[521] _Quos_ refers to the _equites_ implied in the word _equitatus_. This is a construction _ad sensum_, of which many examples occur in Sallust (compare _Cat._ 7), though the present case is rather unusual. [522] _Res_, 'the subject,' 'the present discussion,' or 'the context of the narrative.' [523] _Persecutus_; supply _Sullae naturam cultumque_. L. Sisenna, an early contemporary of Cicero, had written a history of the civil war between Marius and Sulla; he was himself a partisan of Sulla, and therefore not quite unbiassed in his judgment. [524] The patrician gens to which Sulla belonged was the gens Cornelia. The statement that the family of Sulla was almost extinct, in consequence of the inactivity of the ancestors of the great Sulla, applies to their loss of power and influence rather than to a physical decay of the family. [525] _Atque doctissime_, 'and that very profoundly;' the same as _et doctissime quidem_. [526] _Nisi quod_ adds a limitation or exception to something stated before. Here the preceding praise is qualified or limited by the remark, that in his matrimonial relation he might have behaved better; for he was married several times, and chose his wives at the spur of a momentary passion. _Potuit consuli_; supply _ab eo_; that is, _potuisset consulere_. [527] _Amicitia facilis_, 'pleasing and agreeable in his friendship or friendly intercourse.' [528] _Altitudo animi_, the unfathomableness of a man's character and designs--a character which shows nothing outwardly of what is going on within. Such a character has all the requisites to become hypocritical, _ad simulationem et dissimulationem_. [529] 'His good fortune was never greater than his activity;' that is, his activity was equal to his good fortune, and he therefore deserved all praise. But his doings after his victory in the civil war are utterly condemned by Sallust, who then assigns to him neither good-luck nor activity. 96. Igitur Sulla, uti supra dictum est, postquam in Africam atque in castra Marii cum equitatu venit, rudis antea et ignarus belli, sollertissimus omnium in paucis tempestatibus[530] factus est. Ad hoc milites benigne appellare, multis rogantibus, aliis per se ipse dare beneficia, invitus accipere, sed ea properantius quam aes mutuum reddere, ipse ab nullo repetere, magis id laborare,[531] ut illi quam plurimi deberent, joca atque seria cum humillimis agere, in operibus, in agmine atque ad vigilias multus adesse,[532] neque interim, quod prava ambitio solet, consulis aut cujusquam boni famam laedere, tantummodo neque consilio neque manu priorem alium pati, plerosque antevenire. Quis rebus et artibus brevi Mario militibusque carissimus factus.