l
fighting bravely on the right wing; and the bowmen being hard pressed
by the Romans and having no means of retreat, took their arrows
altogether in their hands, and using them like swords, struck at the
Romans, but, at last they were driven back to their camp, where they
spent a wretched night owing to their wounds and great losses. As soon
as day dawned Sulla again led his soldiers up to the enemy's
encampment and again commenced working at the ditches. The enemy came
out in a great force, but Sulla put them to flight, and as no one
stood his ground after they were thrown into disorder, Sulla stormed
the camp. The swamps and the lake were filled with the blood and
bodies of those who fell, and even to the present day many barbarian
bows, helmets, and pieces of iron cuirasses and swords are found
buried in the marshes, though it is near two hundred[250] years since
the battle. Such, according to the historians, was the battle about
Chaeroneia and near Orchomenus.

XXII. Cinna and Carbo[251] were now conducting themselves towards the
chief men at Rome in an illegal and violent manner, and many flying
from their tyranny resorted to the camp of Sulla as a harbour of
refuge, so that in a short time a kind of Senate was formed about him.
Metella also, who had with difficulty escaped with her children, came
and reported that his house and farms were burnt by his enemies, and
she entreated him to go to the assistance of his friends at Rome.
Sulla was perplexed what to do: he could not endure the thoughts of
neglecting his country in her present oppressed condition, nor did he
see how he could leave so great an undertaking as the Mithridatic war
imperfect. In the meantime there came to him a merchant of Delos,[252]
named Archelaus, who secretly brought from Archelaus, the king's
general, hopes of peace and certain proposals. Sulla was so well
pleased that he was eager for an interview with Archelaus, and they
met at Delium on the sea-coast, where the temple of Apollo is.
Archelaus, who began the conference, urged Sulla to give up Asia and
the Pontus, and to sail to Rome to prosecute the war against his
enemies, and he offered him money, ships, and troops on behalf of the
king. Sulla in reply advised Archelaus not to trouble himself any
further about Mithridates, but to assume the kingly title himself and
to become an ally of Rome, and to give up the ships of Mithridates. As
Archelaus professed his detestation of such treache