perceiving that he was still surrounded by many hostile
camps and large forces, treacherously invited Scipio[272] one of the
consuls, to come to terms. Scipio accepted the proposal, which was
followed by many meetings and conferences, but Sulla continually threw
impediments and pretexts in the way of a final agreement, and in the
mean time he corrupted Scipio's soldiers by means of his own men, who
were as practised in all kinds of deceit and fraud as their commander.
Going within the intrenchments of Scipio and mingling with his
soldiers, they gained over some by giving them, money, others by
promises, and the rest by flattery and persuasion. At last Sulla with
twenty cohorts approached the camp of Scipio, and his soldiers saluted
those of Scipio, who returned the salute and came over to them.
Scipio, thus deserted, was taken prisoner in his tent, but set at
liberty; and Sulla with the twenty cohorts, like so many tame birds,
having entrapped forty of the enemy, led them all back to his camp. On
this occasion, it is said, Carbo observed that he had to contend in
Sulla both with a lion and a fox, but the fox gave him most trouble.
After this, in the neighbourhood of Signia,[273] Marius at the head of
eighty-four cohorts challenged Sulla to battle; and Sulla was very
ready for the contest on that day, for he happened to have had a
vision in his sleep of this sort:--He dreamed that the elder Marius,
who had long been dead, was advising his son to beware of the
following day, as it would bring him heavy misfortune. This was the
reason that Sulla was eager to fight, and he sent for Dolabella,[274]
who was encamped at some distance. But as the enemy occupied the roads
and cut off the communications, the soldiers of Sulla were wearied
with fighting and working at the roads at the same time; and it
happened that much rain also fell, and added to the fatigue of their
labour. Upon this, the centurions coming up to Sulla, begged him to
defer the battle, and pointed out to him that the soldiers were
exhausted by fatigue and were lying on the ground with their shields
under them. Sulla consented unwillingly, and gave orders for the army
to halt there; but while they were beginning to throw up their rampart
and dig their trenches, Marius advanced against them confidently at
the head of his troops, expecting to disperse them in their state of
disorder and confusion. Now the daemon made good the words that Sulla
heard in his dream; fo