battery was supplied with no less than ten thousand yoke of mules；
employed daily in that service。 And when timber grew scarce； for
many of the works failed； some crushed to pieces by their own
weight； others taking fire by the continual play of the enemy； he
had recourse to the sacred groves； and cut down the trees of the
Academy； the shadiest of all the suburbs； and the Lyceum。 And a vast
sum of money being wanted to carry on the war； he broke into the
sanctuaries of Greece； that of Epidaurus and that of Olympia；
sending for the most beautiful and precious offerings deposited there。
He wrote； likewise； to the Amphictyons at Delphi； that it were
better to remit the wealth of the god to him； for that he would keep
it more securely； or in case he made use of it； restore as much。 He
sent Caphis； the Phocian； one of his friends； with this message；
commanding him to receive each item by weight。 Caphis came to
Delphi； but was loth to touch the holy things； and with many tears； in
the presence of the Amphictyons； bewailed the necessity。 And on some
of them declaring they heard the sound of a harp from the inner
shrine； he； whether he himself believed it； or was willing to try
the effect of religious fear upon Sylla； sent back an express。 To
which Sylla replied in a scoffing way； that it was surprising to him
that Caphis did not know that music was a sign of joy； not anger； he
should； therefore； go on boldly； and accept what a gracious and
bountiful god offered。
Other things were sent away without much notice on the part of the
Greeks in general； but in the case of the silver tun； that only
relic of the regal donations； which its weight and bulk made it
impossible for any carriage to receive； the Amphictyons were forced to
cut it into pieces； and called to mind in so doing； how Titus
Flamininus； and Manius Acilius； and again Paulus Aemilius； one of whom
drove Antiochus out of Greece； and the others subdued the Macedonian
kings； had not only abstained from violating the Greek temples； but
had even given them new gifts and honours； and increased the general
veneration for them。 They； indeed； the lawful commanders of
temperate and obedient soldiers； and themselves great in soul； and
simple in expenses； lived within the bounds of the ordinary
established charges； accounting it a greater disgrace to seek
popularity with their men； than to feel fear of their enemy。 Whereas
the commanders of these times； attaining to superiority by force；
not worth； and having need of arms one against another； rather than
against the public enemy； were constrained to temporize in
authority； and in order to pay for the gratifications with which
they purchased the labour of their soldiers； were driven； before
they knew it； to sell the commonwealth itself； and； to gain the
mastery over men better than themselves； were content to become slaves
to the vilest of wretches。 These practices drove Marius into exile。
and again brought him in against Sylla。 These made Cinna the
assassin of Octavius； and Fimbria of Flaccus。 To which courses Sylla
contributed not the least； for to corrupt and win over those who
were under the command of others； he would be munificent and profuse
towards those who were under his own； and so； while tempting the
soldiers of other generals to treachery； and his own to dissolute
living； he was naturally in want of a large treasury； and especially
during that siege。
Sylla had a vehement and an implacable desire to conquer Athens。
whether out of emulation； fighting as it were against the shadow of
the once famous city； or out of anger； at the foul words and
scurrilous jests with which the tyrant Aristion； showing himself
daily； with unseemly gesticulations； upon the walls； had provoked
him and Metella。
The tyrant Aristion had his very being compounded of wantonness
and cruelty； having gathered into himself all the worst of
Mithridates's diseased and vicious qualities； like some fatal malady
which the city； after its deliverance from innumerable wars； many
tyrannies and seditions； was in its last days destined to endure。 At
the time when a medimnus of wheat was sold in the city for one
thousand drachmas and men were forced to live on the feverfew
growing round the citadel； and to boil down shoes and oil…bags for
their food； he； carousing and feasting in the open face of day； then
dancing in armour； and making jokes at the enemy； suffered the holy
lamp of the goddess to expire for want of oil； and to the chief
priestess； who demanded of him the twelfth part of a medimnus of
wheat； he sent the like quantity of pepper。 The senators and priests
who came as suppliants to beg of him to take compassion on the city；
and treat for peace with Sylla； he drove away and dispersed with a
flight of arrows。 At last； with much ado； he sent forth two or three
of his revelling companions to parley； to whom Sylla； perceiving
that they made no serious overtures towards an accommodation； but went
on haranguing in praise of Theseus； Eumolpus； and the Median trophies；
replied； 〃My good friends； you may put up your speeches and be gone。 I
was sent by the Romans to Athens； not to take lessons； but to reduce
rebels to obedience。〃
In the meantime news came to Sylla that some old men； talking in the
Ceramicus； had been overheard to blame the tyrant for not securing the
passages and approaches near the Heptachalcum； the one point where the
enemy might easily get over。 Sylla neglected not the report； but going
in the night； and discovering the place to be assailable； set
instantly to work。 Sylla himself makes mention in his Memoirs that
Marcus Teius； the first man who scaled the wall； meeting with an
adversary； and striking him on the headpiece a home…stroke； broke
his own sword； but； notwithstanding； did not give ground； but stood
and held him fast。 The city was certainly taken from that quarter；
according to the tradition of the oldest of the Athenians。
When they had thrown down the wall； and made all level betwixt the
Piraic and Sacred Gate； about midnight Sylla entered the breach；
with all the terrors of trumpets and cornets sounding； with the
triumphant shout and cry of an army let loose to spoil and
slaughter； and scouring through the streets with swords drawn。 There
was no numbering the slain； the amount is to this day conjectured only
from the space of ground overflowed with blood。 For without mentioning
the execution done in other quarters of the city； the blood that was
shed about the market…place spread over the whole Ceramicus within the
Double…gate； and； according to most writers； passed through the gate
and overflowed the suburb。 Nor did the multitudes which fell thus
exceed the number of those who； out of pity and love for their country
which they believed was now finally to perish； slew themselves； the
best of them； through despair of their country's surviving； dreading
themselves to survive； expecting neither humanity nor moderation in
Sylla。 At length； partly at the instance of Midias and Calliphon；
two exiled men； beseeching and casting themselves at his feet；
partly by the intercession of those senators who followed the camp；
having had his fill of revenge； and making some honourable mention
of the ancient Athenians； 〃I forgive；〃 said he； 〃the many for the sake
of the few； the living for the dead。〃 He took Athens； according to his
own Memoirs； on the calends of March； coinciding pretty nearly with
the new moon of Anthesterion； on which day it is the Athenian usage to
perform various acts in commemoration of the ruins and devastations
occasioned by the deluge； that being supposed to be the time of its
occurrence。
At the taking of the town； the tyrant fled into the citadel； and was
there besieged by Curio； who had that charge given him。 He held out
a considerable time； but at last yielded himself up for want of water；
and divine power immediately intimated its agency in the matter。 For
on the same day and hour that Curio conducted him down； the clouds
gathered in a clear sky； and there came down a great quantity of
rain and filled the citadel with water。
Not long after； Sylla won the Piraeus； and burnt most of it； amongst
the rest； Philo's arsenal； a work very greatly admired。
In the meantime Taxiles； Mithridates's general； coming down from
Thrace and Macedon； with an army of one hundred thousand foot； ten
thousand horse； and ninety chariots； armed with scythes at the wheels；
would have joined Archelaus； who lay with a navy on the coast near
Munychia； reluctant to quit the sea； and yet unwilling to engage the
Romans in battle； but desiring to protract the war and cut off the
enemy's supplies。 Which Sylla perceiving much better than himself；
passed with his forces into Boeotia； quitting a barren district
which was inadequate to maintain an army even in time of peace。 He was
thought by some to have taken false measures in thus leaving Attica； a
rugged country； and ill suited for cavalry to move in； and entering
the plain and open fields of Boeotia； knowing as he did the
barbarian strength to consist most in horses and chariots。 But as
was said before； to avoid famine and scarcity； he was forced to run
the risk of a battle。 Moreover he was in anxiety for Hortensius； a
bold and active officer； whom on his way to Sylla with forces from
Thessaly； the barbarians awaited in the straits。 For these reasons
Sylla drew off into Boeotia。 Hortensius； meantime； was conducted by
Caphis； our countryman； another way unknown to the barbarians； by
Parnassus； just under Tithora； which was then not so large a town as
it is now； but a mere fort； surrounded by steep precipices whither the
Phocians also； in old times； when flying from the invasion of
Xerxes； carried themselves and their goods and were saved。 Hortensius；
encamping here； kept off the enemy by day； and at night descending
by difficult passages to Patronis； joined the forces of Sylla who came
to meet him。 Thus united they posted themselves on a fertile hill in
the middle of the plain of Elatea； shaded with trees and watered at
the foot。 It is called Philoboeotus； and its situation and natural
advantages are spoken of with great admiration by Sylla。
As they lay thus