SYLLA
138…78 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
LUCIUS Cornelius Sylla was descended of a patrician or noble family。
Of his ancestors； Rufinus； it is said； had been consul； and incurred a
disgrace more signal than his distinction。 For being found possessed
of more than ten pounds of silver plate； contrary to the law； he was
for this reason put out of the senate。 His posterity continued ever
after in obscurity； nor had Sylla himself any opulent parentage。 In
his younger days he lived in hired lodgings； at a low rate； which in
aftertimes was adduced against him as proof that he had been fortunate
above his quality。 When he was boasting and magnifying himself for his
exploits in Libya； a person of noble station made answer； 〃And how can
you be an honest man； who； since the death of a father who left you
nothing； have become so rich？〃 The time in which he lived was no
longer an age of pure and upright manners； but had already declined；
and yielded to the appetite for riches and luxury； yet still； in the
general opinion； they who deserted the hereditary poverty of their
family were as much blamed as those who had run out a fair patrimonial
estate。 And afterwards； when he had seized the power into his hands；
and was putting many to death； a freedman； suspected of having
concealed one of the proscribed； and for that reason sentenced to be
thrown down the Tarpeian rock； in a reproachful way recounted how they
had lived long together under the same roof； himself for the upper
rooms paying two thousand sesterces； and Sylla for the lower three
thousand； so that the difference between their fortunes then was no
more than one thousand sesterces； equivalent in Attic coin to two
hundred and fifty drachmas。 And thus much of his early fortune。
His general personal appearance may be known by his statues； only
his blue； eyes； of themselves extremely keen and glaring； were
rendered all the more forbidding and terrible by the complexion of his
face； in which white was mixed with rough blotches of fiery red。
Hence； it is said； he was surnamed Sylla； and in allusion to it one of
the scurrilous jesters at Athens made the verse upon him…
〃Sylla is a mulberry sprinkled o'er with meal。〃
Nor is it out of place to make use of marks of character like these；
in the case of one who was by nature so addicted to raillery； that
in his youthful obscure years he would converse freely with players
and professed jesters； and join them in all their low pleasures。 And
when supreme master of all； he was often wont to muster together the
most impudent players and stage…followers of the town； and to drink
and bandy jests with them without regard to his age or the dignity
of his place； and to the prejudice of important affairs that
required his attention。 When he was once at table； it was not in
Sylla's nature to admit of anything that was serious； and whereas at
other times he was a man of business and austere of countenance； he
underwent all of a sudden； at his first entrance upon wine and
good…fellowship； a total revolution； and was gentle and tractable with
common singers and dancers； and ready to oblige any one that spoke
with him。 It seems to have been a sort of diseased result of this
laxity that he was so prone to amorous pleasures； and yielded
without resistance to any temptation of voluptuousness； from which
even in his old age he could not refrain。 He had a long attachment for
Metrobius； a player。 In his first amours； it happened that he made
court to a common but rich lady； Nicopolis by name； and what by the
air of his youth； and what by long intimacy； won so far on her
affections； that she rather than he was the lover； and at her death
she bequeathed him her whole property。 He likewise inherited the
estate of a step…mother who loved him as her own son。 By these means
he had pretty well advanced his fortunes。
He was chosen quaestor to Marius in his first consulship； and set
sail with him for Libya； to war upon Jugurtha。 Here； in general； he
gained approbation； and more especially； by closing in dexterously
with an accidental occasion； made a friend of Bocchus； King of
Numidia。 He hospitably entertained the king's ambassadors on their
escape from some Numidian robbers； and after showing them much
kindness； sent them on their journey with presents； and an escort to
protect them。 Bocchus had long hated and dreaded his son…in…law；
Jugurtha； who had now been worsted in the field and had fled to him
for shelter； and it so happened he was at this time entertaining a
design to betray him。 He accordingly invited Sylla to come to him；
wishing the seizure and surrender of Jugurtha to be effected rather
through him； than directly by himself。 Sylla； when he had communicated
the business to Marius； and received from him a small detachment；
voluntarily put himself into this imminent danger； and confiding in
a barbarian； who had been unfaithful to his own relations； to
apprehend another man's person； made surrender of his own。 Bocchus；
having both of them now in his power； was necessitated to betray one
or other； and after long debate with himself； at last resolved on
his first design； and gave up Jugurtha into the hands of Sylla。
For this Marius triumphed； but the glory of the enterprise； which
through people's envy of Marius was ascribed to Sylla； secretly
grieved him。 And the truth is； Sylla himself was by nature
vainglorious； and this being the first time that from a low and
private condition he had risen to esteem amongst the citizens and
tasted of honour； his appetite for distinction carried him to such a
pitch of ostentation； that he had a representation of this action
engraved on a signet ring； which he carried about with him； and made
use of ever after。 The impress was Bocchus delivering； and Sylla
receiving； Jugurtha。 This touched Marius to the quick； however；
judging Sylla to be beneath his rivalry； he made use of him as
lieutenant； in his second consulship； and in his third as tribune； and
many considerable services were effected by his means。 When acting
as lieutenant he took Copillus； chief of the Tectosages； prisoner； and
compelled the Marsians； a great and populous nation； to become friends
and confederates of the Romans。
Henceforward； however； Sylla； perceiving that Marius bore a
jealous eye over him； and would no longer afford him opportunities
of action； but rather opposed his advance； attached himself to
Catulus； Marius's colleague； a worthy man； but not energetic enough as
a general。 And under this commander； who intrusted him with the
highest and most important commissions； he rose at once to
reputation and to power。 He subdued by arms most part of the Alpine
barbarians； and when there was a scarcity in the armies； he took
that care upon himself and brought in such a store of provisions as
not only to furnish the soldiers of Catulus with abundance； but
likewise to supply Marius。 This； as he writes himself； wounded
Marius to the very heart。 So slight and childish were the first
occasions and motives of that enmity between them； which； passing
afterwards through a long course of civil bloodshed and incurable
divisions to find its end in tyranny； and the confusion of the whole
state； proved Euripides to have been truly wise and thoroughly
acquainted with the causes of disorders in the body politic； when he
forewarned all men to beware of Ambition； as of all the higher
Powers the most destructive and pernicious to her votaries。
Sylla； by this time thinking that the reputation of his arms
abroad was sufficient to entitle him to a part in the civil
administration； betook himself immediately from the camp to the
assembly； and offered himself as a candidate for a praetorship； but
failed。 The fault of this disappointment he wholly ascribes to the
populace； who； knowing his intimacy with King Bocchus； and for that
reason expecting； that if he was made aedile before his praetorship；
he would then show them magnificent hunting…shows and combats
between Libyan wild beasts； chose other praetors； on purpose to
force him into the aedileship。 The vanity of this pretext is
sufficiently disproved by matter…of…fact。 For the year following；
partly by flatteries to the people； and partly by money； he got
himself elected praetor。 Accordingly； once while he was in office；
on his angrily telling Caesar that he should make use of his authority
against him； Caesar answered him with a smile； 〃You do well to call it
your own； as you bought it。〃 At the end of his praetorship he was sent
over into Cappadocia； under the pretence of reestablishing
Ariobarzanes in his kingdom； but in reality to keep in check the
restless movements of Mithridates； who was gradually procuring himself
as vast a new acquired power and dominion as was that of his ancient
inheritance。 He carried over with him no great forces of his own；
but making use of the cheerful aid of the confederates； succeeded；
with considerable slaughter of the Cappadocians； and yet greater of
the Armenian succours； in expelling Gordius and establishing
Ariobarzanes as king。
During his stay on the banks of the Euphrates； there came to him
Orobazus； a Parthian； ambassador from King Arsaces； as yet there
having been no correspondence between the two nations。 And this also
we may lay to the account of Sylla's felicity； that he should be the
first Roman to whom the Parthians made address for alliance and
friendship。 At the time of which reception； the story is； that； having
ordered three chairs of state to be set； one for Ariobarzanes； one for
Orobazus； and a third for himself； he placed himself in the middle；
and so gave audience。 For this the King of Parthia afterwards put
Orobazus to death。 Some people commended Sylla for his lofty
carriage towards the barbarians； others again accused him of arrogance
and unseasonable display。 It is reported that a certain Chaldaean；
of Orobazus's retinue； looking Sylla wistfully in the face； and
observing carefully the motions of his mind and body； and forming a
judgment of his nature； ac