The two men were of the same age; but Pompey had become a general among soldiers before Cicero had ceased to be a pupil among advocates.

As Cicero was making his way toward the front, Pompey was already the first among Romans.

He had been Consul seven years before his proper time, and had lately, as we have seen, been invested with extraordinary powers in that matter of putting down the pirates.

In some sort the mantle of Sulla had fallen upon him.

He was the leader of what we may call the conservative party.