pompey-第14部分

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unanimously　approved　of；　and　a　decree　passed　that　Pompey　should　be
made　sole　consul；　with　this　clause；　that　if　he　thought　it　necessary　to
have　a　colleague；　he　might　choose　whom　he　pleased；　provided　it　were
not　till　after　two　months　expired。
　　Thus　was　Pompey　created　and　declared　sole　consul　by　Sulpicius；
regent　in　this　vacancy；　upon　which　he　made　very　cordial
acknowledgments　to　Cato；　professing　himself　much　his　debtor；　and
requesting　his　good　advice　in　conducting　the　government；　to　this
Cato　replied；　that　Pompey　had　no　reason　to　thank　him；　for　all　that
he　had　said　was　for　the　service　of　the　commonwealth；　not　of　Pompey；
but　that　he　would　be　always　ready　to　give　his　advice　privately；　if
he　were　asked　for　it；　and　if　not；　he　should　not　fail　to　say　what　he
thought　in　public。　Such　was　Cato's　conduct　on　all　occasions。
　　On　his　return　into　the　city　Pompey　married　Cornelia；　the　daughter　of
Metellus　Scipio；　not　a　maiden；　but　lately　left　a　widow　by　Publius；　the
son　of　Crassus；　her　first　husband；　who　had　been　killed　in　Parthia。　The
young　lady　had　other　attractions　besides　those　of　youth　and　beauty；
for　she　was　highly　educated；　played　well　upon　the　lute；　and　understood
geometry；　and　had　been　accustomed　to　listen　with　profit　to　lectures　on
philosophy；　all　this；　too；　without　in　any　degree　becoming　unamiable　or
pretentious；　as　sometimes　young　women　do　when　they　pursue　such
studies。　Nor　could　any　fault　be　found　either　with　her　father's
family　or　reputation。　The　disparity　of　their　ages　was；　however；　not
liked　by　everybody；　Cornelia　being　in　this　respect　a　fitter　match
for　Pompey's　son。　And　wiser　judges　thought　it　rather　a　slight　upon　the
commonwealth　when　he；　to　whom　alone　they　had　committed　their　broken
fortunes；　and　from　whom　alone；　as　from　their　physician；　they
expected　a　cure　to　these　distractions；　went　about　crowned　with
garlands　and　celebrating　his　nuptial　feasts；　never　considering　that
his　very　consulship　was　a　public　calamity；　which　would　never　have　been
given　him；　contrary　to　the　rules　of　law；　had　his　country　been　in　a
flourishing　state。　Afterwards；　however；　he　took　cognizance　of　the
cases　of　those　that　had　obtained　offices　by　gifts　and　bribery；　and
enacted　laws　and　ordinances；　setting　forth　the　rules　of　judgment　by
which　they　should　be　arraigned；　and　regulating　all　things　with　gravity
and　justice；　he　restored　security；　order；　and　silence　to　their
courts　of　judicature；　himself　giving　his　presence　there　with　a　band　of
soldiers。　But　when　his　father…in…law；　Scipio；　was　accused；　he　sent　for
the　three　hundred　and　sixty　judges　to　his　house；　and　entreated　them　to
be　favourable　to　him；　whereupon　his　accuser；　seeing　Scipio　come　into
the　court；　accompanied　by　the　judges　themselves；　withdrew　the
prosecution。　Upon　this　Pompey　was　very　ill　spoken　of；　and　much　worse
in　the　case　of　Plancus；　for　whereas　he　himself　had　made　a　law
putting　a　stop　to　the　practice　of　making　speeches　in　praise　of　persons
under　trial；　yet　notwithstanding　this　prohibition；　he　came　into
court　and　spoke　openly　in　commendation　of　Plancus；　insomuch　that　Cato；
who　happened　to　be　one　of　the　judges　at　that　time；　stopping　his　ears
with　his　hands；　told　him　he　could　not　in　conscience　listen　to
commendations　contrary　to　law。　Cato　upon　this　was　refused；　and　set
aside　from　being　a　judge；　before　sentence　was　given；　but　Plancus　was
condemned　by　the　rest　of　the　judges；　to　Pompey's　dishonour。　Shortly
after；　Hypsaeus；　a　man　of　consular　dignity；　who　was　under
accusation；　waited　for　Pompey's　return　from　his　bath　to　his　supper；
and　falling　down　at　his　feet；　implored　his　favour；　but　he　disdainfully
passed　him　by；　saying；　that　he　did　nothing　else　but　spoil　his
supper。　Such　partiality　was　looked　upon　as　a　great　fault　in　Pompey　and
highly　condemned；　however；　he　managed　all　things　else　discreetly；
and　having　put　the　government　in　very　good　order；　he　chose　his
father…in…law　to　be　his　colleague　in　the　consulship　for　the　last
five　months。　His　provinces　were　continued　to　him　for　the　term　of
four　years　longer；　with　a　commission　to　take　one　thousand　talents
yearly　out　of　the　treasury　for　the　payment　of　his　army。
　　This　gave　occasion　to　some　of　Caesar's　friends　to　think　it
reasonable；　that　some　consideration　should　be　had　of　him　too；　who
had　done　such　signal　services　in　war　and　fought　so　many　battles　for
the　empire；　alleging；　that　he　deserved　at　least　a　second　consulship；
or　to　have　the　government　of　his　province　continued；　that　so　he
might　command　and　enjoy　in　peace　what　he　had　obtained　in　war；　and　no
successor　come　in　to　reap　the　fruits　of　his　labour　and　carry　off　the
glory　of　his　actions。　There　arising　some　debate　about　this　matter；
Pompey　took　upon　him；　as　it　were　out　of　kindness　to　Caesar；　to　plead
his　cause；　and　allay　any　jealousy　that　was　conceived　against　him；
telling　them　that　he　had　letters　from　Caesar；　expressing　his　desire
for　a　successor；　and　his　own　discharge　from　the　command；　but　it
would　be　only　right　that　they　should　give　him　leave　to　stand　for　the
consulship　though　in　his　absence。　But　those　of　Cato's　party
withstood　this；　saying；　that　if　he　expected　any　favour　from　the
citizens；　he　ought　to　leave　his　army　and　come　in　a　private　capacity　to
canvass　for　it。　And　Pompey's　making　no　rejoinder；　but　letting　it
pass　as　a　matter　in　which　he　was　overruled；　increased　the　suspicion　of
his　real　feelings　towards　Caesar。　Presently；　also；　under　pretence　of　a
war　with　Parthia；　he　sent　for　his　two　legions　which　he　had　lent　him。
However；　Caesar；　though　he　well　knew　why　they　were　asked　for；　sent
them　home　very　liberally　rewarded。
　　About　that　time　Pompey　recovered　of　a　dangerous　fit　of　sickness
which　seized　him　at　Naples；　where　the　whole　city；　upon　the
suggestion　of　Praxagoras；　made　sacrifices　of　thanksgiving　to　the
gods　for　his　recovery。　The　neighbouring　towns　likewise　happening　to
follow　their　example；　the　thing　then　went　its　course　throughout　all
Italy；　so　that　there　was　not　a　city；　either　great　or　small；　that　did
not　feast　and　rejoice　for　many　days　together。　And　the　company　of　those
that　came　from　all　parts　to　meet　him　was　so　numerous　that　no　place　was
able　to　contain　them；　but　the　villages；　seaport　towns；　and　the　very
highways　were　all　full　of　people；　feasting　and　sacrificing　to　the
gods。　Nay；　many　went　to　meet　him　with　garlands　on　their　heads；　and
flambeaux　in　their　hands；　casting　flowers　and　nosegays　upon　him　as
he　went　along；　so　that　this　progress　of　his；　and　reception；　was　one　of
the　noblest　and　most　glorious　sights　imaginable。　And　yet　it　is　thought
that　this　very　thing　was　not　one　of　the　least　causes　and　occasions
of　the　civil　war。　For　Pompey；　yielding　to　a　feeling　of　exultation；
which　in　the　greatness　of　the　present　display　of　joy　lost　sight　of
more　solid　grounds　of　consideration；　and　abandoning　that　prudent
temper　which　had　guided　him　hitherto　to　a　safe　use　of　all　his　good
fortune　and　his　successes；　gave　himself　up　to　an　extravagant
confidence　in　his　own　contempt　of　Caesar's　power；　insomuch　that　he
thought　neither　force　of　arms　nor　care　necessary　against　him；　but　that
he　could　pull　him　down　much　easier　than　he　had　set　him　up。　Besides
this；　Appius；　under　whose　command　those　legions　which　Pompey　lent　to
Caesar　were　returned；　coming　lately　out　of　Gaul；　spoke　slightingly
of　Caesar's　actions　there；　and　spread　scandalous　reports　about　him；　at
the　same　time　telling　Pompey　that　he　was　unacquainted　with　his　own
strength　and　reputation　if　he　made　use　of　any　other　forces　against
Caesar　than　Caesar's　own；　for　such　was　the　soldiers'　hatred　to　Caesar；
and　their　love　to　Pompey　so　great；　that　they　would　all　come　over　to
him　upon　his　first　appearance。　By　these　flatteries　Pompey　was　so
puffed　up；　and　led　on　into　such　a　careless　security；　that　he　could　not
choose　but　laugh　at　those　who　seemed　to　fear　a　war；　and　when　some　were
saying；　that　if　Caesar　should　march　against　the　city；　they　could　not
see　what　forces　there　were　to　resist　him；　he　replied　with　a　smile；
bidding　them　be　in　no　concern；　〃for；〃　said　he；　〃whenever　I　stamp
with　my　foot　in　any　part　of　Italy　there　will　rise　up　forces　enough
in　an　instant；　both　horse　and　foot。〃
　　Caesar；　on　the　other　side；　was　more　and　more　vigorous　in　his
proceedings；　himself　always　at　hand　about　the　frontiers　of　Italy；
and　sending　his　soldiers　continually　into　the　city　to　attend　all
elections　with　their　votes。　Besides；　he　corrupted　several　of　the
magistrates；　and　kept　them　in　his　pay；　among　others；　Paulus；　the
consul；　who　was　brought　over　by　a　bribe　of　one　thousand　and　five
hundred　talents；　and　Curio；　tribune　of　the　people；　by　a　discharge　of
the　debts　with　which　he　was　overwhelmed；　together　with　Mark　Antony；
who；　out　of　friendship　to　Curio；　had　become　bound　with　him　in　the　same
obligations　for　them　all。　And　it　was　stated　as　a　fact；　that　a
centurion　of　Caesar's；　waiting　at　the　senate…house；　and　hearing　that
the　senate　refused　to　give　him　a　longer　term　of　his　government；
clapped　his　hand　upon　his　sword；　and　said；　〃But　this　shall　give　it。〃
And　indeed　all　his　practices　and　preparations　seemed　to　bear　this
appearance。　Curio's　demands；　however；　and　requests　in　favour　of
Caesar；　were　more　popular　in　appearance；　for　he　desired　one　of　these
two　things；　either　that　Pompey　also　should　be　called　upon　to　resign
his　army；　or　that　Caesar　should　not　be　taken　away　from　him；　for　if
both　of　them　became　private　persons；　both　would　be　satisfied　with
simple　justice；　or　if　both　retained　their　present　power；　each　being
a　match　for　the　other；　they　would　be　contented　with　what　they
already　had；　but　he　that　weakens　one；　does　at　the　same　time　strengthen
the　other；　and　so　doubles　that　very　strength　and　power　which　he
stood　in　fear　of　before。
　　Marcellus；　the　consul；　replied　nothing　to　all　this；　but　that
Caesar　was　a　robber；　and　should　be　proclaimed　an　enemy　to　the　state　if
he　did　not　disband　his　army。　However；　Curio；　with　the　assistance　of
Antony　and　Piso；　prevailed；　that　the　matter　in　debate　should　be　put　to
the　question；　and　decided　by　those　to　withdraw　who　were　of　opinion
that　Caesar　only　should　lay　down　his　army；　and　Pompey　command；　the
majority　withdrew。　But　when　it　was　ordered　again　for　those　to　withdraw
whose　vote　was　that　both　should　lay　down　their　arms；　and　neither
comm