chastise his crimes。 For if there had been a necessity； as perhaps
there was； that he should be taken off； that might have been done at
first； as soon as he was taken prisoner； for then it would have been
the act of him that commanded it。 But here Pompey commanded a man that
had been thrice consul of Rome to be brought in fetters to stand at
the bar； he himself sitting upon the bench in judgment； examining
the cause with the formalities of law； to the offence and
indignation of all that were present； and afterwards ordered him to be
taken away and put to death。 It is related； by the way； of Carbo； that
as soon as he was brought to the place； and saw the sword drawn for
execution； he was suddenly seized with a looseness or pain in his
bowels； and desired a little respite of the executioner； and a
convenient place to relieve himself。 And yet further； Caius Oppius；
the friend of Caesar； tells us； that Pompey dealt cruelly with Quintus
Valerius； a man of singular learning and science。 For when he was
brought to him； he walked aside； and drew him into conversation； and
after putting a variety of questions to him； and receiving answers
from him； he ordered his officers to take him away and put him to
death。 But we must not be too credulous in the case of narratives told
by Oppius； especially when he undertakes to relate anything touching
the friends or foes of Caesar。 This is certain； that there lay a
necessity upon Pompey to be severe upon many of Sylla's enemies； those
at least that were eminent persons in themselves； and notoriously
known to be taken； but for the rest； he acted with all the clemency
possible for him； conniving at the concealment of some； and himself
being the instrument in the escape of others。 So in the case of the
Himeraeans； for when Pompey had determined on severely punishing their
city； as they had been abettors of the enemy； Sthenis； the leader of
the people there； craving liberty of speech； told him that what he was
about to do was not at all consistent with justice； for that he
would pass by the guilty and destroy the innocent； and on Pompey
demanding who that guilty person was that would assume the offences of
them all； Sthenis replied it was himself； who had engaged his
friends by persuasion to what they had done； and his enemies by force；
whereupon Pompey； being much taken with the frank speech and noble
spirit of the man； first forgave his crime； and then pardoned all
the rest of the Himeraeans。 Hearing； likewise； that his soldiers
were very disorderly in their march； doing violence upon the roads； he
ordered their swords to be sealed up in their scabbards； and whosoever
kept them not so were severely punished。
Whilst Pompey was thus busy in the affairs and government of Sicily；
he received a decree of the senate； and a commission from Sylla；
commanding him forthwith to sail into Africa； and make war upon
Domitius with all his forces： for Domitius had rallied up a far
greater army than Marius had had not long since； when he sailed out of
Africa into Italy； and caused a revolution in Rome； and himself； of
a fugitive outlaw； became a tyrant。 Pompey； therefore； having prepared
everything with the utmost speed； left Memmius； his sister's
husband； governor of Sicily； and set sail with one hundred and
twenty galleys； and eight hundred other vessels laden with provisions；
money； ammunition； and engines of battery。 He arrived with his
fleet； part at the port of Utica； part at Carthage； and no sooner
was he landed； but seven thousand of the enemy revolted and came
over to him； while his own forces that he brought with him consisted
of six entire legions。 Here they tell us of a pleasant incident that
happened to him at his first arrival。
Some of his soldiers having by accident stumbled upon a treasure； by
which they got a good sum of money； the rest of the army hearing this；
began to fancy that the field was full of gold and silver； which had
been hid there of old by the Carthaginians in the time of their
calamities； and thereupon fell to work； so that the army was useless
to Pompey for many days； being totally engaged in digging for the
fancied treasure； he himself all the while walking up and down only；
and laughing to see so many thousands together； digging and turning up
the earth。 Until at last； growing weary and hopeless； they came to
themselves and returned to their general； begging him to lead them
where he pleased； for that they had already received the punishment of
their folly。
By this time Domitius had prepared himself and drawn out his army in
array against Pompey； but there was a watercourse betwixt them；
craggy； and difficult to pass over； and this； together with a great
storm of wind and rain pouring down even from break of day； seemed
to leave but little possibility of their coming together； so that
Domitius； not expecting any engagement that day； commanded his
forces to draw off and retire to the camp。 Now Pompey； who was
watchful upon every occasion； making use of the opportunity； ordered a
march forthwith； and having passed over the torrent； fell in
immediately upon their quarters。 The enemy was in great disorder and
tumult； and in that confusion attempted a resistance； but they neither
were all there； nor supported one another； besides； the wind having
veered about beat the rain full in their faces。 Neither indeed was the
storm less troublesome to the Romans； for that they could not
clearly discern one another； insomuch that even Pompey himself；
being unknown； escaped narrowly； for when one of his soldiers demanded
of him the word of battle； it happened that he was somewhat slow in
his answer； which might have cost him his life。
The enemy being routed with a great slaughter （for it is said that
of twenty thousand there escaped but three thousand）； the army saluted
Pompey by the name of Imperator； but he declined if； telling them that
he could not by any means accept of that title as long as he saw the
camp of the enemy standing； but if they designed to make him worthy of
the honour； they must first demolish that。 The soldiers on hearing
this went at once and made an assault upon the works and trenches； and
there Pompey fought without his helmet； in memory of his former
danger； and to avoid the like。 The camp was thus taken by storm； and
among the rest Domitius was slain。 After that overthrow； the cities of
the country thereabouts were all either secured by surrender； or taken
by storm。 King Iarbas； likewise； a confederate and auxiliary of
Domitius； was taken prisoner； and his kingdom was given to Hiempsal。
Pompey could not rest here； but being ambitious to follow the good
fortune and use the valour of his army； entered Numidia； and
marching forward many days' journey up into the country； he
conquered all where…ever he came。 And having revived the terror of the
Roman power； which was now almost obliterated among the barbarous
nations； he said likewise； that the wild beasts of Africa ought not to
be left without some experience of the courage and success of the
Romans； and therefore he bestowed some few days in hunting lions and
elephants。 And it is said that it was not above the space of forty
days at the utmost in which he gave a total overthrow to the enemy；
reduced Africa； and established the affairs of the kings and
kingdoms of all that country； being then in the twenty…fourth year
of his age。
When Pompey returned back to the city of Utica； there were presented
to him letters and orders from Sylla； commanding him to disband the
rest of his army； and himself with one legion only to wait there the
coming of another general； to succeed him in the government。 This；
inwardly； was extremely grievous to Pompey； though he made no show
of it。 But the army resented it openly； and when Pompey besought
them to depart and go home before him； they began to revile Sylla； and
declared broadly that they were resolved not to forsake him； neither
did they think it safe for him to trust the tyrant。 Pompey at first
endeavoured to appease and pacify them by fair speeches； but when he
saw that his persuasions were vain； he left the bench； and retired
to his tent with tears in his eyes。 But the soldiers followed him； and
seizing upon him； by force brought him again； and placed him in his
tribunal； where great part of that day was spent in dispute； they on
their part persuading him to stay and command them； he； on the other
side； pressing upon them obedience and the danger of mutiny。 At
last； when they grew yet more importunate and clamorous； he swore that
he would kill himself if they attempted to force him； and scarcely
even thus appeased them。 Nevertheless； the first tidings brought to
Sylla were that Pompey was up in rebellion； on which he remarked to
some of his friends； 〃I see； then； it is my destiny to contend with
children in my old age；〃 alluding at the same time to Marius； who；
being but a mere youth； had given him great trouble； and brought him
into extreme danger。 But being undeceived afterwards by better
intelligence； and finding the whole city prepared to meet Pompey；
and receive him with every display of kindness and honour； he resolved
to exceed them all。 And； therefore； going out foremost to meet him and
embracing him with great cordiality； he gave him his welcome aloud
in the title of Magnus； or the Great； and bade all that were present
call him by that name。 Others say that he had this title first given
him by a general acclamation of all the army in Africa； but that it
was fixed upon him by this ratification of Sylla。 It is certain that
he himself was the last that owned the title； for it was a long time
after； when he was sent proconsul into Spain against Sertorius； that
he began to write himself in his letters and commissions by the name
of Pompeius Magnus； common and familiar use having then worn off the
invidiousness of the title。 And one cannot but accord respect and
admiration to the ancient Romans； who did not reward the successes
of action and conduct in war alone with such honourable titles； but
adorned likewise the virtue and services of eminent men in civil
government with the same distinctions and marks of honour。 Two persons
received