unanimously approved of； and a decree passed that Pompey should be
made sole consul； with this clause； that if he thought it necessary to
have a colleague； he might choose whom he pleased； provided it were
not till after two months expired。
Thus was Pompey created and declared sole consul by Sulpicius；
regent in this vacancy； upon which he made very cordial
acknowledgments to Cato； professing himself much his debtor； and
requesting his good advice in conducting the government； to this
Cato replied； that Pompey had no reason to thank him； for all that
he had said was for the service of the commonwealth； not of Pompey；
but that he would be always ready to give his advice privately； if
he were asked for it； and if not； he should not fail to say what he
thought in public。 Such was Cato's conduct on all occasions。
On his return into the city Pompey married Cornelia； the daughter of
Metellus Scipio； not a maiden； but lately left a widow by Publius； the
son of Crassus； her first husband； who had been killed in Parthia。 The
young lady had other attractions besides those of youth and beauty；
for she was highly educated； played well upon the lute； and understood
geometry； and had been accustomed to listen with profit to lectures on
philosophy； all this； too； without in any degree becoming unamiable or
pretentious； as sometimes young women do when they pursue such
studies。 Nor could any fault be found either with her father's
family or reputation。 The disparity of their ages was； however； not
liked by everybody； Cornelia being in this respect a fitter match
for Pompey's son。 And wiser judges thought it rather a slight upon the
commonwealth when he； to whom alone they had committed their broken
fortunes； and from whom alone； as from their physician； they
expected a cure to these distractions； went about crowned with
garlands and celebrating his nuptial feasts； never considering that
his very consulship was a public calamity； which would never have been
given him； contrary to the rules of law； had his country been in a
flourishing state。 Afterwards； however； he took cognizance of the
cases of those that had obtained offices by gifts and bribery； and
enacted laws and ordinances； setting forth the rules of judgment by
which they should be arraigned； and regulating all things with gravity
and justice； he restored security； order； and silence to their
courts of judicature； himself giving his presence there with a band of
soldiers。 But when his father…in…law； Scipio； was accused； he sent for
the three hundred and sixty judges to his house； and entreated them to
be favourable to him； whereupon his accuser； seeing Scipio come into
the court； accompanied by the judges themselves； withdrew the
prosecution。 Upon this Pompey was very ill spoken of； and much worse
in the case of Plancus； for whereas he himself had made a law
putting a stop to the practice of making speeches in praise of persons
under trial； yet notwithstanding this prohibition； he came into
court and spoke openly in commendation of Plancus； insomuch that Cato；
who happened to be one of the judges at that time； stopping his ears
with his hands； told him he could not in conscience listen to
commendations contrary to law。 Cato upon this was refused； and set
aside from being a judge； before sentence was given； but Plancus was
condemned by the rest of the judges； to Pompey's dishonour。 Shortly
after； Hypsaeus； a man of consular dignity； who was under
accusation； waited for Pompey's return from his bath to his supper；
and falling down at his feet； implored his favour； but he disdainfully
passed him by； saying； that he did nothing else but spoil his
supper。 Such partiality was looked upon as a great fault in Pompey and
highly condemned； however； he managed all things else discreetly；
and having put the government in very good order； he chose his
father…in…law to be his colleague in the consulship for the last
five months。 His provinces were continued to him for the term of
four years longer； with a commission to take one thousand talents
yearly out of the treasury for the payment of his army。
This gave occasion to some of Caesar's friends to think it
reasonable； that some consideration should be had of him too； who
had done such signal services in war and fought so many battles for
the empire； alleging； that he deserved at least a second consulship；
or to have the government of his province continued； that so he
might command and enjoy in peace what he had obtained in war； and no
successor come in to reap the fruits of his labour and carry off the
glory of his actions。 There arising some debate about this matter；
Pompey took upon him； as it were out of kindness to Caesar； to plead
his cause； and allay any jealousy that was conceived against him；
telling them that he had letters from Caesar； expressing his desire
for a successor； and his own discharge from the command； but it
would be only right that they should give him leave to stand for the
consulship though in his absence。 But those of Cato's party
withstood this； saying； that if he expected any favour from the
citizens； he ought to leave his army and come in a private capacity to
canvass for it。 And Pompey's making no rejoinder； but letting it
pass as a matter in which he was overruled； increased the suspicion of
his real feelings towards Caesar。 Presently； also； under pretence of a
war with Parthia； he sent for his two legions which he had lent him。
However； Caesar； though he well knew why they were asked for； sent
them home very liberally rewarded。
About that time Pompey recovered of a dangerous fit of sickness
which seized him at Naples； where the whole city； upon the
suggestion of Praxagoras； made sacrifices of thanksgiving to the
gods for his recovery。 The neighbouring towns likewise happening to
follow their example； the thing then went its course throughout all
Italy； so that there was not a city； either great or small； that did
not feast and rejoice for many days together。 And the company of those
that came from all parts to meet him was so numerous that no place was
able to contain them； but the villages； seaport towns； and the very
highways were all full of people； feasting and sacrificing to the
gods。 Nay； many went to meet him with garlands on their heads； and
flambeaux in their hands； casting flowers and nosegays upon him as
he went along； so that this progress of his； and reception； was one of
the noblest and most glorious sights imaginable。 And yet it is thought
that this very thing was not one of the least causes and occasions
of the civil war。 For Pompey； yielding to a feeling of exultation；
which in the greatness of the present display of joy lost sight of
more solid grounds of consideration； and abandoning that prudent
temper which had guided him hitherto to a safe use of all his good
fortune and his successes； gave himself up to an extravagant
confidence in his own contempt of Caesar's power； insomuch that he
thought neither force of arms nor care necessary against him； but that
he could pull him down much easier than he had set him up。 Besides
this； Appius； under whose command those legions which Pompey lent to
Caesar were returned； coming lately out of Gaul； spoke slightingly
of Caesar's actions there； and spread scandalous reports about him； at
the same time telling Pompey that he was unacquainted with his own
strength and reputation if he made use of any other forces against
Caesar than Caesar's own； for such was the soldiers' hatred to Caesar；
and their love to Pompey so great； that they would all come over to
him upon his first appearance。 By these flatteries Pompey was so
puffed up； and led on into such a careless security； that he could not
choose but laugh at those who seemed to fear a war； and when some were
saying； that if Caesar should march against the city； they could not
see what forces there were to resist him； he replied with a smile；
bidding them be in no concern； 〃for；〃 said he； 〃whenever I stamp
with my foot in any part of Italy there will rise up forces enough
in an instant； both horse and foot。〃
Caesar； on the other side； was more and more vigorous in his
proceedings； himself always at hand about the frontiers of Italy；
and sending his soldiers continually into the city to attend all
elections with their votes。 Besides； he corrupted several of the
magistrates； and kept them in his pay； among others； Paulus； the
consul； who was brought over by a bribe of one thousand and five
hundred talents； and Curio； tribune of the people； by a discharge of
the debts with which he was overwhelmed； together with Mark Antony；
who； out of friendship to Curio； had become bound with him in the same
obligations for them all。 And it was stated as a fact； that a
centurion of Caesar's； waiting at the senate…house； and hearing that
the senate refused to give him a longer term of his government；
clapped his hand upon his sword； and said； 〃But this shall give it。〃
And indeed all his practices and preparations seemed to bear this
appearance。 Curio's demands； however； and requests in favour of
Caesar； were more popular in appearance； for he desired one of these
two things； either that Pompey also should be called upon to resign
his army； or that Caesar should not be taken away from him； for if
both of them became private persons； both would be satisfied with
simple justice； or if both retained their present power； each being
a match for the other； they would be contented with what they
already had； but he that weakens one； does at the same time strengthen
the other； and so doubles that very strength and power which he
stood in fear of before。
Marcellus； the consul； replied nothing to all this； but that
Caesar was a robber； and should be proclaimed an enemy to the state if
he did not disband his army。 However； Curio； with the assistance of
Antony and Piso； prevailed； that the matter in debate should be put to
the question； and decided by those to withdraw who were of opinion
that Caesar only should lay down his army； and Pompey command； the
majority withdrew。 But when it was ordered again for those to withdraw
whose vote was that both should lay down their arms； and neither
comm