all under myself as general。〃 The people hearing this gave a great
shout； and made such an outcry for delight； that there was no
appeasing it； and the censors rising from their judgment seat
accompanied him home to gratify the multitude who followed after；
clapping their hands and shouting。
Pompey's consulship was now expiring； and yet his difference with
Crassus increasing； when one Caius Aurelius； a knight； a man who had
declined public business all his lifetime； mounted the hustings； and
addressed himself in an oration to the assembly； declaring that
Jupiter had appeared to him in a dream； commanding him to tell the
consuls that they should not give up office until they were friends。
After this was said； Pompey stood silent； but Crassus took him by
the hand； and spoke in this manner： 〃I do not think；
fellow…citizens； that I shall do anything mean or dishonourable in
yielding first to Pompey； whom you were pleased to ennoble with the
title of Great； when as yet he scarce had a hair on his face； and
granted the honour of two triumphs before he had a place in the
senate。〃 Hereupon they were reconciled and laid down their office。
Crassus resumed the manner of life which he had always pursued before；
but Pompey in the great generality of causes for judgment declined
appearing on either side； and by degrees withdrew himself totally from
the forum； showing himself but seldom in public； and； whenever he did；
it was with a great train after him。 Neither was it easy to meet or
visit him without a crowd of people about him； he was most pleased
to make his appearance before large numbers at once； as though he
wished to maintain in this way his state and majesty； and as if he
held himself bound to preserve his dignity from contact with the
addresses and conversation of common people。 And life in the robe of
peace is only too apt to lower the reputation of men that have grown
great by arms； who naturally find difficulty in adapting themselves to
the habits of civil equality。 They expect to be treated as the first
in the city； even as they were in the camp； and on the other hand； men
who in war were nobody； think it intolerable if in the city at any
rate they are not to take the lead。 And so when a warrior renowned for
victories and triumphs shall turn advocate and appear among them in
the forum； they endeavour their utmost to obscure and depress him；
whereas； if he gives up any pretensions here and retires； they will
maintain his military honour and authority beyond the reach of envy。
Events themselves not long after showed the truth of this。
The power of the pirates first commenced in Cilicia； having in truth
but a precarious and obscure beginning； but gained life and boldness
afterwards in the wars of Mithridates； where they hired themselves out
and took employment in the king's service。 Afterwards； whilst the
Romans were embroiled in their civil wars； being engaged against one
another even before the very gates of Rome； the seas lay waste and
unguarded； and by degrees enticed and drew them on not only to seize
upon and spoil the merchants and ships upon the seas； but also to
lay waste the islands and seaport towns。 So that now there embarked
with these pirates men of wealth and noble birth and superior
abilities； as if it had been a natural occupation to gain
distinction in。 They had divers arsenals； or piratic harbours； as
likewise watch…towers and beacons； all along the sea…coast； and fleets
were here received that were well manned with the finest mariners； and
well served with the expertest pilots； and composed of swift…sailing
and light…built vessels adapted for their special purpose。 Nor was
it merely their being thus formidable that excited indignation； they
were even more odious for their ostentation than they were feared
for their force。 Their ships had gilded masts at their stems； the
sails woven of purple； and the oars plated with silver； as if their
delight were to glory in their iniquity。 There was nothing but music
and dancing； banqueting and revels； all along the shore。 Officers in
command were taken prisoners； and cities put under contribution； to
the reproach and dishonour of the Roman supremacy。
There were of these corsairs above one thousand sail； and they had
taken no less than four hundred cities； committing sacrilege upon
the temples of the gods； and enriching themselves with the spoils of
many never violated before； such as were those of Claros； Didyma；
and Samothrace； and the temple of the Earth in Hermione； and that of
Aesculapius in Epidaurus； those of Neptune at the Isthmus； at
Taenarus； and at Calauria； those of Apollo at Actium and Leucas； and
those of Juno in Samos； at Argos； and at Lacinium。 They themselves
offered strange sacrifices upon Mount Olympus； and performed certain
secret rites or religious mysteries； among which those of Mithras have
been preserved to our own time having received their previous
institution from them。 But besides these insolencies by sea； they were
also injurious to the Romans by land； for they would often go inland
up the roads； plundering and destroying their villages and
country…houses。 Once they seized upon two Roman praetors； Sextilius
and Bellinus； in their purple…edged robes； and carried them off
together with their officers and lictors。 The daughter also of
Antonius。 a man that had had the honour of a triumph； taking a journey
into the country； was seized； and redeemed upon payment of a large
ransom。 But it was most abusive of all that； when any of the
captives declared himself to be a Roman； and told his name； they
affected to be surprised； and feigning fear； smote their thighs and
fell down at his feet humbly beseeching him to be gracious and forgive
them。
The captives； seeing them so humble and suppliant； believed them
to be in earnest； and some of them now would proceed to put Roman
shoes on his feet； and to dress him in a Roman gown； to prevent；
they said； his being mistaken another time。 After all this
pageantry； when they had thus deluded and mocked him long enough； at
last putting out a ship's ladder； when they were in the midst of the
sea； they told him he was free to go； and wished him a pleasant
journey； and if he resisted they themselves threw him overboard and
drowned him。
This piratic power having got the dominion and control of all the
Mediterranean； there was left no place for navigation or commerce。 And
this it was which most of all made the Romans； finding themselves to
be extremely straitened in their markets； and considering that if it
should continue； there would be a dearth and famine in the land；
determined at last to send out Pompey to recover the seas from the
pirates。 Gabinius； one of Pompey's friends； preferred a law； whereby
there was granted to him； not only the government of the seas as
admiral； but； in direct words； sole and irresponsible sovereignty over
all men。 For the decree gave him absolute power and authority in all
the seas within the pillars of Hercules； and in the adjacent
mainland for the space of four hundred furlongs from the sea。 Now
there were but few regions in the Roman empire out of that compass；
and the greatest of the nations and most powerful of the kings were
included in the limit。 Moreover； by this decree he had a power of
selecting fifteen lieutenants out of the senate； and of assigning to
each his province in charge； then he might take likewise out of the
treasury and out of the hands of the revenue…farmers what moneys he
pleased； as also two hundred sail of ships； with a power to press
and levy what soldiers and seamen he thought fit。
When this law was read； the common people approved of it
exceedingly； but the chief men and most important among the senators
looked upon it as an exorbitant power； even beyond the reach of
envy； but well deserving their fears。 Therefore concluding with
themselves that such unlimited authority was dangerous； they agreed
unanimously to oppose the bill； and all went against it； except
Caesar； who gave his vote for the law； not to gratify Pompey； but
the people； whose favour he had courted underhand from the
beginning； and hoped to compass for himself。 The rest inveighed
bitterly against Pompey； insomuch that one of the consuls told him
that； if he was ambitious of the place of Romulus； he would scarce
avoid his end； but he was in danger of being torn to pieces by the
multitude for his speech。 Yet when Catulus stood up to speak against
the law； the people in reverence to him were silent and attentive。 And
when； after saying much in the most honourable terms in favour of
Pompey； he proceeded to advise the people in kindness to spare him；
and not to expose a man of his value to such a succession of dangers
and wars； 〃For；〃 said he； 〃where could you find another Pompey； or
whom would you have in case you should chance to lose him？〃 they all
cried out with one voice； 〃Yourself。〃 And so Catulus； finding all
his rhetoric ineffectual； desisted。 Then Roscius attempted to speak；
but could obtain no hearing； and made signs with his fingers；
intimating； 〃Not him alone；〃 but that there might be a second Pompey
or colleague in authority with him。 Upon this； it is said； the
multitude； being extremely incensed； made such a loud outcry； that a
crow flying over the market…place at that instant was struck； and
dropped down among the crowd； whence it would appear that the cause of
birds falling down to the ground is not any rupture or division of the
air causing a vacuum； but purely the actual stroke of the voice；
which； when carried up in a great mass and with violence； raises a
sort of tempest and billow； as it were； in the air。
The assembly broke up for that day； and when the day was come on
which the bill was to pass by suffrage into a decree； Pompey went
privately into the country； but hearing that it was passed and
confirmed； he returned again into the city by night； to avoid the envy
that might be occasioned by the concourse of people that would meet
and congratulate him。 The next morning he came abroad and sacrificed
to the gods； and having audience at an open assembly； so handled the
matter that they enlarged his power； giving him many things besid