adorned likewise the virtue and services of eminent men in civil
government with the same distinctions and marks of honour。 Two persons
received from the people the name of Maximus； or the Greatest；
Valerius for reconciling the senate and people； and Fabius Rullus；
because he put out of the senate certain sons of freed slaves who
had been admitted into it because of their wealth。
Pompey now desired the honour of a triumph； which Sylla opposed；
alleging that the law allowed that honour to none but consuls and
praetors； and therefore Scipio the elder； who subdued the
Carthaginians in Spain in far greater and nobler conflicts； never
petitioned for a triumph； because he had never been consul or praetor；
and if Pompey； who had scarcely yet fully grown a beard； and was not
of age to be a senator； should enter the city in triumph； what a
weight of envy would it bring； he said； at once upon his government
and Pompey's honour。 This was his language to Pompey； intimating
that he could not by any means yield to his request； but if he would
persist in his ambition； that he was resolved to interpose his power
to humble him。 Pompey； however； was not daunted； but bade Sylla
recollect that more worshipped the rising than the setting sun； as
if to tell him that his power was increasing and Sylla's in the
wane。 Sylla did not perfectly hear the words； but observing a sort
of amazement and wonder in the looks and gestures of those that did
hear them； he asked what it was that he said。 When it was told him； he
seemed astounded at Pompey's boldness； and cried out twice together；
〃Let him triumph；〃 and when others began to show their
disapprobation and offence at it； Pompey； it is said； to gall and
vex them the more； designed to have his triumphant chariot drawn
with four elephants （having brought over several which belonged to the
African kings）； but the gates of the city being too narrow； he was
forced to desist from that project； and be content with horses。 And
when his soldiers； who had not received as large rewards as they had
expected； began to clamour； and interrupt the triumph； Pompey regarded
these as little as the rest； and plainly told them that he had
rather lose the honour of his triumph than flatter them。 Upon which
Servilius； a man of great distinction； and at first one of the chief
opposers of Pompey's triumph； said； he now perceived that Pompey was
truly great and worthy of a triumph。 It is clear that he might
easily have been a senator； also； if he had wished； but he did not sue
for that； being ambitious； it seems； only of unusual honours。 For what
wonder had it been for Pompey to sit in the senate before his time？
But to triumph before he was in the senate was really an excess of
glory。
And； moreover； it did not a little ingratiate him with the people；
who were much pleased to see him after his triumph take his place
again among the Roman knights。 On the other side； it was no less
distasteful to Sylla to see how fast he came on； and to what a
height of glory and power he was advancing； yet being ashamed to
hinder him； he kept quiet。 But when； against his direct wishes； Pompey
got Lepidus made consul； having openly joined in the canvass and； by
the good…will the people felt for himself； conciliated their favour
for Lepidus； Sylla could forbear no longer； but when he saw him coming
away from the election through the forum with a great train after him；
cried out to him； 〃Well； young man； I see you rejoice in your victory。
And； indeed； is it not a most generous and worthy act； that the
consulship should be given to Lepidus； the vilest of men； in
preference to Catulus； the best and most deserving in the city； and
all by your influence with the people？ It will be well； however； for
you to be wakeful and look to your interests； as you have been
making your enemy stronger than yourself。〃 But that which gave the
clearest demonstration of Sylla's ill…will to Pompey was his last will
and testament； for whereas he bequeathed several legacies to all the
rest of his friends； and appointed some of them guardians to his
son； he passed by Pompey without the least remembrance。 However；
Pompey bore this with great moderation and temper； and when Lepidus
and others were disposed to obstruct his interment in the Campus
Martius； and to prevent any public funeral taking place； came
forward in support of it； and saw his obsequies performed with all
honour and security。
Shortly after the death of Sylla； his prophetic words were
fulfilled； and Lepidus proposing to be the successor to all his
power and authority； without any ambiguities or pretences； immediately
appeared in arms； rousing once more and gathering about him all the
long dangerous remains of the old factions； which had escaped the hand
of Sylla。 Catulus； his colleague； who was followed by the sounder part
of the senate and people； was a man of the greatest esteem among the
Romans for wisdom and justice； but his talent lay in the government of
the city rather than the camp； whereas the exigency required the skill
of Pompey。 Pompey； therefore； was not long in suspense which way to
dispose of himself； but joining with the nobility； was presently
appointed general of the army against Lepidus； who had already
raised up war in great part of Italy； and held Cisalpine Gaul in
subjection with an army under Brutus。 As for the rest of his
garrisons； Pompey subdued them with ease in his march； but Mutina in
Gaul resisted in a formal siege； and he lay here a long time
encamped against Brutus。 In the meantime Lepidus marched in all
haste against Rome； and sitting down before it with a crowd of
followers； to the terror of those within； demanded a second
consulship。 But that fear quickly vanished upon letters sent from
Pompey； announcing that he had ended the war without a battle； for
Brutus； either betraying his army； or being betrayed by their
revolt； surrendered himself to Pompey； and receiving a guard of horse；
was conducted to a little town upon the river Po； where he was slain
the next day by Geminius； in execution of Pompey's commands。 And for
this Pompey was much censured； for； having at the beginning of the
revolt written to the senate that Brutus had voluntarily surrendered
himself； immediately afterward he sent other letters； with matter of
accusation against the man after he was taken off。 Brutus； who； with
Cassius； slew Caesar； was son to this Brutus； neither in war nor in
his death like his father； as appears at large in his life。 Lepidus；
upon this being driven out of Italy； fled to Sardinia； where he fell
sick and died of sorrow； not for his public misfortunes； as they
say； but upon the discovery of a letter proving his wife to have
been unfaithful to him。
There yet remained Sertorius； a very different general from Lepidus；
in possession of Spain； and making himself formidable to Rome； the
final disease； as it were； in which the scattered evils of the civil
wars had now collected。 He had already cut off various inferior
commanders； and was at this time coping with Metellus Pius； a man of
repute and a good soldier； though perhaps he might now seem too
slow； by reason of his age； to second and improve the happier
moments of war； and might be sometimes wanting to those advantages
which Sertorius； by his quickness and dexterity； would wrest out of
his hands。 For Sertorius was always hovering about； and coming upon
him unawares； like a captain of thieves rather than soldiers；
disturbing him perpetually with ambuscades and light skirmishes；
whereas Metellus was accustomed to regular conduct； and fighting in
battle array with full…armed soldiers。 Pompey； therefore； keeping
his army in readiness； made it his object to be sent in aid to
Metellus； neither would he be induced to disband his forces；
notwithstanding that Catulus called upon him to do so； but by some
colourable device or other he still kept them in arms about the
city； until the senate at last thought fit； upon the report of
Lucius Philippus； to decree him that government。 At that time； they
say； one of the senators there expressing his wonder and demanding
of Philippus whether his meaning was that Pompey should be sent into
Spain as proconsul； 〃No；〃 replied Philippus； 〃but as proconsuls；〃 as
if both consuls for that year were in his opinion wholly useless。
When Pompey was arrived in Spain； as is usual upon the fame of a new
leader； men began to be inspired with new hopes； and those nations
that had not entered into a very strict alliance with Sertorius
began to waver and revolt； whereupon Sertorius uttered various
arrogant and scornful speeches against Pompey； saying； in derision；
that he should want no other weapon but a ferula and rod to chastise
this boy with； if he were not afraid of that old woman； meaning
Metellus。 Yet in deed and reality he stood in awe of Pompey； and
kept on his guard against him； as appeared by his whole management
of the war； which he was observed to conduct much more warily than
before： for Metellus； which one would not have imagined； was grown
excessively luxurious in his habits； having given himself over to
self…indulgence and pleasure； and from a moderate and temperate became
suddenly a sumptuous and ostentatious liver； so that this very thing
gained Pompey great reputation and good…will； as he made himself
somewhat specially an example of frugality； although that virtue was
habitual in him； and required no great industry to exercise it； as
he was naturally inclined to temperance； and no ways inordinate in his
desires。 The fortune of the war was very various； nothing； however；
annoyed Pompey so much as the taking of the town of Lauron by
Sertorius。 For when Pompey thought he had him safe enclosed； and had
boasted somewhat largely of raising the siege； he found himself all of
a sudden encompassed； insomuch that he durst not move out of his camp；
but was forced to sit still whilst the city was taken and burnt before
his face。 However； afterwards； in a battle near Valentia； he gave a
great defeat to Herennius and Perpenna； two commanders among the
refugees who had fled to Sertorius； and now lieutenants under him；
in which he slew above ten thousand men。
Pompey； bei