[-28-] “Do you think that whereas this Pompey when a youth could conduct campaigns, be general, increase our possessions, preserve those of our allies, and acquire those of our adversaries, now, in the prime of life, when every man fairly surpasses himself, with a mass of additional experience gained from wars he could not prove most useful to you?  Will you reject, now that he has reached man’s estate, him whom while iuvenis you chose to lead?  Will you not confide this campaign to the man, now become a member of the senate, to whom while still a knight you committed those wars?  Will you not, now that you have most amply tested his mettle, commit the present emergency, no less pressing than former ones, to him for whom alone you asked in the face of those urgent dangers ere you had applied any accurate test at all?  Will you not send out against the pirates one, now an ex-consul, whom before he could yet properly hold office you elected against Sertorius?  Rather, do not for a moment adopt any other course; and Pompey, do you heed your country, and me.  By her you were borne, by her you were reared.  You must be a slave to whatever is for her advantage, not shrinking from any hardship or danger to secure it.  And should it become necessary for you to lose your life, you must in that case not await your fated day but embrace whatever death meets you. [-29-] But truly I am ridiculous to give you this advice,—­you who in so many great conflicts have exhibited both your bravery and your love for your country.  Heed me, therefore, and these citizens here; do not fear because some are envious.  Rather press on all the more for this very reason to a goal which is the friendship of the majority and the common advantage of us all, and scorn your traducers.  Or, if you are willing to grieve them a little, take command for this very reason, that you may distress them by serving and winning glory contrary to their expectations, and that you may in person set an ending worthy of yourself beside your former accomplishments, by ridding us of many great evils.”

[-30-] When Gabinius had thus expressed himself, Trebellius strove to make a dissenting speech; but as he did not receive leave to speak he proceeded to oppose the casting of a vote.  Gabinius was incensed, and delayed the balloting regarding Pompey, but introduced a new motion concerning the same man.  The first seventeen tribes to register an opinion decided that Trebellius was at fault and might be no longer tribune.  And not until the eighteenth was on the point of voting the same way, was he barely induced to maintain silence.  Roscius, seeing this, did not dare utter a word, but by a gesture of his raised hand urged them to choose two men, so that he might by so doing cut off a little of Pompey’s supremacy.  At this gesticulation of his the crowd gave a great threatening shout, whereat a crow flying above their heads was so startled that it fell as if smitten by lightning.  After that