hauing receiued curtesies from him as because I haue beene alwayes inclined to affect him thinking that he for his vertue had deserued it yet without hauing any regard to what he desired I followed my old custome hauing in euery action the good of the Common-wealth my sole obiect And in token of the truth Pompeius being of the Senate when he went into Rome to commend Publius Sextius and Vatinius one of the testimonies had tolde that I was become one of Caesars friends moued thereunto by his happy fortune I gaue him this answer That the fortune of Bibulus which hee esteemed full of misery was greater in my estimation then all the triumphs and victories And in another place I said euen in the presence of Pompeius that none but they thrust mee out of Rome which where occasion that Bibulus feared to sâ—ur out of doores And that examination of mine was onely to reprehend the Tribuneship of Vatinius Where I spake with great liberty and courage about violence authority and the donation of Kingdomes Neiâ—ther did I in this 〈…〉 but aâ— mâ—ny other times speake in Sâ—naâ—e with the same constancie And further Marcelinus and Philippus being Consuls thâ— Senate vpon the fift of Aprill was contented vpon my request that on the fifteenth of May in open Senate the case should bee proposed of the Campan Territorie Thinke you that I could at this time couragiously handle this cause rather then â—orget my owne calamities and call to remembrance my owne actions When I had spoken my opinion there grew great alteration in some particular persons which had occasion and in others also which I could neuer haue imagined For the decree being made after that manner that I had councelled Pompeius without making any demonstration vnto me that he was displeased tooke his iourney for Sardinia and Africa and went by Luca to meet with Caesar who complained much of this deed of mine as being incensed a little before in Rauenna by Crassus who had spoken much ill vnto him concerning mee And though I had vnderstood by many that Pompeius was offended with mee Yet my brother gaue mee the greatest notice who meeting him in Sardinia a little while after hee came from Luca was thus saluted by him In very deed Sir I desired to see no man rather then you neither could fortune haue brought mee any man with whom I could bee so much contented If you take not such order that your brother Marcus keepe the promise that you on his behalfe made vs this debt will fall vpon you What needs more vvords He complained grieuously hee made repetition of his deserts hee called to memory the agreement made about the acts of Caesar and follovved on yet further that he knevv vvell that Caesar lou'd my happinesse pâ—aying him at last to recommend vnto me the cause and â—he honour of the aforesayd Caesar And that at the least I should not oppugne him if I vvould not or could not help him When I had from my brother vnderstood these things and Vibullius by commission of Pompeius hauing beene a little before to speake vvith mee that I should in courtesie leaue till his returne the Campan cause in the state it vvas in driuen to bethinke me of my selfe I turned me vvholly to consider mine ovvne affaires becomming after a sort petitioner to the Common-vvealth That in consideration of so much paines as I had taken for it it vvould be pleased to grant me that I might shevv my selfe gratefull tovvards my benefactours and continue the trust of my brother and that it vvould suffer that man to bee good vvhom in all occasions it had found to be a good Citizen Novv in all my actions and sentences vvhich seeme to offend Pompeius I perceiued that there vvere certaine persons vvhom you may imagine vvhich notvvithstanding they vvere of my opinion and had alvvaies beene so yet they reioyced that I follovved not the vvill of Pompeius hoping assuredly that he for that cause should grovv a cold friend vnto me and Caesar a capitall enemie I had iust occasion to be grieued hereat but much more that in my prâ—sence they did most familiarly embrace vvelcome and kisse mine enemie But vvhy doe I say mine enemie rather enemie of the Lavv of the Courts of Iustice of the quiet of his Countrey and in conclusion of all men of honesty vvith that demonstration they had an opinion they should moâ—e mee to anger but it vvas not so because in mee all anger vvas extâ—nguished These passages therefore considered and making a calculation vvith that vnderstanding that God had giuen mee I reduced into forme all my discourses vvhich if I be able I vvil briefly recount vnto you If I should see the Common-vvealth to bee gouerned by vvicked loose Citizens as vve knovv falleth out in our times and haue vnderstood to haue at other times also occurred no force either of revvards vvhich I slightly esteeme nor yet of dangers vvhich were vvont to feare the stouâ—est men could haue such interest in me that I should consent to the liking of men of such condition although my heart should tell mee they had obliged mee But the Common-vvealth resting it selfe vnder the shadow of Câ—cius Pompeius vvho vvith his great deserts tovvards it and vvith his vvorthy actions hath gotten this povver and estimation and I hauing from my youth fauoured nay I say more hauing furthered him both vvhen I vvas Praetor and vvhen I vvas Consull and he in like manner helping mee as vvell by councell as by fauour and vnvvilling to haue other enemy in the Citie then that man that vvas to me an enemy I thought not that I should bee held for inconstant if I had a little altered some of my opinions inclining my vvill to that vvhich appertained to the dignity both of a man of his sort and of such an one as vvas my Benefactour And being of this minde it vvas necessarie for me as you see that I should also fauour Caesar hee being invvard vvith Pompeius to vvhich partly ancient friendship much moued me that I and my brother Quintus haue alvvaies as you knovv held vvith Caesar partly the humanity and courtesie vvhich hee hath many vvayes in short time shevved vs. And to this the respect of the Common-wealth made great addition seeming vnto mee that it did not onely dislike but strangely refused that there should be any contention with men of that quality Especially Caesar hauing performed many valorous actions thereunto behoofefull And I being heretofore entred into such deliberation was vpon the former occasions altogether settled by reason of the testimonie that Pompeius had giuen of me to Caesar and my brother to Pompeius Moreouer I should haue considered that which is by our Plato written so diuinely that Citizens were wont to bee such as their Gouernours I remember the first day of my Consulship and often afterwards that I might keepe the Common-wealth in a direct course and at one stay I layd so strong foundations
the designes of enemies and trecherous persons shal shelter you from their wicked pretences One better comfort I haue more calling to remembrance my troubles past whose very image I perceiue in your affayres for although the blemish of your honor is not to be compared with the losse of my well-fare there is notwithstanding such a resemblance that I cannot imagine but you will hold me excused if those things affright me not which you your selfe neuer feared But be you that man that I haue knowne you from your infancie and credit me the iniuries of men shall make your greatnesse more illustrious And expect from me the chiefest fauours and offices that can be shewed you for I will not faile your expectation Fare you well Cicero to Publius Lentulus Vice-consull Ep. 7. I haue read your letters in which you are thankfull vnto me because I often acquaint you with all passages and because I make open demonstration to you of the affection I beare you It was needlesse to thanke me because I was oblieged to loue you if I would not appeare vnworthie of your good opinion and besides I tooke delight in this frequent epistolar correspondence with you seeing we could not in absence otherwise enioy one another And when it fals out that I write not so often vnto you it shall proceed from a distrust I shall haue to put my letters in euery mans hands But alwaies when I shal haue a faithful messeÌ„ger I wil not omit the opportunitie Touching the particulars which you desire to know concerning your friends they would be tedious to relate but as for that of which I haue often heretofore written vnto you I can bid you now relie vpon it for a certaintie That some which both greatly could and should haue fauoured you haue enuied your greatnesse and the course of your Fortunes Although the case be not alike yet it hath some equalitie with mine For they that were offended with you vpon an occasion that concerned the Common-wealth haue openly withstood you and those that were defended by you haue not beene so mindfull of your valour as hatefull of your commendation At which time as I haue heretofore at large written vnto you I haue knowne Hortentius and Lucullus to be very affectionate towards you and amongst those â—hat are Magistrates Luâ—ius Racilius a most faithfull and louing friend of yours With that diligence I bestow in fauouring you I profit not so much as I should if I fauoured another men presuming that I helpe you more out of obligation than discretion Amongst the Consulars I haue not knowne a man besides Hâ—râ—entius and Lucullus â—hat hath made so much as a shew of any good much lâ—sse done any good thing for you I write nothing vnto you of Pâ—mpâ—ius because you know he hath beene very seldome in the Senate But this I tell you that hee hâ—th often reâ—soned with me about your matters and that not onely when he was inuited thereunto by me but of his owne proper inclination also And the letters which you lately sent him were wondrous acceptable vnto him as I haue vnderstood by signes of greaâ—est certaintie I must needes conâ—esse that you haue not onely filled me with ioy but with admiration when I consider how ingenuously and with what great discretion you haue kept so rare a man your friend and so much oblieged him vnto your courtesie Wiping out of his memorie the falâ—e suspition which he had that you sâ—ould be offeâ—ded with him beleeuing as othâ—rs did that he stroue with you about the restoring of the king To tell truth though you haue alwayes found him readie to pleasure you and especially then when peraduenture the conâ—raâ—ie was doubted as when Caninius sought that the people should giue him the managing of this businesse yet I can assure you that I neuer saw him more earnest or forward than at this present Therefore know that whatsoeuer I write shall be written by his Councell and opinion I say then till now the Senate hath not denied you the restoring of the King Because that decree that no man might restore him was rather made out of furie then by reason and the Tribunes as you know were thereunto opposed You therefore hauing the gouernment of Silicia and Cyprus may easily informe your selfe whether your foâ—ces be sufficient to bridle Alexandria aâ—d Aegypt and finding it a maâ—ter feyseable you may goe into Aâ—exandria with the armie leauing the King at Ptolemâ—is or there bouts and when you haue set all things quiet and appointed and placed your guâ—risons you may restore Ptolemâ—us to his former state and Dominion And afâ—er this manner he shall be restored by you as the Senate had in the beginning ordâ—ined and restored without the armie as these religious persons said was according to the pleasure or liking of the Sibylla And you shall thus doe a thing agreeable to the honour of your selfe and of our Common-wealth It is true that the attempt seemes vnto vs doubtfull because wee know men will iudge according to the successe And if the matter should fall out as we would haue it euery man will proclaime you wise and valorous If any misfortune should come betweene you and home all men will say you were vaine and ambitious Wherefore you shall better gather than we whether the enterprise be secure as hauing the estate of all Aegypt within your view Our opinion is that if you haue any certaintie to possesse your selfe of that kingdome that you defer no time in effecting it but if the case be doubtfull put not your selfe vpon it This I assure you that if you prosper in it you shall be in your absence praised of many and at your reâ—urâ—e of all men if it happen otherwise I forsee that nothing but â—ll can come thereof The Senate hauing declared their pleasure and besides there being the respect of the religion But as I exhort you to put your selâ—e vpon the taske if you finde things without danger so if you doubt they will giue you battell I disswade you from it And againe I tell you what from the beginning I haue signified vnto you that men will censure your actions not so much according to the counsell you haue embraced as according to the end that shall ensue thereof But if this way â—hould appeare dangerous vnto you we should like it well that the king giuing assurance to those friends of yours which in diuerse places of your Prouince haue furnisht him with moneys should vse your ayde to returne into his kingdome You being easily able to helpe him aswell for the qualitie as situation of your Prouince he being destitute of a more sure meanes to returne withall This is my opinion now doe what you thinke best Whereas you reioyce at my condition at the familiaritie of Milo at the vanitie and weaknesse of Clodius â— wonder not at your ioy being the custome of an excellâ—nt artificer to take pleasure in his own workmanship
Caesar would rather â—ish to meete with friends like me then like themselues For my part if things fall out conformable to my desire I meane to passe so much of my life as remaines quietly at Rhodes but if it so happen that any accident disturbe me I will remaine in Rome and remaine there alwaies wishing that they may doe well I giue great thankes to our Trebatius because he plainely declared vnto me how your minde stood towards me which I discerne to be full of sinceritie and affection and because he was the occasion that I hauing euer willingly loued you should now also be further tyed both to honour and respect you Farewell Cicero to Marcus Oppius Epist. 29. I being as our Atâ—icus knowes very doubtâ—ull about this iourney In that my minde on eiâ—her side suggested many râ—asons your iudgement and counâ—â—ll greatly induced mee to deliberate and make my resolution For you both plainely wrote vnto mee what your opinion therein was and Aâ—ticus related that vnto mee which you had spoken vnto him thâ—reof I euer tooke you to bee wise in deliberating and very faithfull in aduising and I haue had good expâ—rience thereof when in the beginning of the ciuill warre I requiring you by letters that you would aduise mee what I should doe either in going to Pompeius or remaining in Italie you perswaded mee to doe that that stood best with mine honour By which I perceiued what your opinion was therein and I admired that you were of so great fideliâ—ie and in aduiâ—ing mee â—o honâ—st a man â—or you thinking that the contrarie was desired by him that was your best friend you had greater râ—spect to my office then his will or pleasure Certainely before this fell out I loued you and euer knew that my selfe was by you beloued And when I was absent and stood in great danger I remember that in my absence yoâ— defended mee with great care vsing the like humanitie to all mine that were in Rome and after my returne how domesticallie you liued with mee and what opinion I retained of you and what things I diuulged all those that usuallie looke into such actions can truelie testifie But how faithfull in louing you and how constant you reputed mee you then euidently shewed when after Caesars death you betooke you whollie vnto mine acquaintance Which opinion of yours iâ— I by my dearest loue and best offices doe not acknowledge I shall not repute my selfe a man Perseuer you my Oppius in louing me although doubtlesse I write this vnto you not that I thinke you stand in neede of any such remembrance but because it is vsuall to write thus and take all my affaires into your protection Whereof that you may be fully informed I haue giuen commission to Atticus And when I shall be at better leisure I will write vnto you more at large Be carefull of your health For you cannot doe me a greater pleasure THE TWELFTH BOOKE OF THE FAMILIAR EPISTLES OF M. T. CICERO Cicero to Caius Cassius Epist. 1. BE assured Cassius that I neuer cease to think vpon you and our Brutus that is of the whole CoÌ„monwealth which hath reposed all her hope in you and Decimus Brutus And certainly from this time forward I begin to conceiue better hopes seeing may Dolabella hath performed such materiall seruice to the Common-wealth For that euill which sprung vp in the Citie continually dispersed it sâ—lfe and euerie day so encreased that for my part I held both the Citie and the peace of Citizens vtterly lost But it is so stop't that as for that reprochfull danger I suppose wee may liue for euer secure Other thâ—ngs that yet remaine to bee acted are important and many but you must be the man that must effect them al Though we are intentiue to dispatch those which are of greatest moment For touching that which hath hitherto beene done wee haue freed our selues of the King but not of the Kingdom For though the King be slaine yet we put all that in execution which the King appointed to be performed And not onely this but some things also which hee himselfe if hee had liued would not haue acted wee approue because hee designed them And of this I know not when wee shall see an end New Lawes are propounded exemptions are granted great taxes imposed banished men are restored and false decrees of the Senate are produced so as it seemes that the hatred onely of that wicked man and the greefe of seruitude is remoued but the Common-wealth is still tormentâ—d with those troubles whereinto hee brought her Of all these things you must make an end of necessitie and not suppose that the Common-wealth hath had alreadie from you what was sufficient Shee hath indeed so much as I would neuer haue hoped for but shee is not content with this and the greatnesse of your benefit and courage considered shee expects and desires froÌ„ you greater matters Hitherto with the death of the Tyrant and by your meanes she is reuenged of her iniuries but which of her ornaments hath shee recouered Take you peraduenture these for ornamenâ—s that shee obeyes him dead whom liuing shee could â—ot support or that wee defend his writings whose Lawes we ought to abrogate you 'l tell me we so determined It is true But wee did it to giue way vnto the times which in a Common-wealth are of great â—orâ—â— But some bearing themselues indiscreetly and vngratfully assume too much securitie vpon our courtesie Of which and manie other things wee will shortly discouâ—se at our meeting In the meane while perswade your selfe that I both in respect of the Common-wealth which was euer most dâ—aâ—e vnâ—o me as also for the loue we beare one another haue an especiall care of your dignity Looke vnto your heath Farewell Cicero to Caius Cassius Epist. 2. I Am verie glad that my sentence and Oration giues you content The which if I could often vse it would be no great labour to vs to re-establish the Common-wealâ—h in lâ—bertie But this foolish and debauched companion and a wickedâ—â— wretch then hee was of whom you weâ—e wonâ— to say that there was slâ—ine an impious man seâ—kes all meanes to procure a murder and hee doth for no other end charge me thâ—t I ploâ—ted Caesars death but because the old souldiers might rise vp against mee Which danger no wayes daunts me so that I may also purchase praise for that which you most gloriously haue â—ffected Aâ—d thus neither Piso who was â—he first that spake against him without anie man to second him nor I who a â—onth after did the like nor Publius Serâ—â—lius who spake after me can securâ—ly goe into the Senate For that bâ—oudie fellow vseth all meanâ—s to pâ—ocuâ—e some slaughter and the xx of Seâ—tember he thought to begin with mee And I can tell you he camâ— prouided iâ—to the Senate hauing for manie dâ—ies in Metellus villâ—ge wâ—ll consideâ—ed that which hee meant to vtter against me But what sound
testimonie of the affection you beare him and of his owne worth for which you reputed him worthie of your protection The King hauing heard this Embassie he began fiâ—st to thanke you in the best manner he could and then my selfe taking it for a great grace and wonderfull honor â—hat the Senate and people of Rome should haue so great a caâ—e of his saâ—etie and that I vs'd so much diligence to let him know it And so proceâ—ding in his discourse he told me to my great contentment how he â—â—ued freâ— from all feare and suspicion as well of his life as of his kingdome whereat reâ—oycing with him and expressing the contenâ—ment of minde I felt therebyâ— I exhorted him to be mindeâ—ull of the horrible accident of his fatherâ— death and carefully to looke to himsâ—lfe and by our aduise to lay foâ— his owne safetâ—e After this taking leâ—ue of me he returned to Cybistrâ— The day after hee came much disturbed and lamâ—nting to me in my Tents togeatherâ— with Ariarâ—thes hiâ— brother and with his fathers ancientest fâ—iends who lâ—mented no lesse then himselâ—e and hauing pittiâ—ully demanded ayde of mee I cast with my selfe what might be the meaning thereof And â—e at largâ— laid open vnto me the occasion inferring how certaine practises were diâ—couered intended against him Whâ—ch hithâ—rto had lyen hid in respect that they who might haue reuealed them for feare had concealed them And though they saw themâ—elues free'd of the danger yet they fâ—ared to discouer them but being secuâ—ed in my power they boldly made them knowne And amongst these was his louing and courteous broâ—her who also in my presence affirm'd how he had beene prouoked to make a way to the kingdome by his brothers death in that hee could not raigne while he liued but for feare of worie he neuer reueal'd it to him before my arriuall which procur'd such securitie that these treasons came to be discouered Vnderstanding the matter I entreated the king to be circumspect and to vse all meanes and endeauour for the preseruation of his life State And I exhorted those faithfull friends and followers who were so beloued of his father that bearing in minde the disastrous accident befallen the old King with all care and vigilancie they should intend the preseruing of this man present Herâ—upon the King requesting me to lend him a part of my horse and infanterie though I had not onely ample licence from you but also strict iniunction that so I might and should doe yet the necessities of the Commonâ—wealth enforcing me to conduct my Armie vpon the confines of Cilicia without interposing any delay for the bad newes which euery day came out of Syria and supposing the King able enough to defend himselfe without the succor of my Armie in that the trecheries were now made knowne I perswaded him that the first demonstration of himselfe to be a king was to preseruâ— his owne life then that he should be a seuere persecutor of whomsoeuer had committed any treason against his person that hee should punish the heads of the conspiracie and beare himselfe chearefully to others for the rooting of all suspition out of their mindes And that he would rather make vse of mine Armie to daunt the courage of the delinquenâ—s then any wayes to contest with thâ—m Heereunto adding that your decree would be of so great force that no man dâ—â—st innouâ—te any thing they conceiuing that I had expresse commissioâ— from you to ayde him and to curâ—e their insolency that plotted against him And after I had with liuely reasons perswaded him to bee of good courage I rais'd my Campe from the foresaid place directing my march towards Cilicia And so I departed out of Cappâ—doâ—ia hauing miraculously preserued both the life and state of Ariobarzanes Whom you had prudently recommended vnto mee granting him first out of your owne â—ree-will the titâ—e of a King by decree's full of affection Wherein you shewed the great care you tooke of his sâ—fetie whereof I thought good to giue you notice that you might vndeâ—stand how you by your circumspection preuented a great euill which ere long would haue produced wicked effects And I write the more willingly to you heâ—reof because me thinkes I discern'd in king Ariobarzanes so many and such like signes of wit fidelitiâ— and loue as it may be conceiu'd that not without speciall reason you tooke so principall a care of his well doing Fare you well Cicero to Marcus Cato Epist. 3. THE third of September the Embassadors of king Antiochus Commagenus came vnto mee there where I had pitched vnder Iconium bringing newes how the sonne of the Parthian king kinsman to the king of the Armenians with an innumerable companie of Paribians and a great number also of other nations was come to the banks of Euphrates had already begun to transport his Souldiers Hâ—reunto annexing how it was reported that the king of Armenia would make some incursion into Cappadocia whereof I was desirous to adueâ—tise you for our friendships sake not being willing to write publikely thereof for two reasons one because the Ambassadors informed me that the foresaid king Commagenus presently dispatched messengers to the Senate with letters wherein he certified them of all th' other because I made reckoning that Marcus Bibulus vice-Consull being departed from Ephesus euer since the midd'st of August and hauing had faire windes was now come into his Prouince and so consequently with greater certaintie might write vnto the Senate of the euents of Syria And because I see all other meanes excluded of defending these Countries I labor to purchase the loue good will of the people and to keepe our Colleagaâ—es in fidelitie And nothing else occurring worthie of inâ—ormation I beseech you to loue and fauour me as you were wonâ— to doe Farewell Cicero to Marcus Cato Epist. 4. BEing resolued to make a sute vnto the Senate which questionlesse in it selfe is iust and honest neuerâ—helesse I thought fit therein to vse your authoritie as an instrument knowing what fauour and assiâ—tance the rare quâ—lities of your minde may affoord me which haue brought you into such reputation with euery man that your meanes in obtaining any great matter of moment are exceeding powerfull And to this effect I was dâ—sirous in this present letter fully to aduertise you of the course I tooke to retaine the amiâ—ie of our associat's and of the Iustice and Chaâ—itie which I shewed to their Subâ—ectes hoping that by this way I should more easilie encline you to fauour me The last of Iuly I was in my Prouince and perceiuing how it was a season to repaire to the Armie without any delaie I stayed onely in Laodâ—cea three daies in Apameae foure three in Sinadis and as many more in Philomelum and leauing in all these townes multitudes of souldiers I disburdened manie other Citties who were surcharged with intollerable tributes and heauie vsuries and clear'd them of infinite debts vnsufferable growing by
taxations which were impos'd vpon them beyond all reason And because the Armie was disseuer'd through a certaine disorder growing before my arriual vpon which cause fiue Cohorts of it were withdrawen vnder Philomelum without either Legate or Tâ—ibune and finally without so much as a Centurion the remainder of the Armie lying in Lycaonia I gaue Commission to Marcus Anneius thâ— Legate to reconduct the sayd cohorts thither where the others were and so knitting together the whole Armie that he â—hould encampe himselâ—e there in Lycaonia vnder Iconium After he hauing performed all things according to mine order giuen him I came to the Campe the xxvi of August hauing first drawen together a good number of the best forraine souldiers I could take vp both foot and horse besides those which were voluntarily offered me by the free Nations those Kings who are in league with vs. In the meane while hauing mustred my men I directed my mâ—rch towardes Cilicia And the first of September being on my way Embassadors ouertooke mâ— from king Commagenus which being all astonished fraught with feare related to me for a certaine truth how the Parthians were passed into Syria whereat my mind was wonderfully troubled in respect of Syria and mine owne Prouince and briâ—fly in respect of all Asia Wherefore I resolu'd too to hold on my way by that part of Cappadâ—cia which confineth with Cilicia perceiuing that if I should fall into Cilicia I might easily deâ—end it through the naturall siâ—uation of Mount Amanus for there are but onely two entries out of Syria into Cilicia and both of them are narrow that with a very few men the enemies passage may be stopped and on the part of Syria Cilicia could not be better fortified but Cappadocia I feared because it lay open to Syria and is expos'd to the danger that might accrew from bordering kings Who though they be our frends yet dare they not manifest themselues enemies to the Parthians Therefore in the furthest part of Cappadâ—cia not farre â—rom Mount Taurus vnder the towne of Cybistra I encamped both to defend Cilicia and to supplant the new disseignes oâ— bordâ—ring Nations holding Cappadocia And in the meane time â—umors on all sides being spâ—ead and a great warre expected king â—â—â—â—tarus a wise and vâ—lianâ— man of â—hom bâ—â—h you I together with the whole Sâ—â—atâ— had euer a singular good conceipt haâ—ing found him vpon all occasions faithfull aâ—d wâ—ll affâ—cted to the people of Râ—me sent Ambassadors to me infoâ—ming me that he would come with all hâ—s Forces into my Campe. Wherâ—pon I being mou'd through so louing and courâ—eous a demonstration gaue him thankes by letters exhorting him to hasten his comming as much as was possibleâ— and hauing stayed at Cybistra fiue dayes to furnish my selfe of things necessarie for the warre I deliuer'd king Arioâ—aâ—zâ—nes from an imminent perill which beâ—ore he had not perceiued And being â—ecommended to me at your requâ—st by the Senate I did not onely procure his safetie but so effected that he might cause himselfe to be both obey'd and feared Bâ—sides this I prâ—uailed so far with the same King that he shew'd fauour to Metra and that Athenâ—us whom you so seriously recommended to me Who through the malice of Athenaides had beene banished so that he now maintaines them about him in greâ—t and honouâ—able fashion And perceiuing what warre might eâ—sue betweene king Ariobarzanâ—s and the Priest if the Priest with Armes meant to defend himselfe as the common opinion was he would doe being a poweâ—â—ull young man and furnished with horse foot and which imported most with money being fauoured by thâ—m that affected innouation I caus'd â—im to depart out of the kingdome and so accommodaâ—ed â—he Kings affaiâ—es as without tumult or Armes he might bearâ— himâ—elfe as a King and liue without any â—ealousie keeping a roiall guard within his Pallace In the meane â—pace by letters receiu'd from diuers and by messengers arriued I vnderstood how a great Armie of the Parthians and Arabians made approach to Antiochia and that a great troope of their horse who were gotten into Cilicia were discomfited and hewen in pieces by my Cauallerie and Praetorian Infantâ—rie who weâ—e of the gâ—arison of Epiphanea Whereupon seeing that the Parthia Nation giuing ouer the enterprise of Capâ—adocia drew neare to Cilicia with great dayes iourneyes I conductâ—d the Armie towardes Mount Amanus whither being come I had aduertisement how thâ— enemy was risâ—n from before Anâ—iochiâ— Bibulus was 〈◊〉 thereinto And hearing that Dâ—â—â—tarus waâ— hasting towâ—rds me with a strong Cauâ—llerie and Infantâ—rie and mulâ—itude of Forces I sent him word that I now saw no neâ—d why he shoulâ— remooue himselfe so farre fâ—om his â—ingdome but vpon any occurrâ—nt I wouâ—d suddainly giue him notice Afâ—â—r these euents retaining a firme resolution to pacifie the people of Mount Amanus and to expell them that euer wâ—re enemies though I came with an intâ—ntion to â—uccour both the one and other Prouince if the time permitted neuerthelesse I iudging that this would redound to the benefit of both those Prouinces I thought it most expedient to bring my determination â—o effect And thereâ—ore making a shew of departing from the sayd Mountaine and remouing about a dayes iourney off and pitching my tents vnder Epiphanâ—a the xij oâ— October about the shutting in of the â—uening I with the most actiue of my souldiers aduanced and so marching all night at breake of day we ascâ—nded the mountaine and dâ—â—â—ding the Armie part remâ—ined vnder mine and my brothers command part I committed to Caius Pâ—ntinius and the rest I left to Luâ—iâ—â— Anâ—cius and Lucius Tullius who are all the Legates I haue and so marching on in thiâ—â—quipage we assâ—iâ—â—d the enemies on a suddaine of whom some were slâ—ine some â—aken hauing no time left them for flight Pâ—ntinius beleaguer'd Erana Which being the Metropolitane of Amanuâ—â— may rather be tearmed a cittie then a Burrough and moreouer Sepyra and Commoris Which townâ—s were verie strong deâ—ending themselues resolutely But yet they were so oppressed that in the end with greatâ— slaughter of the enemies they were taken And this assault beginning before day light continued till two houres within the night Besides â—his we tooke six small towns and burnt diuers others After these eâ—fects ensued we pitched at the foote of Amanus call'd by the name of Alâ—xanders Altars in which place staying some foure dayes we spent the time in extinguishing our enemies and in â—orraging and wasting that part of Amâ—nus which lies against my Prouince These things being perform'd I conducted mine Armie within sight of Pindenissus a Burrough of priuiledged Cilicians Which is seated vpon a verie high mountaine a place inexâ—ugnable and inhabiâ—ed by men who alwayes scorn'd â—o be gouern'd by their owne Kings much lesse by others And percâ—iuing that they gaue receptacle to all that flâ—d making opâ—n defence through hope they had that â—he Parâ—hianâ— would arriue to their succour me