Pompey knew well that all the gifts granted by the common people to those who have any influence and are in positions of authority contain the suggestion, no matter how willingly they are voted, of having been granted through force applied out of the resources of the strong.  He knew that such honors bring no glory to those who receive them, because it is believed that they were obtained not from willing donors, but under compulsion, and not from good will, but as a result of flattery.  Hence he did not permit any one to propose any measure whatever.  This course he declared far better than to reject what has been voted to one.  The latter method brought hatred for the high position that led to such measures being passed, and connoted arrogance and insolence in not accepting what is granted by your superiors or at all events by your peers.  By the former method you possessed in very fact the democratic name and behavior both, not indicated but existent.  For having received almost all the offices and positions of command contrary to ancient precedent, he refused to accept all such others as were destined to bring him only envy and hatred even from the very givers, without enabling him to benefit any one or be benefited.

[-24-] All this took place in course of time.  Temporarily the Romans had a respite from war for the remainder of the year, so that they even held the so-called augurium salutis after a long interval.  This is a kind of augury, which consists of an enquiry whether the god allows them to request welfare for the State, as if it were unholy even to make a request for it until the action received sanction.  That day of the year was observed on which no army went out to war, or was taking defensive measures against any, or was fighting a battle.  For this reason, amid the constant perils (especially those of a civil nature), it was not held.  In general it was very difficult for them to secure exactly the day which should be free from all those disturbances, and furthermore it was most ridiculous, when they were voluntarily causing one another unspeakable woes through factional conflicts and were destined to suffer ills whether they were beaten or victorious, that they should still ask safety from the divine power.

[-25-] Notwithstanding, it was in some way possible at that time for the divination to be held, but it did not prove to be pure.  Some strange birds flew up and made the augury of no effect.  Other unlucky omens, too, developed.  Many thunderbolts fell from a clear sky, the earth was mightily shaken, and human apparitions were visible in many places, and in the West flashes ran up into heaven, so that any one, even an ignorant fellow, was bound to know in advance what was signified by them.  For the tribunes united with Antonius, the consul, who was much like themselves in character, and some one of them supported for office the children of those exiled by Sulla, while a second was for granting to Publius Paetus and to Cornelius Sulla, who had been convicted with him, the right to be members of the senate and to hold office.  Another made a motion for a cancellation of debts, and for allotments of land to be made both in Italy and in the subject territory.  These motions were taken in hand betimes by Cicero and those who were of the same mind as he, and were quashed before any action resulted from them.