observing carefully the motions of his mind and body； and forming a
judgment of his nature； according to the rules of his art； said that
it was impossible for him not to become the greatest of men； it was
rather a wonder how he could even then abstain from being head of all。
At his return； Censorinus impeached him of extortion； for having
exacted a vast sum of money from a well…affected and associate
kingdom。 However； Censorinus did not appear at the trial； but
dropped his accusation。 His quarrel； meantime； with Marius began to
break out afresh； receiving new material from the ambition of Bocchus；
who； to please the people of Rome； and gratify Sylla； set up in the
temple of Jupiter Capitolinus images bearing trophies； and a
representation in gold of the surrender of Jugurtha to Sylla。 When
Marius； in great anger； attempted to pull them down； and others
aided Sylla； the whole city would have been in tumult and commotion
with this dispute； had not the Social War； which had long lain
smouldering； blazed forth at last； and for the present put an end to
the quarrel。
In the course of this war； which had many great changes of
fortune； and which； more than any； afflicted the Romans； and；
indeed； endangered the very being of the Commonwealth； Marius was
not able to signalize his valour in any action； but left behind him
a clear proof； that warlike excellence requires a strong and still
vigorous body。 Sylla； on the other hand； by his many achievements；
gained himself； with his fellow…citizens； the name of a great
commander； while his friends thought him the greatest of all
commanders； and his enemies called him the most fortunate。 Nor did
this make the same sort of impression on him as it made on Timotheus
the son of Conon； the Athenian； who； when his adversaries ascribed his
successes to his good luck； and had a painting made； representing
him asleep； and Fortune by his side； casting her nets over the cities；
was rough and violent in his indignation at those who did it； as if；
by attributing all to Fortune； they had robbed him of his just
honours； and said to the people on one occasion at his return from
war； 〃In this； ye men of Athens； Fortune had no part。〃 A piece of
boyish petulance； which the deity； we are told； played back upon
Timotheus； who from that time was never able to achieve anything
that was great； but proving altogether unfortunate in his attempts；
and falling into discredit with the people； was at last banished the
city。 Sylla； on the contrary； not only accepted with pleasure the
credit of such divine felicities and favours； but joining himself
and extolling and glorifying what was done； gave the honour of all
to Fortune； whether it were out of boastfulness； or a real feeling
of divine agency。 He remarks； in his Memoirs； that of all his
well…advised actions； none proved so lucky in the execution as what he
had boldly enterprised； not by calculation； but upon the moment。
And； in the character which he gives of himself； that he was born
for fortune rather than war； he seems to give Fortune a higher place
than merit； and； in short； makes himself entirely the creature of a
superior power； accounting even his concord with Metellus； his equal
in office； and his connection by marriage； a piece of preternatural
felicity。 For expecting to have met in him a most troublesome； he
found him a most accommodating； colleague。 Moreover； in the Memoirs
which he dedicated to Lucullus； he admonished him to esteem nothing
more trustworthy than what the divine powers advise him by night。
And when he was leaving the city with an army； to fight in the
Social War； he relates that the earth near the Laverna opened； and a
quantity of fire came rushing out of it； shooting up with a bright
flame into the heavens。 The soothsayers upon this foretold that a
person of great qualities； and of a rare and singular aspect； should
take the government in hand； and quiet the present troubles of the
city。 Sylla affirms he was the man； for his golden head of hair made
him an extraordinary…looking man； nor had he any shame； after the
great actions he had done； in testifying to his own great qualities。
And thus much of his opinion as to divine agency。
In general he would seem to have been of a very irregular character；
full of inconsistencies with himself much given to rapine； to
prodigality yet more； in promoting or disgracing whom he pleased；
alike unaccountable； cringing to those he stood in need of； and
domineering over others who stood in need of him； so that it was
hard to tell whether his nature had more in it of pride or of
servility。 As to his unequal distribution of punishments； as； for
example； that upon slight grounds he would put to the torture； and
again would bear patiently with the greatest wrongs； would readily
forgive and he reconciled after the most heinous acts of enmity； and
yet would visit small and inconsiderable offences with death and
confiscation of goods； one might judge that in himself he was really
of a violent and revengeful nature； which； however； he could
qualify； upon reflection； for his interest。 In this very Social War；
when the soldiers with stones and clubs had killed an officer of
praetorian rank； his own lieutenant； Albinus by name； he passed by
this flagrant crime without any inquiry； giving it out moreover in a
boast； that the soldiers would behave all the better now； to make
amends； by some special bravery； for their breach of discipline。 He
took no notice of the clamours of those that cried for justice； but
designing already to supplant Marius； now that he saw the Social War
near its end； he made much of his army； in hopes to get himself
declared general of the forces against Mithridates。
At his return to Rome he was chosen consul with Quintus Pompeius； in
the fiftieth year of his age； and made a most distinguished marriage
with Caecilia； daughter of Metellus； the chief priest。 The common
people made a variety of verses in ridicule of the marriage； and
many of the nobility also were disgusted at it； esteeming him； as Livy
writes； unworthy of this connection； whom before they thought worthy
of a consulship。 This was not his only wife； for first； in his younger
days； he was married to Ilia； by whom he had a daughter； after her
to Aelia； and thirdly to Cloelia； whom he dismissed as barren； but
honourably； and with professions of respect； adding； moreover；
presents。 But the match between him and Metella； falling out a few
days after； occasioned suspicions that he had complained of Cloelia
without due cause。 To Metella he always showed great deference； so
much so that the people； when anxious for the recall of the exiles
of Marius's party； upon his refusal； entreated the intercession of
Metella。 And the Athenians； it is thought； had harder measure； at
the capture of their town； because they used insulting language to
Metella in their jests from the walls during the siege。 But of this
hereafter。
At present esteeming the consulship but a small matter in comparison
of things to come； he was impatiently carried away in thought to the
Mithridatic War。 Here he was withstood by Marius； who out of mad
affectation of glory and thirst for distinction； those never dying
passions； though he were now unwieldy in body； and had given up
service； on account of his age； during the late campaigns； still
coveted after command in a distant war beyond the seas。 And whilst
Sylla was departed for the camp； to order the rest of his affairs
there； he sate brooding at home； and at last hatched that execrable
sedition； which wrought Rome more mischief than all her enemies
together had done； as was indeed foreshown by the gods。 For a flame
broke forth of its own accord； from under the staves of the ensigns；
and was with difficulty extinguished。 Three ravens brought their young
into the open road； and ate them； carrying the relics into the nest
again。 Mice having gnawed the consecrated gold in one of the
temples； the keepers caught one of them； a female； in a trap； and
she bringing forth five young ones in the very trap； devoured three of
them。 But what was greatest of all； in a calm and clear sky there
was heard the sound of a trumpet； with such a loud and dismal blast；
as struck terror and amazement into the hearts of the people。 The
Etruscan sages affirmed that this prodigy betokened the mutation of
the age； and a general revolution in the world。 For according to
them there are in all eight ages； differing one from another in the
lives and the characters of men； and to each of these God has allotted
a certain measure of time； determined by the circuit of the great
year。 And when one age is run out； at the approach of another； there
appears some wonderful sign from earth or heaven； such as makes it
manifest at once to those who have made it their business to study
such things； that there has succeeded in the world a new race of
men； differing in customs and institutes of life； and more or less
regarded by the gods than the preceding。 Among other great changes
that happen； as they say； at the turn of ages； the art of
divination； also； at one time rises in esteem； and is more
successful in its predictions； clearer and surer tokens being sent
from God； and then； again； in another generation declines as low；
becoming mere guesswork for the most part； and discerning future
events by dim and uncertain intimations。 This was the mythology of the
wisest of the Tuscan sages； who were thought to possess a knowledge
beyond other men。 Whilst the senate sat in consultation with the
soothsayers； concerning these prodigies； in the temple of Bellona； a
sparrow came flying in； before them all； with a grasshopper in its
mouth； and letting fall one part of it； flew away with the
remainder。 The diviners foreboded commotions and dissensions between
the great landed proprietors and the common city populace； the latter；
like the grasshopper； being loud and talkative； while the sparrow
might represent the 〃dwellers in the field。〃
Marius had taken into alliance Sulpicius； the tribune； a man
second to none in any villainies； so that it was less the question
what others he surpassed； but rather in what respects he most
surpassed hi