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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 nations over whom he
triumphed； Pontus； Armenia； Cappadocia； Paphlagonia； Media； Colchis；
the Iberians； the Albanians； Syria； Cilicia； and Mesopotamia； together
with Phoenicia and Palestine； Judaea； Arabia； and all the power of the
pirates subdued by sea and land。 And in these different countries
there appeared the capture of no less than one thousand fortified
places； nor much less than nine hundred cities； together with eight
hundred ships of the pirates； and the foundation of thirty…nine towns。
Besides； there was set forth in these tables an account of all the
tributes throughout the empire； and how that before these conquests
the revenue amounted but to fifty millions； whereas from his
acquisitions they had a revenue of eighty…five millions； and that in
present payment he was bringing into the common treasury ready
money； and gold and silver plate； and ornaments； to the value of
twenty thousand talents； over and above what had been distributed
among the soldiers； of whom he that had least had fifteen hundred
drachmas for his share。 The prisoners of war that were led in triumph；
besides the chief pirates； were the son of Tigranes； King of Armenia
with his wife and daughter； as also Zosime； wife of King Tigranes
himself； and Aristobulus； King of Judaea； the sister of King
Mithridates； and her five sons； and some Scythian women。 There were
likewise the hostages of the Albanians and Iberians； and of the King
of Commagene； besides a vast number of trophies； one for every
battle in which he was conqueror； either himself in person or by his
lieutenants。 But that which seemed to be his greatest glory； being one
which no other Roman ever attained to； was this； that he made his
third triumph over the third division of the world。 For others among
the Romans had the honour of triumphing thrice； but his first
triumph was over Africa； his second over Europe； and this last over
Asia； so that he seemed in these three triumphs to have led the
whole world captive。
As for his age； those who affect to make the parallel exact in all
things betwixt him and Alexander the Great； do not allow him to have
been quite thirty…four； whereas in truth at that time he was near
forty。 And well had it been for him had he terminated his life at this
date； while he still enjoyed Alexander's fortune； since all his
after…time served only either to bring him prosperity that made him
odious； or calamities too great to be retrieved。 For that great
authority which he had gained in the city by his merits he made use of
only in patronizing the iniquities of others； so that by advancing
their fortunes he detracted from his own glory； till at last he was
overthrown even by the force and greatness of his own power。 And as
the strongest citadel or fort in a town； when it is taken by an enemy；
does then afford the same strength to the foe as it had done to
friends before； so Caesar； after Pompey's aid had made him strong
enough to defy his country； ruined and overthrew at last the power
which had availed him against the rest。 The course of things was as
follows。 Lucullus； when he returned out of Asia； where he had been
treated with insult by Pompey； was received by the senate with great
honour； which was yet increased when Pompey came home； to check
whose ambition they encourage him to assume the administration of
the government； whereas he was now grown cold and disinclined to
business； having given himself over to the pleasures of ease and the
enjoyment of a splendid fortune。 However； he began for the time to
exert himself against Pompey； attacked him sharply； and succeeded in
having his own acts and decrees； which were repealed by Pompey；
re…established； and； with the assistance of Cato； gained the
superiority in the senate。
Pompey having fallen from his hopes in such an unworthy repulse； was
forced to fly to the tribunes of the people for refuge； and to
attach himself to the young men； among whom was Clodius； the vilest
and most impudent wretch alive； who took him about； an