senators more, with an infinite number of the richest citizens. 28.  He next resolved to invest himself with the dictatorship, and that for a perpetuity; and thus uniting all civil as well as military power in his own person, he thought he might thence give an air of justice to every oppression. 29.  Thus he continued to govern with capricious tyranny, none daring to resist his power, until, contrary to the expectation of all mankind, he laid down the dictatorship, after having held it not quite three years.

[Illustration:  Sylla reproaching the little image of Apollo with his defeat.]

30 After this, he retired into the country, and abandoned himself to debauchery; but he did not long survive his abdication; he was seized with a horrible distemper, and died a loathsome and mortifying object, and a melancholy proof of the futility of human ambition.[5]

The character of Sylla exhibits a singular compound of great and mean qualities.  Superstition was one of its features.  It is said that having suffered a defeat in the course of the Social War, in Italy, he drew from his bosom a little image of Apollo, which he had stolen from the temple of Delphi, and had ever since carried about him when engaged in war.  Kissing it with great devotion, he expostulated with the god, for having brought him to perish dishonourably, with his countrymen, at the gates of his native city, after having raised him by many victories to such a height of glory and greatness.

Questions for Examination.

1.  What were the first acts of Sylla?

2.  What became of Marius?

3.  To what dangers was he exposed?

4.  Was an attempt made on his life?

5.  How did the governor treat the fugitive general?

6.  What ingratitude was shown to Marius?

7.  What was his reply?

8.  From what African prince did he ask aid?

9.  Was it granted?

10.  What opportunity was taken by the Marian party to renew the struggle?

11.  To what scruple did Marius pretend?

12.  What proves it a pretence?

13.  What cruelties were practised by Marius?

14.  What laws did he change? 15.  How did Marius die?

16.  How did Sylla act when he learned the news of the change?

17.  What caused a tumult in Cinna’s army?

18.  How did it end?

19.  What artifice was practised on Scipio?

20.  What was the result?

21.  Describe the relative condition of the rival forces?

22.  Did Pompey obtain any victory?

23.  What was the consequence?

24.  Which faction finally prevailed?

25.  What massacre was perpetrated by Sylla?

26.  How did he excuse it? 27.  Were these his only cruelties?

28.  What magistracy did Sylla usurp?

29.  How did he govern?

30.  In what manner did the tyranny of Sylla terminate?