Pompey   

talents), Pompey acted contrary to his usual habits, not quite
fairly or generously, fearing lest he should fall under the common
censure of being enamoured and charmed with her beauty, which was
irresistible, and became famous everywhere. Nevertheless, though he
seemed to be so extremely circumspect and cautious, yet even in
matters of this nature he could not avoid the calumnies of his
enemies, but upon the score of married women, they accused him, as
if he had connived at many things, and embezzled the public revenue to
gratify their luxury.
Of his easiness of temper and plainness, in what related to eating
and drinking, the story is told that, once in a sickness, when his
stomach nauseated common meats, his physician prescribed him a
thrush to eat; but upon search, there was none to be bought, for
they were not then in season, and one telling him they were to be
had at Lucullus's, who kept them all the year round, "So then," said
he, "if it were not for Lucullus's luxury, Pompey should not live;"
and thereupon, not minding the prescription of the physician, he
contented himself with such meat as could easily be procured. But this
was at a later time.
Being as yet a very young man, and upon an expedition in which his
father was commanding against Cinna, he had in his tent with him one
Lucius Terentius, as his companion and comrade, who, being corrupted
by Cinna, entered into an engagement to kill Pompey, as others had
done to set the general's tent on fire. This conspiracy being
discovered to Pompey at supper, he showed no discomposure at it, but
on the contrary drank more liberally than usual, and expressed great
kindness to Terentius; but about bedtime, pretending to go to his
repose, he stole away secretly out of the tent, and setting a guard
about his father, quietly expected the event. Terentius, when he
thought the proper time come, rose with his naked sword, and coming to
Pompey's bedside stabbed several strokes through the bedclothes, as if
he were lying there. Immediately after this there was a great uproar
throughout all the camp, arising from the hatred they bore to the
general, and an universal movement of the soldiers to revolt, all
tearing down their tents and betaking themselves to their arms. The
general himself all this while durst not venture out because of the
tumult; but Pompey, going about in the midst of them, besought them
with tears; and at last threw himself prostrate upon his face before
the gate of the camp, and lay there in the passage at their feet
shedding tears, and bidding those that were marching off, if they
would go, trample upon him. Upon which, none could help going back
again, and all, except eight hundred, either through shame or
compassion, repented, and were reconciled to the general.
Immediately upon the death of Strabo, there was an action
commenced against Pompey, as his heir, for that his father had
embezzled the public treasure. But Pompey, having traced the principal
thefts, charged them upon one Alexander, a freed slave of his
father's, and proved before the judges that he had been the
appropriator. But he himself was accused of having in his possession
some hunting tackle, and books, that were taken at Asculum. To this he
confessed thus far, that he received them from his father when he took
Asculum, but pleaded further, that he had lost them since, upon
Cinna's return to Rome, when his house was broken open and plundered
by Cinna's guards. In this cause he had a great many preparatory
pleadings against his accuser, in which he showed in activity and
steadfastness beyond his years, and gained great reputation and
favour, insomuch that Antistius, the praetor and judge of the cause,
took a great liking to him, and offered him his daughter in
marriage, having had some communications with his friends about it.
Pompey accepted the proposal, and they were privately contracted;
however, the secret was not so closely kept as to escape the
multitude, but it was discernible enough, from the favour shown him by
Antistius in his cause. And at last, when Antistius pronounced the
absolutory sentence of the judges, the people, as if it had been