L. Sulla, quem neque laudare neque vituperare quisquam satis digne potest, quia, dum quaerit victorias, Scipionem [se] populo Romano, dum exercet, Hannibalem repraesentavit'egregie namque auctoritate nobilitatis defensa crudeliter totam urbem atque omnes Italiae partes civilis sanguinis fluminibus inundavit'quattuor legiones contrariae partis fidem suam secutas in publica villa nequiquam fallacis dexterae misericordiam implorantes obtruncari iussit.
No one can either praise or blame L. Sulla as he deserved. In seeking his victories he presented a Scipio to the Roman people, in using them a Hannibal. For after laudably defending the authority of the nobility he cruelly swamped all Rome and every part of Italy with rivers of civil blood. He ordered four legions on the opposing side, which had taken his word, to be cut down in the Villa Publica on the Campus Martius as they vainly implored the mercy of his perfidious right hand.
final_alignments\Valerius_Memorable_Book9.json