Plutarch tells us how a quiet gentleman walking, as was his custom, in the Forum, one who took no part in politics, saw his own name one day on the list.

He had an Alban villa, and at once knew that his villa had been his ruin.

He had hardly read the list, and had made his exclamation, before he was slaughtered.

Such was the massacre of Sulla, coming with an interval of two or three years after those of Marius, between which was the blessed time in which Rome was without arms.

In the time of Marius, Cicero was too young, and of no sufficient importance, on account of his birth or parentage, to fear anything.