110 POMPEY.

ried all things by force as he pleased. As Bibulus, the consul, was going to the forum, accompanied by Lu- cullus and Cato, they fell upon him on a sudden and broke his rods ; and somebody threw a vessel of ordure upon the head of Bibulus himself ; and two tribunes of the people, who escorted him, were desperately wounded in the fray. And thus having cleared the forum of all their adversaries, they got their bill for the division of lands established and passed into an act ; and not only so, but the whole populace being taken with this bait, be- came totally at their devotion, inquiring into nothing and without a word giving their suffrages to whatever they propounded. Thus they confirmed all those acts and decrees of Pompey, which were questioned and contested by Lucullus; and to Caesar they granted the provinces of Gaul, both within and without the Alps, together with Illyricum, for five years, and likewise an army of four entire legions ; then they created consuls for the year ensuing, Piso, the flither-in-law of Caesar, and Gabinius, the most extravagant of Pompey's flatterers. During all these transactions, Bibulus kept close within doors, nor did he appear publicly in person for the space of eight months together, notwithstanding he was con- sul, but sent out proclamations full of bitter invectives and accusations against them both. Cato turned prophet, and, as if he had been possessed with a spirit of divina- tion, did nothing else in the senate but foretell what evils should befall the Commonwealth and Pompey. Lucullus pleaded old age, and retired to take his ease, as superan- nuated for affairs of State ; which gave occasion to the saying of Pompey, that the fatigues of luxury were not more seasonable for an old man than those of govern- ment. Which in truth proved a reflection upon himself; for he not long after let his fondness for his young

wife seduce him also into effeminate habits. He gave all