these and other considerations allow me to remain at peace and attend to my own business, so that now at last I may bestow some care upon my private affairs and not perish from exhaustion.  Against the pirates elect somebody else.  There are many who are both willing and able to serve as admirals, both younger and older men, so that your choice from so numerous a company becomes easy.  Of course I am not the only one who loves you, nor am I alone skilled in warfare, but—­not seeming to favor any by mentioning names—­equally so is A or B.”

[-27-] At this point in his harangue Gabinius, interrupting, cried:  “Pompey’s behavior in this very matter, Quirites, is worthy of his character.  He does not seek the leadership, nor does he accept it without thought when granted him.  An upright man has no business, generally speaking, to desire the annoyances incident to office, and it is Pompey’s way to undertake all tasks imposed upon him only with due consideration, in order that he may accomplish them with corresponding safety.  Precipitation in promises and in action, more hasty than the occasion demands, causes the downfall of many; but exactitude at the start as well as in execution possesses a constant value and is to the advantage of all.  You must choose not what would satisfy Pompey, but what is of benefit to the state.  Not office seekers, but those who have capacity should be appointed to the business in hand; the former exist in very large numbers, but any other such man as my candidate you will not find.  You recall, further, how many reverses of a serious nature we endured in the war against Sertorius through lack of a general, and that we found no one else among young or old adapted to it except the man before you; and that we sent him to the field in place of both consuls, although at that time he had not yet reached a mature age and was not a member of the senate.  I should be glad if we did have many able men, and if I ought to pray for such, I would so pray:  since, however, this ability does not depend on prayer or come of its own accord to any one, but a man has to be born with a natural bent for it, to learn what is pertinent and practice what is fitting and beyond everything to enjoy good fortune, which would very rarely fall to the lot of the same man, you must all unanimously, whenever such an one is found, both support him and make the fullest use of him even if he does not wish it.  Such violence proves most noble both to him who exerts it and to him who suffers it,—­to the former because he would be preserved by it, and to the latter because it would preserve the citizens, in whose behalf the excellent and patriotic man would most readily give up both body and soul.