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command were taken prisoners； and cities put under contribution； to
the reproach and dishonour of the Roman supremacy。
There were of these corsairs above one thousand sail； and they had
taken no less than four hundred cities； committing sacrilege upon
the temples of the gods； and enriching themselves with the spoils of
many never violated before； such as were those of Claros； Didyma；
and Samothrace； and the temple of the Earth in Hermione； and that of
Aesculapius in Epidaurus； those of Neptune at the Isthmus； at
Taenarus； and at Calauria； those of Apollo at Actium and Leucas； and
those of Juno in Samos； at Argos； and at Lacinium。 They themselves
offered strange sacrifices upon Mount Olympus； and performed certain
secret rites or religious mysteries； among which those of Mithras have
been preserved to our own time having received their previous
institution from them。 But besides these insolencies by sea； they were
also injurious to the Romans by land； for they would often go inland
up the roads； plundering and destroying their villages and
country…houses。 Once they seized upon two Roman praetors； Sextilius
and Bellinus； in their purple…edged robes； and carried them off
together with their officers and lictors。 The daughter also of
Antonius。 a man that had had the honour of a triumph； taking a journey
into the country； was seized； and redeemed upon payment of a large
ransom。 But it was most abusive of all that； when any of the
captives declared himself to be a Roman； and told his name； they
affected to be surprised； and feigning fear； smote their thighs and
fell down at his feet humbly beseeching him to be gracious and forgive
them。
The captives； seeing them so humble and suppliant； believed them
to be in earnest； and some of them now would proceed to put Roman
shoes on his feet； and to dress him in a Roman gown； to prevent；
they said； his being mistaken another time。 After all this
pageantry； when they had thus deluded and mocked him long enough； at
last putting out a ship's ladder； when they were in the midst of the
sea； they told him he was free to go； and wished him a pleasant
journey； and if he resisted they themselves threw him overboard and
drowned him。
This piratic power having got the dominion and control of all the
Mediterranean； there was left no place for navigation or commerce。 And
this it was which most of all made the Romans； finding themselves to
be extremely straitened in their markets； and considering that if it
should continue； there would be a dearth and famine in the land；
determined at last to send out Pompey to recover the seas from the
pirates。 Gabinius； one of Pompey's friends； preferred a law； whereby
there was granted to him； not only the government of the seas as
admiral； but； in direct words； sole and irresponsible sovereignty over
all men。 For the decree gave him absolute power and authority in all
the seas within the pillars of Hercules； and in the adjacent
mainland for the space of four hundred furlongs from the sea。 Now
there were but few regions in the Roman empire out of that compass；
and the greatest of the nations and most powerful of the kings were
included in the limit。 Moreover； by this decree he had a power of
selecting fifteen lieutenants out of the senate； and of assigning to
each his province in charge； then he might take likewise out of the
treasury and out of the hands of the revenue…farmers what moneys he
pleased； as also two hundred sail of ships； with a power to press
and levy what soldiers and seamen he thought fit。
When this law was read； the common people approved of it
exceedingly； but the chief men and most important among the senators
looked upon it as an exorbitant power； even beyond the reach of
envy； but well deserving their fears。 Therefore concluding with
themselves that such unlimited authority was dangerous； they agreed
unanimously to oppose the bill； and all went against it； except
Caesar； who gave his vote for the law； not to gratify Pompey； but
the people； whose favour he had courted underhand from the
beginning； and hoped to compass for himself。 The rest inveighed
bitterly against Pompey； insomuch that one of the consuls told him
that； if he was ambitious of the place of Romulus； he would scarce
avoid his end； but he was in danger of being torn to pieces by the
multitude for his speech。 Yet when Catulus stood up to speak against
the law； the people in reverence to him were silent and attentive。 And
when； after saying much in the most honourable terms in favour of
Pompey； he proceeded to advise the people in kindness to spare him；
and not to expose a man of his value to such a succession of dangers
and wars； 〃For；〃 said he； 〃where could you find another Pompey； or
whom would you have in case you should chance to lose him？〃 they all
cried out with one voice； 〃Yourself。〃 And so Catulus； finding all
his rhetoric ineffectual； desisted。 Then Roscius attempted to speak；
but could obtain no hearing； and made signs with his fingers；
intimating； 〃Not him alone；〃 but that there might be a second Pompey
or colleague in authority with him。 Upon this； it is said； the
multitude； being extremely incensed； made such a loud outcry； that a
crow flying over the market…place at that instant was struck； and
dropped down among the crowd； whence it would appear that the cause of
birds falling down to the ground is not any rupture or division of the
air causing a vacuum； but purely the actual stroke of the voice；
which； when carried up in a great mass and with violence； raises a
sort of tempest and billow； as it were； in the air。
The assembly broke up for that day； and when the day was come on
which the bill was to pass by suffrage into a decree； Pompey went
privately into the country； but hearing that it was passed and
confirmed； he returned again into the city by night； to avoid the envy
that might be occasioned by the concourse of people that would meet
and congratulate him。 The next morning he came abroad and sacrificed
to the gods； and having audience at an open assembly； so handled the
matter that they enlarged his power； giving him many things besides
what was already granted； and almost doubling the preparation
appointed in the former decree。 Five hundred ships were manned for
him； and an army raised of one hundred and twenty thousand foot and
five thousand horse。 Twenty…four senators that had been generals of
armies were appointed to serve as lieutenants under him； and to
these were added two quaestors。 Now it happened within this time
that the prices of provisions were much reduced which gave an occasion
to the joyful people of saying that the very name of Pompey had
ended the war。 However； Pompey； in pursuance of his charge； divided
all the seas and the whole Mediterranean into thirteen parts；
allotting a squadron to each； under the command of his officers； and
having thus dispersed his power into all quarters； and encompassed the
pirates everywhere； they began to fall into his hands by whole shoals；
which he seized and brought into his harbours。 As for those that
withdrew themselves betimes； or otherwise escaped his general chase；
they all made to Cilicia； where they bid themselves as in their hives；
against whom Pompey now proceeded in person with sixty of his best
ships； not； however； until he had first scoured and cleared all the
seas near Rome； the Tyrrhenian； and the African； and all the waters of
Sardinia； Corsica； and Sicily； all which he performed in the space
of forty days by his own indefatigable industry and the zeal of his
lieutenants。
Pompey met with some interruption in Rome； through the malice and
envy of Piso； the consul； who had given some check to his
proceedings by withholding his stores and discharging his seamen；
whereupon he sent his fleet round to Brundusium； himself going the
nearest way by land through Tuscany to Rome； which was no sooner known
by the people than they all flocked out to meet him upon the way as if
they had not sent him out but a few days before。 What chiefly
excited their joy was the unexpectedly rapid change in the markets；
which abounded now with the greatest plenty； so that Piso was in great
danger to have been deprived of his consulship； Gabinius having a
law ready prepared for that purpose but Pompey forbade it； behaving
himself as in that； so in all things else； with great moderation；
and when he had made sure of all that he wanted or desired； he
departed for Brundusium； whence he set sail in pursuit of the pirates。
And though he was straitened in time； and his hasty voyage forced
him to sail by several cities without touching； yet he would not
pass by the city of Athens unsaluted； but landing there； after he
had sacrificed to the gods； and made an address to the people； as he
was returning out of the city； he read at the gates two epigrams； each
in a single line； written in his own praise； one within the gate：…
〃Thy humbler thoughts make thee a god the more；〃
the other without：…
〃Adieu we bid； who welcome bade before。〃
Now because Pompey had shown himself merciful to some of these pirates
that were yet roving in bodies about the seas； having upon their
supplication o