§12.15.4qua mente etiam ante nostrum adventum post Treboni indignissimam caedem ceteraque tot tamque nefaria facinora binae profectae erant ad Dolabellam legationes eorum, et quidem novo exemplo, contra leges ipsorum, prohibentibus iis qui tum magistratus gerebant. † haec sive timore, ut dictitant, de agris quos in continenti habent sive furore sive patientia paucorum, qui et antea pari contumelia viros clarissimos adfecerant et nunc maximos magistratus gerentes nullo exemplo neque nostra ex parte neque nostro praesentium neque imminenti Italiae urbique nostrae periculo, si ille parricida cum suis latronibus navibus ex Asia Syriaque expulsus Italiam petisset, mederi, cum facile possent, noluerunt†.
With such a mind, even before our arrival, after the most unworthy murder of Trebonius and all the other so many and so heinous crimes, two embassies of theirs had set out to Dolabella, and indeed by a novel precedent, contrary to their own laws, although those who then held the magistracies forbade it. †Whether this [happened] through fear, as they repeatedly assert, concerning the lands they possess on the continent, or through the madness or passivity of a few men—who both previously had treated most distinguished men with equal insult, and now, holding the highest magistracies, by no precedent and with no regard for our side, nor for us who were present, nor for the imminent danger to Italy and our city, if that parricide with his bandits, expelled by ships from Asia and Syria, had headed for Italy, refused to bring a remedy (noluerunt), though they could easily have done so†.
§12.15.5non nullis etiam ipsi magistratus veniebant in suspicionem detinuisse nos et demorati esse, dum classis Dolabellae certior fieret de adventu nostro.
Even the magistrates themselves came into suspicion with some of having detained us and delayed us, until Dolabella's fleet should be informed of our arrival.
quam suspicionem consecutae res aliquot auxerunt, maxime quod subito ex Lycia Sex. Marius et C. Titius, legati Dolabellae, a classe discesserunt navique longa profugerunt onerariis relictis, in quibus conligendis non minimum temporis laborisque consumpserant.
This suspicion several subsequent events increased, especially because suddenly from Lycia, Sextus Marius and Gaius Titius, legates of Dolabella, departed from the fleet and fled in a warship, leaving behind the merchant ships, in collecting which they had consumed no small amount of time and labor.
itaque cum ab Rhodo cum iis quas habueramus navibus in Lyciam venissemus, navis onerarias recepimus dominisque restituimus idemque, quod maxime verebamur, ne posset Dolabella cum suis latronibus in Italiam venire, timere desumus;
Therefore, when we had come from Rhodes into Lycia with those ships which we had held, we recovered the merchant ships and restored them to their owners, and we ceased (desumus) to fear the very thing we most dreaded—namely, that Dolabella with his bandits might be able to come to Italy.
classem fugientem persecuti suiuus usque Sidam, quae extrema regio est provinciae meae.
We pursued (suiuus) the fleeing fleet as far as Sida, which is the ultimate region of my province.
§12.15.6ibi cognovi partem navium Dolabellae diffugisse, reliquas Syriam Cyprumque petisse.
There I learned that part of Dolabella's ships had dispersed, and the rest had headed for Syria and Cyprus.
quibus disiectis, cum scirem C. Cassi, singularis civis et ducis, classem maximam fore praesto in Syria, ad meum officium reverti daboque operam ut meum studium, diligentiam vobis, p. c. , reique p. praestem pecuniamque quam maximam potero et quam celerrime cogam omnibusque rationibus ad vos mittam.
These having been scattered, since I knew that the very large fleet of Gaius Cassius, an extraordinary citizen and commander, would be ready in Syria, I return to my duty, and I will take care to show my zeal and diligence to you, conscript fathers, and to the republic, and I will collect as much money as I can and as quickly as possible, and send it to you by all means.
si percurrero provinciam et cognovero qui nobis et rei p. fidem praestiterunt in conservanda pecunia a me deposita quique scelere ultro deferentes pecuniam publicam hoc munere societatem facinorum cum Dolabella inierunt, faciam vos certiores.
If I traverse the province and learn who maintained faith to us and to the republic in preserving the money deposited by me, and who, of their own accord delivering public money in crime, entered into a partnership of deeds with Dolabella by this gift, I will make you informed.
de quibus, si vobis videbitur, si, ut meriti sunt, graviter constitueritis nosque vestra auctoritate firmaveritis, facilius et reliqua exigere vectigalia et exacta servare poterimus.
Concerning whom (de quibus), if it shall seem good to you, if you decide severely, as they have deserved, and strengthen us with your authority, we shall be able both to exact the remaining revenues and to keep what has been exacted more easily.
interea quo commodius vectigalia tueri provinciamque ab iniuria defendere possim, praesidium voluntarium necessariumque comparavi.
Meanwhile, that I may more conveniently protect the revenues and defend the province from injury, I have prepared a voluntary and necessary garrison.
§12.15.7his litteris scriptis milites circiter xxx, quos Dolabella ex Asia conscripserat, ex Syria fugientes in Pamphyliam venerunt.
After this letter was written, about thirty soldiers, whom Dolabella had enlisted from Asia, fleeing from Syria, came into Pamphylia.
hi nuntiaverunt Dolabellam Antiocheam quae in Syria est venisse, non receptum conatum esse aliquotiens vi introire; repulsum semper esse cum magno suo detrimento itaque DC circiter amissis, aegris relictis noctu Antiochea profugisse Laudiceam versus; ea nocte omnis fere Asiaticos milites ab eo discessisse; ex his ad octingentos Antiocheam redisse et se iis tradidisse qui a Cassio relicti urbi illi praeerant, ceteros per Amanum in Ciliciam descendisse, quo ex numero se quoque esse dicebant; Cassium autem cum suis omnibus copiis nuntiatum esse quadridui iter Laudicea afuisse tum cum Dolabella eo tenderet.
These reported that Dolabella had come to Antioch, which is in Syria, and, not being received, had attempted several times to enter by force; that he was always repulsed with great loss to himself, and therefore, having lost about six hundred men and left the sick behind, had fled by night from Antioch toward Laodicea (Laudiceam versus); that on that night almost all the Asiatic soldiers had deserted him; that of these about eight hundred had returned to Antioch and surrendered themselves to those whom Cassius had left in charge of that city, while the rest had descended through Amanus into Cilicia, from which number they said they also were; and that Cassius, moreover, with all his forces, was reported to have been a four days' journey away from Laodicea at the time when Dolabella was heading there.
quam ob rem opinione celerius confido sceleratissimum latronem poenas daturum.
Wherefore, more quickly than expected (opinione celerius), I trust that the most wicked bandit will pay the penalty.
iiii N. Iun. Pergae.
May 29, at Perga.