Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus, were not strong political men. […] Neither was strong enough to harm Pompeius; and Ap. […] But there were strong and authentic rumours the year before, cf. […] The clientela of the Pompeii, however, was very strong, cf. […] In Syria Bassus had stirred up civil war two years before, seizing the strong place of Apamea.