(a) ita sibi ab his et a L. Cassio { ut equitatum mitterent; pedestres
esse praescriptum { sibi copias non defuturas.
(b) Lentulum autem sibi confirmasse { se esse illum ... Sullam
ex fatis, etc. { fuisse.
(c) eundemque dixisse { fatalem hunc esse ...
{ vicesimus.
The reflexive pronoun refers in each case to the subject of the verb upon which the subordinate sentence immediately depends.
pedestres sibi, etc. This is part of what Cassius and the others said, depending upon some verb of 'saying' to be understood from 'praescriptum'; 'they said that these men and L. Cassius had requested them to send cavalry into Italy as soon as possible, (adding that) they should have no lack of infantry.'
fatis Sibyllinis, the original 'libri Sibyllini' (containing prophecies in Greek) were said to have been brought by the Sibyl of Cumae to Tarquinius Superbus; they were kept in the Capitol and consulted in times of difficulty. In 83 b.c. they were burnt and a fresh collection of Sibylline prophecies was made, which was sifted by order of Augustus and Tiberius. See Tac. Ann. 6. 12.
tertium Cornelium, his full name was Cornelius Lentulus Sura. On Cinna and Sulla see [note on 3. 24].
virginum, sc. 'Vestalium.' Nothing is known of the event alluded to, but the trial of a Vestal Virgin was always regarded as an event of great significance.
Capitolii incensionem. The Capitol and adjacent buildings had been burnt down b.c. 83.
Saturnalibus, the festival of Saturn at the end of December. It was a general holiday, when special license was allowed to slaves; hence a good opportunity for a rising.
Primo ostendimus, etc. Letters were generally written with a stylus on wax tablets; these were then put together face inwards and tied with string, which was secured by the seal of the sender. When, as often, they were written by slaves from dictation, the seal was the only means of recognising the authorship, as they were not generally signed.