he never after touched Flora or had a meeting with her, though it was believed that he was attached to her; and Flora did not take this as most courtesans do, but was ill for a long time through grief and regret for the loss of her lover.  And indeed it is said that Flora enjoyed such reputation and was so much talked of, that Caecilius Metellus, when he was ornamenting the temple of the Dioscuri with statues and paintings, had the portrait of Flora painted and placed in the temple on account of her beauty.  The wife of his freedman Demetrius also, who had the greatest influence with Pompeius and left a property of four thousand talents, contrary to his habit he did not treat kindly nor in a manner befitting her free condition:  but it was through fear of her beauty, which was irresistible and much talked about, and that he might not appear to be captivated by her.  Though he was so exceedingly cautious in such matters and so much on his guard, yet he did not escape the imputations of his enemies on the ground of amours, but he was slanderously accused of commerce with married women and of betraying many of the public interests to gratify them.  Of his temperance and simplicity in his way of living the following anecdote is told.  On one occasion when he was ill and indisposed to his ordinary food, the physician prescribed a thrush for him.  After search had been made and none found, for the season was past, some one observed that one might be found at the house of Lucullus, for he kept them all the year round:  “Well then,” said Pompeius, “I suppose if Lucullus were not luxurious, Pompeius could not live;” and without regarding the physician’s advice he took something that was ready at hand.  This, however, belongs to a later period.

III.  When he was still quite a youth and was serving under his father, who was opposed to Cinna, he had one Lucius Terentius[193] for his companion and tent-mate.  This Lucius being bribed by Cinna, designed to kill Pompeius, and others were to fire the general’s tent.  Information of this came to Pompeius while he was at supper, at which, nothing disturbed, he went on drinking more gaily, and showing great signs of affection towards Terentius; but when they were turning in to rest he slipped unobserved from under the tent, and after placing a guard about his father, kept quiet.  When Terentius thought the time was come, drawing his sword he got up, and approaching the bed of Pompeius, he struck many blows upon the bed-covering, supposing that Pompeius was lying there.  Upon this there was a great commotion owing to the soldiers’ hatred of their general, and there was a movement made towards mutiny by the men beginning to pull down the tents and take their arms.  The general, fearing the tumult, did not come near; but Pompeius, going about in the midst of the soldiers, implored them with tears in his eyes, and finally throwing himself on his face before the gate of the camp right in their way, he lay there weeping, and told those who were going out to trample on him, so that every man drew back for very shame, and thus the whole army, with the exception of eight hundred men, changed their design and were reconciled to their commander.