1But why do I recall far-off things? 1It was once, yes, it was the special mark of the Roman people to wage war far from home and to defend with the bulwarks of empire the fortunes of their allies, not their own roofs. 1Am I to say that the sea was closed to your allies during these years, when your own armies never crossed from Brundisium except in the depth of winter? 1Am I to complain that those who were coming to you from foreign nations were captured, when envoys of the Roman people have had to be ransomed? 1Am I to say that the sea was not safe for merchants, when twelve axes came into the power of pirates?
33Am I to mention that Cnidus or Colophon or Samos, most famous cities, and countless others were captured, when you know that your own harbours, and those harbours through which you draw your life and breath, were in the power of pirates? 33Or are you really unaware that the harbour of Caieta, very busy and full of ships, was plundered by pirates under the eyes of a praetor, and that from Misenum the children of the very man who had previously waged war against the pirates were carried off by pirates? 33For why should I complain of the setback at Ostia, and that blot and disgrace on the state, when almost under your eyes the fleet over which a consul of the Roman people had been placed was captured and sunk by pirates?
33Immortal gods! 33could the incredible and godlike merit of one man bring so much light to the state in so short a time that you, who lately saw an enemy fleet before the mouth of the Tiber, now hear that there is no pirate ship this side of the mouth of the Ocean? 34And with what speed these things were done, although you see it, should still not be passed over by me in speaking. 34For who ever, in eagerness either to carry out business or to make profit, was able to visit so many places and complete such great journeys in so short a time as the onslaught of so great a war sailed with Pompey as its leader?
34He, when the sea was not yet in season for sailing, went to Sicily, reconnoitred Africa, came from there with his fleet to Sardinia, and secured these three granaries of the state with very strong garrisons and fleets. 35Then, when he had returned to Italy, having secured the two Spains and Transalpine Gaul with garrisons and ships, and having likewise sent ships to the coast of the Illyrian sea and to Achaea and all Greece, he equipped the two seas of Italy with very large fleets and very strong garrisons, while he himself, after setting out from Brundisium, on the forty-ninth day added the whole of Cilicia to the empire of the Roman people; 35all the pirates who were anywhere were either captured and killed, or surrendered themselves to the command and power of this one man.
35He also did not take away from the Cretans the hope of surrender, when they had sent envoys and intercessors to him all the way into Pamphylia, and he demanded hostages. 35Thus so great a war, so long-lasting, so far and widely scattered, a war by which all peoples and nations were oppressed, Pompey prepared at the end of winter, took up at the beginning of spring, and finished in midsummer.