his
prosperity; he says also that his son, who had died a short time
before Metella, appeared to him in a dream, in a mean dress, and
standing by him, entreated his father to rest from his troubles and to
go with him to join his mother Metella, and live with her in ease and
quiet. Yet he did not give up attending to public matters. Ten days
before his death he restored tranquillity among the people of
Dicaearchia,[302] who were in a state of civil commotion, and he drew
up for them a constitution; and only one day before his death, hearing
that the chief magistrate Granius was a public defaulter and refused
to pay the debt, waiting for Sulla's death, Sulla sent for the man to
his chamber, and surrounding him with his slaves ordered him to be
strangled; but with his shouting and efforts he burst an imposthume
and vomited a quantity of blood. Upon this his strength failed him and
he got through the night with difficulty. He left two infant children
by Metella; Valeria, after his death, brought forth a daughter, whom
they called Postuma,[303] for this is the name that the Romans give to
children who are born after their father's death.

XXXVIII. Now many flocked to Lepidus and combined with him to prevent
the body of Sulla from receiving the usual interment. But Pompeius,
though he had ground of complaint against Sulla, for he was the only
friend whom Sulla had passed over in his will,[304] turning some from
their purpose by his influence and entreaties, and others by threats,
had the body conveyed to Rome, and secured it a safe and honourable
interment. It is said that the women contributed so great a quantity
of aromatics for Sulla's funeral,[305] that without including what was
conveyed in two hundred and ten litters, there was enough to make a
large figure of Sulla, and also to make a lictor out of costly
frankincense and cinnamon. The day was cloudy in the morning, and as
rain was expected they did not bring the body out till the ninth hour.
However, a strong wind came down on the funeral pile and raised a
great flame, and they had just time to collect the ashes as the pile
was sinking and the fire going out, when a heavy rain poured down and
lasted till night; so Sulla's good fortune seemed to follow him to his
funeral, and to stay with him to the last. His monument is in the
Campus Martius. The inscription, which they say he wrote and left
behind him, says in substance, that none of his friends ever did him a
kindn