Dios Rome, Vol. 2 | Page 8

in no account--you ought not properly even to pretend to
regard it--but to me it would prove most grievous. And I must admit
that I am not so much disturbed or troubled by any danger to be
encountered in the midst of wars as by such exhibitions. For what
person in his right mind could take pleasure in living among men who
are jealous of him, and who would feel the heart to carry out any public
enterprise, if destined in case of failure to submit to punishment and if
successful to be the object of rancorous envy? In view of these and
other considerations allow me to remain at peace and attend to my own
business, so that now at last I may bestow some care upon my private
affairs and not perish from exhaustion. Against the pirates elect
somebody else. There are many who are both willing and able to serve
as admirals, both younger and older men, so that your choice from so
numerous a company becomes easy. Of course I am not the only one
who loves you, nor am I alone skilled in warfare, but--not seeming to
favor any by mentioning names--equally so is A or B."
[-27-] At this point in his harangue Gabinius, interrupting, cried:
"Pompey's behavior in this very matter, Quirites, is worthy of his
character. He does not seek the leadership, nor does he accept it
without thought when granted him. An upright man has no business,
generally speaking, to desire the annoyances incident to office, and it is

Pompey's way to undertake all tasks imposed upon him only with due
consideration, in order that he may accomplish them with
corresponding safety. Precipitation in promises and in action, more
hasty than the occasion demands, causes the downfall of many; but
exactitude at the start as well as in execution possesses a constant value
and is to the advantage of all. You must choose not what would satisfy
Pompey, but what is of benefit to the state. Not office seekers, but those
who have capacity should be appointed to the business in hand; the
former exist in very large numbers, but any other such man as my
candidate you will not find. You recall, further, how many reverses of a
serious nature we endured in the war against Sertorius through lack of a
general, and that we found no one else among young or old adapted to
it except the man before you; and that we sent him to the field in place
of both consuls, although at that time he had not yet reached a mature
age and was not a member of the senate. I should be glad if we did have
many able men, and if I ought to pray for such, I would so pray: since,
however, this ability does not depend on prayer or come of its own
accord to any one, but a man has to be born with a natural bent for it, to
learn what is pertinent and practice what is fitting and beyond
everything to enjoy good fortune, which would very rarely fall to the
lot of the same man, you must all unanimously, whenever such an one
is found, both support him and make the fullest use of him even if he
does not wish it. Such violence proves most noble both to him who
exerts it and to him who suffers it,--to the former because he would be
preserved by it, and to the latter because it would preserve the citizens,
in whose behalf the excellent and patriotic man would most readily
give up both body and soul.
[-28-] "Do you think that whereas this Pompey when a youth could
conduct campaigns, be general, increase our possessions, preserve
those of our allies, and acquire those of our adversaries, now, in the
prime of life, when every man fairly surpasses himself, with a mass of
additional experience gained from wars he could not prove most useful
to you? Will you reject, now that he has reached man's estate, him
whom while iuvenis you chose to lead? Will you not confide this
campaign to the man, now become a member of the senate, to whom
while still a knight you committed those wars? Will you not, now that
you have most amply tested his mettle, commit the present emergency,

no less pressing than former ones, to him for whom alone you asked in
the face of those urgent dangers ere you had applied any accurate test at
all? Will you not send out against the pirates one, now an ex-consul,
whom before he could yet properly hold office you elected against
Sertorius? Rather, do not for a moment adopt any other course; and
Pompey, do you heed your country, and me. By her you were