PUMPEY. m 



only an expensive victory to Serviliua j they utterly 

 discoTiifitcd Mark Antony, who, taking with Mm, through 

 contempt of the enemy, more diains than arms, saw his 

 own crews return to Crete in \m own vessels, loaded 

 as prisoners with his o'^vn chains. Metellus followed him, 

 witli but questionable success. 



The subjugation of piracy was reserved for Pompet ; 

 and high time was it to demolish a monument of mis- 

 phiced tolerance^ which had reached the pitch thus 

 described by his biographer : — 



" The power of the pii-ates was arrived to such a height, 

 that they had above a thousand good ships, well manned, 

 and furnished wHth skilful pilots. They affected magni- 

 ficence, and their ships glittered with gold and silver ; 

 their oars were silvered over ; and the curtains of the 

 cabins were of purple. If tliey went on shore, it was to 

 feast themselves in the most sumptuous and costJy manner ; 

 and these entertainments were accompanied with concerts 

 of music I their insolence and depredations had risen to 

 an excess beyond all imagination. They had taken 

 above four hundred cities, and had plundered thirteen of 

 the most famous temples in the world of all their riches : 

 but tlietr principal employment and delight was to insult 

 the Romans, and huiiible the pride of Italy-'' They 



* When aity one frhc^ was tiLkcii by them declared bimsclf a Kc^miHi, thej 

 prcteiiilod to bo fnghtcncd and to Lrtnibic ; and when th«y had & long whiU-! mada 

 him Liidr Bport, they iikced n ladder on the siile of lliuar til)i;> next the wulcr, 

 iatinmtiiig to their prisoner ibat be was How ut full Uberly tn leuvc ihe yw^l, uaA 

 go whitbcnioeTer be pleased ; acid uiscm Uia decUning ibe fiiTOUP, lliej tlireir Uim 

 ovurtmrd. 



