Darkness fell, and the battle was still undecided. But during the night messengers from Crassus stole into Sulla’s camp for provisions, and the general heard that the enemy had been driven to Antemnæ, three miles away, and that Pontius, the Samnite leader, had been slain. He at once resolved to join Crassus. In the morning the Samnites were surprised to find a large army ready to attack them. But their leader was dead, so they were afraid to fight, and three thousand offered to submit to Sulla. The general promised these their lives on one condition--that they should attack their own comrades. This the Samnites actually agreed to do, and a large number were killed in the unnatural struggle. Six thousand who survived were taken to Rome, and by Sulla’s orders cut to pieces. The cruelty of the Roman commander seemed to increase the nearer he drew to Rome. CHAPTER XCIX THE PROSCRIPTIONS OF SULLA After his victory over the Samnites, Sulla met the Senate in the temple of Bellona, without the walls of the city. Ominous thoughts stole into the minds of the senators and distracted them, as the general’s speech was suddenly interrupted by terrible shrieks as of those in agony. Sulla alone remained undisturbed. But seeing that the senators were not listening to his speech, he sternly bade them ‘not to busy themselves with what was doing out of doors.’ The cries were those of the six thousand Samnite prisoners, who were being ruthlessly slain by Sulla’s orders. At this time, too, young Marius, who had fought against Sulla, killed himself rather than fall into the hands of his father’s enemy. His head was brought to Sulla at Rome. ‘One should be rower before one takes the helm,’ said the tyrant, looking with unconcern at the hideous trophy. For he was angry that young Marius had been chosen Consul when he was only twenty-seven years of age. The forebodings of many were now justified, for Rome became as a city of the dead. Sulla had determined to kill all who had been his enemies while he was absent in Greece. Day after day the cruel slaughter went on. Forty senators and sixteen hundred of the citizens were condemned, and to add to the consternation among those who had escaped, there were others yet to be punished. Sulla said that he could not remember their names. The suspense in the city was terrible. One senator, bolder than the others, said to Sulla: ‘We do not ask you to pardon any whom you have resolved to destroy, but to free from doubt those whom you are pleased to spare.’ ‘I know not as yet whom I will spare,’ grimly answered the general. ‘Why, then,’ persisted the senator, ‘tell us whom you will punish.’ Sulla promised to do this, and henceforth lists of those who were doomed were hung up in the Forum. These lists were called the ‘Proscriptions of Sulla.’