The Mediterranean swarmed with pirates, who taught themselves to think that they had nothing to fear from the hands of the Romans.

Plutarch declares to us--no doubt with fair accuracy, because the description has been admitted by subsequent writers--how great was the horror of these depredations.[141] It is marvellous to us now that this should have been allowed--marvellous that pirates should reach such a pitch of importance that Verres had found it worth his while to sacrifice Roman citizens in their place.

Pompey went forth with his officers, his fleets, and his money, and cleared the Mediterranean in forty days, as Plutarch says.
Floras tells us that not a ship was lost by the Romans, and not a pirate left on the seas.[142] In the history of Rome at this time we find men of mark whose characters, as we read, become clear to us, or appear to become clear.
Of Marius and of Sulla we have a defined idea.

Caesar, with his imperturbable courage, absence of scruples, and assurance of success, comes home to us.

Cicero, I think, we certainly may understand.
Catiline, Cato, Antony, and Brutus have left their portraits with us.