an unlimited right to dispose of the public funds, a new fleet, the levy of an army, and an authority everywhere superior to that of the provincial governors (imperium infinitum maius). This proposal was withdrawn, partly on account of the opposition of Crassus, but chiefly because of the timidity and vacillation of Pompeius himself.
New Proconsular Magistracy of Pompeius. — In place of the tribunician measure a consular bill (rogatio Cornelia Caecilia) was passed by the popular assembly, conferring only the superintendence of the grain supply and proconsular authority throughout Roman territory for five years. Pompeius thus obtained again an extraordinary magistracy, though not the one desired.
It was a unique arrangement to intrust a proconsular magistrate with a branch of the urban administration, and to permit him freely to enter the city. The magistracy itself, as well as its term, was in principle a decided advance toward the military monarchy, of which its duties early formed an important part.
As long as Pompeius did not have an army, his proconsular power was largely an empty honor. Another chance to secure what he wanted soon presented itself. Ptolemaeus Auletes had been expelled from Egypt by his subjects and came to Rome in 57. He expected help from Pompeius and Caesar, whom he had paid so well (p. 238). Pompeius desired to restore him; but, so far from openly pushing his own claims, he pretended to favor one of the consuls. As a result neither a senatorial decree nor any bill was passed in his favor. With the elaborate system of religious and political checks, nothing in fact could be carried in a constitutional way against a somewhat courageous opposition. Moreover, he was bitterly attacked both before the people and in the senate, and he was on unfriendly terms with Crassus.
