν, ἐφιέντος αὐτοῦ καὶ 
relations with Sulla, but he gave his 

χαριζομένου τοῖς περὶ αὐτόν, 
consent in order to gratify his adherents. 

ἐτόλμησε τῶν νέων εἷς, Γάϊος Μέτελλος, ἐν τῇ συγκλήτῳ 
At last one of the younger men, Caius Metellus, made bold to ask

τοῦ Σύλλα πυθέσθαι τί πέρας ἔσται τῶν κακῶν, καὶ ποῖ 
Sulla in the senate what end there was to be of these evils, and how far 

προελθόντος αὐτοῦ δεῖ πεπαῦσθαι τὰ γινόμενα προσδοκᾶν.
he would proceed before they might expect such doings to cease. 

‘παραιτούμεθα γάρ, ’ εἶπεν, ‘ οὐχ οὓς σὺ ἔγνωκας
We do not ask you, " he said, "to free from punishment those whom 
	
ἀναιρεῖν τῆς τιμωρίας, ἀλλὰ τῆς ἀμφιβολίας 
you has determined to slay, but to free from suspense those whom 

οὓς ἔγνωκας σώζειν.
you has determined to save. 

ἀποκριναμένου δὲ τοῦ Σύλλα μηδέπω γινώσκειν οὓς
And when Sulla answered that he did not yet know whom he would 

ἀφίησιν, ὑπολαβὼν ὁ Μέτελλος, ‘οὐκοῦν,’ ἔφη,
spare, "Well, then," said Metellus in reply, "let us know whom 

‘δήλωσον οὓς μέλλεις κολάζειν.’
you intendest to punish." 

καὶ ὁ Σύλλας ἔφη τοῦτο ποιήσειν.
This Sulla said he would do. 

ἔνιοι δὲ οὐ τὸν Μέτελλον, ἀλλὰ Φουφίδιόν τινα τῶν
Some, however, say that it was not Metellus, but Fufidius, 

πρὸς χάριν ὁμιλούντων τῷ Σύλλᾳ τὸ τελευταῖον
one of Sulla's fawning creatures, who made this last 

εἰπεῖν λέγουσιν.
speech to him. 

ὁ δ᾽ οὖν Σύλλας εὐθὺς ὀγδοήκοντα προέγραψεν,οὐδενὶ
Be that as it may, Sulla at once proscribed eighty persons, wiyout 

τῶν ἐν τέλει κοινωσάμενος.  ἀγανακτούντων δὲ πάντων, 
communicating with any magistrate; and in spite of the general indignation, 

μίαν ἡμέραν διαλιπὼν ἄλλους προέγραψεν εἴκοσι καὶ διακοσίους,
after a single day's interval, he proscribed two hundred and twenty 

εἶτα τρίτῃ πάλιν οὐκ ἐλάττους.
others, and then on the third day, as many more. 

ἐπὶ δὲ τούτοις δημηγορῶν εἶπεν ὅσους μεμνημένος
Referring to these measures publicly, he said that he was proscribing as many

τυγχάνοι προγράφειν, τοὺς δὲ νῦν διαλανθάνοντας
as he could remember, and those who now escaped his memory, he would 

αὖθις προγράψειν.
proscribe at a future time. 

προέγραψε δὲ τῷ μὲν ὑποδεξαμένῳ καὶ διασώσαντι τὸν
He also proscribed any one who harboured and saved a proscribed 

προγεγραμμένον, ζημίαν τῆς φιλανθρωπίας ὁρίζων θάνατον, οὐκ
person, making death the punishment for such humanity, wiyout exception

ἀδελφόν, οὐχ υἱόν, οὐ γονεῖς ὑπεξελόμενος, τῷ δὲ ἀποκτείναντι
of brother, son, or parents, but offering any one who slew a proscribed

γέρας δύο τάλαντα τῆς ἀνδροφονίας,
person two talents as a reward for his murderous deed, 

κἂν δοῦλος δεσπότην κἂν πατέρα υἱὸς ἀνέλῃ.
even though a slave should slay his master, or a son his father. 

ὃ δὲ πάντων ἀδικώτατον ἔδοξε, τῶν γὰρ 
And what seemed the greatest injustice of all, he took away 

προγεγραμμένων ἠτίμωσε καὶ υἱοὺς καὶ 
all civil rights from the sons and grandsons of those who 

υἱωνούς, καὶ τὰ χρήματα πάντων ἐδήμευσε.
had been proscribed, and confiscated the property of all.

προεγράφοντο δὲ οὐκ ἐν Ῥώμῃ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν
Moreover, proscriptions were made not only in Rome, but 

πάσῃ πόλει τῆς Ἰταλίας˙
also in every city of Italy, 

καὶ φονευομένων οὔτε ναὸς ἦν καθαρὸς θεοῦ οὔτε ἑστία ξένιος οὔτε
neither temple of God, hearth of hospitality, 

οἶκος πατρῷος, ἀλλὰ καὶ παρὰ
nor paternal home was free from bloodshed, but husbands were 

γυναιξὶ γαμεταῖς ἄνδρες ἐσφάττοντο καὶ παρὰ
butchered in the embraces of their wedded wives, and sons 

μητράσι παῖδες.
in the arms of their mothers. 

ἦσαν δὲ οἱ δι᾽ ὀργὴν ἀπολλύμενοι καὶ δι᾽ ἔχθραν
Those who fell victims to political resentment and private hatred were 

οὐδὲν μέρος τῶν διὰ χρήματα σφαττομένων, ἀλλὰ καὶ
as nothing compared with those who were butchered for the sake of their 

λέγειν ἐπῄει τοῖς κολάζουσιν ὡς τόνδε μὲν ἀνῄρηκεν
property, nay, even the executioners were prompted to say that his great 

οἰκία μεγάλη, τόνδε δὲ κῆπος, ἄλλον ὕδατα θερμά.
house killed this man, his garden that man, his warm baths another.

Κόϊντος δὲ Αὐρήλιος, ἀνὴρ ἀπράγμων καὶ τοσοῦτον
Quintus Aurelius, a quiet and inoffensive man, who thought 

αὐτῷ μετεῖναι τῶν κακῶν νομίζων ὅσον ἄλλοις
his only share in the general calamity was to condole 

συναλγεῖν ἀτυχοῦσιν, εἰς ἀγορὰν ἐλθὼν ἀνεγίνωσκε
with others in their misfortunes, came into the forum and 

τοὺς προγεγραμμένους˙  εὑρὼν δὲ ἑαυτόν,
read the list of the proscribed, and finding his own name there,

‘οἴμοι τάλας,’ εἶπε, ‘ διώκει με τὸ ἐν Ἀλβανῷ χωρίον.’
said, "Ah! woe is me! my Alban estate is prosecuting me. 

’καὶ βραχὺ προελθὼν ὑπό τινος ἀπεσφάγη καταδιώξαντος.
He had not gone far before he was dispatched by someone who had hunted him down.

Chapter 32
ἐν τούτῳ δὲ Μάριος μὲν ἁλισκόμενος ἑαυτὸν
Meanwhile Marius the younger, at the point of being captured, 

διέφθειρε, Σύλλας δὲ εἰς Πραινεστὸν ἐλθὼν πρῶτα
slew himself; and Sulla, coming to Praeneste, at first gave each 

μὲν ἰδίᾳ κατ᾽ ἄνδρα κρίνων ἐκόλαζεν, εἶτα ὡς οὐ
man there a separate trial before he executed him, but afterwards, 

σχολῆς οὔσης πάντας ἀθρόως εἰς ταὐτὸ συναγαγών,
since time failed him, gathered them all together in one place 

μυρίους καὶ δισχιλίους ὄντας, ἐκέλευσεν
there were twelve thousand of them and gave orders 

ἀποσφάττειν, μόνῳ τῷ ξένῳ διδοὺς ἄδειαν. ὁ δὲ
to slaughter them, his host alone receiving immunity. But this 

εὐγενῶς πάνυ φήσας πρὸς αὐτὸν ὡς οὐδέποτε σωτηρίας
man, with a noble spirit, told Sulla that he would never owe his safety 

χάριν εἴσεται τῷ φονεῖ τῆς πατρίδος, ἀναμιχθεὶς
to the slayer of his country, and joining his countrymen of his 

ἑκὼν συγκατεκόπη τοῖς πολίταις.
own accord, was cut down with them. 

ἔδοξε δὲ καινότατον γενέσθαι τὸ περὶ Λεύκιον Κατιλίναν.
But that which Lucius Catiline did was thought to be most monstrous of all. 

οὗτος γὰρ οὔπω τῶν πραγμάτων κεκριμένων ἀνῃρηκὼς
This man, namely, had killed his brother before the civil struggle 

ἀδελφὸν ἐδεήθη τοῦ Σύλλα τότε προγράψαι τὸν
was decided, and now asked Sulla to proscribe the man, as one 

ἄνθρωπον ὡς ζῶντα καὶ προεγράφη.
still living; and he was proscribed. 

τούτου δὲ τῷ Σύλλᾳ χάριν ἐκτίνων Μάρκον τινὰ
Then Catiline, returning this favour of Sulla's, killed 

Μάριον τῶν ἐκ τῆς ἐναντίας στάσεως ἀποκτείνας τὴν
a certain Marcus Marius, one of the opposite faction, and 

μὲν κεφαλὴν ἐν ἀγορᾷ καθεζομένῳ τῷ Σύλλᾳ
brought his head to Sulla as he was sitting in the 

προσήνεγκε, τῷ δὲ περιρραντηρίῳ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος
forum, and then going to the lustral water of Apollo  

ἐγγὺς ὄντι προσελθὼν ἀπενίψατο τὰς χεῖρας.
which was near, washed the blood off his hands.

Chapter 33
ἔξω δὲ τῶν φονικῶν καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἐλύπει.
But besides his massacres, the rest of Sulla's proceedings also gave offence. 

δικτάτορα μὲν γὰρ ἑαυτὸν ἀνηγόρευσε, δι᾽ ἐτῶν
For he proclaimed himself dictator, reviving this particular 

ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι τοῦτο τὸ γένος τῆς ἀρχῆς ἀναλαβών.
office after a lapse of a hundred and twenty years. 

ἐψηφίσθη δὲ αὐτῷ πάντων ἄδεια τῶν γεγονότων, πρὸς
Moreover, an act was passed granting him immunity for all his past acts, 

δὲ τὸ μέλλον ἐξουσία θανάτου, δημεύσεως, κληρουχιῶν,
and for the future, power of life and death, of confiscation, of colonization, 

κτίσεως, πορθήσεως,ἀφελέσθαι βασιλείαν, καὶ ᾧ 
of founding or demolishing cities, and of taking away or bestowing 

βούλοιτο χαρίσασθαι.
kingdoms at his pleasure.

τὰς δὲ διαπράσεις τῶν δεδημευμένων οἴκων οὕτως
He conducted the sales of confiscated estates in such 

ὑπερηφάνως ἐποιεῖτο καὶ δεσποτικῶς ἐπὶ βήματος
arrogant and imperious fashion, from the tribunal where 

καθεζόμενος, ὥστε τῶν ἀφαιρέσεων ἐπαχθεστέρας
he sat, that his gifts excited more odium than his robberies.

αὐτοῦ τὰς δωρεὰς εἶναι, καὶ γυναιξὶν εὐμόρφοις καὶ λυρῳδοῖς 
He bestowed on handsome women, musicians, comic 

καὶ μίμοις καὶ καθάρμασιν ἐξελευθερικοῖς ἐθνῶν χώρας
actors, and the lowest of freedmen, the territories of 

καὶ πόλεων χαριζομένου προσόδους, ἐνίοις δὲ
nations and the revenues of cities, and women were

γάμους ἀκουσίως ζευγνυμένων γυναικῶν.
married against their will to some of his favourites.

Πομπήϊον γέ τοι βουλόμενος οἰκειώσασθαι τὸν Μάγνον,
In the case of Pompey the Great,  at least, wishing to establish 

ἣν μὲν εἶχε γαμετὴν ἀφεῖναι προσέταξεν,
relationship with him, he ordered him to divorce the wife he had,

Αἰμιλίαν δέ, Σκαύρου θυγατέρα καὶ
and then gave him in marriage Aemilia, daughter 

Μετέλλης τῆς ἑαυτοῦ γυναικός, ἀποσπάσας Μανίου
of Scaurus and his own wife Metella, whom he tore away from Manius 

Γλαβρίωνος ἐγκύμονα, συνῴκισεν αὐτῷ˙ ἀπέθανε 
Glabrio when she was with child by him; and the young woman 

δὲ ἡ κόρη παρὰ τῷ Πομπηΐῳ τίκτουσα.
died in childbirth at the house of Pompey.

Λουκρητίου δὲ Ὀφέλλα τοῦ Μάριον ἐκπολιορκήσαντος
Lucretius Ofella, who had reduced Marius by siege, 

αἰτουμένου καὶ μετιόντος ὑπατείαν πρῶτον μὲν
gave himself out as a candidate for the consulship, and 

ἐκώλυεν ὡς δὲ ἐκεῖνος ὑπὸ πολλῶν σπουδαζόμενος εἰς
Sulla at first tried to stop him; but when Ofella came down 

τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐνέβαλε, πέμψας τινὰ τῶν περὶ αὐτὸν
into the forum with a large and eager following, he sent 

ἑκατονταρχῶν ἀπέσφαξε τὸν ἄνδρα, καθεξόμενος αὐτὸς
one of the centurions in his retinue and slew him, himself 

ἐπὶ βήματος ἐν τῷ Διοσκουρείῳ καὶ τὸν φόνον ἐφορῶν
sitting on a tribunal in the temple of Castor and beholding the

ἄνωθεν,
murder from above. 

τῶν δὲ ἀνθρώπων τὸν ἑκατοντάρχην συλλαβόντων καὶ 
The people in the forum seized the centurion and brought 

προσαγαγόντων τῷ βήματι,σιωπῆσαι κελεύσας τοὺς 
him before the tribunal, but Sulla bade them cease their 

θορυβοῦντας αὐτὸς ἔφη κελεῦσαι τοῦτο, καὶ τὸν ἑκατοντάρχην
clamour, and said that he himself had ordered this deed, 

ἀφεῖναι προσέταξεν.
and commanded them to let the centurion go. 

Chapter 34
ὁ μέντοι θρίαμβος αὐτοῦ τῇ πολυτελείᾳ καὶ
His triumph, however, which was imposing from 

καινότητι τῶν βασιλικῶν λαφύρων σοβαρὸς γενόμενος
the costliness and rarity of the royal spoils, had a 

μείζονα κόσμον ἔσχε καί καλὸν θέαμα τοὺς
greater ornament in the noble spectacle of 

φυγάδας, 
the exiles. 

οἱ γὰρ ἐνδοξότατοι καὶ δυνατώτατοι τῶν πολιτῶν 
For the most distinguished and influential of the citizens,  

ἐστεφανωμένοι παρείποντο, σωτῆρα καί πατέρα τὸν 
crowned with garlands, followed in the procession, calling 

Σύλλαν ἀποκαλοῦντες, ἅτε δὴ δι᾽ ἐκεῖνον εἰς τὴν 
Sulla saviour and father, since it was through him that they were returning 

πατρίδα κατιόντες καί κομιζόμενοι παῖδας καί γυναῖκας.
to their native city and bringing with them their wives and children. 

ἤδη δὲ συνῃρημένων ἁπάντων, ἀπολογισμὸν ἐν
Now, when everything had been combined, making 

ἐκκλησίᾳ τῶν πράξεων ποιούμενος οὐκ ἐλάσσονι
a defense of his actions in the assembly, he enumerated with no less

σπουδῇ τὰς εὐτυχίας ἢ τὰς ἀνδραγαθίας κατηριθμεῖτο, 
zeal than was fitting, his successes and virtues 

καὶ πέρας ἐκέλευσεν ἑαυτὸν ἐπὶ τούτοις Εὐτυχῆ 
and ordered himself to be called 'Eutyches' in connection 

προσαγορεύεσθαι˙
with them; 

τοῦτο γὰρ ὁ Φῆλιξ μάλιστα βούλεται δηλοῦν αὐτὸς δὲ τοῖς Ἕλλησι γράφων
for Felix especially desires to indicate this, and while writing to the Greeks 

καί χρηματίζων ἑαυτὸν Ἐπαφρόδιτον
and styling himself 'Epaphroditus', he had himself proclaimed 'Eutyches' 

ἀνηγόρευε, καί παρ᾽ ἡμῖν ἐν τοῖς τροπαίοις οὕτως
among us in the celebrations, and it is thus inscribed on the triumphal 

ἀναγέγραπται “Λεύκιος Κορνήλιος Σύλλας Ἐπαφρόδιτος”.
monuments: 'Lucius Cornelius Sulla, called Eutyches'. 

ἔτι δὲ τῆς Μετέλλης παιδία τεκούσης δίδυμα τὸ μὲν
Besides this, when Metella bore him twin children, he named 

ἄρρεν Φαῦστον, τὸ δὲ θῆλυ Φαῦσταν ὠνόμασε˙ τὸ 
the male child Faustus, and the female Fausta; for the 

γὰρ εὐτυχὲς καί ἱλαρὸν Ῥωμαῖοι φαῦστον καλοῦσιν.
Romans call what is auspicious and joyful, faustum. 

οὕτω δὲ ἄρα οὐ ταῖς πράξεσιν ὡς τοῖς εὐτυχήμασιν
And to such an extent did he put more confidence in his good fortunes 

ἐπίστευεν, ὥστε, παμπόλλων μὲν ἀνῃρημένων ὑπ᾽
than in his achievements, that, although he had slain great numbers 

αὐτοῦ, καινοτομίας δὲ γενομένης καί μεταβολῆς ἐν
of the citizens, and introduced great innovations and changes in the 

τῇ πόλει τοσαύτης, ἀποθέσθαι τὴν ἀρχὴν καί τὸν
government of the city,  he laid down his office of dictator, and 

δῆμον ἀρχαιρεσιῶν ὑπατικῶν ποιῆσαι κύριον, αὐτὸς δὲ
put the consular elections in the hands of the people; and when they were 

μὴ προσελθεῖν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐν ἀγορᾷ τὸ σῶμα παρέχων τοῖς
held, he did not go near them himself, but walked up and down the forum 

βουλομένοις ὑπεύθυνον ὥσπερ ἰδιώτης
like a private man, exposing his person freely to all who 

ἀναστρέφεσθαι.
wished to call him to account. 

καί τις παρὰ γνώμην αὐτοῦ θρασὺς ἀνὴρ καὶ πολέμιος ἐπίδοξος ἦν 
Contrary to his wishes, a certain bold enemy of his was likely to be 

ὕπατος αἱρεθήσεσθαι, Μάρκος Λέπιδος, οὐ δι᾽ ἑαυτόν, ἀλλὰ 
chosen consul, Marcus Lepidus, not through his own efforts, but owing to 

Πομπηΐῳ σπουδάζοντι καί δεομένῳ τοῦ δήμου χαριζομένου.
the success which Pompey had in soliciting votes for him from the people.

διὸ καί χαίροντα τῇ νίκῃ τὸν Πομπήϊον ὁ Σύλλας
And so, when Sulla saw Pompey going away from the polls delighted 

ἰδὼν ἀπιόντα καλέσας πρὸς ἑαυτόν, ‘ὡς καλόν,’
with his victory, he called him to him, and said: "What 

ἔφη, ‘ σοῦ τὸ πολίτευμα, ὦ νεανία, τὸ Κάτλου
a fine policy this is of yours, young man, to elect Lepidus 

πρότερον ἀναγορεῦσαι Λέπιδον, τοῦ πάντων ἀρίστου
in preference to Catulus, the most unstable instead of the 

τὸν ἐμπληκτότατον. ὥρα μέντοι σοι μὴ καθεύδειν ὡς 
best of men! Now, surely, it is high time for you to be watchful, 

ἰσχυρότερον πεποιηκότι κατὰ σαυτοῦ τὸν ἀνταγωνιστήν.᾽
after strengthening yours adversary against thyself." 

τοῦτο μὲν οὖν ὁ Σύλλας ὥσπερ ἀπεθέσπισε˙ ταχὺ γὰρ 
And in saying this, Sulla was something of a prophet; for 

ἐξυβρίσας ὁ Λέπιδος εἰς πόλεμον κατέστη τοῖς περὶ 
Lepidus speedily waxed insolent and went to war with Pompey 

τὸν Πομπήϊον.
and his party. 

xxxxx
Chapter 35
Ἀποθύων δὲ τῆς οὐσίας ἁπάσης ὁ Σύλλας τῷ Ἡρακλεῖ
On consecrating the tenth of all his substance to Hercules, Sulla

δεκάτην ἑστιάσεις ἐποιεῖτο τῷ δήμῳ πολυτελεῖς˙
feasted the people sumptuously, 

καὶ τοσοῦτον περιττὴ ἦν ἡ παρασκευὴ τῆς χρείας
and his provision for them was so much beyond what 

ὥστε παμπληθῆ καθ᾽ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν 
was needed that great quantities of meats were daily 

εἰς τὸν ποταμὸν ὄψα ῥιπτεῖσθαι, πίνεσθαι δὲ οἶνον ἐτῶν
cast into the river, and wine was drunk 

τεσσαράκοντα καὶ παλαιότερον.
that was forty years old and upwards. 

διὰ μέσου δὲ τῆς θοίνης πολυημέρου γενομένης
In the midst of the feasting, which lasted many 

ἀπέθνησκεν ἡ Μετέλλα νόσῳ˙
days, Metella lay sick and dying. 

καὶ τῶν ἱερέων τὸν Σύλλαν οὐκ ἐώντων αὐτῇ
And since the priests forbade Sulla to go 

προσελθεῖν οὐδὲ τήν οἰκίαν τῷ κήδει
near her, or to have his house polluted 

μιανθῆναι, γραψάμενος διάλυσιν τοῦ γάμου πρὸς
by her funeral, he sent her a bill of divorce, 

αὐτὴν ὁ Σύλλας ἔτι ζῶσαν ἐκέλευσεν εἰς ἑτέραν
and ordered her while she was still living 

οἰκίαν μετακομισθῆναι.
to be carried to another house. 

καὶ τοῦτο μὲν ἀκριβῶς τὸ νόμιμον ὑπὸ
In doing this, he observed the strict 

δεισιδαιμονίας ἐτήρησε˙
letter of the law, out of superstition; 

τὸν δὲ τῆς ταφῆς ὁρίζοντα τήν δαπάνην νόμον αὐτὸς
but the law limiting the expense of the funeral, which 

εἰσενηνοχὼς παρέβη, μηδενὸς ἀναλώματος
law he had himself introduced, he transgressed, 

φεισάμενος.
and spared no outlays. 

παρέβαινε δὲ καὶ τὰ περὶ τῆς εὐτελείας τῶν δείπνων
He transgressed also his own ordinances limiting the cost of banquets, 

ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ τεταγμένα, πότοις καὶ συνδείπνοις τρυφὰς
when he tried to assuage his sorrow by drinking parties and convivial 

καὶ βωμολοχίας ἔχουσι παρηγορῶν τὸ πένθος.
banquets, where extravagance and ribaldry prevailed. 

ὀλίγων δὲ μηνῶν διαγενομένων ἦν μὲν θέα
A few months afterwards there was a gladiatorial 

μονομάχων, οὔπω δὲ τῶν τόπων διακεκριμένων,ἀλλ᾽
spectacle, and since the places for men and women 

ἔτι τοῦ θεάτρου συμμιγοῦς ἀνδράσι καὶ γυναιξὶν
in the theatre were not yet separated, but still 

ὄντος, ἔτυχε πλησίον τοῦ Σύλλα καθεζομένη γυνὴ τήν
promiscuous, it chanced that there was sitting near Sulla

ὄψιν εὐπρεπὴς καὶ γένους λαμπροῦ˙
a woman of great beauty and splendid birth; 

Μεσσάλα γὰρ ἦν θυγάτηρ, Ὁρτησίου δὲ τοῦ ῥήτορος
she was a daughter of Messala, a sister of Hortensius the orator, 

ἀδελφή, Οὐαλλερία δὲ τοὔνομα˙συνεβεβήκει δὲ αὕτη 
and her name was Valeria, and it so happened that she had recently 

νεωστὶ πρὸς ἄνδρα διάστασις.
been divorced from her husband. 

αὕτη παρὰ τὸν Σύλλαν ἐξόπισθεν παραπορευομένη τήν
As she passed along behind Sulla, she rested her hand 

τε χεῖρα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπηρείσατο καὶ κροκύδα τοῦ ἱματίου
upon him, plucked off a bit of nap from his mantle, 

σπάσασα παρῆλθεν ἐπὶ τήν ἑαυτῆς χώραν, 
and then proceeded to her own place. 

ἐμβλέψαντος δὲ τοῦ Σύλλα καὶ θαυμάσαντος, 
When Sulla looked at her in astonishment, she 

‘οὐδέν, ’ ἔφη,‘ δεινόν, αὐτόκρατορ, ἀλλὰ βούλομαι 
said: "It's nothing of importance, Dictator, but I 

τῆς σῆς κἀγὼ μικρὸν εὐτυχίας μεταλαβεῖν.
too wish to partake a little in thy felicity.

τοῦτο ἤκουσεν οὐκ ἀηδῶς ὁ Σύλλας, ἀλλὰ καὶ δῆλος
Sulla was not displeased at hearing this, nay, it was at once clear 

εὐθὺς ̣ἦν ὑποκεκνισμένος˙ ἠρώτα γὰρ ὑποπέμπων αὐτῆς 
that his fancy was tickled, for he secretly sent and asked her name, 

ὄνομα, καὶ γένος καὶ βίον ἐμάνθανεν.
and inquired about her family and history. 

ἐκ δὲ τούτων ῥίψεις ὀμμάτων ἐπ᾽ ἀλλήλους ἐγίνοντο
Then followed mutual glances, 

καὶ παρεπιστροφαὶ συνεχεῖς προσώπων καὶ
continual turnings of the face to gaze, 

μειδιαμάτων διαδόσεις, τέλος δὲ ὁμολογίαι καὶ
interchanges of smiles, and at last a formal 

συνθέσεις περὶ γάμων, 
compact of marriage. 

ἐκείνῃ μὲν ἴσως ἄμεμπτοι, Σύλλας δέ, εἰ καὶ τὰ 
All this was perhaps blameless on her part, but Sulla, even 

μάλιστα σώφρονα καὶ γενναίαν, ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐκ 
did not marry her from any chase and worthy motive;

σώφρονος καὶ καλῆς ἔγημεν ἀρχῆς, ὄψει καὶ 
though she was ever so chase and reputable, he was led away, 

λαμυρίᾳ μειρακίου δίκην παραβληθείς, ὑφ᾽ ὧν τὰ 
like a young man, by looks and languishing airs, through which 

αἴσχιστα καὶ ἀναιδέστατα πάθη κινεῖσθαι πέφυκεν.
the most disgraceful and shameless passions are naturally excited.

Chapter 36
οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ ταύτην ἔχων ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας συνῆν
However, even though he had such a wife at home, 

μίμοις γυναιξὶ καὶ κιθαριστρίαις καὶ θυμελικοῖς
he consorted with actresses, harpists, and theatrical 

ἀνθρώποις, ἐπὶ στιβάδων ἀφ᾽ ἡμέρας συμπίνων.
people, drinking with them on couches all day long. 

οὗτοι γὰρ οἱ τότε παρ᾽ αὐτῷ δυνάμενοι μέγιστον
For these were the men who had most influence with him now;

ἦσαν, Ῥώσκιος ὁ κωμῳδὸς καὶ Σῶριξ ὁ ἀρχιμῖμος καὶ Μητρόβιος
Roscius the comedian, Sorex the archmime, and Metrobius the 

ὁ λυσιῳδός, οὗ καίπερ ἐξώρου γενομένου
impersonator of women, whom, though past his prime, he continued 

διετέλει μέχρι παντὸς ἐρᾶν οὐκ ἀρνούμενος.
to the last to be passionately fond, and made no denial of it. 

ὅθεν καὶ τὴν νόσον ἀπ᾽ αἰτίας ἐλαφρᾶς ἀρξαμένην
And so, the disease, beginning from a slight cause, grew, 

ἐξέθρεψε, καὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἠγνόει περὶ τὰ σπλάγχνα
and for a long time he remained unaware of what had happened 

γεγονὼς ἔμπυος, ὑφ᾽ ἧς καὶ τὴν σάρκα διαφθαρεῖσαν
in his bowels, being insensible, through which the flesh, being 

εἰς φθεῖρας μετέβαλε πᾶσαν, 
corrupted, was transformed into ulcers. 

ὥστε πολλῶν δι᾽ ἡμέρας ἅμα καὶ νυκτὸς ἀφαιρούντων 
Though many were employed day and night in removing it, 

μηδὲν εἶναι μέρος τοῦ ἐπιγινομένου τὸ ἀποκρινόμενον, 
his disease corrupted his whole flesh, what was removed

ἀλλὰ πᾶσαν ἐσθῆτα καὶ λουτρὸν καὶ ἀπόνιμμα καὶ σιτίον 
was as nothing compared with the increase upon him, but all his clothing, 

ἀναπίμπλασθαι τοῦ ῥεύματος ἐκείνου καὶ τῆς φθορᾶς˙ 
baths, hand-basins, and food, were infected with that flux of corruption, 

τοσοῦτον ἐξήνθει.
so violent was its discharge. 

διὸ πολλάκις τῆς ἡμέρας εἰς ὕδωρ ἐνέβαινεν
Therefore he immersed himself many times a-day in water

ἐκκλύζων τὸ σῶμα καὶ ἀπορρυπτόμενος. ἦν δὲ 
to cleanse and scour his person. But it was 

οὐδὲν ὄφελος˙ ἐκράτει γὰρ ἡ μεταβολὴ τῷ τάχει, 
of no use; for the change gained upon him rapidly, 

καὶ περιεγίνετο παντὸς καθαρμοῦ τὸ πλῆθος.
and the swarm of vermin defied all purification. 

λέγεται δὲ τῶν μὲν πάνυ παλαιῶν Ἄκαστον φθειριάσαντα
It is said that among the very ancient, Acastus, having corrupted

τὸν Πελίου τελευτῆσαι, τῶν δὲ ὑστέρων
Pelias, brought about his end, while among the later ones,

Ἀλκμᾶνα τὸν μελοποιὸν καὶ Φερεκύδην τὸν θεολόγον
Alcmaeon the musician, Pherecydes the theologian, 

καὶ Καλλισθένη τὸν Ὀλύνθιον ἐν 
and Callisthenes of Olynthus,

εἱρκτῇ φρουρούμενον, ἔτι δὲ Μούκιον τὸν νομικόν.
guarded in a cage, also Mycius the jurist. 

εἰ δὲ δεῖ καὶ τῶν ἀπ᾽ οὐδενὸς μὲν χρηστοῦ γνωρίμων
But if it is necessary to remember also those who, though virtuous,

δὲ ἄλλως ἐπιμνησθῆναι, λέγεται τὸν ἄρξαντα τοῦ
met with a different fate through some accident,

δουλικοῦ πολέμου περὶ Σικελίαν δραπέτην, Εὔνουν
it is said that Eunus, who initiated the slave

ὄνομα, μετὰ τὴν ἅλωσιν εἰς Ῥώμην ἀγόμενον ὑπὸ
war in Sicily, after the capture was taken to Rome

φθειριάσεως ἀποθανεῖν.
and died of disease.

Chapter 37
ὁ δὲ Σύλλας οὐ μόνον προέγνω τὴν ἑαυτοῦ τελευτήν,
Sulla not only foresaw his own death, 

ἀλλὰ τρόπον τινὰ καὶ γέγραφε περὶ αὐτῆς, τὸ γὰρ
but may be said to have written about it also. For 

εἰκοστὸν καί δεύτερον τῶν ὑπομνημάτων πρὸ δυεῖν
he stopped writing the twenty-second book of his Memoirs 

ἡμερῶν ἢ ἐτελεύτα γράφων ἐπαύσατο: καί φησι τοὺς
two days before he died, and he there says that the 

Χαλδαίους αὐτῷ προειπεῖν ὡς δέοι βεβιωκότα καλῶς
Chaldaeans foretold him that, after an honourable life, 

αὐτὸν ἐν ἀκμῇ τῶν εὐτυχημάτων καταστρέψαι˙
he was to end his days at the height of his good fortunes. 

λέγει δὲ καί τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, τεθνηκότα μικρὸν
He says also that his son, who had died a little 

ἔμπροσθεν τῆς Μετέλλης, φανῆναι κατὰ τοὺς ὕπνους
while before Metella, appeared to him in his dreams, 

ἐν ἐσθῆτι φαύλῃ παρεστῶτα καί δεόμενον τοῦ πατρὸς
clad in mean attire, and besought his father to put 

παύσασθαι τῶν φροντίδων, ἰόντα δὲ σὺν αὐτῷ παρὰ
an end to anxious thoughts, and come with him to 

τὴν μητέρα Μετέλλαν ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ καί ἀπραγμόνως ζῆν
his mother Metella, there to live in peace and quietness 

μετ᾽ αὐτῆς, οὐ μὴν ἐπαύσατό γε τοῦ πράττειν τὰ
with her.  However, he did not cease to transact 

δημόσια,
the public business. 

δέκα μὲν γὰρ ἡμέραις ἔμπροσθεν τῆς τελευτῆς τοὺς
For instance, ten days before he died, he reconciled the opposing 

ἐν Δικαιαρχείᾳ στασιάζοντας διαλλάξας νόμον
factions in Dicaearchia, and prescribed a code of laws 

ἔγραψεν αὐτοῖς καθ᾽ ὃν πολιτεύσονται˙ πρὸ μιᾶς δὲ
for their conduct of the city's government; and one day before 

ἡμέρας πυθόμενος τὸν ἄρχοντα Γράνιον, ὡς ὀφείλων
he died, on learning that the magistrate there, Granius, refused 

δημόσιον χρέος οὐκ ἀποδίδωσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀναμένει τὴν
to pay a debt he owed the public treasury, in expectation of 

αὐτοῦ τελευτήν, μετεπέμψατο τὸν ἄνθρωπον εἰς τὸ
his death, he summoned him to his room, stationed his servants 

δωμάτιον καί περιστήσας τοὺς ὑπηρέτας ἐκέλευσε
about him, and ordered them to strangle him; but with the strain 

πνίγειν, τῇ δὲ κραυγῇ καί τῷ σπαραγμῷ τὸ ἀπόστημα
which he put upon his voice and body, he ruptured his abscess 

ῥήξας πλῆθος αἵματος ἐξέβαλεν.
and lost a great quantity of blood. 

ἐκ δὲ τούτου τῆς δυνάμεως ἐπιλιπούσης διαγαγὼν τὴν
In consequence of this his strength failed, and after 

νύκτα μοχθηρῶς ἀπέθανε, δύο παῖδας ἐκ τῆς Μετέλλης
a night of wretchedness, he died, leaving two young 

νηπίους καταλιπών. ἡ γὰρ Οὐαλλερία μετὰ τὴν
children by Metella. For it was after his death 

τελευτὴν αὐτοῦ θυγάτριον ἀπεκύησεν, ὃ Πόστουμαν
that Valeria gave birth to a daughter, who was called Postuma,

ἐκάλουν τοὺς γὰρ ὕστερον τῆς τῶν πατέρων 
this being the name which the Romans give 

τελευτῆς γενομένους οὕτω Ῥωμαῖοι προσαγορεύουσιν.
to children who are born after their father's death. 

Chapter 38
ὥρμησαν μὲν οὖν πολλοὶ καὶ συνέστησαν πρὸς Λέπιδον
Many now joined themselves eagerly to Lepidus, purposing to deprive 

ὡς εἵρξοντες τὸ σῶμα κηδείας τῆς νενομισμένης:
Sulla's body of the usual burial honours; 

Πομπήϊος δέ, καίπερ ἐγκαλῶν τῷ Σύλλᾳ μόνον γὰρ
but Pompey, although offended at Sulla (for he alone, of all his friends, 

αὐτὸν ἐν ταῖς διαθήκαις τῶν φίλων παρέλιπε, τοὺς
was not mentioned in his will), diverted some from their purpose by his kindly

μὲν χάριτι καὶ δεήσει, τοὺς δὲ ἀπειλῇ
influence and entreaties, and others by his threats,

διακρουσάμενος εἰς Ῥώμην παρέπεμψε τὸ σῶμα, καὶ
and then conveyed the body to Rome, and 

ταῖς ταφαῖς ἀσφάλειαν ἅμα καὶ τιμὴν παρέσχε,
secured for it an honourable as well as a safe interment. 

λέγεται δὲ τοσοῦτο πλῆθος ἀρωμάτων ἐπενεγκεῖν τὰς
And it is said that the women contributed such a vast 

γυναῖκας αὐτῷ ὥστε ἄνευ τῶν ἐν φορήμασι
quantity of spices for it, that, apart from what was carried on

δέκα καὶ διακοσίοις διακομιζομένων πλασθῆναι μὲν εἴδωλον
two hundred and ten litters, a large image

εὐμέγεθες αὐτοῦ Σύλλα, πλασθῆναι δὲ καὶ ῥαβδοῦχον
of Sulla himself, and another image of a victor, 

ἔκ τε λιβανωτοῦ πολυτελοῦς καὶ κινναμώμου.
was moulded out of costly frankincense and cinnamon. 

τῆς δὲ ἡμέρας συννεφοῦς ἕωθεν οὔσης, ὕδωρ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ
The day was cloudy in the morning, and the expectation was that it would rain,

προσδοκῶντες ἐνάτης ἦραν μόλις ὥρας τὸν
but at last, at the ninth hour, the corpse was placed upon the funeral 

νεκρόν.
pyre. 

ἀνέμου δὲ λαμπροῦ καταιγίσαντος εἰς τὴν πυρὰν καὶ φλόγα πολλὴν
Then a strong wind smote the pyre, and roused a mighty flame,

ἐγείραντος ἔφθη τὸ σῶμα συγκομισθὲν
and there was just time to collect the bones for burial, 

ὅσον ἤδη τ̣ῆς πυρᾶς μαραινομένης καὶ τοῦ πυρὸς
while the pyre was smouldering and the fire was going 

ἀπιόντος ἐκχυθῆναι πολὺν ὄμβρον καὶ κατασχεῖν ἄχρι
out, when a heavy rain began to fall, which continued till 

νυκτός,
night. 

ὥστε τὴν τύχην αὐτοῦ δοκεῖν τὸ σῶμα συνθάπτειν παραμένουσαν.
So much so that his fortune seems to remain buried with his body.
(Therefore his good fortune would seem to have lasted to the very end, and taken part in his funeral rites.)

τὸ μὲν οὖν μνημεῖον ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ τοῦ Ἄρεώς ἐστι τὸ
At any rate, his monument stands in the Campus Martius, 

δὲ ἐπίγραμμά φασιν αὐτὸν ὑπογραψάμενον καταλιπεῖν,
and the inscription on it, they say, is one which he wrote 

οὗ κεφάλαιόν ἐστιν ὡς οὔτε τῶν φίλων τις αὐτὸν εὖ
for it himself, and the substance of it is, that no friend 

ποιῶν οὔτε τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακῶς ὑπερεβάλετο.
ever surpassed him in kindness, and no enemy in mischief.