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the head of a powerful army； as if all were ended； just doing the same
thing； regulating the provinces； and distributing rewards； many
great commanders and princes having flocked to him； together with no
less than twelve barbarian kings； insomuch that to gratify these other
kings； when he wrote to the King of Parthia； he would not
condescend； as others used to do； in the superscription of his letter；
to give him his title of king of kings。
Moreover； he had a great desire and emulation to occupy Syria； and
to march through Arabia to the Red Sea； that he might thus extend
his conquests every way to the great ocean that encompasses the
habitable earth； as in Africa he was the first Roman that advanced his
victories to the ocean； and again in Spain he made the Atlantic Sea
the limit of the empire： and then thirdly； in his late pursuit of
the Albanians； he had wanted but little of reaching the Hyrcanian Sea。
Accordingly he raised his camp； designing to bring the Red Sea
within the circuit of his expedition； especially as he saw how
difficult it was to hunt after Mithridates with an army； and that he
would prove a worse enemy flying than fighting。 But yet he declared
that he would leave a sharper enemy behind him than himself； namely；
famine； and therefore he appointed a guard of ships to lie in wait for
the merchants that sailed to Bosphorus； death being the penalty for
any who should attempt to carry provisions thither。
Then he set forward with the greatest part of his army； and in his
march casually fell in with several dead bodies； still uninterred；
of those soldiers who were slain with Triarius in his unfortunate
engagement with Mithridates： these he buried splendidly and
honourably。 The neglect of whom； it is thought； caused； as much as
anything； the hatred that was felt against Lucullus； and alienated the
affections of the soldiers from him。 Pompey having now by his forces
under the command of Afranius subdued the Arabians about the
mountain Amanus； himself entered Syria； and finding it destitute of
any natural and lawful prince； reduced it into the form of a province；
as a possession of the people of Rome。 He conquered also Judaea； and
took its king； Aristobulus； captive。 Some cities he built anew； and to
others he gave their liberty； chastising their tyrants。 Most part of
the time that he spent there was employed in the administration of
justice； in deciding controversies of kings and states； and where he
himself could not be present in person； he gave commissions to his
friends； and sent them。 Thus when there arose a difference betwixt the
Armenians and Parthians about some territory； and the judgment was
referred to him； he gave a power by commission； to three judges and
arbiters to hear and determine the controversy。 For the reputation
of his power was great； nor was the fame of his justice and clemency
inferior to that of his power； and served indeed as a veil for a
multitude of faults committed by his friends and familiars。 For
although it was not in his nature to check or chastise wrongdoers； yet
he himself always treated those that had to do with him in such a
manner that they submitted to endure with patience the acts of
covetousness and oppression done by others。
Among these friends of his there was one Demetrius； who had the
greatest influence with him of all； he was a freed slave； a youth of
good understanding； but somewhat too insolent in his good fortune；
of whom there goes this story。 Cato； the philosopher； being as yet a
very young man； but of great repute and a noble mind； took a journey
of pleasure to Antioch； at a time when Pompey was not there； having
a great desire to see the city。 He； as his custom was； walked on foot；
and his friends accompanied him on horseback； and seeing before the
gates of the city a multitude dressed in white； the young men on one
side of the road and the boys on the other； he was somewhat offended
at it； imagining that it was officiously done in honour of him；
which was more than he had any wish for。 However； he desired his
companions to alight and walk with him； but when they drew near； the
master of the ceremonies in this procession came out with a garland
and a rod in his hand and met them； inquiring where they had left
Demetrius； and when he would come？ Upon which Cato's companions
burst out into laughter； but Cato said only； 〃Alas； poor city！〃 and
passed by without any other answer。 However； Pompey rendered Demetrius
less odious to others by enduring his presumption and impertinence
to himself。 For it is reported how that Pompey； when he had invited
his friends to an entertainment； would be very ceremonious in
waiting till they all came and were placed； while Demetrius would be
already stretched upon the couch as if he cared for no one； with his
dress over his ears； hanging down from his head。 Before his return
into Italy； he had purchased the pleasantest country…seat about
Rome； with the finest walks and places for exercise； and there were
sumptuous gardens； called by the name of Demetrius； while Pompey his
master； up to his third triumph； was contented with an ordinary and
simple habitation。 Afterwards； it is true； when he had erected his
famous and stately theatre for the people of Rome； he built as a
sort of appendix to it a house for himself； much more splendid than
his former； and yet no object even this to excite men's envy； since he
who came to be master of it after Pompey could not but express
wonder and inquire where Pompey the Great used to sup。 Such is the
story told us。
The king of the Arabs near Petra； who had hitherto despised the
power of the Romans； now began to be in great alarm at it； and sent
letters to him promising to be at his commands； and to do whatever
he should see fit to order。 However； Pompey having a desire to confirm
and keep him in the same mind； marched forwards for Petra； an
expedition not altogether irreprehensible in the opinion of many；
who thought it a mere running away from their proper duty； the pursuit
of Mithridates； Rome's ancient and inveterate enemy； who was now
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