satisfaction of Sylla； or if not； slay himself。 Sylla having thus
despatched him away； made an inroad into Maedica； and after wide
depopulations returned back again into Macedon； where he received
Archelaus about Philippi； bringing word that all was well； and that
Mithridates earnestly requested an interview。 The chief cause of
this meeting was Fimbria； for he； having assassinated Flaccus； the
consul of the contrary faction； and worsted the Mithridatic
commanders； was advancing against Mithridates himself； who； fearing
this； chose rather to seek the friendship of Sylla。
And so met at Dardanus in the Troad； on one side Mithridates；
attended with two hundred ships； and land…forces consisting of
twenty thousand men at arms； six thousand horse； and a large train
of scythed chariots； on the other； Sylla with only four cohorts and
two hundred horse。 As Mithridates drew near and put out his hand；
Sylla demanded whether he was willing or no to end the war on the
terms Archelaus had agreed to； but seeing the king made no answer；
〃How is this？〃 he continued； 〃ought not the petitioner to speak first；
and the conqueror to listen in silence？〃 And when Mithridates；
entering upon his plea； began to shift off the war； partly on the
gods； and partly to blame the Romans themselves； he took him up；
saying that he had heard； indeed； long since from others； and now he
knew it himself for truth； that Mithridates was a powerful speaker；
who in defence of the most foul and unjust proceedings； had not wanted
for specious pretences。 Then charging him with and inveighing bitterly
against the outrages he had committed； he asked again whether he was
willing or no to ratify the treaty of Archelaus？ Mithridates answering
in the affirmative； Sylla came forward； embraced and kissed him。 Not
long after he introduced Ariobarzanes and Nicomedes； the two kings；
and made them friends。 Mithridates； when he had handed over to Sylla
seventy ships and five hundred archers； set sail for Pontus。
Sylla； perceiving the soldiers to be dissatisfied with the peace （as
it seemed indeed a monstrous thing that they should see the king who
was their bitterest enemy； and who had caused one hundred and fifty
thousand Romans to be massacred in one day in Asia； now sailing off
with the riches and spoils of Asia； which he had pillaged； and put
under contribution for the space of four years）； in his defence to
them alleged； that he could not have made head against Fimbria and
Mithridates； had they both withstood him in conjunction。 Thence he set
out and went in search of Fimbria； who lay with the army about
Thyatira； and pitching his camp not far off； proceeded to fortify it
with a trench。 The soldiers of Fimbria came out in their single coats；
and saluting his men； lent ready assistance to the work； which
change Fimbria beholding； and apprehending Sylla as irreconcilable；
laid violent hands on himself in the camp。
Sylla imposed on Asia in general a tax of twenty thousand talents；
and despoiled individually each family by the licentious behaviour and
long residence of the soldiery in private quarters。 For he ordained
that every host should allow his guest four tetradrachms each day； and
moreover entertain him； and as many friends as he should invite；
with a supper； that a centurion should receive fifty drachms a day；
together with one suit of clothes to wear within doors； and another
when he went abroad。
Having set out from Ephesus with the whole navy； he came the third
day to anchor in the Piraeus。 Here he was initiated in the
mysteries； and seized for his use the library of Apellicon the
Teian； in which were most of the works of Theophrastus and
Aristotle； then not in general circulation。 When the whole was
afterwards conveyed to Rome； there； it is said； the greater part of
the collection passed through the hands of Tyrannion the grammarian；
and that Andronicus the Rhodian； having through his means the
command of numerous copies； made the treatises public； and drew up the
catalogues that are now current。 The elder Peripatetics appear
themselves； indeed； to have been accomplished and learned men； but
of the writings of Aristotle and Theophrastus they had no large or
exact knowledge； because Theophrastus bequeathing his books to the
heir of Neleus of Scepsis； they came into careless and illiterate
hands。
During Sylla's stay about Athens； his feet were attacked by a
heavy benumbing pain； which Strabo calls the first inarticulate sounds
of the gout。 Taking； therefore； a voyage to Aedepsus； he made use of
the hot waters there； allowing himself at the same time to forget
all anxieties； and passing away his time with actors。 As he was
walking along the seashore； certain fishermen brought him some
magnificent fish。 Being much delighted with the gift； and
understanding； on inquiry； that they were men of Halaeae； 〃What；〃 said
he； 〃are there any men of Halaeae surviving？〃 For after his victory at
Orchomenus； in the heat of a pursuit； he had destroyed three cities of
Boeotia； Anthedon； Larymna； and Halaeae。 The men not knowing what to
say for fear； Sylla； with a smile； bade them cheer up and return in
peace； as they had brought with them no insignificant intercessors。
The Halaeans say that this first gave them courage to re…unite and
return to their city。
Sylla； having marched through Thessaly and Macedon to the sea coast；
prepared； with twelve hundred vessels； to cross over from
Dyrrhachium to Brundisium。 Not far from hence is Apollonia； and near
it the Nymphaeum； a spot of ground where； from among green trees and
meadows； there are found at various points springs of fire continually
streaming out。 Here； they say； a satyr； such as statuaries and
painters represent； was caught asleep； and brought before Sylla； where
he was asked by several interpreters who he was； and； after much
trouble； at last uttered nothing intelligible； but a harsh noise；
something between the neighing of a horse and crying of a goat。 Sylla；
in dismay； and deprecating such an omen； bade it be removed。
At the point of transportation； Sylla being in alarm； lest at
their first setting foot upon Italy the soldiers should disband and
disperse one by one among the cities； they of their own accord first
took an oath to stand firm by him； and not of their good…will to
injure Italy； then seeing him in distress for money； they made； so
they say； a free…will offering； and contributed each man according
to his ability。 However； Sylla would not accept of their offering； but
praising their good…will； and arousing up their courage； went over （as
he himself writes） against fifteen hostile generals in command of four
hundred and fifty cohorts； but not without the most unmistakable
divine intimations of his approaching happy successes。 For when he was
sacrificing at his first landing near Tarentum； the victim's liver
showed the figure of a crown of laurel with two fillets hanging from
it。 And a little while before his arrival in Campania； near the
mountain Hephaeus； two stately goats were seen in the daytime；
fighting together； and performing all the motions of men in battle。 It
proved to be an apparition； and rising up gradually from the ground；
dispersed in the air； like fancied representations in the clouds；
and so vanished out of sight。 Not long after； in the self…same
place； when Marius the younger and Norbanus the consul attacked him
with two great armies； without prescribing the order of battle； or
arranging his men according to their divisions； by the sway only of
one common alacrity and transport of courage； he overthrew the
enemy； and shut up Norbanus into the city of Capua； with the loss of
seven thousand of his men。 And this was the reason； he says； that
the soldiers did not leave him and disperse into the different
towns； but held fast to him； and despised the enemy； though infinitely
more in number。
At Silvium （as he himself relates it）； there met him a servant of
Pontius； in a state of divine possession； saying that he brought him
the power of the sword and victory from Bellona； the goddess of war；
and if he did not make haste； that the capitol would be burnt； which
fell out on the same day the man foretold it； namely； on the sixth day
of the month Quintilis； which we now call July。
At Fidentia； also； Marcus Lucullus； one of Sylla's commanders；
reposed such confidence in the forwardness of the soldiers； as to dare
to face fifty cohorts of the enemy with only sixteen of his own： but
because many of them were unarmed delayed the onset。 As he stood
thus waiting； and considering with himself； a gentle gale of wind；
bearing along with it from the neighbouring meadows a quantity of
flowers； scattered them down upon the army； on whose shields and
helmets they settled； and arranged themselves spontaneously so as to
give the soldiers； in the eyes of the enemy； the appearance of being
crowned with chaplets。 Upon this； being yet further animated； they
joined battle； and victoriously slaying eight thousand men； took the
camp。 This Lucullus was brother to that Lucullus who in aftertimes
conquered Mithridates and Tigranes。
Sylla； seeing himself still surrounded by so many armies； and such
mighty hostile powers； had recourse to art； inviting Scipio； the other
consul； to a treaty of peace。 The motion was willingly embraced； and
several meetings and consultations ensued； in all which Sylla； still
interposing matter of delay and new pretences； in the meanwhile；
debauched Scipio's men by means of his own； who were as well practised
as the general himself in all the artifices of inveigling。 For
entering into the enemy's quarters and joining in conversation； they
gained some by present money； some by promises； others by fair words
and persuasions； so that in the end； when Sylla with twenty cohorts
drew near； on his men saluting Scipio's soldiers； they returned the
greeting and came over； leaving Scipio behind them in his tent；
where he was found all alone and dismissed。 And having used his twenty
cohorts as decoys to ensnare the forty of the enemy； he led them all
back into the camp。 On this occasion； Carbo was heard to say that he
had both a fox and a lion in the breast of Sylla to deal w