A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

POMPEIUS. POMPEIUS. 485
and Metellus Creticus, were his personal enemies. into banishment; but after Clodius had once
At the same time he does not seem to have been gained from the triumvirs the great object he had
disposed to unite himself to the popular party, desired, he did not care any longer to consult their
which had risen into importance during his absence views. He restored Tigranes to liberty whom
in the East, and over which Caesar possessed un- Pompey had kept in confinement, ridiculed the
bounded influence. The object, however, which great Imperator before the people, and was accused
engaged the immediate attention of Pompey of makingan attemptupon Pompey's life. Pompey
was to obtain from the senate a ratification for in revenge resolved to procure the recal of Cicero
all his acts in Asia, and an assignment of lands from banishment, and was thus brought again into
which he had promised to his veterans. In order some friendly connections with the aristocratical
to secure this object the more certainly, he had party. With Pompey's support the bill for Cicero's
purchased the consulship for one of his creatures, return was passed in B. c. 57, and the orator
L. Afranius, who accordingly was elected with Q. arrived at Rome in the month of September. To
Metellus for the year B. c. 60. But he was cruelly show his gratitude, Cicero proposed that Poindisappointed; L. Afranius was a man of slender abi- pey should have the superintendence of the cornlity and little courage, and did hardly any thing to market throughout the whole republic for a period
promote the views of his patron: the senate, glad of of five years, since there was a scarcity of corn at
an opportunity to put an affront upon a man whom Rome, and serious riots had ensued ill consequence.
they both feared and hated, resolutely refused to A bill was accordingly passed, by which Pompey
sanction Pompey's measures in Asia. This was was made the Praefectus Annonae for five years.
the unwisest thing the senate could have done. If In this capacity he went to Sicily, and senit his
they had known their real interests, they would legates to various parts of the Mediterranean, to
have yielded to all Pompey's wishes, and have collect corn for the capital; and the price in consesought by every means to win him over to their quence soon fell. About the same time there were
side, as a counterpoise to the growing and more many discussions in the senate respecting the redangerous influence of Caesar. But their short- storation of Ptolemy Auletes to Egypt. Ptolenmy
sighted policy threw Pompey into Caesar's arms, had come to Rome, and been received by Pompey
and thus sealed the downfal of their party. Pom- in his villa at Albanum, and it was generally bepey was resolved to fulfil the promises he had made lieved that Pompey himself wished to be sent to
to his Asiatic clients and his veteran troops; his the East at the head of an army for the purpose of
honour and reputation were pledged; and the re- restoring the Egyptian monarch. The senate, howfusal of the senate to redeem his pledge was an in- ever, dreaded to let him return to the scene of his
suilt that he could not brook, more especially as he former triumphs, where he possessed unbounded
might have entered Rome at the head of his army, influence; and accordingly they discovered, when
and have obtained his wishes with his sword. With he was in Sicily and Ptolemy in Ephesus, that the
these feelings Pompey broke off all connection with Sibylline books forbade the employment of force.
the aristocracy, and devoted himself to Caesar, who Pompey returned to Rome early in B. c. 56; and
promised to obtain for him the ratification of his though he could not obtain for himself the mission
acts. Pompey, on his side, agreed to support to the East, he used all his influence in order that
Caesar in all his measures; and that they might the late consul, Lentulus Spinther, who had obbe more sure of carrying their plans into execution, tained the province of Cilicia, should restore
Caesar prevailed upon Pompey to become recon- Ptolemy to his kingdom. Clodius, who was now
ciled to Crassus, who by his connections, as well as curule aedile, accused Milo at the beginning of
by his immense wealth, had great influence at February; and when Pompey spoke in his favour,
Rome. Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus, accordingly he was abused by Milo in the foulest manner, and
agreed to assist one another against their mutual held up to laughter and scorn. At the same time
enemies; and thus was first formed the first tri- he was attacked in the senate by the tribune
umuvirate. C. Cato, who openly charged him with treachery
This union of the three most powerful men at towards Cicero. The evident delight with which
Rome crushed the aristocracy for the time. Sup- the senate listened to the attack inflamed Pomported by Pompey and Crassus, Caesar was able in pey's anger to the highest pitch; he spoke openly
his consulship, B. c. 59, to carry all his measures. of conspiracies against his life, denounced Crassus
An account of these is given elsewhere. [CAESAR, as the author of them, and threatened to take meap. 543.] It is only necessary to mention here, sures for his security. He had now lost the confithat by Caesar's agrarian law, which divided the dence of all parties; the senate hated and feared
rich Campanian land among the poorer citizens, him; the people had deserted him for their favourite
Pompey was able to fulfil the promises he had Clodius; and he had no other resource left but to
made to his veterans; and that Caesar likewise strengthen his connection with Caesar, and to avail
obtained from the people a ratification of all Pom- himself of the popularity of the conqueror of Gaul
pey's acts in Asia. In order to cement their union for the purpose of maintaining his own power and
more closely, Caesar gave to Pompey his daughter influence. This was a bitter draught for the conJulia in marriage, Pompey having shortly before queror of the East to swallow: he was already conmdivorced his wife Mucia. pelled to confess that he was only the second man
At the beginning of the following year, B. c. 58, in the state. But as he had no alternative, he reGabinius and Piso entered upon the consulship, paired to Caesar's winter-quarters at Lucca, whither
and Caesar went to his province in Gaul Pompey Crassus had already gone before him. Caesar
retired with his wife Julia to his villa of Albanum reconciled Pompey and Crassus to one another,
near Rome, and took hardly any part in public and- concluded a secret agreement with them, in
affairs during this year. He quietly allowed Clo- virtue of which they were to be consuls for the
dius to ruin Cicero, whom the triumvirs had deter- next year, and obtain provinces and armies, while
mined to leave to his fate.. Cicero therefore went he was to hlave his government prolonged for assII3