in which he slew above ten thousand men。
Pompey； being elated and filled with confidence by this victory；
made all haste to engage Sertorius himself； and the rather lest
Metellus should come in for a share in the honour of the victory。 Late
in the day towards sunset they joined battle near the river Sucro；
both being in fear lest Metellus should come： Pompey； that he might
engage alone； Sertorius； that he might have one alone to engage
with。 The issue of the battle proved doubtful； for a wing of each side
had the better； but of the generals Sertorius had the greater
honour； for that he maintained his post； having put to flight the
entire division that was opposed to him； whereas Pompey was himself
almost made a prisoner； for being set upon by a strong man…at…arms
that fought on foot （he being on horseback）； as they were closely
engaged hand to hand the strokes of their swords chanced to light upon
their hands； but with a different success； for Pompey's was a slight
wound only； whereas he cut off the other's hand。 However； it
happened so； that many now falling upon Pompey together； and his own
forces there being put to the rout； he made his escape beyond
expectation； by quitting his horse； and turning him out among the
enemy。 For the horse being richly adorned with golden trappings； and
having a caparison of great value； the soldiers quarrelled among
themselves for the booty； so that while they were fighting with one
another； and dividing the spoil； Pompey made his escape。 By break of
day the next morning each drew out his forces into the field to
claim the victory； but Metellus coming up； Sertorius vanished；
having broken up and dispersed his army。 For this was the way in which
he used to raise and disband his armies； so that sometimes he would be
wandering up and down all alone； and at other times again he would
come pouring into the field at the head of no less than one hundred
and fifty thousand fighting men； swelling of a sudden like a winter
torrent。
When Pompey was going； after the battle； to meet and welcome
Metellus； and when they were near one another； he commanded his
attendants to lower their rods in honour of Metellus； as his senior
and superior。 But Metellus on the other side forbade it； and behaved
himself in general very obligingly to him； not claiming any
prerogative either in respect of his consular rank or seniority；
excepting only that when they encamped together； the watchword was
given to the whole camp by Metellus。 But generally they had their
camps asunder； being divided and distracted by the enemy； who took all
shapes； and being always in motion； would by some skilful artifice
appear in a variety of places almost in the same instant； drawing them
from one attack to another； and at last keeping them from foraging；
wasting the country； and holding the dominion of the sea； Sertorius
drove them both out of that part of Spain which was under his control；
and forced them； for want of necessaries； to retreat into provinces
that did not belong to them。
Pompey； having made use of and expended the greatest part of his own
private revenues upon the war； sent and demanded moneys of the senate；
adding that； in case they did not furnish him speedily； he should be
forced to return into Italy with his army。 Lucullus being consul at
that time； though at variance with Pompey； yet in consideration that
he himself was a candidate for the command against Mithridates；
procured and hastened these supplies； fearing lest there should be any
pretence or occasion given to Pompey of returning home； who of himself
was no less desirous of leaving Sertorius and of undertaking the war
against Mithridates； as an enterprise which by all appearance would
prove much more honourable and not so dangerous。 In the meantime
Sertorius died； being treacherously murdered by some of his own party；
and Perpenna； the chief among them； took the command and attempted
to carry on the same enterprises with Sertorius； having indeed the
same forces and the same means； only wanting the same skill and
conduct in the use of them。 Pompey therefore marched directly
against Perpenna； and finding him acting merely at random in his
affairs； had a decoy ready for him； and sent out a detachment of ten
cohorts into the level country with orders to range up and down and
disperse themselves abroad。 The bait took accordingly； and no sooner
had Perpenna turned upon the prey and had them in chase； but Pompey
appeared suddenly with all his army； and joining battle； gave him a
total overthrow。 Most of his officers were slain in the field； and
he himself being brought prisoner to Pompey； was by his order put to
death。 Neither was Pompey guilty in this of ingratitude or
unmindfulness of what had occurred in Sicily； which some have laid
to his charge； but was guided by a high…minded policy and a deliberate
counsel for the security of his country。 For Perpenna； having in his
custody all Sertorius's papers； offered to produce several letters
from the greatest men in Rome； who； desirous of a change and
subversion of the government； had invited Sertorius into Italy。 And
Pompey； fearing that these might be the occasion of worse wars than
those which were now ended； thought it advisable to put Perpenna to
death； and burnt the letters without reading them。
Pompey continued in Spain after this so long a time as was necessary
for the suppression of all the greatest disorders in the province； and
after moderating and allaying the more violent heats of affairs there；
returned with his army into Italy； where he arrived； as chance would
have it； in the height of the servile war。 Accordingly； upon his
arrival； Crassus； the commander in that war； at some hazard；
precipitated a battle； in which he had great success； and slew upon
the place twelve thousand three hundred of the insurgents。 Nor yet was
he so quick； but that fortune reserved to Pompey some share of
honour in the success of this war； for five thousand of those that had
escaped out of the battle fell into his hands； and when he had totally
cut them off； he wrote to the senate； that Crassus had overthrown
the slaves in battle； but that he had plucked up the whole war by
the roots。 And it was agreeable in Rome both thus to say； and thus
to hear said； because of the general favour of Pompey。 But of the
Spanish war and the conquest of Sertorius； no one； even in jest； could
have ascribed the honour to any one else。 Nevertheless； all this
high respect for him； and this desire to see him come home； were not
unmixed with apprehensions and suspicions that he might perhaps not
disband his army； but take his way by force of arms and a supreme
command to the seat of Sylla。 And so in the number of all those that
ran out to meet him and congratulate his return； as many went out of
fear as affection。 But after Pompey had removed this alarm； by
declaring beforehand that he would discharge the army after his
triumph； those that envied him could now only complain that he
affected popularity； courting the common people more than the
nobility； and that whereas Sylla had abolished the tribuneship of
the people； he designed to gratify the people by restoring that
office； which was indeed the fact。 For there was not any one thing
that the people of Rome were more wildly eager for； or more
passionately desired； than the restoration of that office； insomuch
that Pompey thought himself extremely fortunate in this opportunity；
despairing （if he were anticipated by some one else in this） of ever
meeting with any other sufficient means of expressing his gratitude
for the favours which he had received from the people。
Though a second triumph was decreed him； and he was declared consul；
yet all these honours did not seem so great an evidence of his power
and glory as the ascendant which he had over Crassus； for he； the
wealthiest among all the statesmen of his time； and the most
eloquent and greatest too； who had looked down on Pompey himself and
on all others beneath him； durst not appear a candidate for the
consulship before he had applied to Pompey。 The request was made
accordingly； and was eagerly embraced by Pompey； who had long sought
an occasion to oblige him in some friendly office； so that he
solicited for Crassus； and entreated the people heartily； declaring
that their favour would be no less to him in choosing Crassus his
colleague； than in making himself consul。 Yet for all this； when
they were created consuls； they were always at variance； and
opposing one another。 Crassus prevailed most in the senate； and
Pompey's power was no less with the people； he having restored to them
the office of tribune； and having allowed the courts of judicature
to be transferred back to the knights by a new law。 He himself in
person； too； afforded them a most grateful spectacle； when he appeared
and craved his discharge from the military service。 For it is an
ancient custom among the Romans that the knights； when they had served
out their legal time in the wars； should lead their horses into the
market…place before the two officers； called censors； and having given
an account of the commanders and generals under whom they served； as
also of the places and actions of their service； should be discharged；
every man with honour or disgrace； according to his deserts。 There
were then sitting in state upon the bench two censors； Gellius and
Lentulus； inspecting the knights； who were passing by in muster before
them； when Pompey was seen coming down into the forum； with all the
ensigns of a consul； but leading his horse in his hand。 When he came
up； he bade his lictors make way for him； and so he led his horse to
the bench； the people being all this while in a sort of amaze； and all
in silence； and the censors themselves regarding the sight with a
mixture of respect and gratification。 Then the senior censor
examined him： 〃Pompeius Magnus； I demand of you whether you have
served the full time in the wars that is prescribed by the law？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Pompey； with a loud voice； 〃I have served all； and
all under myself as general。〃 The people hearing this gave a great
shout； and made such an outcry for delight； that there was no
appe