had both a fox and a lion in the breast of Sylla to deal with； and was
most troubled with the fox。
Some time after； at Signia； Marius the younger； with eighty…five
cohorts； offered battle to Sylla； who was extremely desirous to have
it decided on that very day； for the night before he had seen a vision
in his sleep； of Marius the elder； who had been some time dead；
advising his son to beware of the following day； as of fatal
consequence to him。 For this reason； Sylla； longing to come to a
battle； sent off for Dolabella； who lay encamped at some distance。 But
because the enemy had beset and blocked up the passes； his soldiers
got tired with skirmishing and marching at once。 To these difficulties
was added； moreover； tempestuous rainy weather； which distressed
them most of all。 The principal officers therefore came to Sylla；
and besought him to defer the battle that day； showing him how the
soldiers lay stretched on the ground； where they had thrown themselves
down in their weariness； resting their heads upon their shields to
gain some repose。 When； with much reluctance； he had yielded； and
given orders for pitching the camp； they had no sooner begun to cast
up the rampart and draw the ditch； but Marius came riding up furiously
at the head of his troops； in hopes to scatter them in that disorder
and confusion。 Here the gods fulfilled Sylla's dream。 For the
soldiers； stirred up with anger； left off their work； and sticking
their javelins into the bank； with drawn swords and a courageous
shout； came to blows with the enemy； who made but small resistance；
and lost great numbers in the flight。 Marius fled to Praeneste； but
finding the gates shut； tied himself round by a rope that was thrown
down to him； and was taken up on the walls。 Some there are （as
Fenestella for one） who affirm that Marius knew nothing of the
fight； but； overwatched and spent with hard duty； had reposed himself；
when the signal was given； beneath some shade； and was hardly to be
awakened at the flight of his men。 Sylla； according to his own
account； lost only twenty…three men in this fight； having killed of
the enemy twenty thousand； and taken alive eight thousand。
The like success attended his lieutenants； Pompey； Crassus；
Metellus； Servilius； who with little or no loss cut off vast numbers
of the enemy； insomuch that Carbo； the prime supporter of the cause；
fled by night from his charge of the army； and sailed over into Libya。
In the last struggle； however； the Samnite Telesinus； like some
champion； whose lot it is to enter last of all into the lists and take
up the wearied conqueror； came nigh to have foiled and overthrown
Sylla before the gates of Rome。 For Telesinus with his second；
Lamponius the Lucanian； having collected a large force； had been
hastening towards Praeneste； to relieve Marius from the siege； but
perceiving Sylla ahead of him； and Pompey behind； both hurrying up
against him； straitened thus before and behind； as a valiant and
experienced soldier； he arose by night； and marching directly with his
whole army； was within a little of making his way unexpectedly into
Rome itself。 He lay that night before the city； at ten furlongs'
distance from the Colline gate； elated and full of hope at having thus
out…generalled so many eminent commanders。 At break of day； being
charged by the noble youth of the city； among many others he overthrew
Appius Claudius； renowned for high birth and character。 The city； as
is easy to imagine； was all in an uproar； the women shrieking and
running about； as if it had already been entered forcibly by
assault； till at last Balbus； sent forward by Sylla； was seen riding
up with seven hundred horse at full speed。 Halting only long enough to
wipe the sweat from the horses； and then hastily bridling again； he at
once attacked the enemy。 Presently Sylla himself appeared； and
commanding those who were foremost to take immediate refreshment；
proceeded to form in order for battle。 Dolabella and Torquatus were
extremely earnest with him to desist awhile； and not with spent forces
to hazard the last hope； having before them in the field； not Carbo or
Marius； but two warlike nations bearing immortal hatred to Rome； the
Samnites and Lucanians； to grapple with。 But he put them by； and
commanded the trumpets to sound a charge； when it was now about four
o'clock in the afternoon。 In the conflict which followed； as sharp a
one as ever was； the right wing where Crassus was posted had clearly
the advantage； the left suffered and was in distress； when Sylla
came to its succour； mounted on a white courser； full of mettle and
exceedingly swift； which two of the enemy knowing him by； had their
lances ready to throw at him； he himself observed nothing； but his
attendant behind him giving the horse a touch； he was； unknown to
himself； just so far carried forward that the points； falling beside
the horse's tail； stuck in the ground。 There is a story that he had
a small golden image of Apollo from Delphi； which he was always wont
in battle to carry about him in his bosom； and that he then kissed
it with these words； 〃O Apollo Pythius； who in so many battles hast
raised to honour and greatness the Fortunate Cornelius Sylla； wilt
thou now cast him down； bringing him before the gate of his country；
to perish shamefully with his fellow…citizens？〃 Thus； they say；
addressing himself to the god； he entreated some of his men；
threatened some； and seized others with his hand； till at length the
left wing being wholly shattered； he was forced； in the general
rout； to betake himself to the camp； having lost many of his friends
and acquaintance。 Many； likewise； of the city spectators； who had come
out； were killed or trodden under foot。 So that it was generally
believed in the city that all was lost； and the siege of Praeneste was
all but raised； many fugitives from the battle making their way
thither； and urging Lucretius Ofella； who was appointed to keep on the
siege； to rise in all haste； for that Sylla had perished； and Rome
fallen into the hands of the enemy。
About midnight there came into Sylla's camp messengers from Crassus；
to fetch provision for him and his soldiers； for having vanquished the
enemy； they had pursued him to the walls of Antemna； and had sat
down there。 Sylla； hearing this； and that most of the enemy was
destroyed； came to Antemna by break of day； where three thousand of
the besieged having sent forth a herald； he promised to receive them
to mercy； on condition they did the enemy mischief in their coming
over。 Trusting to his word； they fell foul on the rest of their
companions； and made a great slaughter one of another。 Nevertheless；
Sylla gathered together in the circus； as well these as other
survivors of the party； to the number of six thousand； and just as
he commenced speaking to the senate； in the temple of Bellona；
proceeded to cut them down； by men appointed for that service。 The cry
of so vast a multitude put to the sword； in so narrow a space； was
naturally heard some distance； and startled the senators。 He； however；
continuing his speech with a calm and unconcerned countenance； bade
them listen to what he had to say； and not busy themselves with what
was doing out of doors； he had given directions for the chastisement
of some offenders。 This gave the most stupid of the Romans to
understand that they had merely exchanged； not escaped； tyranny。 And
Marius； being of a naturally harsh temper； had not altered； but merely
continued what he had been； in authority； whereas Sylla； using his
fortune moderately and unambitiously at first； and giving good hopes
of a true patriot； firm to the interests both of the nobility and
commonalty； being； moreover； of a gay and cheerful temper from his
youth； and so easily moved to pity as to shed tears readily； has；
perhaps deservedly； cast a blemish upon offices of great authority； as
if they deranged men's former habits and character； and gave rise to
violence； pride； and inhumanity。 Whether this be a real change and
revolution in the mind； caused by fortune； or rather a lurking
viciousness of nature； discovering itself in authority； it were matter
of another sort of disquisition to decide。
Sylla being thus wholly bent upon slaughter； and filling the city
with executions without number or limit； many wholly uninterested
persons falling a sacrifice to private enmity； through his
permission and indulgence to his friends； Caius Metellus； one of the
younger men； made bold in the senate to ask him what end there was
of these evils； and at what point he might be expected to stop？ 〃We do
not ask you；〃 said he； 〃to pardon any whom you have resolved to
destroy； but to free from doubt those whom you are pleased to save。〃
Sylla answering； that he knew not as yet whom to spare； 〃Why； then；〃
said he； 〃tell us whom you will punish。〃 This Sylla said he would
do。 These last words； some authors say； were spoken not by Metellus；
but by Afidius； one of Sylla's fawning companions。 Immediately upon
this； without communicating with any of the magistrates； Sylla
proscribed eighty persons； and notwithstanding the general
indignation； after one day's respite； he posted two hundred and twenty
more； and on the third again； as many。 In an address to the people
on this occasion； he told them he had put up as many names as he could
think of； those which had escaped his memory； he would publish at a
future time。 He issued an edict likewise； making death the
punishment of humanity； proscribing any who should dare to receive and
cherish a proscribed person without exception to brother； son； or
parents。 And to him who should slay any one proscribed person； he
ordained two talents reward； even were it a slave who had killed his
master； or a son his father。 And what was thought most unjust of
all； he caused the attainder to pass upon their sons； and sons'
sons； and made open sale of all their property。 Nor did the
proscription prevail only at Rome； but throughout all the cities of
Italy the effusion of blood was such； that neither sanctuary of the
gods； nor hearth of hospitality； nor ancestral home escaped。 Men
were butchered in the embraces of their wives； children in the arms of
th