1Now what speech can be found equal to Pompey's ability? 1What can anyone bring forward that is either worthy of him, or new to you, or unheard of by anyone? 1For the qualities of a commander are not only those commonly thought of — toil in business, courage in dangers, diligence in action, speed in execution, foresight in planning — which are greater in this one man than they have been in all the other commanders whom we have either seen or heard of. 1Italy is witness, which the victor himself, Lucius Sulla, acknowledged had been freed by this man's courage and help; 30Sicily is witness, which, beset on every side by many dangers, he set free not by the terror of war but by swiftness of judgement; 30Africa is witness, which, crushed by great forces of the enemy, overflowed with the blood of those very enemies; 30Gaul is witness, through which a route into Spain was opened for our legions by the slaughter of the Gauls; 30Spain is witness, which has very often seen very many enemies overcome and laid low by this man; 30Italy is witness again and again, which, when it was hard pressed by the foul and dangerous slave war, sought help from him while he was far away; and that war was weakened and diminished by the expectation of him, and ended and buried by his arrival.
31Witnesses now indeed are all coasts and all lands, peoples and nations, and finally all seas, both as a whole and, on each coast, every bay and harbour. 31For what place on the whole sea in these years had either so strong a garrison as to be safe, or was so hidden as to escape notice? 31Who set sail without exposing himself to the risk of death or slavery, since he sailed either in winter or on a sea crammed with pirates? 31This war, so great, so shameful, so long-standing, so widely spread and scattered, who would ever have thought could be finished either by all our commanders in one year or by one commander in all the years?
32What province have you kept free from pirates during these years? 32what revenue has been safe for you? 32what ally have you defended? 32whom have you protected with your fleets? 32how many islands do you think have been deserted, how many cities of the allies either abandoned through fear or captured by pirates?