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not only so； but the whole populace； being taken with this bait；
became totally at their devotion； inquiring into nothing and without a
word giving their suffrages to whatever they propounded。 Thus they
confirmed all those acts and decrees of Pompey which were questioned
and contested by Lucullus； and to Caesar they granted the provinces of
Gaul； both within and without the Alps； together with Illyricum； for
five years； and likewise an army of four entire legions； then they
created consuls for the year ensuing； Piso； the father…in…law of
Caesar； and Gabinius； the most extravagant of Pompey's flatterers。
During all these transactions； Bibulus kept close within doors；
nor did he appear publicly in person for the space of eight months
together； notwithstanding he was consul； but sent out proclamations
full of bitter invectives and accusations against them both。 Cato
turned prophet； and as if he had been possessed with a spirit of
divination； did nothing else in the senate but foretell what evils
should befall the commonwealth and Pompey。 Lucullus pleaded old age；
and retired to take his ease； as superannuated for all airs of
state； which gave occasion to the saving of Pompey； that the
fatigues of luxury were not more seasonable for an old man than
those of government。 Which in truth proved a reflection upon himself
for he not long after let his fondness for his young wife seduce him
also into effeminate habits。 He gave all his time to her； and passed
his days in her company in country…houses and gardens； paying no
heed to what was going on in the forum。 Insomuch that Clodius； who was
then tribune of the people began to despise him； and engage in the
most audacious attempts。 For when he had banished Cicero； and sent
away Cato into Cyprus under pretence of military duty； and when Caesar
was gone upon his expedition to Gaul； finding the populace now looking
to him as the leader who did everything according to their pleasure；
he attempted forthwith to repeal some of Pompey's decrees； he took
Tigranes； the captive； out of prison； and kept him about him as his
companion； and commenced actions against several of Pompey's
friends； thus designing to try the extent of his power。 At last；
upon a time when Pompey was present at the hearing of a certain cause；
Clodius； accompanied with a crowd of profligate and impudent ruffians；
standing up in a place above the rest； put questions to the populace
as follows： 〃Who is the dissolute general？ who is the man that seeks
another man？ who scratches his head with one finger？〃 and the
rabble； upon the signal of his shaking his gown； with a great shout to
every question； like singers making responses in a chorus； made
answer； 〃Pompey。〃
This indeed was no small annoyance to Pompey； who was quite
unaccustomed to hear anything ill of himself； and unexperienced
altogether in such encounters； and he was yet more vexed when he saw
that the senate rejoiced at this foul usage； and regarded it as a just
punishment upon him for his treachery to Cicero。 But when it came even
to blows and wounds in the forum； and that one of Clodius's
bond…slaves was apprehended creeping through the crowd towards
Pompey with a sword in his hand； Pompey laid hold of this pretence；
though perhaps otherwise apprehensive of Clodius's insolence and bad
language； and never appeared again in the forum during all the time he
was tribune； but kept close at home； and passed his time in consulting
with his friends by what means he might best allay the displeasure
of the senate and nobles against him。 Among other expedients； Culleo
advised the divorce of Julian； and to abandon Caesar's friendship to
gain that of the senate； this he would not hearken to。 Others again
advised him to call home Cicero from banishment； a man who was
always the great adversary of Clodius； and as great a favourite of the
senate； to this he was easily persuaded。 And therefore he brought
Cicero's brother into the forum； attended with a strong party； to
petition for his return； where； after a warm dispute； in which several
were wounded and some slain； he got the victory over Clodius。
No sooner was Cicero returned home upon this decree； but immediately
he used his efforts to reconcile the senate to Pompey； and by speaking
in favour of the law upon the importations of corn； did again； in
effect； make Pompey sovereign lord of all the Roman possessions by sea
and land。 For by that law there were placed under his control all
ports； markets； and storehouses； and； in short； all the concerns
both of the merchants and the husbandmen； which gave occasion to the
charge brought against it by Clodius； what the law was not made
because of the scarcity of corn； but the scarcity of corn was made
that they might pass a law； whereby that power of his； which was now
grown feeble and consumptive； might be revived again； and Pompey
reinstated in a new empire。 Others look upon it as a politic device of
Spinther； the consul； whose design it was to secure Pompey in a
greater authority； that he himself might be sent in assistance to King
Ptolemy。 However； it is certain that Canidius； the tribune；
preferred a law to despatch Pompey in the character of an
ambassador； without an army； attended only with two lictors； as a
mediator betwixt the king and his subjects of Alexandria。
Neither did this proposal seem unacceptable to Pompey； though the
senate cast it out upon the specious pretence that they were unwilling
to hazard his person。 However； there were found several writings
scattered about the forum and near the senate…house intimating how
grateful it would be to Ptolemy to have Pompey appointed for his
general instead of Spinther。 And Timagenes even asserts that Ptolemy
went away and left Egypt； not out of necessity； but purely upon the
persuasion of Theophanes； who was anxious to give Pompey the
opportunity for holding a new command and gaining further wealth。
But Theophanes's want of honesty does not go so far to make this story
credible as does Pompey's own nature； which was averse； with all its
ambition； to such base and disingenuous acts； to render it improbable。
Thus Pompey； being appointed chief purveyor； and having within his
administration and management all the corn trade； sent abroad his
factors and agents into all quarters； and he himself sailing into
Sicily； Sardinia； and Africa； collected vast stores of corn。 He was
just ready to set sail upon his voyage home； when a great storm
arose upon the sea； and the ships' commanders doubted whether it
were safe。 Upon which Pompey himself went first aboard； and bid the
mariners weigh anchor； declaring with a loud voice that there was a
necessity to sail； but no necessity to live。 So that with this
spirit and courage； and having met with favourable fortune； he made
a prosperous return； and filled the markets with corn； and the sea
with ships。 So much so that this great plenty and abundance of
provisions yielded a sufficient supply； not only to the city of
Rome； but even to other places too； dispersing itself； like waters
from a spring； into all quarters。
Meantime Caesar grew great and famous with his wars in Gaul； and
while in appearance he seemed far distant from Rome； entangled in
the affairs of the Belgians； Suevians； and Britons； in truth he was
working craftily by secret practices in the midst of the people； and
countermining Pompey in all political matters of most importance。 He
himself； with his army close about him； as if it had been his own
body； not with mere views of conquest over the barbarians； but as
though his contests with them were but mere sports and exercises of
the chase； did his utmost with this training and discipline to make it
invincible and alarming。 In the meantime his gold and silver and other
spoils and treasure which he took from the enemy in his conquests；
he sent to Rome in presents； tempting people with his gifts； and
aiding aediles； praetors； and consuls； as also their wives； in their
expenses； and thus purchasing himself numerous friends。 Insomuch； that
when he passed back again over the Alps； and took up his winter
quarters in the city of Luca； there flocked to him an infinite
numb