and he took the opportunity of writing first to the senate, to say that Crassus indeed had conquered the gladiators in a pitched battle, but he had pulled up the war by the roots.  And this was agreeable to the Romans to hear, owing to their good-will towards Pompeius, and also to speak of.  As to Iberia and Sertorius, no one even in jest would have said that the conquest was due to any one else than Pompeius.  But though the man was in such repute, and such expectations were entertained of him, there was still some suspicion and fear that he would not disband his army, but would make his way by arms and sovereign power straight to the polity of Sulla.  Accordingly, those who through fear ran to greet him on the way, were as many as those who did it from good-will.  But when Pompeius had removed this suspicion also by declaring that he would disband his army after the triumph, there still remained one subject of reproach for those who envied him, that he attached himself more to the people than to the senate, and that he had determined to restore the authority of the tribunate, which Sulla had destroyed, and to court the favour of the many, which was true.  For there was nothing for which the people were more madly passionate, and nothing which they more desired, than to see that magistracy again, so that Pompeius considered the opportunity for this political measure a great good fortune, as he could not have found any other favour by which to requite the good-will of the citizens, if another had anticipated him in this.

XXII.  Now after a second triumph[228] and the consulship were voted to him, Pompeius was not for this reason considered an object of admiration and a great man; but the people considered it a proof of his distinction, that Crassus, though the richest of all who were engaged in public life, and the most powerful speaker and the greatest man, and though he despised Pompeius and everybody else, did not venture to become a candidate for the consulship till he had applied to Pompeius.  Pompeius indeed was well pleased with this, as he had long wished to have the opportunity of doing some service and friendly act to Crassus.  According he readily accepted the advances of Crassus, and in his address to the people he declared that he should be as grateful to them for his colleague as for the consulship.  However, when they were elected consuls, they differed about everything, and came into collision:  in the senate Crassus had more weight, but among the people the influence of Pompeius was great.  For Pompeius restored the tribunate[229] to the people, and he allowed the judicia to be again transferred to the Equites by a law.  But the most agreeable of all spectacles was that which Pompeius exhibited to the people when he personally solicited his discharge from service.  It is the custom among the Roman Equites[230] when they have served the time fixed by law, to lead their horse into the Forum before the two men whom they call Censors, and after mentioning