the great leader was exposed to the malign influences of Perperna's
ambition and jealousy.

461. We have seen how Pompey contrived to get himself
sent to Spain on the same footing as Metellus. But the campaign
of 76 was a failure, and that of 75 not much better. Mithradates
thought it worth his while to come to a friendly arrangement with
Sertorius. The pirates supplied means of communication and
some sort of understanding was entered into. The state of things
was serious. Pompey, at his urgent request, was reinforced, for
fear the war should spread to Italy. The tide now began to turn,
not through marked improvement on the Roman side, but rather
in consequence of the gradual failure of Sertorius. Perhaps the
Spaniards were tired of the war: his Roman helpers were certainly
a hindrance. Their conduct alienated the natives, and it is said
that Sertorius by various severities was making himself hated. In
the year 72 he was assassinated, and Perperna, who had been the
chief conspirator, succeeded to the command. Pompey soon after
defeated and captured Perperna, and put him to death. The re-
bellion quickly collapsed, order was restored, and the Marian party
were no longer represented by a force in arms. But it was thought
wise to encourage those Spaniards who had done good service for
the Roman government. Pompey, probably at his own suggestion,
was authorized by a special law to bestow the Roman franchise on
deserving individuals. One of the recipients, a native of Gades,
who took the name L. Cornelius Balbus, migrated to Rome, and
became a very important person. He is best known as the chief
private agent of Caesar. In 71 Pompey and Metellus returned to
Rome.

462. When we turn to the East, we find Roman interests in
danger from several quarters. A weak and fitful policy exposed
Macedonia to chronic warfare. No practical and effective measures
had been taken to suppress piracy. And the king of Pontus had
been busy with preparations which might at any time issue in a
serious war. The frontier wars in Macedonia employed governor
after governor, but victories brought no rest. Dardanians and
Thracians, to the N. and N.E. of the province, were driven to
invade the Roman territory by the pressure of ruder barbarians
behind them, and emissaries of Mithradates helped to make the
Thracian tribes more troublesome than ever. Rome kept no
strong standing army in the province, and made no further an-

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