A year and a half ago this had been absolutely at his disposal.

The regents then ruled the state both by the comitia, which absolutely obeyed them as the masters of the street, and by the senate, which was energetically overawed by Caesar; as representative of the coalition in Rome and as its acknowledged head, Pompeius would have doubtless obtained from the senate and from the burgesses any decree which he wished, even if it were against Caesar's interest.
But by the awkward quarrel with Clodius, Pompeius had lost the command of the streets, and could not expect to carry a proposal in his favour in the popular assembly.

Things were not quite so unfavourable for him in the senate; but even there it was doubtful whether Pompeius after that long and fatal inaction still held the reins of the majority firmly enough in hand to procure such a decree as he needed.
The Republican Opposition among the Public The position of the senate also, or rather of the nobility generally, had meanwhile undergone a change.

From the very fact of its complete abasement it drew fresh energy.

In the coalition of 694 various things had come to light, which were by no means as yet ripe for it.