urchased from the Sicilian communities for the Roman government, while
charging the state the market price. At the same time he insisted upon the
cities commuting into money payments at rates far above current prices the
grain allotted for the upkeep of the governor's establishment. At times
the demands made upon cultivators exceeded the total of their annual crop,
and in despair they fled from their holdings. To the money gained by such
methods Verres added a costly treasure of works of art, which he collected
from both individuals and cities by theft, seizure and intimidation. Even
the sacred ornaments of temples were not spared. All who resisted or
denounced him, even Roman citizens, were subjected to illegal
imprisonment, torture or execution. These iniquities were carried out in
defiance of the provincial charter, but there was no power in his province
to restrain him, and the Senate, which should have done so, remained
indifferent to the complaints which were carried to Rome. The sad truth
was that after all Verres was only more shameless and unscrupulous than
the average provincial governor, and consequently the sympathies of the
Senate were with him rather than with his victims--the provincials.

V. THE COMMANDS OF POMPEY AGAINST THE PIRATES AND IN THE EAST: 67-62 B. C.

*The pirate scourge.* Both Pompey and Crassus had declined proconsular
appointments at the close of 70 B. C., because there were no provinces
open which promised an opportunity to augment their influence or military
reputation. Accordingly they remained in Rome watching for some more
favorable chance to employ their talents. Pompey found such an opportunity
in the ravages of the Cilician pirates. After the failure of Marcus
Antonius (74-72 B. C.), Caecilius Metellus had been sent to Crete in 69
B. C. and in the course of the next two years reduced the island to
subjection and made it a province. But his operations there did little to
check the pirate plague. So bold had these robbers become that they did
not hesitate to raid the coasts of Italy and to plunder Ostia. When
finally their depredations interrupted the importation of grain for the
supply of the city, a famine threatened, and decisive measures had to be
taken against them.

*The Gabinian Law, 67 B. C.* The only way to deal with the question was to
appoint a commander with power to operate against the pirates everywhere,
and the obvious man for the position was Pompey. However, th