pompey-第13章

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given　him；　contrary　to　the　rules　of　law；　had　his　country　been　in　a
flourishing　state。　Afterwards；　however；　he　took　cognizance　of　the
cases　of　those　that　had　obtained　offices　by　gifts　and　bribery；　and
enacted　laws　and　ordinances；　setting　forth　the　rules　of　judgment　by
which　they　should　be　arraigned；　and　regulating　all　things　with　gravity
and　justice；　he　restored　security；　order；　and　silence　to　their
courts　of　judicature；　himself　giving　his　presence　there　with　a　band　of
soldiers。　But　when　his　father…in…law；　Scipio；　was　accused；　he　sent　for
the　three　hundred　and　sixty　judges　to　his　house；　and　entreated　them　to
be　favourable　to　him；　whereupon　his　accuser；　seeing　Scipio　come　into
the　court；　accompanied　by　the　judges　themselves；　withdrew　the
prosecution。　Upon　this　Pompey　was　very　ill　spoken　of；　and　much　worse
in　the　case　of　Plancus；　for　whereas　he　himself　had　made　a　law
putting　a　stop　to　the　practice　of　making　speeches　in　praise　of　persons
under　trial；　yet　notwithstanding　this　prohibition；　he　came　into
court　and　spoke　openly　in　commendation　of　Plancus；　insomuch　that　Cato；
who　happened　to　be　one　of　the　judges　at　that　time；　stopping　his　ears
with　his　hands；　told　him　he　could　not　in　conscience　listen　to
commendations　contrary　to　law。　Cato　upon　this　was　refused；　and　set
aside　from　being　a　judge；　before　sentence　was　given；　but　Plancus　was
condemned　by　the　rest　of　the　judges；　to　Pompey's　dishonour。　Shortly
after；　Hypsaeus；　a　man　of　consular　dignity；　who　was　under
accusation；　waited　for　Pompey's　return　from　his　bath　to　his　supper；
and　falling　down　at　his　feet；　implored　his　favour；　but　he　disdainfully
passed　him　by；　saying；　that　he　did　nothing　else　but　spoil　his
supper。　Such　partiality　was　looked　upon　as　a　great　fault　in　Pompey　and
highly　condemned；　however；　he　managed　all　things　else　discreetly；
and　having　put　the　government　in　very　good　order；　he　chose　his
father…in…law　to　be　his　colleague　in　the　consulship　for　the　last
five　months。　His　provinces　were　continued　to　him　for　the　term　of
four　years　longer；　with　a　commission　to　take　one　thousand　talents
yearly　out　of　the　treasury　for　the　payment　of　his　army。
　　This　gave　occasion　to　some　of　Caesar's　friends　to　think　it
reasonable；　that　some　consideration　should　be　had　of　him　too；　who
had　done　such　signal　services　in　war　and　fought　so　many　battles　for
the　empire；　alleging；　that　he　deserved　at　least　a　second　consulship；
or　to　have　the　government　of　his　province　continued；　that　so　he
might　command　and　enjoy　in　peace　what　he　had　obtained　in　war；　and　no
successor　come　in　to　reap　the　fruits　of　his　labour　and　carry　off　the
glory　of　his　actions。　There　arising　some　debate　about　this　matter；
Pompey　took　upon　him；　as　it　were　out　of　kindness　to　Caesar；　to　plead
his　cause；　and　allay　any　jealousy　that　was　conceived　against　him；
telling　them　that　he　had　letters　from　Caesar；　expressing　his　desire
for　a　successor；　and　his　own　discharge　from　the　command；　but　it
would　be　only　right　that　they　should　give　him　leave　to　stand　for　the
consulship　though　in　his　absence。　But　those　of　Cato's　party
withstood　this；　saying；　that　if　he　expected　any　favour　from　the
citizens；　he　ought　to　leave　his　army　and　come　in　a　private　capacity　to
canvass　for　it。　And　Pompey's　making　no　rejoinder；　but　letting　it
pass　as　a　matter　in　which　he　was　overruled；　increased　the　suspicion　of
his　real　feelings　towards　Caesar。　Presently；　also；　under　pretence　of　a
war　with　Parthia；　he　sent　for　his　two　legions　which　he　had　lent　him。
However；　Caesar；　though　he　well　knew　why　they　were　asked　for；　sent
them　home　very　liberally　rewarded。
　　About　that　time　Pompey　recovered　of　a　dangerous　fit　of　sickness
which　seized　him　at　Naples；　where　the　whole　city；　upon　the
suggestion　of　Praxagoras；　made　sacrifices　of　thanksgiving　to　the
gods　for　his　recovery。　The　neighbouring　towns　likewise　happening　to
follow　their　example；　the　thing　then　went　its　course　throughout　all
Italy；　so　that　there　was　not　a　city；　either　great　or　small；　that　did
not　feast　and　rejoice　for　many　days　together。　And　the　company　of　those
that　came　from　all　parts　to　meet　him　was　so　numerous　that　no　place　was
able　to　contain　them；　but　the　villages；　seaport　towns；　and　the　very
highways　were　all　full　of　people；　feasting　and　sacrificing　to　the
gods。　Nay；　many　went　to　meet　him　with　garlands　on　their　heads；　and
flambeaux　in　their　hands；　casting　flowers　and　nosegays　upon　him　as
he　went　along；　so　that　this　progress　of　his；　and　reception；　was　one　of
the　noblest　and　most　glorious　sights　imaginable。　And　yet　it　is　thought
that　this　very　thing　was　not　one　of　the　least　causes　and　occasions
of　the　civil　war。　For　Pompey；　yielding　to　a　feeling　of　exultation；
which　in　the　greatness　of　the　present　display　of　joy　lost　sight　of
more　solid　grounds　of　consideration；　and　abandoning　that　prudent
temper　which　had　guided　him　hitherto　to　a　safe　use　of　all　his　good
fortune　and　his　successes；　gave　himself　up　to　an　extravagant
confidence　in　his　own　contempt　of　Caesar's　power；　insomuch　that　he
thought　neither　force　of　arms　nor　care　necessary　against　him；　but　that
he　could　pull　him　down　much　easier　than　he　had　set　him　up。　Besides
this；　Appius；　under　whose　command　those　legions　which　Pompey　lent　to
Caesar　were　returned；　coming　lately　out　of　Gaul；　spoke　slightingly
of　Caesar's　actions　there；　and　spread　scandalous　reports　about　him；　at
the　same　time　telling　Pompey　that　he　was　unacquainted　with　his　own
strength　and　reputation　if　he　made　use　of　any　other　forces　against
Caesar　than　Caesar's　own；　for　such　was　the　soldiers'　hatred　to　Caesar；
and　their　love　to　Pompey　so　great；　that　they　would　all　come　over　to
him　upon　his　first　appearance。　By　these　flatteries　Pompey　was　so
puffed　up；　and　led　on　into　such　a　careless　security；　that　he　could　not
choose　but　laugh　at　those　who　seemed　to　fear　a　war；　and　when　some　were
saying；　that　if　Caesar　should　march　against　the　city；　they　could　not
see　what　forces　there　were　to　resist　him；　he　replied　with　a　smile；
bidding　them　be　in　no　concern；　〃for；〃　said　he；　〃whenever　I　stamp
with　my　foot　in　any　part　of　Italy　there　will　rise　up　forces　enough
in　an　instant；　both　horse　and　foot。〃
　　Caesar；　on　the　other　side；　was　more　and　more　vigorous　in　his
proceedings；　himself　always　at　hand　about　the　frontiers　of　Italy；
and　sending　his　soldiers　continually　into　the　city　to　attend　all
elections　with　their　votes。　Besides；　he　corrupted　several　of　the
magistrates；　and　kept　them　in　his　pay；　among　others；　Paulus；　the
consul；　who　was　brought　over　by　a　bribe　of　one　thousand　and　five
hundred　talents；　and　Curio；　tribune　of　the　people；　by　a　discharge　of
the　debts　with　which　he　was　overwhelmed；　together　with　Mark　Antony；
who；　out　of　friendship　to　Curio；　had　become　bound　with　him　in　the　same
obligations　for　them　all。　And　it　was　stated　as　a　fact；　that　a
centurion　of　Caesar's；　waiting　at　the　senate…house；　and　hearing　that
the　senate　refused　to　give　him　a　longer　term　of　his　government；
clapped　his　hand　upon　his　sword；　and　said；　〃But　this　shall　give　it。〃
And　indeed　all　his　practices　and　preparations　seemed　to　bear　this
appearance。　Curio's　demands；　however；　and　requests　in　favour　of
Caesar；　were　more　popular　in　appearance；　for　he　desired　one　of　these
two　things；　either　that　Pompey　also　should　be　called　upon　to　resign
his　army；　or　that　Caesar　should　not　be　taken　away　from　him；　for　if
both　of　them　became　private　persons；　both　would　be　satisfied　with
simple　justice；　or　if　both　retained　their　present　power；　each　being
a　match　for　the　other；　they　would　be　contented　with　what　they
already　had；　but　he　that　weakens　one；　does　at　the　same　time　strengthen
the　other；　and　so　doubles　that　very　strength　and　power　which　he
stood　in　fear　of　before。
　　Marcellus；　the　consul；　replied　nothing　to　all　this；　but　that
Caesar　was　a　robber；　and　should　be　proclaimed　an　enemy　to　the　state　if
he　did　not　disband　his　army。　However；　Curio；　with　the　assistance　of
Antony　and　Piso；　prevailed；　that　the　matter　in　debate　should　be　put　to
the　question；　and　decided　by　those　to　withdraw　who　were　of　opinion
that　Caesar　only　should　lay　down　his　army；　and　Pompey　command；　the
majority　withdrew。　But　when　it　was　ordered　again　for　those　to　withdraw
whose　vote　was　that　both　should　lay　down　their　arms；　and　neither
command；　there　were　but　twenty…two　for　Pompey；　all　the　rest　remained
on　Curio's　side。　Whereupon　he；　as　one　proud　of　his　conquest；　leaped
out　in　triumph　among　the　people；　who　received　him　with　as　great　tokens
of　joy；　clapping　their　hands　and　crowning　him　with　garlands　and
flowers。　Pompey　was　not　then　present　in　the　senate；　because　it　is
not　lawful　for　generals　in　command　of　an　army　to　come　into　the　city。
But　Marcellus　rising　up；　said；　that　he　would　not　sit　there　hearing
speeches；　when　he　saw　ten　legions　already　passing　the　Alps　on　their
march　toward　the　city；　but　on　his　own　authority　would　send　some　one　to
oppose　them　in　defence　of　the　country。
　　Upon　this　the　city　went　into　mourning；　as　in　a　public　calamity；
and　Marcellus；　accompanied　by　the　senate；　went　solemnly　through　the
forum　to　meet　Pompey；　and　made　him　this　address：　〃I　hereby　give　you
orders；　O　Pompey；　to　defend　your　country；　to　employ　the　troops　you　now
command；　and　to　levy　more。〃　Lentulus；　consul　elect　for　the　year
following；　spoke　to　the　same　purpose。　Antony；　however；　contrary　to　the
will　of　the　senate；　having　in　a　public　assembly　read　a　letter　of
Caesar's；　containing　various　plausible　overtures　such　as　were　likely
to　gain　the　common　people；　proposing；　namely；　that　both　Pompey　and　he；
quitting　their　governments　and　dismissing　their　armies；　should
submit　to　the　judgment　of　the　people；　and　give　an　account　of　their
actions　before　them；　the　consequence　was　that　when　Pompey　began　to
make　his　levies；　he　found　himself　disappointed　in　his　expectations。
Some　few；　indeed；　came　in；　but　those　very　unwillingly；　others　would
not　answer　to　their　names；　and　the　generality　cried　out　for　peace。
Lentulus；　notwithstanding　he　was　now　entered　upon　his　consulship；
would　not　assemble　the　senate；　but　Cicero；　who　was　lately　returned
from　Cilicia；　laboured　for　a　reconciliation；　proposing　that　Caesar
should　leave　his　province　of　Gaul　and　army；　reserving　two　legions
only；　together　with　the　government　of　Illyricum；　and　should　thus　be
put　in　nomination　for　a　second　consulship。　Pompey　disliking　this
motion；　Caesar's　friends　were　contented　that　he　should　surrender　one
of　the　two；　but　Lentulus　still　opposing；　and　Cato　crying　out　that
Pompey　did　ill　to　be　deceived　again；　the　reconciliation　did　not　take
effect。
　　In　the　meantime；　news　was　brought　that　Caesar　had　occupied　Ariminum；
a　great　city　in　Italy；　and　was　marching　directly　towards　Rome　with　all
his　forces。　But　this　latter　was　altogether　false；　for　he　had　no　more
with　him　at　that　time　than　three　hundred　horse　and　five　thousand　foot；
and　he　did　not　mean　to　tarry　for　the　body　of　his　army；　which　lay
beyond　the　Alps；　choosing　rather　to　fall　in　on　a　sudden　upon　his
enemies；　while　they　were　in　confusion；　and　did　not　expect　him；　than　to
give　them　time；　and　fight　them　after　they　had　made　preparations。　For
when　he　came　to　the　banks　of　the　Rubicon；　a　river　that　made　the　bounds
of　his　province；　there　he　made　a　halt；　pausing　a　little；　and
considering；　we　may　suppose；　wit