Sulla

For instance, ten days before he died, he reconciled the opposing factions in Dicaearchia,[*](An earlier name for Puteoli.) and prescribed a code of laws for their conduct of the city’s government; and one day before he died, on learning that the magistrate there, Granius, refused to pay a debt he owed the public treasury, in expectation of his death, he summoned him to his room, stationed his servants about him, and ordered them to strangle him; but with the strain which he put upon his voice and body, he ruptured his abscess and lost a great quantity of blood.

In consequence of this his strength failed, and after a night of wretchedness, he died, leaving two young children by Metella.[*](Cf. chapter xxxiv. 3. ) For it was after his death that Valeria gave birth to a daughter, who was called Postuma, this being the name which the Romans give to children who are born after their father’s death.