[B.C. 56 (a.u. 698)]

[-24-] So they kept up the conflict, and Pompey, too, encountered some trouble in the distribution of the grain.  Many slaves had been freed in anticipation of the event, of whom he wished to take a census in order that the grain delivery might take place with some decency and order.  This, to be sure, he managed fairly easily through his own wisdom and because of the large supply of grain:  but in seeking the consulship he found annoyances which likewise entailed a measure of censure for him.  Clodius’s behavior irritated him, but even more the fact that he was treated slightingly by the rest, whose superior he was:  and he felt injured both on account of his reputation and on account of the hopes by reason of which while still a private citizen he had thought to be honored beyond them all.  Sometimes he could bring himself to despise all this.  At first when people began to speak ill of him he was annoyed, but after a time, when he came to consider carefully his own excellence and their baseness, he paid no further attention to them. [-25-] The fact, however, that Caesar’s influence had grown and the populace admired his achievements so much as to despatch ten men from the senate in recognition of the apparently absolute subjugation of the Gauls[52] and that the people were so slated by consequent hopes as to vote him large sums of money was a thorn in Pompey’s side.  He attempted to persuade the consuls not to read Caesar’s letters but conceal the facts for a very long time until the glory of his deeds should of its own motion spread itself abroad, and further to send some one to relieve him even before the specified date.  So jealous was he that he proceeded to disparage and abrogate all that he himself had effected with Caesar’s aid:  he was displeased at the great and general praise bestowed upon the latter (whereby his own exploits were being over-shadowed) and reproached the populace for paying little heed to himself and going frantic over Caesar.  Especially was he vexed to see that they remembered former achievements just so long as nothing occurred to divert them, that they turned with greatest readiness to each new event, even if it were inferior to something previous because they became tired of the usual and liked the novel, and that they overthrew all established glory by reason of envy, but helped to build up any new power by reason of their hopes. [-26-] This was what caused his displeasure; and as he could not effect anything through the consuls and saw that Caesar had passed beyond the need of keeping faith with him, he regarded the situation as grave.  He held that there were two things that destroy friendship,—­fear and envy,—­and that these can only arise from rival glory and strength.  As long as persons possess these last in equal shares, their friendship is firm, but when one or the other excels in the least degree, then the inferior party is jealous and hates the superior while the stronger despises and abuses the weaker:  so, whichever way you take it, the one is vexed by his inferiority, the other is elated by his advantage, and they come to strife and war in place of their former friendship.  On the basis of some such calculations Pompey began to arm himself against Caesar.  And because he thought he could not easily alone overthrow him, he cultivated Crassus even more than before, that he might act with him.