1 1 .  Oheundi  negotii.  "  Of  transacting  business." — Tantos  cursus
"  So  long  voyages."

12.  Quam  celcritevy  &c.  "  As  rapidly  as,  under  the  guidance  of
Pompey,  the  war  on  our  part  sped  its  impetuous  way  ovei  the
deep."  Impetus  belli  is  a  poetic  form  of  expression,  for  the  eJmple
helium,  with  the  associate  idea,  however,  of  impetuosity  and  powej.
Thus  we  have  in  Lucretius,  (5,  101,)  "  impetus  coeliy^  for  coelunit
and  in  Accius,  (ap.  Cic.  de  Divin.  1,  22,)  **nocturnus  impetus,^*
for  nox.  Compare  the  following  remark  of  Emesti :  Totaforma^
belli  impetus  navigavit,  poeiica  est.  Sensus  est ;  quanta  celeritatt
Pompeius  helium,  et  quam  strenue  gesserit."

13.  Nondum  tempestivo,  &c.  "  Before  the  sea  was  yet  fit  for
navigation,"  i.  e.  before  the  season  for  sailing  was  come.  Temves-
tivo  is  here  equivalent  to  tempore  opportune,  "  fit  by  reason  of  the
time  of  year."  The  season  for  navigation  usually  commenced  about
the  rising  of  the  Pleiades,  on  the  22d  of  April.
14.  Siciliam  aditt.     I'ompey  directed  his  earliest  attention  to
Sicily,  in  order  to  secure  that  important  granary  of  the  republic.
He  then  proceeded,  with  the  same  view,  to  Africa  and  Sardinia.-
The  management  o    the  war  against  the  pirates  was  conferred  oi
Pompey  by  the  Gabmian  law   This  law  invested  him  with  th«  com


THE  MANLLIAN  LAVT  337

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mand  of  the  whole  Mediterranean,  and  with  power  orer  the  land  for  fiO
four  hundred  stadia  (ahout  46  miles)  from  the  coasts.     He  was  em-
powered  also  to  choose  out  of  the  senators  fifteen  lieutenants  to  act
under  him ;  he  was  to  take  from  the  quaestors,  and  other  public
receivers,  what  money  he  pleased,  and  equip  a  fleet  of  200  sail.
