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this Pompey was much censured； for； having at the beginning of the
revolt written to the senate that Brutus had voluntarily surrendered
himself； immediately afterward he sent other letters； with matter of
accusation against the man after he was taken off。 Brutus； who； with
Cassius； slew Caesar； was son to this Brutus； neither in war nor in
his death like his father； as appears at large in his life。 Lepidus；
upon this being driven out of Italy； fled to Sardinia； where he fell
sick and died of sorrow； not for his public misfortunes； as they
say； but upon the discovery of a letter proving his wife to have
been unfaithful to him。
There yet remained Sertorius； a very different general from Lepidus；
in possession of Spain； and making himself formidable to Rome； the
final disease； as it were； in which the scattered evils of the civil
wars had now collected。 He had already cut off various inferior
commanders； and was at this time coping with Metellus Pius； a man of
repute and a good soldier； though perhaps he might now seem too
slow； by reason of his age； to second and improve the happier
moments of war； and might be sometimes wanting to those advantages
which Sertorius； by his quickness and dexterity； would wrest out of
his hands。 For Sertorius was always hovering about； and coming upon
him unawares； like a captain of thieves rather than soldiers；
disturbing him perpetually with ambuscades and light skirmishes；
whereas Metellus was accustomed to regular conduct； and fighting in
battle array with full…armed soldiers。 Pompey； therefore； keeping
his army in readiness； made it his object to be sent in aid to
Metellus； neither would he be induced to disband his forces；
notwithstanding that Catulus called upon him to do so； but by some
colourable device or other he still kept them in arms about the
city； until the senate at last thought fit； upon the report of
Lucius Philippus； to decree him that government。 At that time； they
say； one of the senators there expressing his wonder and demanding
of Philippus whether his meaning was that Pompey should be sent into
Spain as proconsul； 〃No；〃 replied Philippus； 〃but as proconsuls；〃 as
if both consuls for that year were in his opinion wholly useless。
When Pompey was arrived in Spain； as is usual upon the fame of a new
leader； men began to be inspired with new hopes； and those nations
that had not entered into a very strict alliance with Sertorius
began to waver and revolt； whereupon Sertorius uttered various
arrogant and scornful speeches against Pompey； saying； in derision；
that he should want no other weapon but a ferula and rod to chastise
this boy with； if he were not afraid of that old woman； meaning
Metellus。 Yet in deed and reality he stood in awe of Pompey； and
kept on his guard against him； as appeared by his whole management
of the war； which he was observed to conduct much more warily than
before： for Metellus； which one would not have imagined； was grown
excessively luxurious in his habits； having given himself over to
self…indulgence and pleasure； and from a moderate and temperate became
suddenly a sumptuous and ostentatious liver； so that this very thing
gained Pompey great reputation and good…will； as he made himself
somewhat specially an example of frugality； although that virtue was
habitual in him； and required no great industry to exercise it； as
he was naturally inclined to temperance； and no ways inordinate in his
desires。 The fortune of the war was very various； nothing； however；
annoyed Pompey so much as the taking of the town of Lauron by
Sertorius。 For when Pompey thought he had him safe enclosed； and had
boasted somewhat largely of raising the siege； he found himself all of
a sudden encompassed； insomuch that he durst not move out of his camp；
but was forced to sit still whilst the city was taken and burnt before
his face。 However； afterwards； in a battle near Valentia； he gave a
great defeat to Herennius and Perpenna； two commanders among the
refugees who had fled to Sertorius； and now lieutenants under him；
in which he slew above ten thousand men。
Pompey； being elated and filled with confidence by this victory；
made all haste to engage Sertorius himself； and the rather lest
Metellus should come in for a share in the honour of the victory。 Late
in the day towards sunset they joined battle near the river Sucro；
both being in fear lest Metellus should come： Pompey； that he might
engage alone； Sertorius； that he might have one alone to engage
with。 The issue of the battle proved doubtful； for a wing of each side
had the better； but of the generals Sertorius had the greater
honour； for that he maintained his post； having put to flight the
entire division that was opposed to him； whereas Pompey was himself
almost made a prisoner； for being set upon by a strong man…at…arms
that fought on foot （he being on horseback）； as they were closely
engaged hand to hand the strokes of their swords chanced to light upon
their hands； but with a different success； for Pompey's was a slight
wound only； whereas he cut off the other's hand。 However； it
happened so； that many now falling upon Pompey together； and his own
forces there being put to the rout； he made his escape beyond
expectation； by quitting his horse； and turning him out among the
enemy。 For the horse being richly adorned with golden trappings； and
having a caparison of great value； the soldiers quarrelled among
themselves for the booty； so that while they were fighting with one
another； and dividing the spoil； Pompey made his escape。 By break of
day the next morning each drew out his forces into the field to
claim the victory； but Metellus coming up； Sertorius vanished；
having broken up and dispersed his army。 For this was the way in which
he used to raise and disband his armies； so that sometimes he would be
wandering up and down all alone； and at other times again he would
come pouring into the field at the head of no less than one hundred
and fifty thousand fighting men； swelling of a sudden like a winter
torrent。
When Pompey was going； after the battle； to meet and welcome
Metellus； and when they were near one another； he commanded his
attendants to lower their rods in honour of Metellus； as his senior
and superior。 But Metellus on the other side forbade it； and behaved
himself in general very obligingly to him； not claiming any
prerogative either in respect of his consular rank or seniority；
excepting only that when they encamped together； the watchword was
given to the whole camp by Metellus。 But generally they had their
camps asunder； being divided and distracted by the enemy； who took all
shapes； and being always in motion； would by some skilful artifice
appear in a variety of places almost in the same instant； drawing them
from one attack to another； and at last keeping them from foraging；
wasting the country； and holding the dominion of the sea； Sertorius
drove them both out of that part of Spain which was under his control；
and forced them； for want of necessaries； to retreat into provinces
that did not belong to them。
Pompey； having made use of and expended the greatest part of his own
private revenues upon the war； sent and demanded moneys of the senate；
adding that； in case they did not furnish him speedily； he should be
forced to return into Italy with his army。 Lucullus being consul at
that time； though at variance with Pompey； yet in consideration that
he himself was a candidate for the command against Mithridates；
procured and hastened these supplies； fearing lest there should be any
pretence or occasion given to Pompey of returning home； who of himself
was no less desirous of leaving Sertorius and of undertaking the war
against Mithridates； as an enterprise which by all appearance would
prove much more honourable and not so dangerous。 In the meantime
Sertorius died； being treacherously murdered by some of his own party；
and Perpenna； the chief among them； took the command and attempted
to carry on the same enterprises with Sertorius； having indeed the
same forces and the same means； only wanting the same skill and
conduct in the use of them。 Pompey therefore marched directly
against Perpenna； and finding him acting merely at random in his
affairs； had a decoy ready for him； and sent out a detachment of ten
cohorts into the level country with orders to range up and down and
disperse themselves abroad。 The bait took accordingly； and no sooner
had Perpenna turned upon the prey and had them in chase； but Pompey
appeared suddenly with all his army； and joining battle； gave him a
total overthrow。 Most of his officers were slain in the field； and
he himself being brought prisoner to Pompey； was by his order put to
death。 Neither was Pompey guilty in this of ingratitude or
unmindfulness of what had occurred in Sicily； which some have laid
to his charge； but was guided by a high…minded policy and a deliberate
counsel for the security of his country。 For Perpenna； having in his
custody all Sertorius's papers； offered to produce several letters
from the greatest men in Rome； who； desirous of a change and
subversion of the government； had invited Sertorius into Italy。 And
Pompey； fearing