The arrangements were accordingly made Pompey ordering every thing necessary to be prepared for a most magnificent procession.  He learned that some persons in the city, envious at his early renown, were displeased with his triumph; this only awakened in him a determination to make it still more splendid and imposing.  He had brought some elephants with him from Africa, and he formed a plan for having the car in which he was to ride in the procession drawn by four of these huge beasts as it entered the city; but, on measuring the gate, it was found not wide enough to admit such a team, and the plan was accordingly abandoned.  The conqueror’s car was drawn by horses in the usual manner, and the elephants followed singly, with the other trophies, to grace the train.

[Sidenote:  His course of conduct at Rome.]

Pompey remained some time after this in Rome, sustaining from time to time various offices of dignity and honor.  His services were often called for to plead causes in the Forum, and he performed this duty, whenever he undertook it, with great success.  He, however, seemed generally inclined to retire somewhat from intimate intercourse with the mass of the community, knowing very well that if he was engaged often in the discussion of common questions with ordinary men, he should soon descend in public estimation from the high position to which his military renown had raised him.  He accordingly accustomed himself to appear but little in public, and, when he did so appear, he was generally accompanied by a large retinue of armed attendants, at the head of which he moved about the city in great state, more like a victorious general in a conquered province than like a peaceful citizen exercising ordinary official functions in a community governed by law.  This was a very sagacious course, so far as concerned the attainment of the great objects of future ambition.  Pompey knew very well that occasions would probably arise in which he could act far more effectually for the promotion of his own greatness and fame than by mingling in the ordinary municipal contests of the city.

[Sidenote:  The Cilician pirates.] [Sidenote:  Their increasing depredations.] [Sidenote:  Ships and fortresses of the Cilicians.] [Sidenote:  Their conquests.]

At length, in fact, an occasion came.  In the year B.C. 67, which was about the time that Caesar commenced his successful career in rising to public office in Rome, as is described in the third chapter of this volume, the Cilician pirates, of whose desperate character and bold exploits something has already been said, had become so powerful, and were increasing so rapidly in the extent of their depredations, that the Roman people felt compelled to adopt some very vigorous measures for suppressing them.  The pirates had increased in numbers during the wars between Marius and Sylla in a very alarming degree.  They had built, equipped, and organized whole fleets.  They had various fortresses, arsenals, ports, and