148 SYLLA.

He remarks, in his Memoirs, that of all his well-advised actions, none proved so lucky in the execution, as what he had boldly enterprised, not by calculation, but upon the moment. And in the character which he gives of himself, that he was born for fortune rather than war, he seems to give Fortune a higher place than merit, and in short, makes himself entirely the creature of a superior power, accounting even his concord with Metellus, his equal in office, and his connection by marriage, a piece of preternatural felicity. For expecting to have met in him a most troublesome, he found him a most accommo- dating colleague. Moreover, in the Memoirs which he dedicated to Lucullus, he admonishes him to esteem noth- ing more trustworthy, than what the divine powers advise him by night. And when he was leaving the city with an army, to fight in the Social War, he relates, that the earth near the Laverna* opened, and a quantity of fire came rushing out of it, shooting up with a bright flame into the heavens. The soothsayers upon this foretold, that a person of great qualities, and of a rare and singu- lar aspect, should take the government in hand, and quiet the present troubles of the city. Sylla affirms he was the man, for his golden head of hair made him an extraordi- nary-looking man, nor had he any shame, after the great actions he had done, in testifying to his own great quali- ties. And thus much of his opinion as to divine agency. In general he would seem to have been of a very irregular character, full of inconsistencies with himself; much given to rapine, to prodigality yet more ; in pro- moting or disgracing whom he pleased, alike unacount-

• Laverna was the goddess of mentioned may probably be the

thieves, and the patroness of dis- neighborhood of some chapel or honesty in general, — " Grant me, altar dedicated to her. An altar sweet Laverna, to be thought just near the Porta Lavernalis is men- and upright," is the hypocrite's tioned. prayer in Horace. The place her*