matter that they enlarged his power； giving him many things besides
what was already granted； and almost doubling the preparation
appointed in the former decree。 Five hundred ships were manned for
him； and an army raised of one hundred and twenty thousand foot and
five thousand horse。 Twenty…four senators that had been generals of
armies were appointed to serve as lieutenants under him； and to
these were added two quaestors。 Now it happened within this time
that the prices of provisions were much reduced which gave an occasion
to the joyful people of saying that the very name of Pompey had
ended the war。 However； Pompey； in pursuance of his charge； divided
all the seas and the whole Mediterranean into thirteen parts；
allotting a squadron to each； under the command of his officers； and
having thus dispersed his power into all quarters； and encompassed the
pirates everywhere； they began to fall into his hands by whole shoals；
which he seized and brought into his harbours。 As for those that
withdrew themselves betimes； or otherwise escaped his general chase；
they all made to Cilicia； where they bid themselves as in their hives；
against whom Pompey now proceeded in person with sixty of his best
ships； not； however； until he had first scoured and cleared all the
seas near Rome； the Tyrrhenian； and the African； and all the waters of
Sardinia； Corsica； and Sicily； all which he performed in the space
of forty days by his own indefatigable industry and the zeal of his
lieutenants。
Pompey met with some interruption in Rome； through the malice and
envy of Piso； the consul； who had given some check to his
proceedings by withholding his stores and discharging his seamen；
whereupon he sent his fleet round to Brundusium； himself going the
nearest way by land through Tuscany to Rome； which was no sooner known
by the people than they all flocked out to meet him upon the way as if
they had not sent him out but a few days before。 What chiefly
excited their joy was the unexpectedly rapid change in the markets；
which abounded now with the greatest plenty； so that Piso was in great
danger to have been deprived of his consulship； Gabinius having a
law ready prepared for that purpose but Pompey forbade it； behaving
himself as in that； so in all things else； with great moderation；
and when he had made sure of all that he wanted or desired； he
departed for Brundusium； whence he set sail in pursuit of the pirates。
And though he was straitened in time； and his hasty voyage forced
him to sail by several cities without touching； yet he would not
pass by the city of Athens unsaluted； but landing there； after he
had sacrificed to the gods； and made an address to the people； as he
was returning out of the city； he read at the gates two epigrams； each
in a single line； written in his own praise； one within the gate：…
〃Thy humbler thoughts make thee a god the more；〃
the other without：…
〃Adieu we bid； who welcome bade before。〃
Now because Pompey had shown himself merciful to some of these pirates
that were yet roving in bodies about the seas； having upon their
supplication ordered a seizure of their ships and persons only；
without any further process or severity； therefore the rest of their
comrades； in hopes of mercy too； made their escape from his other
commanders； and surrendered themselves with their wives and children
into his protection。 He continued to pardon all that came in； and
the rather because by them he might make discovery of those who fled
from his justice； as conscious that their crimes were beyond an act of
indemnity。 The most numerous and important part of these conveyed
their families and treasures； with all their people that were unfit
for war； into castles and strong forts about Mount Taurus； but they
themselves； having well manned their galleys； embarked for
Coracesium in Cilicia； where they received Pompey and gave him battle。
Here they had a final overthrow； and retired to the land； where they
were besieged。 At last； having despatched their heralds to him with
a submission； they delivered up to his mercy themselves； their
towns； islands； and strongholds； all which they had so fortified
that they were almost impregnable； and scarcely even accessible。
Thus was this war ended； and the whole power of the pirates at sea
dissolved everywhere in the space of three months； wherein； besides
a great number of other vessels； he took ninety men…of…war with brazen
beaks and likewise prisoners of war to the number of no less than
twenty thousand。
As regarded the disposal of these prisoners； he never so much as
entertained the thought of putting them to death； and yet it might
be no less dangerous on the other hand to disperse them； as they might
reunite and make head again； being numerous； poor； and warlike。
Therefore wisely weighing with himself that man by nature is not a
wild or unsocial creature； neither was he born so； but makes himself
what he naturally is not by vicious habit； and that again； on the
other side； he is civilized and grows gentle by a change of place；
occupation； and manner of life； as beasts themselves that are wild
by nature become tame and tractable by housing and gentler usage； upon
this consideration he determined to translate these pirates from sea
to land； and give them a taste of an honest and innocent course of
life by living in towns and tilling the ground。 Some therefore were
admitted into the small and half…peopled towns of the Cilicians；
who； for an enlargement of their territories； were willing to
receive them。 Others he planted in the city of the Solians； which
had been lately laid waste by Tigranes； King of Armenia； and which
he now restored。 But the largest number were settled in Dyme； the town
of Achaea； at that time extremely depopulated； and possessing an
abundance of good land。
However； these proceedings could not escape the envy and censure
of his enemies； and the course he took against Metellus in Crete was
disapproved of even by the chiefest of his friends。 For Metellus； a
relation of Pompey's former colleague in Spain； had been sent
praetor into Crete； before this province of the seas was assigned to
Pompey。 Now Crete was the second source of pirates next to Cilicia；
and Metellus having shut up a number of them in their strongholds
there was engaged in reducing and extirpating them。 Those that were
yet remaining and besieged sent their supplications to Pompey； and
invited him into the island as a part of his province； alleging it
to fall； every part of it； within the distance from the sea
specified in his commission； and so within the precincts of his
charge。 Pompey receiving the submission； sent letters to Metellus；
commanding him to leave off the war； and others in like manner to
the cities； in which he charged them not to yield any obedience to the
commands of Metellus。 And after these he sent Lucius Octavius； one
of his lieutenants； to act as general； who entering the besieged
fortifications； and fighting in defence of the pirates； rendered
Pompey not odious only； but even ridiculous too； that he should lend
his name as a guard to a nest of thieves； that knew neither god nor
law； and made his reputation serve as a sanctuary to them； only out of
pure envy and emulation to Metellus。 For neither was Achilles
thought to act the part of a man； but rather of a mere boy； mad
after glory； when by signs he forbade the rest of the Greeks to strike
at Hector…
〃For fear
Some other hand should give the blow； and he
Lose the first honour of the victory。〃
Whereas Pompey even sought to preserve the common enemies of the world
only that he might deprive a Roman praetor； after all his labours of
the honour of a triumph。 Metellus； however； was not daunted； but
prosecuted the war against the pirates； expelled them from their
strongholds and punished them； and dismissed Octavius with the insults
and reproaches of the whole camp。
When the news came to Rome that the war with the pirates was at an
end； and that Pompey was unoccupied； diverting himself in visits to
the cities for want of employment； one Manlius； a tribune of the
people； preferred a law that Pompey should have all the forces of
Lucullus； and the provinces under his government； together with
Bithynia； which was under the command of Glabrio； and that he should
forthwith conduct the war against the two kings； Mithridates and
Tigranes； retaining still the same naval forces and the sovereignty of
the seas as before。 But this was nothing less than to constitute one
absolute monarch of all the Roman empire。 For the provinces which
seemed to be exempt from his commission by the former decree； such
as were Phrygia； Lycaonia； Galatia； Cappadocia； Cilicia； the upper
Colchis； and Armenia； were all added in by this latter law； together
with all the troops and forces with which Lucullus had defeated
Mithridates and Tigranes。 And though Lucullus was thus simply robbed
of the glory of his achievements in having a successor assigned him；
rather to the honour of his triumph than the danger of the war； yet
this was of less moment in the eyes of the aristocratical party；
though they could not but admit the injustice and ingratitude to
Lucullus。 But their great grievance was that the power of Pompey
should be converted into a manifest tyranny； and they therefore
exhorted and encouraged one another privately to bend all their forces
in opposition to this law； and not tamely to cast away their
liberty； yet when the day came on which it was to pass into a
decree； their hearts failed them for fear of the people； and all
were silent except Catulus； who boldly inveighed against the law and
its proposer； and when he found that he could do nothing with the
people； turned to the senate； crying out and bidding them seek out
some mountain as their forefathers had done； and fly to the rocks
where they might preserve their liberty。 The law passed into a decree；
as it is said； by the suffrages of all the tribes。 And Pompey； in
his absence； was made lord of almost all that power which Sylla only
obtained by force of arms； after a conquest of the very city itself。
When Pompe