350 CRASSUS.

that he had much to do to contain himself before com- pany and strangers : but amongst his private friends he let fall many vain and childish words, which were unwor- thy of his age, and contrary to his usual character, for he had been very little given to boasting hitherto. But then being strangely puffed up, and his head heated, he would not limit his fortune with Parthia and Syria; but looking on the actions of Lucullus against Tigranes and the exploits of Pompey against Mithridates as but child's play, he proposed to himself in his hopes to pass as far as Bactria and India, and the utmost ocean. Not that he was called upon by the decree which appointed him to his office to undertake any expedition against the Par- tisans, but it was well known that he was eager for it, and Caesar wrote to him out of Gaul, commending his resolution, and inciting him to the war. And when Ateius, the tribune of the people, designed to stop his journey, and many others murmured that one man should un- dertake a war against a people that had done them no injury, and were at amity with them, he desired Pom- pey to stand by him and accompany him out of the town, as he had a great name amongst the common peo- ple. And when several were ready prepared to interfere and raise an outcry, Pompey appeared with a pleasing countenance, and so mollified the people, that they let Crassus pass quietly. Ateius, however, met him, and first by word of mouth warned and conjured him not to pro- ceed, and then commanded his attendant officer to seize him and detain him ; but the other tribunes not permit- ting it, the officer released Crassus. Ateius, therefore, running to the gate, when Crassus was come thither, set down a chafing-dish with lighted fire in it, and burning incense and pouring libations on it, cursed him with dread- ful imprecations, calling upon and naming several strange and horrible deities. In the Roman belief there is sc