A comparison of the Gothes coruptions, with the calamities that the Romaines en∣dured either by the Galles, or by the authors of their ciuill warres. CHAP. 29.
VVHat barbarousnesse of other forraigne nations, what cruelty of strangers is comparable to this conquest of one of their Cittizens? What foe did Rome euer feele, more fatall, inhumane and outragious? Whether in the irrup∣tions first of the Galles, and since of the Gothes, or the invndations that Sylla, Marius, and other great Romaines made with the bloud of their owne citizens, more horrible, or more detestable? The Galles indeed killed the Senate, and spoi∣led all but the Capitol, that was defended against them. But they notwithstand∣ing sold the besieged their freedome for golde, where as they might haue ex∣torted it from them by famine, though not by force. But as for the Gothes, they spared so many of the Senate, that it was a maruell that they killed any. But (a) Sylla, when as Marius was yet aliue, sat on the very Capitol, (which the Galles entred not) to behold from thence, the slaughters which hee commanded to bee performed. And Marius, beeing but fled, to returne with more powre and fury, hee, keeping still in the Capitol, depriued numbers of their liues and states, co∣louring all this villany by the decrees of the Senate. And when he was gone, what did the Marian faction respect or spare, when they would not for-beare to kill old Seaeuola, a cittizen, a Senator, the chiefe Priest, embracing that very al∣ter, where on they say the fate of Rome it selfe was adored? And for that (b) last ta∣ble of Sylla's, (to omit the inumerable deathes besides) it cut the throates of more Senators, then the Gothes whole army could finde in their hearts but to offer, ransacke, or spoile.
L. VIVES.
BVt (a) Sylla] In his first victory against Marius, proclaming Sulpitius, the Marii, and di∣uers others his foes, enemies to the state by a decree of the Senate. (b) Last table] Plutarch saith, th•…•… as then in a little space, were diuers proscription tables hung vp.