s (108-53), the conqueror of Spartacus, had amassed immense wealth
by speculation, mining, dealing in slaves, and other methods. Avarice is
said to have been his ruling passion, though he gave large sums to the
people for political effect.

Neither Pompey nor Crassus, according to the laws passed by Sulla, was
eligible to the consulship. The former had never been Quaestor, and was
only thirty-five years old; the latter was still Praetor, and ought to
have waited two years.

The work of Sulla was now quickly undone. The Tribunes regained
their prerogative, the veto. The control of the criminal courts was
transferred again from the Senate to the Equites, and the former body
was cleared of its most worthless members, who had been appointed by
Sulla.

For three years (70-67) after the expiration of his consulship, Pompey
remained quietly at Rome. He was then put in charge of an expedition
against the Greek pirates. From the earliest times these marauders had
been in the habit of depredating on the shores of the Mediterranean.
During the civil wars of Rome they had become much bolder, so that
the city was compelled to take an active part against them. They had
paralyzed the trade of the Mediterranean, and even the coasts of Italy
were not safe from their raids.

GABINIUS, a Tribune, proposed that Pompey should hold his command
for three years; that he should have supreme authority over all Roman
magistrates in the provinces throughout the Mediterranean, and over the
coasts for fifty miles inland. He was to have fifteen lieutenants, all
ex-praetors, two hundred ships, and all the troops he needed.

In three months the pirates were swept from the sea.

The next year (66) Pompey's powers were still further enlarged by the
MANILIAN LAW, proposed by the Tribune Manilius. By this law the entire
control of the Roman policy in the East was given to Pompey. His
appointment was violently opposed by the Senate, especially by CATULUS,
the "father of the Senate," and by the orator HORTENSIUS; but CICERO
with his first political speech (_Pro Lege Manilia_) came to Pompey's
assistance, and to him was given the command by which he became
virtually dictator in the East. His operations there were thoroughly
successful, and, though he doubtless owed much to the previous victories
of Lucullus, he showed himself an able soldier. Mithradates was obliged
to flee across the Black Sea to Panticapaeum (Kertch).

In the year 64 Pompey went to