Death of Crassus--Rupture between the Joint Rulers Crassus Goes to Syria Marcus Crassus had for years been reckoned among the heads of the "three-headed monster," without any proper title to be so included.

He served as a makeweight to trim the balance between the real regents Pompeius and Caesar, or, to speak more accurately, his weight fell into the scale of Caesar against Pompeius.

This part is not a too reputable one; but Crassus was never hindered by any keen sense of honour from pursuing his own advantage.

He was a merchant and was open to be dealt with.

What was offered to him was not much; but, when more was not to be got, he accepted it, and sought to forget the ambition that fretted him, and his chagrin at occupying a position so near to power and yet so powerless, amidst his always accumulating piles of gold.