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rekindling the war once more； and taking preparations； it was
reported； to lead his army through Scythia and Paeonia into Italy。
Pompey； on the other side； judging it easier to destroy his forces
in battle than to seize his person in flight； resolved not to tire
himself out in a vain pursuit； but rather to spend his leisure upon
another enemy； as a sort of digression in the meanwhile。 But fortune
resolved the doubt； for when he was now not far from Petra； and had
pitched his tents and encamped for that day； as he was taking exercise
with his horse outside the camp； couriers came riding up from
Pontus； bringing good news； as was known at once by the heads of their
javelins； which it is the custom to carry crowned with branches of
laurel。 The soldiers； as soon as they saw them； flocked immediately to
Pompey； who； notwithstanding； was minded to finish his exercise； but
when they began to be clamorous and importunate； he alighted from
his horse； and taking the letters went before them into the camp。
Now there being no tribunal erected there； not even that military
substitute for one which they make by cutting up thick turfs of earth；
and piling them one upon another； they； through eagerness and
impatience； heaped up a pile of pack…saddles； and Pompey standing upon
that； told them the news of Mithridates's death； how that he had
himself put an end to his life upon the revolt of his son Pharnaces；
and that Pharnaces had taken all things there into his hands and
possession； which he did； his letters said； in right of himself and
the Romans。 Upon this news the whole army； expressing their joy； as
was to be expected； fell to sacrificing to the gods； and feasting as
if in the person of Mithridates alone there had died many thousands of
their enemies。
Pompey by this event having brought this war to its completion； with
much more ease than was expected； departed forthwith out of Arabia；
and passing rapidly through the intermediate provinces； he came at
length to the city Amisus。 There he received many presents brought
from Pharnaces； with several dead bodies of the royal blood； and the
corpse of Mithridates himself； which was not easy to be known by the
face； for the physicians that embalmed him had not dried up his brain；
but those who were curious to see him knew him by the scars there。
Pompey himself would not endure to see him； but to deprecate the
divine jealousy sent it away to the city of Sinope。 He admired the
richness of his robes no less than the size and splendour of his
armour。 His sword…belt； however； which had cost four hundred
talents； was stolen by Publius； and sold to Ariarathes； his tiara
also； a piece of admirable workmanship； Gaius； the foster…brother of
Mithridates； gave secretly to Faustus； the son of Sylla； at his
request。 All which Pompey was ignorant of； but afterwards； when
Pharnaces came to understand it； he severely punished those that
embezzled them。
Pompey now having ordered all things； and established that province；
took his journey homewards in greater pomp and with more festivity。
For when he came to Mitylene； he gave the city their freedom upon
the intercession of Theophanes； and was present at the contest；
there periodically held； of the poets； who took at that time no
other theme or subject than the actions of Pompey。 He was extremely
pleased with the theatre itself； and had a model of it taken；
intending to erect one in Rome on the same design； but larger and more
magnificent。 When he came to Rhodes； he attended the lectures of all
the philosophers there； and gave to every one of them a talent。
Posidonius has published the disputation which he held before him
against Hermagoras the rhetorician； upon the subject of invention in
general。 At Athens； also； he showed similar munificence to the
philosophers； and gave fifty talents towards the repairing and
beautifying the city。 So that now by all these acts he well hoped to
return into Italy in the greatest splendour and glory possible to man；
and find family as desirous to see him as he felt himself to come home
to them。 But that supernatural agency； whose province and charge it is
always to mix some ingredient of evil with the greatest and most
glorious goods of fortune； had for some time back been busy in his
household； preparing him a sad welcome。 For Mucia during his absence
had dishonoured his bed。 Whilst he was abroad at a distance he had
refused all credence to the report； but when he drew nearer to
Italy； where his thoughts were more at leisure to give consideration
to the charge； he sent her a bill of divorce； but neither then in
writing； nor afterwards by word of mouth； did he ever give a reason
why he discharged her； the cause of it is mentioned in Cicero's
epistles。
Rumours of every kind were scattered abroad about Pompey； and were
carried to Rome before him； so that there was a great tumult and stir；
as if he designed forthwith to march with his army into the city and
establish himself securely as sole ruler。 Crassus withdrew himself；
together with his children and property； out of the city； either
that he was really afraid； either that he counterfeited rather； as
is most probable； to give credit to the calumny and exasperate the
jealousy of the people。 Pompey； therefore； as soon as he entered
Italy； called a general muster of the army； and having made a suitable
address and exchanged a kind farewell with his soldiers； he
commanded them to depart every man to his country and place of
habitation； only taking care that they should not fail to meet again
at his triumph。 Thus the army being disbanded； and the news commonly
reported； a wonderful result ensued。 For when the cities saw Pompey
the Great passing through the country unarmed； and with a small
train of familiar friends only； as if he was returning from a
journey of pleasure； not from his conquests； they came pouring out
to display their affection for him； attending and conducting him to
Rome with far greater forces than he disbanded； insomuch that if he
had designed any movement or innovation in the state； he might have
done it without his army。
Now； because the law permitted no commander to enter into the city
before his triumph； he sent to the senate； entreating them as a favour
to him to prorogue the election of consuls； that thus he might be able
to attend and give countenance to Piso； one of the candidates。 The
request was resisted by Cato； and met with a refusal。 However；
Pompey could not but admire the liberty and boldness of speech which
Cato alone had dared to use in the maintenance of law and justice。
He therefore had a great desire to win him over； and purchase his
friendship at any rate； and to that end； Cato having two nieces；
Pompey asked for one in marriage for himself； the other for his son。
But Cato looked unfavourably on the proposal； regarding it as a design
for undermining his honesty； and in a manner bribing him by a family
alliance； much to the displeasure of his wife and sister； who were
indignant that he should reject a connection with Pompey the Great。
About that time Pompey having a design of setting up Afranius for
the consulship； gave a sum of money among the tribes for their
votes； and people came and received it in his own gardens； a
proceeding which； when it came to be generally known； excited great
disapprobation； that he should thus； for the sake of men who could not
obtain the honour by their own merits； make merchandise of an office
which had been given to himself as the highest reward of his services。
〃Now；〃 said Cato； to his wife and sister； 〃had we contracted an
alliance with Pompey； we had been allied to this dishonour too； and
this they could not but acknowledge； and allow his judgment of what
was right and fitting to have been wiser and better than theirs。
The splendour and magnificence of Pompey's triumph was such that
though it took up the space of two days； yet they were extremely
straitened in time； so that of what was prepared for that pageantry；
there was as much withdrawn as would have set out and adorned
another triumph。 In the first place； there were tables carried；
inscribed with the names and titles of the nation