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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
number of men and women； striving who should get first to him； two
hundred senators included； among whom were Pompey and Crassus； so that
there were to be seen at once before Caesar's door no less than six
score rods of proconsuls and praetors。 The rest of his addressers he
sent all away full fraught with hopes and money； but with Crassus
and Pompey he entered into special articles of agreement； that they
should stand candidates for the consulship next year； that Caesar on
his part should send a number of his soldiers to give their votes at
the election； that as soon as they were elected； they should use their
interest to have the command of some provinces and legions assigned to
themselves； and that Caesar should have his present charge confirmed
to him for five years more。 When these arrangements came to be
generally known； great indignation was excited among the chief men
in Rome； and Marcellinus； in an open assembly of the people；
demanded of them both； whether they designed to sue for the consulship
or no。 And being urged by the people for their answer； Pompey spoke
first； and told them； perhaps he would sue for it； perhaps he would
not。 Crassus was more temperate； and said； that he would do what
should be judged most agreeable with the interest of the commonwealth；
and when Marcellinus persisted in his attack on Pompey； and spoke；
as it was thought； with some vehemence； Pompey remarked that
Marcellinus was certainly the unfairest of men； to show him no
gratitude for having thus made him an orator out of a mute； and
converted him from a hungry starveling into a man so full…fed that
he could not contain himself。
Most of the candidates nevertheless abandoned their canvass for
the consulship； Cato alone persuaded and encouraged Lucius Domitius
not to desist； 〃since；〃 said he； 〃the contest now is not for office；
but for liberty against tyrants and usurpers。〃 Therefore those of
Pompey's party； fearing this inflexible constancy in Cato； by which he
kept with him the whole senate； lest by this he should likewise
pervert and draw after him all the well…affected part of the
commonalty； resolved to withstand Domitius at once； and to prevent his
entrance into the forum。 To this end； therefore； they sent in a band
of armed men； who slew the torchbearer of Domitius； as he was
leading the way before him； and put all the rest to flight； last of
all； Cato himself retired； having received a wound in his right arm
while defending Domitius。 Thus by these means and practices they
obtained the consulship； neither did they behave themselves with
more decency in their further proceedings； but in the first place；
when the people were choosing Cato praetor； and just ready with
their votes for the poll； Pompey broke up the assembly； upon a pretext
of some inauspicious appearance； and having gained the tribes by
money； they publicly proclaimed Vatinius praetor。 Then； in pursuance
of their covenants with Caesar； they introduced several laws by
Trebonius； the tribune； continuing Caesar's commission to another five
years' charge of his province； to Crassus there were appointed Syria
and the Parthian war； and to Pompey himself； all Africa； together with
both Spains； and four legions of soldiers； two of which he lent to
Caesar upon his request for the wars in Gaul。
Crassus； upon the expiration of his consulship； departed forthwith
into his province； but Pompey spent some time in Rome； upon the
opening or dedication of his theatre； where he treated the people with
all sorts of games； shows； and exercises； in gymnastics alike and in
music。 There was likewise the hunting or baiting of wild beasts； and
combats with them； in which five hundred lions were slain； but above
all； the battle of elephants was a spectacle full of horror and
amazement。
These entertainments brought him great honour and popularity； but on
the other side he created no less envy to himself； in that he
committed the government of his provinces and legions into the hands
of friends as his lieutenants； whilst he himself was going about and
spending his time with his wife in all the places of amusement in
Italy； whether it were he was so fond of her himself； or she so fond
of him； and he unable to distress her by going away； for this also
is stated。 And the love displayed by this young wife for her elderly
husband was a matter of general note； to be attributed； it would seem；
to his constancy in married life； and to his dignity of manner；
which in familiar intercourse was tempered with grace and
gentleness； and was particularly attractive to women； as even Flora；
the courtesan； may be thought good enough evidence to prove。
It once happened in a public assembly； as they were at an election
of the aediles； that the people came to blows； and several about
Pompey were slain； so that he； finding himself all bloody； ordered a
change of apparel； but the servants who brought home his clothes；
making a great bustle and hurry about the house； it chanced that the
young lady； who was then with child； saw his gown all stained with
blood； upon which she dropped immediately into a swoon； and was hardly
brought to life again； however； what with her fright and suffering；
she fell into labour and miscarried； even those who chiefly censured
Pompey for his friendship to Caesar could not reprove him for his
affection to so attached a wife。 Afterwards she was great again； and
brought to bed of a daughter； but died in childbed； neither did the
infant outlive her mother many days。 Pompey had prepared all things
for the interment of her corpse at his house near Alba； but the people
seized upon it by force； and performed the solemnities in the field of
Mars； rather in compassion for the young lady； than in favour either
for Pompey or Caesar； and yet of these two； the people seemed at
that time to pay Caesar a greater share of honour in his absence； than
to Pompey； though he was present。
For the city now at once began to roll and swell； so to say； with
the stir of the coming storm。 Things everywhere were in a state of
agitation； and everybody's disco