[-52-] So he became strong again.  Pompey did not institute an immediate pursuit, for his antagonist had withdrawn suddenly by night and had hastily crossed the Genusus river:  however, he was strongly inclined to think that he had subdued him completely.  Consequently he assumed the name of imperator, though he made no boast of it and did not even wind laurel about his fasces, disliking to show such exultation over the downfall of citizens.  Consistently with this same attitude he neither sailed to Italy himself nor sent any others there, though he might easily have reduced the whole peninsula.  As regards a fleet he was absolute master, for he had five hundred swift ships and could touch at many points at once:  and the sentiment of that country was not opposed to him, nor, if it had been ever so hostile, could the people have been a match for him in war.  But he wished to remain at a distance, so as to get the reputation of fighting for his land, and did not see fit to cause any fear to the persons who then in Rome.  Hence he made no attempt on Italy, not even sending to the government any despatch about his successes.  But after this he set out against Caesar and came to Thessaly.

[-53-] As they lay opposite each other the appearance of the camps bore, indeed, some resemblance of war, but the use of arms was suspended as in time of peace.  As they reviewed the greatness of the danger and foresaw the obscurity and uncertainty of the issue, and still stood in some awe of their common ancestry and kinship, they were led to delay.  Meanwhile they exchanged propositions about friendship and appeared to some likely to become reconciled without accomplishing anything.  This was due to the fact that they were both reaching out for supreme dominion and were influenced by a great deal of native ambition and a great deal of acquired rivalry,—­for men can least endure to be outdone by their equals and intimates; they were not willing to make any concessions to each other, since each felt that he might win, nor could they feel any confidence, if they did come to terms, that they would not be always yearning for the advantage and fall into strife again over complete control. [-54-] In temper they differed from each other to this extent,—­that Pompey desired to be second to no man and Caesar to be first of all, and the former was anxious to be honored by willing subjects and to preside over and be loved by a people fully consenting, whereas the latter cared not at all if he ruled over an unwilling nation and issued orders to men that hated him, and bestowed the honors with his own hand upon himself.  The deeds, however, through which they hoped to accomplish all that they wished, were perforce common to both alike.  For it was impossible that either one of them should succeed without fighting against his countrymen, leading foreigners against kindred, obtaining much money by unjust pillage, and killing unlawfully many of his dearest associates.  Hence, even though they differed in their desires, yet in their acts, by which they hoped to fulfill those desires, they were alike.  Consequently they would not yield to each other on any point, in spite of the many just grounds that they alleged, and finally came into collision.