188 SYLLA.

Sylla, consecrating the tenth of his whole substance to Hercules, entertained the people with sumptuous feast- ings. The provision was so much above what was necessary, that they were forced daily to throw great quantities of meat into the river, and they drank wine forty years old and upwards. In the midst of the ban- queting, which lasted many days, Metella died of a dis- ease. And because that the priest forbade him to visit the sick, or suffer his house to be polluted with mourning, he drew up an act of divorce, and caused her to be re- moved into another house whilst alive. Thus far, out of religious aj>prehension, he observed the strict rule to the very letter, but in the funeral expenses he trans- gressed the law he himself had made, limiting the amount, and spared no cost. He transgressed, likewise, his own sumptuary laws respecting expenditure in banquets, thinking to allay his grief by luxurious drinking par- ties and revellings with common buffoons. Some few months after, at a show of gladiators, when men and women sat promiscuously in the theatre, no dis- tinct places being as yet appointed, there sat down by Sylla a beautiful woman of high birth, by name Valeria, daughter of Messala, and sister to Hortensius the orator. Now it happened that she had been lately divorced from her husband. Passing along behind Sylla, she leaned on him with her hand, and plucking a bit of wool from his garment, so proceeded to her seat. And on Sylla looking up and wondering what it meant, " What harm, mighty Sir," said she, "if I also was desirous to partake a little in your felicity ? " It appeared at once that Sylla was not displeased, but even tickled in his fancy, for he sent out to inquire her name, her birth, and past life. From this time there passed between them many side glances, each continually turning round to look at the other, and fre- quently interchanging smiles. In the end, overtures were