Hortensius； and commanding the fifth to follow him； returned hastily
to the right wing； which of itself held its ground on equal terms
against Archelaus； and； at his appearance； with one bold effort forced
them back； and； obtaining the mastery； followed them； flying in
disorder to the river and Mount Acontium。 Sylla； however； did not
forget the danger Murena was in； but hasting thither and finding him
victorious also； then joined in the pursuit。 Many barbarians were
slain in the field； many more were cut in pieces as they were making
into the camp。 Of all the vast multitude； ten thousand only got safe
intoe Chalcis。 Sylla writes that there were but fourteen of his
soldiers missing； and that two of these returned towards evening；
he； therefore； inscribed on the trophies the names of Mars； Victory；
and Venus； as having won the day no less by good fortune than by
management and force of arms。 This trophy of the battle in the plain
stands on the place where Archelaus first gave way； near the stream of
the Molus； another is erected high on the top of Thurium； where the
barbarians were environed； with an inscription in Greek； recording
that the glory of the day belonged to Homoloichus and Anaxidamus。
Sylla celebrated his victory at Thebes with spectacles； for which he
erected a stage； near Oedipus's well。 The judges of the performances
were Greeks chosen out of other cities； his hostility to the Thebans
being implacable； half of whose territory he took away and consecrated
to Apollo and Jupiter； ordering that out of the revenue compensation
should be made to the gods for the riches himself had taken from them。
After this； hearing that Flaccus； a man of the contrary faction； had
been chosen consul； and was crossing the Ionian Sea with an army；
professedly to act against Mithridates； but in reality against
himself； he hastened towards Thessaly； designing to meet him； but in
his march； when near Melitea； received advices from all parts that the
countries behind him were overrun and ravaged by no less a royal
army than the former。 For Dorylaus； arriving at Chalcis with a large
fleet； on board of which he brought over with him eighty thousand of
the best appointed and best disciplined soldiers of Mithridates's
army； at once invaded Boeotia； and occupied the country in hopes to
bring Sylla to a battle； making no account of the dissuasions of
Archelaus； but giving it out as to the last fight； that without
treachery so many thousand men could never have perished。 Sylla；
however； facing about expeditiously； made it clear to him that
Archelaus was a wise man； and had good skill in the Roman valour；
insomuch that he himself； after some small skirmishes with Sylla
near Tilphossium； was the first of those who thought it not
advisable to put things to the decision of the sword； but rather to
wear out the war by expense of time and treasure。 The ground； however；
near Orchomenus； where they then lay encamped； gave some encouragement
to Archelaus； being a battlefield admirably suited for any army
superior in cavalry。 Of all the plains in Boeotia that are renowned
for their beauty and extent； this alone； which commences from the city
of Orchomenus； spreads out unbroken and clear of trees to the edge
of the fens in which the Melas； rising close under Orchomenus； loses
itself； the only Greek river which is a deep and navigable water
from the very head； increasing also about the summer solstice like the
Nile； and producing plants similar to those that grow there； only
small and without fruit。 It does not run far before the main stream
disappears among the blind and woody marsh…grounds； a small branch；
however； joins the Cephisus； about the place where the lake is thought
to produce the best flute…reeds。
Now that both armies were posted near each other； Archelaus lay
still； but Sylla employed himself in cutting ditches from either side；
that if possible； by driving the enemies from the firm and open
champaign； he might force them into the fens。 They； on the other hand；
not enduring this； as soon as their leaders allowed them the word of
command； issued out furiously in large bodies； when not only the men
at work were dispersed； but most part of those who stood in arms to
protect the work fled in disorder。 Upon this； Sylla leaped from his
horse； and snatching hold of an ensign； rushed through the midst of
the rout upon the enemy； crying out aloud； 〃To me； O Romans； it will
be glorious to fall here。 As for you； when they ask you where you
betrayed your general； remember and say； at Orchomenus。〃 His men
rallying again at these words； and two cohorts coming to his succour
from the right wing； he led them to the charge and turned the day。
Then retiring some short distance and refreshing his men； he proceeded
again with his works to block up the enemy's camp。 They again
sallied out in better order than before。 Here Diogenes； stepson to
Archelaus； fighting on the right wing with much gallantry； made an
honourable end。 And the archers； being hard pressed by the Romans； and
wanting space for a retreat； took their arrows by handfuls； and
striking with these as with swords； beat them back。 In the end；
however； they were all driven into the intrenchment and had a
sorrowful night of it with their slain and wounded。 The next day
again； Sylla； leading forth his men up to their quarters； went on
finishing the lines of intrenchment； and when they issued out again
with larger numbers to give him battle； fell on them and put them to
the rout； and in the consternation ensuing； none daring to abide； he
took the camp by storm。 The marshes were filled with blood； and the
lake with dead bodies； insomuch that to this day many bows； helmets；
fragments of iron； breastplates； and swords of barbarian make continue
to be found buried deep in mud； two hundred years after the fight。
Thus much of the actions of Chaeronea and Orchomenus。
At Rome； Cinna and Carbo were now using injustice and violence
towards persons of the greatest eminence； and many of them to avoid
this tyranny repaired； as to a safe harbour； to Sylla's camp； where；
in a short space； he had about him the aspect of a senate。 Metella；
likewise； having with difficulty conveyed herself and children away by
stealth； brought him word that his houses； both in town and country；
had been burnt by his enemies； and entreated his help at home。
Whilst he was in doubt what to do； being impatient to hear of his
country being thus outraged； and yet not knowing how to leave so great
a work as the Mithridatic war unfinished； there comes to him
Archelaus； a merchant of Delos； with hopes of an accommodation； and
private instructions from Archelaus； the king's general。 Sylla liked
the business so well as to desire a speedy conference with Archelaus
in person； and a meeting took place on the seacoast near Delium； where
the temple of Apollo stands。 When Archelaus opened the conversation；
and began to urge Sylla to abandon his pretensions to Asia and Pontus；
and to set sail for the war in Rome； receiving money and shipping； and
such forces as he should think fitting from the king； Sylla
interposing； bade Archelaus take no further care for Mithridates；
but assume the crown to himself； and become a confederate of Rome；
delivering up the navy。 Archelaus professing his abhorrence of such
treason； Sylla proceeded： 〃So you； Archelaus； a Cappadocian； and
slave； or if it so please you friend； to a barbarian king； would
not； upon such vast considerations； be guilty of what is
dishonourable； and yet dare to talk to me； Roman general and Sylla； of
treason？ as if you were not the self…same Archelaus who ran away at
Chaeronea； with few remaining out of one hundred and twenty thousand
men； who lay for two days in the fens of Orchomenus； and left
Boeotia impassable for heaps of dead carcasses。〃 Archelaus； changing
his tone at this； humbly besought him to lay aside the thoughts of
war； and make peace with Mithridates。 Sylla consenting to this
request； articles of agreement were concluded on。 That Mithridates
should quit Asia and Paphlagonia； restore Bithynia to Nicomedes；
Cappadocia to Ariobarzanes； and pay the Romans two thousand talents；
and give him seventy ships of war with all their furniture。 On the
other hand； that Sylla should confirm to him his other dominions；
and declare him a Roman confederate。 On these terms he proceeded by
the way of Thessaly and Macedon towards the Hellespont； having
Archelaus with him； and treating him with great attention。 For
Archelaus being taken dangerously ill at Larissa； he stopped the march
of the army； and took care of him； as if he had been one of his own
captains； or his colleague in command。 This gave suspicion of foul
play in the battle of Chaeronea； as it was also observed that Sylla
had released all the friends of Mithridates taken prisoners in war；
except only Aristion the tyrant； who was at enmity with Archelaus； and
was put to death by poison； and； above all； ten thousand acres of land
in Euboea had been given to the Cappadocian； and he had received
from Sylla the style of friend and ally of the Romans。 On all which
points Sylla defends himself in his Memoirs。
The ambassadors of Mithridates arriving and declaring that they
accepted of the conditions； only Paphlagonia they could not part with；
and as for the ships； professing not to know of any such capitulation；
Sylla in a rage exclaimed； 〃What say you？ Does Mithridates then
withhold Paphlagonia？ and as to the ships； deny that article？ I
thought to have seen him prostrate at my feet to thank me for
leaving him so much as that right hand of his； which has cut off so
many Romans。 He will shortly； at my coming over into Asia； speak
another language； in the meantime； let him at his ease in Pergamus sit
managing a war which he never saw。〃 The ambassadors in terror stood
silent by； but Archelaus endeavoured with humble supplications to
assuage his wrath； laying hold on his right hand and weeping。 In
conclusion he obtained permission to go himself in person to
Mithridates； for that he would either mediate a peace to the
satisfaction of Sylla； or if not； slay himself。 Sylla having thus
despatched him away； made an inroad into