按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 Pompey had advice by letters of the decree； it is said that
in the presence of his friends； who came to give him joy of his
honour； he seemed displeased； frowning and smiting his thigh； and
exclaimed as ore over…burdened and weary of government； 〃Alas； what
a series of labours upon labours！ If I am never to end my service as a
soldier； nor to escape from this invidious greatness and live at
home in the country with my wife； I had better have been an unknown
man。〃 But all this was looked upon as mere trifling； neither indeed
could the best of his friends call it anything else； well knowing that
his enmity with Lucullus； setting a flame just now to his natural
passion for glory and empire； made him feel more than usually
gratified。
As indeed appeared not long afterwards by his actions； which clearly
unmasked him； for； in the first place； he sent out his proclamations
into all quarters； commanding the soldiers to join him； and summoned
all the tributary kings and princes within his charge； and in short；
as soon as he had entered upon his province； he left nothing unaltered
that had been done and established by Lucullus。 To some he remitted
their penalties； and deprived others of their rewards； and acted in
all respects as if with the express design that the admirers of
Lucullus might know that all his authority was at an end。
Lucullus expostulated by friends； and it was thought fitting that
there should be a meeting betwixt them； and accordingly they met in
the country of Galatia。 As they were both great and successful
generals； their officers bore their rods before them all wreathed with
branches of laurel； Lucullus came through a country full of green
trees and shady woods； but Pompey's march was through a cold and
barren district。 Therefore the lictors of Lucullus； perceiving that
Pompey's laurels were withered and dry； helped him to some of their
own； and adorned and crowned his rods with fresh laurels。 This was
thought ominous； an