11.
[29]
But now, what language can be found equal to the valour of Cnaeus Pompeius? What statement
can any one make which shall be either worthy of him, or new to you, or unknown to any one?
For those are not the only virtuous of a general which are usually thought
so,—namely, industry in business, fortitude amid dangers, energy in acting, rapidity
in executing, wisdom in foreseeing; which all exist in as great perfection in that one man as
in all the other generals put together whom we have either seen or heard of.
[30]
Italy is my witness, which that illustrious conqueror
himself, Lucius Sulla, confessed had been delivered by this man's valour and ready assistance.
Sicily is my witness, which he released when it was
surrounded on all sides by many dangers, not by the dread of his power, but by the promptitude
of his wisdom. Africa is my witness, which, having
been overwhelmed by numerous armies of enemies, overflowed with the blood of those same
enemies. Gaul is my witness, through which a road
into Spain was laid open to our legions by the
destruction of the Gauls. Spain is my witness, which
has repeatedly seen our many enemies there defeated and subdued by this man. Again and again,
Italy is my witness, which, when it was weighed down
by the disgraceful and perilous servile war, entreated aid from this man, though he, was at a
distance; and that war, having dwindled down and wasted away at the expectation of Pompeius,
was destroyed and buried by his arrival.
[31]
But now, also
every coast, all foreign nations and countries, all seas, both in their open waters and in
every bay, and creek, and harbour, are my witnesses. For during these last years, what place
in any part of the sea had so strong a garrison as to be safe from him? what place was so much
hidden as to escape his notice? Whoever put to sea without being aware that he was committing
himself to the hazard of death or slavery, either from storms or from the sea being crowded
with pirates? Who would ever have supposed that a war of such extent, so mean, so old a war, a
war so extensive in its theatre and so widely scattered, could have been terminated by all our
generals put together in one year, or by one general in all the years of his life?
[32]
In all these later years what province have you had free from
pirates? what revenue has been safe? what ally have you been able to protect? to whom have
your fleets been any defence? How many islands do you suppose have been deserted? how many
cities of the allies do you think have been either abandoned out of fear of the pirates, or
have been taken by them?
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