Publius Sulpicius, the tribune of the people, having, with the aid of
Caius Marius, carried certain laws: “that those who had been banished
should be recalled; that the newly-created citizens, and the sons of
freed-men, should be distributed among the tribes, and that Caius Marius
should be appointed general against Mithidrates, king of Pontus,” and
having used violence towards Quintus Pompeius and Lucius Sylla, the
consuls, who had opposed these proceedings; Quintus, the son of
Pompeius, who was married to Sylla’s daughter, being murdered, Lucius
Sylla came into the town with an army, and fought against the faction of
Sulpicius and Marius, in the city, and drove it out. Twelve of the
number, among whom are Caius Marius, the father, and his son, were
condemned by the senate. Publius Sulpicius having concealed himself in a
farm-house in the neighbourhood, being betrayed by one of his slaves,
was apprehended and put to death. The slave, being entitled to the
reward promised to the discoverer, was made free; and was then thrown
from the Tarpeian rock, for having traitorously betrayed his master.
Caius Marius, the son, passed over into Africa. Caius Marius, the
father, having concealed himself in the marshes of Minturna, was seized
by the towns-people: after a Gallic slave who was sent to despatch him,
being terrified at his majestic appearance, had retired, unable to
accomplish the deed, he was publicly placed in a vessel, and sent off to
Africa. Lucius Sylla reformed the state, and afterwards sent forth
colonies. Cneius Pompeius, the proconsul, procured the murder of Quintus
Pompeius, the consul, who was to have succeeded him in the command of
the army. Mithridates, king of Pontus, seized Bithynia and Cappadocia,
after having driven the Roman general, Aquilius, out of them: and at the
head of a great army entered Phrygia, a province belonging to the Roman
people.