se Pompeius, who was earnest in his
support and canvassed for him. Sulla seeing Pompeius going home well
pleased with his victory, called him to him and said: "What a fine
piece of policy is this of yours, young man, for Lepidus to be
proclaimed consul before Catulus, the most violent in preference to
the most honourable of men! It is, however, time for you not to be
asleep, as you have strengthened your rival against yourself." Sulla
said this in a kind of prophetic tone, for Lepidus soon broke out in
great excesses, and was at war with Pompeius.

XXXV. Sulla made an offering of the tenth part of his substance to
Hercules, and feasted the people magnificently: so much greater indeed
was the preparation than what was required, that a great quantity of
provisions was daily thrown into the river, and wine was drunk forty
years old, and even older. In the midst of the entertainment, which
lasted several days, Metella died. As the priests would not allow
Sulla to go to her, or his house to be polluted by a dead body, Sulla
sent Metella a writing of divorce, and ordered her, while still alive,
to be removed from his house to another. So far he observed the custom
strictly through superstition; but the law which limited the cost of
funerals, though he had proposed it himself, he violated by sparing no
expense. He also violated his own laws for diminishing the cost of
entertainments, endeavouring to forget his grief in extravagant
drinking and feasting, and in the company of buffoons. A few months
after his wife's death there was a show of gladiators. As there was
yet no distinction of places,[296] but men and women sat promiscuously
in the theatre, it chanced that a woman seated herself near Sulla who
was very handsome and of good family; she was a daughter of Messala,
and sister of the orator Hortensius: her name was Valeria,[297] and
she had lately separated from her husband. This woman, going behind
Sulla, placed her hand upon him, and pulling a thread out of his
dress, returned to her place. As Sulla looked on her with some
surprise, she said, No mischief, Imperator;[298] I also wish to have a
bit of your good fortune. Sulla was not displeased at her words, and
it was soon plain that he had conceived a passion for the woman; for
he privately sent to ask her name, and made himself acquainted with
her family and her mode of life. After this there were interchanges of
glances, and frequent side-looks, and giving and returnin