And also even in the case of Pompey, some malevolent critics, who after much search found nothing for which he could be blamed, noted these two laughable and silly facts: that in a certain characteristic way he used to scratch his head with one finger, and that for some time, to cover up an ugly ulcer, he wore a white bandage tied around his leg; the one of these things he did, they affirmed, because he was dissipated, the other because he planned a revolution, snarling at him with the somewhat pointless reason, that it mattered not what part of his body he bound with the emblem of kingly majestyThe white fillet, to which the bandage was likened, was emblematic of royalty; see Suet., 79, 1. —and this to a man than whom, as the clearest of proofs show; none was more valiant or circumspect with regard to his country.

While these things were thus happening, at Rome Artemius, who held the office of vice-prefect, also succeeded Bassus,Junius Bassus died in 359; according to Prudentius, i. 559, he was the first of his family to become a Christian. who a short time after he had been promoted to be prefect of the city had died a natural death. His administration suffered from mutinous disturbances, but had no remarkable incident which is worth relating.

As Augustus meanwhile was taking his winter rest at Sirmium, frequent serious reports showed that the Sarmatians and the Quadi, who were in agreement because they were neighbours and had like customs and armour, had united and were raiding the PannoniasThat is, First and Second (Lower) Pannonia; the province was divided by Galerius. and Second Moesia in detached bands.