But the evil spread, and as the authorities in charge of the people did nothing to punish the criminals, these men became very daring; for crime, when encouraged to manifest itself openly, always increases enormously, seeing that even when punished it cannot be entirely suppressed.

Indeed, most men are naturally inclined to evil-doing.

Such was the behaviour of the Blues.
As for the opposite faction, some of them joined the bands of their opponents, hoping thus to be able to avenge themselves upon the party which had ill-used them; some fled secretly to other lands, while many were caught on the spot and killed by their adversaries, or by order of the government.

A number of young men also joined this party without having previously taken any interest in such matters, being attracted by the power and the licence which it gave them to do evil.
Indeed, there was no sort of villany known amongst men which was not committed at this time unpunished.
In the beginning men put away their own opponents, but, as time went on, they murdered men who had done them no hurt.

Many bribed the Blues to kill their personal enemies, whom they straightway slew, and declared that they were Greens, though they might never have seen them before.