At this time, Chrysogonus, Sylla's emancipated slave, having laid
an information about an estate belonging to one who was said to
have been put to death by proscription, had bought it himself for
two thousand drachmas. And when Roscius, the son and heir of the
dead, complained, and demonstrated the estate to be worth two
hundred and fifty talents, Sylla took it angrily to have his
actions questioned, and preferred a process against Roscius for
the murder of his father, Chrysogonus managing the evidence. None
of the advocates durst assist him, but fearing the cruelty of
Sylla, avoided the cause. The young man, being thus deserted, came
for refuge to Cicero. Cicero's friends encouraged him, saying he
was not likely ever to have a fairer and more honorable
introduction to public life; he therefore undertook the defence,
carried the cause, and got much renown for it.
But fearing Sylla, he traveled into Greece, and gave it out that
he did so for the benefit of his health. And indeed he was lean
and meagre, and had such a weakness in his stomach that he could
take nothing but a spare and thin diet, and that not till late in
the evening. His voice was loud and good, but so harsh and ill-
managed that in vehemence and heat of speaking he always raised it
to so high a tone, that there seemed to be reason to fear for his
health.
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