Jacob Abbott

History of Julius Caesar Jacob Abbott

There had been two such rivals just before the time of Caesar, who had filled the world with theirquarrels. They were Marius and Sylla. Their very names have been, in all ages of the world, since theirday, the symbols of rivalry and hate. They were the representatives respectively of the two great partiesinto which the Roman state, like every other community in which the population at large have any voicein governing, always has been, and probably always will be divided, the upper and the lower; or, as theywere called in those days, the patrician and the plebeian. Sylla was the patrician; the higher and morearistocratic portions of the community were on his side. Marius was the favorite of the plebeian masses. In the contests, however, which they waged with each other, they did not trust to the mere influence ofvotes. They relied much more upon the soldiers they could gather under their respective standards andupon their power of intimidating, by means of them, the Roman assemblies. There was a war to bewaged with Mithridates, a very powerful Asiatic monarch, which promised great opportunities foracquiring fame and plunder. Sylla was appointed to the command. While he was absent, however, uponsome campaign in Italy, Marius contrived to have the decision reversed, and the command transferred tohim Two officers, called tribunes, were sent to Sylla's camp to inform him of the change.