168 pliny's natural histoet. [Book VII. 



magnanimously said not a word about Sertorius." After 

 having put an end to the civil war, which indeed was the 

 primary cause of all the foreign ones, he, though still of only 

 equestrian rank, again entered Eome in the triumphal chariot, 

 having proved himself a general thus often before having been 

 a soldier. '- After this, he was dispatched to the shores of all 

 the various seas, and then to the East, whence he brought back 

 to his country the following titles of honour, resembling therein 

 those who conquer at the sacred games — for, be it remem- 

 bered, it is not they that are crowned, but their respective 

 countries/^ These honours then did he award to the City, 

 in the temple of Minerva,'* which he consecrated from the 

 spoils that he had gained : " Cneius Pompeius Magnus, Im- 

 perator, having brought to an end a war of thirty years' dura- 

 tion, and having defeated, routed, put to the sword, or re- 

 ceived the submission of, twelve millions two hundred and 

 sevent)' -eight thousand men, having sunk or captured eight 

 hundred and forty- six vessels, having received as allies one 

 thousand live hundred and thirty-eight cities and fortresses, 

 and having conquered all the country from the Maeotis to the 

 lied Sea, dedicates this shrine as a votive offering due to 

 Minerva." Such, in few words, is the sum of his exploits in 

 the East. The following are the introductory words descrip- 

 tive of the triumph which he obtained, the third day before 

 the calends'^ of October,^^ in the consulship of M. Piso and 



"^ Sertorius had joined the party of Marius and Cinna, in opposition to 

 that of Sylla. He fled into Spain, and maintained the war successfully in 

 that country, until he was treacherously assassinated by one of his supposed 

 partisans. This may appear a sufficient reason for his not being mentioned 

 by Pompey. — B. 



■'- " Toties imperator antequara miles." He had been raised to the 

 highest rank without passing through the various gradations of military 

 life.— B. 



'•^ Speaking of this honorary crown, Pliny says, B. xvi. c. 4, "At the 

 present day it is not given to the victor himself, but proclamation is made 

 that he confers the crown upon his country." 



'* It is noticed by the commentators, that Aldus Gcllius, speaking of 

 this building, calls it the Temple of Victory, B. x. c. 1 ; the error, it is 

 supposed, may have arisen from Pompey having placed a statue of Victory 

 in the Temple. — B. 



'5 29th of September. 



"^ Pliny, referring to these events, in a subsequent place, B. xxvii. c. 6, 

 says that it took place "pridie Kalend. Octob. die natalis sui." Plutarch 

 inibrms us, that the triumph lasted two days, a circumstance which may 



