anything with the orator present and confronting him and would furthermore meet his deserts, and he, Pompey, would cooeperate to this end.  After these speeches from them, modeled in such a way not because the views of the two were opposed, but for the purpose of deceiving the man without arousing his suspicion, Cicero attached himself to Pompey.  Of him he had no previous suspicion and was thoroughly confident of being rescued by his assistance.  Many men respected and honored him, for numerous persons in trouble were saved some from the judges and others from their very accusers.  Also, since Clodius had been a relative of Pompey’s and a partner of his campaigns for a long period, it seemed likely that he would do nothing that failed to accord with his wishes.  As for Gabinius, Cicero expected that he could count on him absolutely as an adherent, being a good friend of his, and equally on Piso because of his regard for right and his kinship with Caesar. [-16-] On the basis of these calculations, then, he hoped to win (for he was confident beyond reason even as he had been terrified without investigating), and in fear lest his withdrawal from town should seem to have been the result of a bad conscience, he paid heed to Pompey, while stating to Caesar that he was considerably obliged to him.

Thus it came about that the victim of the deceit continued his preparations to administer a stinging defeat to his enemies.  For, in addition to the encouraging circumstances already mentioned, the knights in convention sent to the consuls and senate on the Capitol [B.C. 58 (a.u. 696)] envoys in his behalf from their own number, and the senators Quintus Hortensius and Gaius Curio.  One of the many ways in which Ninnius, too, assisted him was to urge the populace to change their garb, as if for a universal disaster.  And many even of the senators did[42] this and would not change back until the consuls by edict rebuked them.

The forces of his adversaries were more powerful, however.  Clodius would not allow Ninnius to take any action in his behalf, and Gabinius would not grant the knights access to the senate; on the contrary, he drove one of them, who was very insistent, out of the city and chided Hortensius and Curio for having come before them when they were assembled and having undertaken the embassy.  Moreover Clodius led them before the populace where they were well thrashed and beaten for their embassy by some appointed agents.  After this Piso, though he seemed well disposed toward Cicero and had advised him to slip away beforehand on seeing that it was impossible for him to attain safety by other means, nevertheless, when the orator took offence at this counsel, came before the assembly at the first opportunity—­he was too feeble most of the time—­and to the question of Clodius as to what opinion he held regarding the proposed measure said:  “No deed of cruelty or sadness pleases me.”  Gabinius, too, on being asked the same question, not only praised Clodius but indulged in invectives against the knights and the senate.