We have already described the man--with his effort to be at once loyal republican and master of Rome, with his vacillation and indecision, with his pliancy that concealed itself under the boasting of independent resolution.

This was the first great trial to which destiny subjected him; and he failed to stand it.
The pretext under which Pompeius refused to dismiss the army was, that he distrusted Crassus and therefore could not take the initiative in disbanding the soldiers.

The democrats induced Crassus to make gracious advances in the matter, and to offer the hand of peace to his colleague before the eyes of all; in public and in private they besought the latter that to the double merit of having vanquished the enemy and reconciled the parties he would add the third and yet greater service of preserving internal peace to his country, and banishing the fearful spectre of civil war with which they were threatened.

Whatever could tell on a vain, unskilful, vacillating man--all the flattering arts of diplomacy, all the theatrical apparatus of patriotic enthusiasm--was put in motion to obtain the desired result; and--which was the main point--things had by the well-timed compliance of Crassus assumed such a shape, that Pompeius had no alternative but either to come forward openly as tyrant of Rome or to retire.

So he at length yielded and consented to disband the troops.