Gabinius, one of his tribunes, with one legion, and
let the Chaeroneians also go, who wished, but were
unable, to get into the city before Gabinius. So
379
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
ouTft>9 ?]v dyaOos /ecu
66? TO awaai rwv awOfjvai Seoftevatv. 6 oe 'lo/
ov Yaftiviov (f)^(TL TrefJifyOrivai, aXXa '
ev ovv 7roXt9 rjjjiwv Trapd TOCTOVTOV e^etpvye rbv
XVII. 'E/c $e Ae/3aSeta9 KOI rov Tpocfxoviov
(f)ijjj.ai re ')(pr](T r ral KOI viKr]<p6pa fJiavrevfJiaTa rot?
Trepl wv ol
yeypafa, K6tz'TO9 Ttr/o9, ovrc
avrjp rcov iv rrj 'EXXaSt Trpaj/JiaTevo-
, f)K 7rpo9 avrov r/Sr; rrjv ev Xatpwvtia
jjid")(r]v, dirayyeXXcov on /cat Bevrepav
6 Tpo0a>wos avroOt, /JLCL^V KOI VIKT]V Trpocnjpaivei
2 eWo9 o\iyov y^povov. yaera Be TOVTOV avr\p rcov
ev rd^ei aTpaTevo^evwv ovo^a 'ZaXovrfvios
vey/ee irapd TOU 6eov reXo9 olov ai Kara
'Ira\iav Trpd^eis e/j,e\\ov if-iv. d/jL^orepoi Be
ravrd Trepl rfjs o/i(^r/9 <f)paov rw yap 'OXf/xTrtw
KOI TO /caX\09 xal TO ^676^09 7rapa7r\rjcriov
^ Be Sie/By TOV "Acrcrov 6 2i^XXa9,
VTTO TO 'HSvXiov TO) 'A/o^eXaft) TrapecrTparo-
TreBevcre, ^Se/9X^/ze^&) %dpa,Ka xaprepov ev f^eafa
TOV ' KKOVTIOV real TOV 'HSuXtof 77/309 Tot9 \eyo-
'A<Tcrtot9. o fievTOi T07T09 eV co KaTdcr/c/j- 463
vwcrev a, l vvv 'AoeXao9 a?r' e/ceuvov
Bia\i7Tcov Be fiuav rjfjiepav 6 2uXXa9 M
e^ovTa Tay/j,a KOI GTreipas Bvo Trpos TO
380
SULLA, xvi. 8-xvn. 3
efficient was he, and more eager to bring succour than
those who begged that succour should be given.
Juba, however, says it was not Gabinius, but Ericius,
who was thus sent. At any rate, so narrowly did my
native city escape its peril.
XVII. From Lebadeia and the cave of Trophonius
favourable utterances and oracles announcing victory
were now sent out to the Romans. Of these the
inhabitants of the country have more to say ; but
Sulla himself has written in the tenth book of his
Memoirs, how Quintus Titius, a prominent man
among the Romans doing business in Greece, came
to him immediately after he had won his victory at
Chaeroneia, 1 with tidings that Trophonius predicted
for him a second battle and victory in that neigh-
bourhood within a short time. 2 And after him, a
legionary soldier, Salvenius by name, brought him
from the god a statement of the issue which affairs
in Italy were going to have. But both agreed about
the source of their oracle ; for they said they had
beheld one who in beauty and majesty was like unto
Olympian Jove.
Sulla now crossed the Assus, and after advancing
to the foot of Mount Hedylium, encamped over
against Archelaus, who had thrown up strong en-
trenchments between Mounts Acontium and Hedy-
lium, at the so-called Assian plain. The spot in
which he encamped, moreover, is to this day called
Archelaus, after him. After one day's respite, Sulla
left Murena behind with one legion and two cohorts,
to obstruct the enemy if they attempted to draw up
their forces, while he himself held sacrifices on the
1 As described in chapter xix.
2 Near Orchomenus, as described in chapter xxi.
381
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
4 auT09 Be Trapa TOV K^tcroz/ eafyayid^eTo, Kal
lepwv yevo^erwv e^capei 777309 rrji> Xaipooveiav,
r)-^r6jjLv6s re Trjv avToOi arpartav real Karo-^r-
TO Ka\oviJLevov ovpiov VTTO TWV TroXe-
7rpOKaTei\r)fJL/jLevoi>. CCTTL Be tcopvtyr) rpa^eta
K.CLI crTpofiiXwBes o/)o?, o Kakov/Jiev 'Opdoirayov,
VTTO Be avrb TO pev/j,a TOV MoXou KOI Sovpiov
z^eoo? 'ATroXXw^o?. wvofjiacrTai, Be 6 ^eo9 UTTO
ovpovs, T/}? XatyO&)^o9 /jLtjTpos, ov olxiO'Trjv
5 vevai T?}? Xaipwz^e/a? laTOpovcnv. ol Be
Trjv KaSyu-w BoOeiaav VTTO TOV Tivdiov Ka
fiovv creel <>avr\vai, KCLI TOV TOTTOV air auT/}? OUTG)
Trpocrayopevdfjvai' Outp yap ol QoiviKes Ti]V ftovv
Be TOV SuXXa TTyoo? TTJV XaipooveLav
6 TTay/Jiei>o<) ev rf) 7ro\ei ^tXta/oyo
/jLevov? aywv TOU? (TTpaTia)Tas, air'rjVT'rja'e
6 vov Bd(f)i>r]$ KOfJil^wv. co? Be Be%d/j.evos
TGI/? crT/oaTicora? KOI Trapcop/JLi^cre 7T/309
vov, evTvy%di'Ovcriv avTw Bvo TWV
TOU9 TO P)ovpiov KaTao"xovTas eKKotyeiv, o\iyov^
crTpaTiMTas Trap* etcelvov Xa/SoVTt'9' aTpcnrov yap
elvai Tot9 fiapftdpoLs aBy]\ov, afro TOV Ka\ov
fjievov TleTpd^ov Trapa TO Movaeiov eVt TO @ou-
piov inrep /ce(jt>aX?}9 ayovcrav, y TropevOevjes ov
^aXe7rw9 eTTiTTeo-elo-Oai Kal KaTa\ev<jeLi> di'codev
7 auTOU9 ^ o-vvuxreiv e/9 TO TreBiov. TOV Be Yafti-
vlov T0?9 dvBpdai, {JLapTVpi'iaavTos dvBpeiav Kal
, Ke\evo~6i> eTTi^et peLV 6 2wXXa9* avTos Be
TIJV (j)d\ayya Kal Bievei/Jie TOV<$ LTTTTO-
eVl Kepa)<$ eKaTepov, TO Be^ibv auT09 e^wv, TO
SULLA, xvu. 4-7
banks of the Cephisus, and, when the rites were
over, moved on towards Chaeroneia, to pick up the
forces stationed there, and to reconnoitre Thurium, as
it is called, which had been already occupied by the
enemy. This is a conical-shaped hill with a craggy
peak (we call it Orthopagus), and at its foot is the
river Molus and a temple of Apollo Thurius. The
god got this surname from Thuro, the mother of
Chaeron, who was founder of Chaeroneia, accord-
ing to tradition. But some say that the cow which
was given by Apollo to Cadmus as his guide, ap-
peared there, and that the place was named as it
is from her, "thor" being the Phoenician word
for cow.
As Sulla drew near to Chaeroneia, the tribune who
had been stationed in the city, with his men in full
armour, came to meet him, carrying a wreath of
laurel. After Sulla had accepted this, greeted the
soldiers, and animated them for the coming danger,
two men of Chaeroneia accosted him, Homoloichus
and Anaxidamus, and engaged to cut off the troops
in possession of Thurium if he would give them a
few soldiers ; for there was a path out of sight of
the Barbarians, leading from the so called Petrachus
along past the Museum to that part of Thurium
which was over their heads, and by taking this path
it would not be difficult, they said, to fall upon them
and either stone them to death from above, or force
them into the plain. After Gabinius had borne
testimony to the men's courage and fidelity, Sulla
ordered them to make the attempt, while he himself
proceeded to form his line of battle, and to dispose
his cavalry on either wing, taking command of the
383
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
8' evct)W/j.ov aTroSous Movpijva. FaX/Sa? Be real
OpT?;<no? ol TrpecrftevTal cnreipas eTHTaKTOVS
ea^aroL 7rapei>e/3a\ov eVl TWV aicpwv
7T/309 ra? KVK\(*)(TI<>' ewpwvro yap ol
KaTa<r/<evdovT6s iTTTrevai TroXXoF? KOL
7ro^>(jt)K(JLV et? eTTKTTpo^rjv TO /cepa? ei)-
KOI Kovfyov, a)? fJiaKpav
oL rou? Pco^atou?.
XVIII. 'E^ 6e TOVTW TWV \ciipwvewv '
rrapa rov S^XXa \a/36vra)v KOI 7repie\-
aS;/\co9 TO Qovpiov, eira ZTTifyavevTwv,
Oopvfios ?]V vroXu? Aral ^^7?) TWI^ (3ap/3dpwv KOL
aXX^Xft)^ o TrXeicrro?. OL 7^/0 uvre-
, aXXa Kara Trpavovs (pepo/jievoi rot? re
Bopacrt TrepieTTiTTTOv avrol rot? eavrwv Kal
^ov wOovvTzs dXX^Xou?, avcoOev
TWV 7TO\/jiL(i)V KOL TO, ^
2 ware Tpia"%i\iov<$ irecrelv irepl TO Qovpiov.
Be fawybvTwv TOU? f^ei' et? rd^iv rj^>r] fcaQecrTax; 6
Movptjvas arreTe/AveTO Kal $te$>6eipev vTravTid
ol Be Mcrdfjievoi TT/OO? TO <$L\iov (TTpaTorreo'ov
Trj (j)d\ayyi (frvpSrjv e/ctTrecroz^Te? di>e7r\r/o-av
l Tapa%r)<; TO 7r\etcrTov /ze/jo?, Kal BiaTpi/3i]v
Tot? aTpaTTjyoLS eveTTOirjaav ov^ iJKKTTa
crav avTovs. o^ew? yap 6
eTrayaywv Kal TO fiecroy SidaTtj^a TO TCL^GL crvv-
e\cov d<j)L\6TO TIJV TMV ^peTravi^opwv evepyeiav.
3 eppaiTai yap /JLaXicrTa fjiiJKei Spopov a<po8poTr]Ta
Kal pvprjv Trj Sie^eXao-et SiBovTO?, al Be e'/c
384
SULLA, xvn. 4-xvin. 3
right himself, and assigning the left to Murena. 1
His lieutenants, Galba and Hortensius, with cohorts
of reserves, stationed themselves on the heights in
the rear, to guard against attacks on the flanks. For
the enemy were observed to be making their wing
flexible and light for evolution with large bodies of
horse and light infantry, purposing to extend it and
envelop the Romans.
XVIII. Meanwhile the Chaeroneians, over whom
Ericius had been placed in command by Sulla, made
their way unnoticed around Thurium and then showed
themselves suddenly, producing great confusion and
rout among the Barbarians, and slaughter at one
another's hands for the most part. For they did not
hold their ground, but rushed down the steeps, falling
upon their own spears and crowding one another
down the precipices, while their enemies pressed
upon them from above and smote their exposed
bodies, so that three thousand of them fell on
Thurium. Of the fugitives, some were met by
Murena, who had already formed his array, and were
cut off and slain ; others pushed their way towards
the camp of their friends, and falling pell-mell upon
their lines, filled the greater part of them with
terror and confusion, and inflicted a delay upon their
generals which was especially harmful to them. For
Sulla promptly charged upon them while they were
in confusion, and by abridging the space between
the armies with the speed of his approach, robbed
the scythe-bearing chariots of their efficiency. For
these are of most avail after a long course, which
gives them velocity and impetus for breaking through
1 Cf. chapter xvii. 3. Archelaiis had followed Sulla towards
Chaeroneia, leaving Murena free to join his chief.
385
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
cret? aTTpcLKTot, /cal dfj,/3\eiat, /cadd-
Tcep /3e\wv rdcriv ov \a/36vTa>v. o Brj /cal rore
rot? /3ap/3/30? ciTDjVTa' KOI ra irpwra TWV dp-
^w? e^e\avvojjieva KOI TrpocnriTrTOVTa
e/ctcpovcravTes ol 'Pw^aloi ^lerd Kporov
tcai ^eXwro? d\\a TJTOVV, waTrep elwOacriv <iv rat?
4 OearpiKals LTTTTO ^pofjil at?. rovvrevOev ai ire^ai
^vrdjJLei^ avveppdyrjcrav, TWV fjiev ftapfidpwv irpo- 464
/3a\\o[jLva>v ra? craptcra? f^a/cpas /cal 7reipw[Jievwv
T<W a-vvaaTrKT/AW Tr)i> (j)d\ayya Siarrjpeiv ev
TWV &6 'PwfjiaitoV TOL>5 JJL6V UCTCTOU? aVTOV
fiakovTwv, aTracraiJievwv & ra? /za^at/oa? teal
7rapa/cpovofjLeva>v ra? cra/3/<ra?, ft)? ra^tcrra irpocr-
5 /jLL^etav aurot? 8i' opyijv. Trporerajfjievovs jap
TWV iro\jLiia)V /jLvpuovs KOI TrevTa/ciaxiXiovs
, 01)? e/c TWV TroKewv /crjpvjfjiacriv e\ev-
ol ftacriKews o-Tparrjyol /caT\6^L^ov
TOU? oTrXtra?. /cai Ti? e/faTOi/Ta/}^? \ej6Tat
t T-\ ^ i f ? T 7- f f * ' n
rcoyaato? etTreiv a>? ey Kpoviois yuovov eioeiri T>;?
6 Trapprja 'ta? SouXou? /iere^o^ra?. TOUTOU? ynt'7'
Sm j3d0o<; /cal Trv/cvoTijTa /8/oa8ea)? e^(
U7TO TWV OTT\iTWV KOI TTapd (f)V(TlV /JLVLV TO\jJLWV-
ra? cu re fieXocrffrevSovat, /cal ol <yp6a<pot, XP M ~
caTOTriv 'Pwfiaiwv, aTrearpe-
v /cal crvveTapaTTOv.
XIX. 'ApyeXaof ^e TO BeEiov /cepas ei? KVK\CO-
> / r/V fy-. / 1 , - \
CTLV avayovTOS, (JpTtjcno^ efpr/fce ra?
as ft)? efj.^a\wv
&e ra^eco? e/ceivov TOU? Trep! avTov
1 The festival of Saturn, a time of general license and
mirth, when masters treated their slaves as equals.
386
SULLA, xviu. 3~xix. i
an opposing line, but short starts are ineffectual and
feeble, as in the case of missiles which do not get
full propulsion. And this proved true now in the
case of the Barbarians. The first of their chariots
were driven along feebly and engaged sluggishly,
so that the Romans, after repulsing them, clapped
their hands and laughed and called for more, as they
are wont to do at the races in the circus. Thereupon
the infantry forces engaged, the Barbarians holding
their pikes before them at full length, and en-
deavouring, by locking their shields together, to
keep their line of battle intact ; while the Romans
threw down their javelins, drew their swords, and
sought to dash the pikes aside, that they might get
at their enemies as soon as possible, in the fury that
possessed them. For they saw drawn up in front of
the enemy fifteen thousand slaves, whom the king's
generals had set free by proclamation in the cities
and enrolled among the men-at-arms. And a certain
Roman centurion is reported to have said that it was
only at the Saturnalia, 1 so far as he knew, that slaves
participated in the general license. These men,
however, owing to the depth and density of their
array, and the unnatural courage with which they
held their ground, were only slowly repulsed by the
Roman men-at-arms ; but at last the fiery bolts and
the javelins which the Romans in the rear ranks plied
unsparingly, threw them into confusion and drove
them back.
XIX. Archelaiis now extended his right wing to
envelop Sulla's line, whereupon Hortensius 2 sent his
cohorts against him on a quick run, intending to
attack his flank. But Archelaiis wheeled swiftly
2 See chapter xvii. 7.
387
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
t7T7re?9 Bt,a"%i\Lov<?, etcOXifto/jLevos VTTO
TrpocrecrTeXXeTO roi? opeivols, Kara fjuicpov aTrop-
2 U7TO TCOI^ TToXe/UGOZ'. TTvOofJieVOS Be O S^XXa?
TOU BeLOv j,i7T(t) erLzTreTTTWAroTO? et?
eXacrea)? oVep ?}^ TeK^pdjmevo<;, Oprtjcnov j,ev eia
yaipew, auro? 8e eTTLcnpe^as wp/jujcrev o0ev o
2vXXa-9 777)09 TO 8ej;i6v, &>9 eprjfwv ap^ovro^ aiprj-
awv. afjia Be real Movprfva TaftXr^9 eV^ye rou9
wcrre T7/9 KpavyrjS Si^odev fyepo-
7T larger avra rov ^v\\av %>ia7ropelv
3 o7TOTpcocr6 %/o/; IT poG^/evecrQat. Bo^av Be Tr)v
eavrov Tafyv ava\ap/3aveiv, M.ovptjvq fj,ev apw
<ybv
re
7rl TO e%iov ^Treuyero real /catf eavro pei' aj-io-
/^a%w9 ^877 TCO 'Ap^eXaw crvvecrTTjKos, eice'ivov
be eTntyavevTOS TTavrdiracriv e^eftidcravTo, KOI
fcparijo-avTes e^iw/cov 7rpo9 T6 TO^ Trorayuoj' a
4 TO 'AfCOVTlOV O/509 7T pOT pOTT d&l]V (f)l>yOVTa$. OV
jjirjv o ye XwAAa9 ^eX^cre Mou/o^va Kiv&vvevov-
T09, aXXa cop/jLi]cre rols etcel porjOelv I8a>v 8e
viKwvras, Tore T?}9 >L(t)ea)<? /jLerel^e. vroXXot
/i6i^ ow eV TW ireSicp TMV ftapftdpwv dvypovvTO,
7T\etcrTOi Be rep ^dpaKt Trpocrtyepo/Aevoi /eare-
Koirricrav, Mcrre fivpiovs Siarrecreiv et9 XaX/iftSa
IJLOVOVS UTTO roaovTcov fjivpid&(ov. o Be 2uXXa9
\eyei recrcrapas fcal Berta eTri^rjrija'ai rwv avrov
crTpaTiwrwv, elra KOI TOVTWV Bvo 77^69
5 eairepav TrapayevecrOai. Bib KOI T049
388
SULLA, xix. 1-5
against him his two thousand horsemen, and Hor-
tensius, forced aside by superior numbers, was
keeping close to the hills, separating himself little by
little from the main line, and getting surrounded by
the enemy. When Sulla learned of this, he came
swiftly to his aid from the right wing, which was not
yet engaged. But Archelaiis, guessing the truth
from the dust raised by Sulla's troops, gave Horten-
sius the go-by, and wheeling, set off for the right
wing whence Sulla had come, thinking to surprise it
without a commander. At the same time Murena
also was attacked by Taxiles with his Bronze-shields,
so that when shouts were borne to his ears from both
places, and reechoed by the surrounding hills, Sulla
halted, and was at a loss to know in which of the
two directions he ought to betake himself. But
having decided to resume his own post, he sent
Hortensius with four cohorts to help Murena, while
he himself, bidding the fifth cohort to follow,
hastened to the right wing. This of itself had
already engaged Archelaiis on equal terms, but when
Sulla appeared, they drove the enemy back at all
points, obtained the mastery, and pursued them to
the river and Mount Acoiitium in a headlong flight.
Sulla, however, did not neglect Murena in his peril,
but set out to aid the forces in that quarter ; he saw,
however, that they were victorious, and then joined
in the pursuit. Many of the Barbarians, then, were
slain in the plain, but most were cut to pieces as
they rushed for their entrenchments, so that only
ten thousand out of so many myriads made their
escape into Chalcis. But Sulla says he missed only
fourteen of his soldiers, and that afterwards, towards
evening, two of these came in. He therefore
389
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
"Apr) teal Nitcrjv teal 'A(f)pooLTr)v, o>9
evTVXia Karop0ci)cras rj SeivoTrjTi /cat,
TOV TroXe/ioy. aXXa Tovro pev TO rpo-
Traiov 6(TTr)K T^9 7reSta8o9 At^X 7 ?? V trp&TOv
veK\tvav ol Trepl 'A/3%eXaoz; Trapd 1 TO ^MoXou
peWpov, erepov oe eeri TOV ovpiov Kaia Kopv-
dtriv SeftyKOS errl TTJ KVK\a)&6i TWV ftapjBdpwv,
* . *^ *** rf /^ "N /
6 Kal 'AvagiSafjiOV apicrrels. Tavrr)? TO,
-
Seiov KprjvTjV KaTaGKevdaas 6v^e\riv. ol Be
tcpivoirres rjtrav "EAA^e? eV TMV a\\cov ava/cc-
rrjv rifuffeiav rw Hv0Lq> xal TO) 'OX^7Ttw /
paxrei', etc T&V TTpocroScov /ceXeuo-a? airoSi8off0at
ra xpijfMara Tot? ^eot? a?rp auTO? ei\y$t.
XX. MeTa Tavra TTVv6avo^evo<; &\axicm airo
TT)? evavrLas ardaew^ viraiov yprj/nevov Btairepav 465
TOI^ *Ioviov fjiera Swd^ews, \6y(jp fiev eirl MiGpt-
Bdrrjv, epyw Se eV eicelvov aviov, wp^aev em
^
CL^IKVOVVTO
djje\iat TTopdeicrOai ra KCLTOTTIV avQi? OVK e\dr-
2 TOW arpaTia fiacriXiKrj rrjs Trporepov. Ao^uXao?
O/CTW pvpid&as q
, e at9
l <TWTTayiJieva<> apiara Brj
1 irapa with Bekker, after Kmperius : ^ e '
i
- A deity of good fortune among the Romans.
2 So named "because in it Oedipus washed off the blood
of his murdered father" (Pausanias, ix. 18, 4).
390
SULLA, xix. 5~xx. 2
inscribed upon his trophies the names of Mars,
Victory and Venus, 1 in the belief that his success in
the war was due no less to good fortune than to
military skill and strength. This trophy of the
battle in the plain stands on the spot where the
troops of Archelaiis first gave way, by the brook
Molus, but there is another planted on the crest of
Thurium, to commemorate the envelopment of the
Barbarians there, and it indicates in Greek letters
that Homoloi'chus and Anaxidamus were the heroes
of the exploit. The festival in honour of this victory
was celebrated by Sulla in Thebes, where he prepared
a stage near the fountain of Oedipus. 2 But the
judges were Greeks invited from the other cities,
since towards the Thebans he was irreconcileably
hostile. He also took away half of their territory
and consecrated it to Pythian Apollo and Olympian
Zeus, giving orders that from its revenues the
moneys should be paid back to the gods which he
had taken from them. 3
XX. After this, learning that Flaccus, a man of
the opposite faction, had been chosen consul 4 and
was crossing the Ionian sea with an army, ostensibly
against Mithridates, but really against himself, he
set out towards Thessaly in order to meet him. But
when he was come to the city of Meliteia, tidings
reached him from many quarters that the regions
behind him were ravaged again by an army of the
king which was no smaller than the former. For
Dorylaiis, having put in at Chalcis with a large fleet,
on which he brought eighty thousand of the best
trained and disciplined men in the army of
3 Cf. chapter xii. 3-6.
4 With Cinna, to succeed Marius, who died in 86 B c.
39 1
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
, evdvs et? TSoiutTiav evej3d\ KCU
cracrOai TOV SuXXay, ov
VOVTl, KOi \OJOV 716/31 T?}?
vs co? OVK avev TT/JoSocrta? fj-vpidSes Toaav-
3 rat 8ia<f)0apLV. ov fjirjv aAAa o Su
V7rocrrpe^a<; aTre&e^e TW AopuXaw TOI/ *
Xaoi> av&pa fypovifjiov KOI TT}? 'Pto/jLaiw
porarov uperfj^, wcrre pi/cpa avrov TW
Trepl TO r ^i\fy(*)(T(Tiov e/jLTrecrovra Trpwrov eivai
TWV OVK a^iovvrwv KpivecrOai Bia yua^J??, aX\a
Sa-Tra^ai? /cat %poya) TpLfteiv TOV 7r6\ej*ov. o
8e Odpaos TL TW 'AyO^eXaw irapel^ev o
'O/j^OyLtei^ft) TOTTO?, eV co
euc^uecrraro? coz^ 'nnTOKpaTOVGiv evaywvicracrOai.
4 TCOI/ yap ^oiwrlwv ire&iwv 6 TI Trep ecrn tcd\-
\icnov KOL /jLeyiGTOV, rovro TT}? 'Qp-%o/j.6VLa)v
G^ypTrffievov TToXeco? 6fj,a\Gi> dvaTreTTTarai, /cal
aSevSpov d^pi TWV e\wv ev ol? 6 MeXa? ycar-
ava\i<7K6TaL TrorayLto?, dvaTe\\a)v fjiev VTTO TJJV
rayv *Op^o/tWa>P TroXu? /cat TrXcoi/^o? eV
Be vTTo r/ooTra? 6epu'ds, cocrTrep o NetXo?,
t c^epcoy o/jioia rot? e/cet ra c^fo/z
5 aKapira KOI dvav^rj. Troppco Se ov
aXXa TO /u,ez> 7T\Laroi> evOvs et? X/yaz^
/rat eXco8e^9 a<^avi^Tai t /xe/oo? &e ou TTO\V TOJ
K-iyc^tcrco (rvfi/jLiyvvrai, Trepl ov /utdX.io'Ta TOTTOV
XXI. 'I^Trel 5e 77^9 KaTeaTpaTOTreSeucrav, 6
Ayo^eXao? ^cr^a^ev, o Se SuXXa? a>pvTT
392
SULLA, xx. 2-xxi. i
Mithridates, at once burst into Boeotia and occupied
the country. He was eager to entice Sulla to battle,
disregarding the protests of Archelaiis, and giving
it out that in the previous battle so many myriads
had not perished without treachery. Sulla, however,
turning swiftly back, showed Dorylaiis that Archelaiis
was a man of prudence and best acquainted with
the Roman valour, so that after a slight skirmish
with Sulla near Tilphossium, he was first of those
who thought it expedient not to decide the issue by
a battle, but rather to wear out the war by dint of
time and treasure. Nevertheless, Archelaiis was
much encouraged by the nature of the country about
Orchomenus, where they were encamped, since it
was most favourable as a battle-field for an army
superior in cavalry. For of all the plains of Boeotia
this is the largest and fairest, and beginning from
the city of Orchomenus, it spreads out smooth and
treeless as far as the marshes in which the river
Melas loses itself. This rises close under the city of
Orchomenus, and is the only Greek river that is
copious and navigable at its sources ; moreover, it
increases towards the time of the summer solstice,
like the Nile, and produces plants like those which
grow there, only stunted and without fruit. Its
course is short, however, and the greater part of it
disappears at once in blind and marshy lakes, while
a small portion of it unites with the Cephisus, some-
where near the place in which the stagnant water
is reputed to produce the famous reed for flutes. 1
XXI. When the two armies had encamped near
each other, Archelaiis lay still, but Sulla proceeded
1 The Boeotians excelled with the flute. See Akibiades,
ii. 4-6.
393
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
eKarepwOev, OTTO)?, el BuvaiTO, TWV <TT-
pewv fcal iTTTrao-ifjiayv drroTe^ofjievo^ TOU9 TroXe-
Mcreiev et? TCL e\rj. TWV Be OVK dvaa%o-
d\X' a>9 d<f>eiQr)(rav VTTO TOW (TTpaTi^wv,
/cal pvBrjv ekavvovrwv, ou JJLOVOV ol irepl
TO, epya TOV ^v\\a Biea/ceBdadrjcrav, d\\a Kal
TOV 7rapaTTaj/^ei>ov (jvvzyyQ^ TO TrXetcrro^ (pvy-
2 O^TO?. evOa 8/) S^XXa? auro? tt7T07r/;S?jcra9 TOU
LTTTTOV KOI (Trj/^eloi' avapTTaGas a)06iTO Sia TWI>
(j)6V<y6vTCi)v cfc? roi/9 7roXe/uof?, ftowv "'E/^ol yaei^
evravdd TTOU Ka\.6i>, w 'Pca/jialoi,, reXeura^, u/iet?
8e roi? irvvOavofjievois TTOV 7rpo$eS(*)KaT TOV
aurofcpdropa, fjLG^vrj^evoi fypd^eiv &>? eV '
yu-e^w." TOUTOU9 re 3^ TO f>t]0ev eVecT
Aral TWZ^ eVt TOI) Se^iov Kepcos cnreip&v Buo
TrpoaeftoYjOrjcrav, 0,9 eTrayaycov TpeTrerat. TOV$
3 7i'o\ejmiovs. dvayaywv Se /ju/cpov OTTLCTCO, teal
&OU9 dpiarrov ayTO?9, av6i<$ direTa^peve TOV %d-
pafca TMV 7ro\/jiLd)V. OL Be avO^ ev Ta^ei /JLO\-
\ov r) irpoTepov TrpoaetyepovTO. /cal
fjiev o T7;9 'A/r^eXaou yvvaLKos f/09 d
eTrl TOV Be^iov TrepioTTTws eireaev, ol Be
'Pco/LLaLcov eK^La^ofJievwv, OVK e^ovTes dva-
T069 oi(7TOt9 K
Tra'iovTes dveKoiTTov CLVTOUS, reXos e
et9 TOZ/ ^dpaKa fio^d^pw^ VTTO
l (f)6vov l BievvKTepevcrav. rjp,epas
Be Trd\iv TW %dpaKi, TOVS (TTpaTia)Ta<? Trpocraya-
4 >ya)v 6 ^uXXa9 tnreTdfypevev. eeX#oWa9 Se TOU9
7roXXoi)9 a>9 eVt fjid^v o~v/ji/3a\(ov TpeireTai,
Bekker adopts Reiske's correction to (p6@ov (terror).
394
SULLA, xxi. 1-4
to dig trenches on either side, in order that, if
possible, he might cut the enemy off from the solid
ground which was favourable for cavalry, and force
them into the marshes. The enemy, however, would
not suffer this, but when their generals sent them
forth, charged impetuously and at full speed, so that
not only Sulla's labourers were dispersed, but also
the greater part of the corps drawn up to protect
them was thrown into confusion and fled. Then
Sulla threw himself from his horse, seized an ensign,
and pushed his way through the fugitives against
the enemy, crying : " For me, O Romans, an honour-
able death here ; but you, when men ask you where
you betrayed your commander, remember to tell
them, at Orchomenus." The fugitives rallied at
these words, and two of the cohorts on his right
wing came to his aid ; these he led against the
enemy and routed them. Then he fell back a
little distance, and after giving his men breakfast,
again proceeded to fence the enemy's entrench-
ments off with his ditches. But they attacked him
again in better order than before, Diogenes, the
step-son of Archelaiis, fought gallantly on their
right wing, and fell gloriously, and their archers,
being hard pressed by the Romans, so that they had
no room to draw their bows, took their arrows by