pompey-第5章

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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
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