Pompey   

upon a signal given, made the acclamation used according to ancient
custom at marriages, Talasio. The origin of which custom is related to
be this. At the time when the daughters of the Sabines came to Rome,
to see the shows and sports there, and were violently seized upon by
the most distinguished and bravest of the Romans for wives, it
happened that some goatswains and herdsmen of the meaner rank were
carrying off a beautiful and tall maiden; and lest any of their
betters should meet them, and take her away, as they ran, they cried
out with one voice, Talasio, Talasius being a well-known and popular
person among them, insomuch that all that heard the name clapped their
hands for joy, and joined with them in the shout, as applauding and
congratulating the chance. Now, say they, because this proved a
fortunate match to Talasius, hence it is that this acclamation is
sportively used as a nuptial cry at all weddings. This is the most
credible of the accounts that are given of the Talasio. And some few
days after this judgment, Pompey married Antistia.
After this he went to Cinna's camp, where, finding some false
suggestions and calumnies prevailing against him, he began to be
afraid, and presently withdrew himself secretly which sudden
disappearance occasioned great suspicion. And there went a rumour
and speech through all the camp that Cinna had murdered the young man;
upon which all that had been anyways disobliged, and bore any malice
to him, resolved to make an assault upon him. He, endeavouring to make
his escape, was seized by a centurion, who pursued him with his
naked sword. Cinna, in this distress, fell upon his knees, and offered
him his seal-ring, of great value, for his ransom; but the centurion
repulsed him insolently, saying, "I did not come to seal a covenant,
but to be revenged upon a lawless and wicked tyrant;" and so
despatched him immediately.
Thus Cinna being slain, Carbo, a tyrant yet more senseless than
he, took the command and exercised it, while Sylla meantime was
approaching, much to the joy and satisfaction of most people, who in
their present evils were ready to find some comfort if it were but
in the exchange of a master. For the city was brought to that pass
by oppression and calamities that, being utterly in despair of
liberty, men were only anxious for the mildest and most tolerable
bondage. At that time Pompey was in Picenum in Italy, where he spent
some time amusing himself, as he had estates in the country there,
though the chief motive of his stay was the liking he felt for the
towns of that district, which all regarded him with hereditary
feelings of kindness and attachment. But when he now saw that the
noblest and best of the city began to forsake their homes and
property, and fly from all quarters to Sylla's camp, as to their
haven, he likewise was desirous to go; not, however, as a fugitive,
alone and with nothing to offer, but as a friend rather than a
suppliant, in a way that would gain him honour, bringing help along
with him, and at the head of a body of troops. Accordingly he
solicited the Picentines for their assistance, who as cordially
embraced his motion, and rejected the messengers sent from Carbo;
insomuch that a certain Vindius taking upon him to say that Pompey was
come from the school-room to put himself at the head of the people,
they were so incensed that they fell forthwith upon this Vindius and
killed him.
From henceforward Pompey, finding a spirit of government upon him,
though not above twenty-three years of age, nor deriving an
authority by commission from any man, took the privilege to grant
himself full power, and, causing a tribunal to be erected in the
market-place of Auximum, a populous city, expelled two of their
principal men, brothers, of the name of Ventidius, who were acting
against him in Carbo's interest, commanding them by a public edict
to depart the city; and then proceeding to levy soldiers, issuing
out commissions to centurions and other officers, according to the
form of military discipline. And in this manner he went round all
the rest of the cities in the district. So that those of Carbo's