[72.1] See next selection.
[72.2] Mithridates the Great waged war thrice with the Romans, 88-84 B.C., 83-81, and 74-66, till finally defeated by Pompey the Great. At the time referred to in the text he had overrun Asia Minor and had entered Greece.
[72.3] lēgem . . . tulit: ‘proposed a law before the people,’ i.e. submitted a proposed law to their votes. The proposal was carried. In the civil strife that followed, Sulla led the aristocratic, Marius and Cinna the popular party.
[72.4] dēlitēscō.
[72.5] oblinō.
[72.6] servus pūblicus: i.e. a slave owned by the state. Cf. the phrase ager pūblicus, [p. 64, n. 9].
[72.7] Carthage had been destroyed by the Romans in 149 B.C.
[72.8] quem . . . laesisset (laedō): a causal rel. clause = ‘since he had,’ etc.: H 592 (517): M 839: A 320, e: G 633: B 283, 3.
[72.9] tamen looks back to quī . . . obtinēbat, [l. 102]. The thought is that Marius hoped for some kindly consideration (hūmānitātis aliquod officium) from Sextilius, though his official position would naturally constrain him to be hostile to an outlaw.
[73.1] L. Cornelius Cinna, leader with Marius of the popular party and enemy of Sulla. He was consul 86-84, but was killed by his own troops when he ordered them to cross to Greece to fight Sulla, who was preparing to return home at the close of the first Mithridatic War.