Page:Cicero And The Fall Of The Roman Republic.djvu/241

60 B.C.] Cæsar, though he had shown distinguished bravery in his youth, had never been in command of troops; he was famous as a politician and party leader, but quite unknown as a soldier. Just now indeed he had supplemented his record by a single year's command in Spain; but to the veteran warrior this would seem a very insufficient training, and Cæsar's achievements, though creditable to him as an officer, were not such as to undeceive Pompey respecting his powers. There was then, as yet, little reason to fear a serious rivalry on this ground; and Cæsar was able to represent his province and his army merely as a reserve force, on which his partners at home might fall back in case of necessity.

Other scruples however must have suggested themselves. Pompey had declined the despotism which was within his reach, and had refused to violate his duty to the State in his own interest; and now he was asked to abandon the character of a loyal republican, and to give his sanction to illegal action and violent breaches of the constitution. It seems probable that he was too short-sighted to perceive clearly the treasonable nature of his compact with Cæsar, and that he salved his conscience by disclaiming responsibility for whatever he could not approve. The bargain once struck, Pompey was no longer a free man. He had reaped the benefit of Cæsar's illegalities, and could not refuse to support them in all their consequences; and so we shall find him during the ensuing years compelled in spite of misgivings to do Cæsar's work for him, and unable to break with him until Cæsar has made himself too