2. (Par.) A thunderbolt fell upon the Capitol, causing the destruction of the Sibylline books and of many other things. (Mai, p. 551.)

[Sidenote:  FRAG.  CIII] [Sidenote:  B.C. 83 (a.u. 671)] (Par.) Pompey was a son of Strabo, and has been compared by Plutarch with Agesilaus the Lacedaemonian.  Indignant at those who held the city he proceeded absolutely alone to Picenum before he had quite yet come to man’s estate:  from the inhabitants on account of his father’s position of command he collected a small band and set up an individual sovereignty, thinking to perform some famous exploit by himself; then he joined the party of Sulla.  Beginning in this way he became no less a man than his chief, but, as his title indicates, grew to be “Great.”  (Valesius, p. 653.)

[Sidenote:  FRAG.  CIV] [Sidenote:  B.C. 82 (a.u. 672)] (Par.) Sulla delivered the army to a man[67] who was in no wise distinguished[68] nor generally commended, in spite of the fact that he had many who had been with him from the beginning superior in both experience and action, whom up to that time he had employed in all emergencies and treated as most faithful.  Before he became victor he was accustomed to make requests of them and use their assistance to the fullest extent.  But as he drew near his dream of absolute dominion, he made no account of them any longer but reposed his trust rather in the basest men who were not conspicuous for family or possessed of a reputation for uprightness.  The reason was that he saw that such persons were ready to assist him in all his projects, even the vilest; and he thought they would be most grateful to him if they should obtain even very small favors, would never show contempt nor lay claim to either his deeds or his plans.  The virtuous element, on the other hand, would not be willing to help him in his evil-doing but would even rebuke him; they would demand rewards for benefits conferred, according to merit, would feel no gratitude for them but take them as something due, and would claim his actions and counsels as their own. (Valesius, p. 654.)

[Footnote 67:  Q.  Lucretius Ofella.]

[Footnote 68:  Supplying [Greek:  met’ epiphanei], with Reiske.]

[Sidenote:  FRAG.  CV] 1. (Par.) Sulla up to that day that he conquered the Samnites had been a conspicuous figure, possessing a renown from his leadership and plans, and was believed to be most devoted to humaneness and piety, so that all thought that he had Fortune as an ally because of his excellence.  After this event he changed so much that one would not say his earlier and his later deeds were those of the same person.  This probably shows that he could not endure good fortune.  Acts that he censured in other persons while he was still weak, and others, far more outrageous even, he committed:  it had presumably always been his wish to do so, but he had been hindered by lack of opportunity.  This fact produced a strong conviction in the minds