§15.2.6postero autem die cum Ariarathe, fratre suo, et cum paternis amicis maioribus natu ad me in castra venit perturbatusque et flens, cum idem et frater faceret et amici, meam fidem, vestram commendationem implorare coepit.
But on the following day he came to me in the camp with Ariarathes, his brother, and with the older friends of his father; and, perturbed and weeping, while his brother and friends did the same, he began to implore my fidelity and your recommendation.
Cum admirarer quid accidisset novi dixit ad se indicia manifestarum insidiarum esse delata, quae essent ante adventum meum occultata, quod ii, qui ea patefacere possent, propter metum reticuissent.
When I wondered what new thing had happened, he said that evidence of manifest plots had been brought to him, which had been concealed before my arrival, because those who were able to disclose them had remained silent through fear.
eo autem tempore spe mei praesidi compluris ea quae scirent audacter ad se detulisse; in iis amantissimum sui, summa pietate praeditum fratrem dicere (ea quae is me quoque audiente dicebat) se sollicitatum esse ut regnare vellet; id vivo fratre suo accipere non potuisse; se tamen ante illud tempus eam rem numquam in medium propter periculi metum protulisse.
At that time, however, in the hope of my protection, several had boldly brought to him what they knew; among them, that his brother, who loved him most and was endowed with the greatest piety, said (what he also said in my presence) that he had been solicited to wish to reign; that he could not accept this while his brother was alive; but that before that time he had never brought that matter into the open through fear of danger.
quae cum esset locutus, monui regem ut omnem diligentiam ad se conservandum adhiberet, amicosque patris eius atque avi iudicio probatos hortatus sum regis sui vitam docti casu acerbissimo patris eius omni cura custodiaque defenderent.
When he had spoken these things, I advised the king to employ all diligence to preserve himself, and I exhorted the friends of his father and grandfather, approved by judgment, that, having been taught by the most bitter end of his father, they should defend the life of their king with all care and custody.
§15.2.7Cum rex a me equitatum cohortisque de exercitu meo postularet, etsi intellegebam vestro senatus consulto non modo posse me id facere sed etiam debere, tamen, cum res p. postularet propter cotidianos ex Syria nuntios ut quam primum, exercitum ad Ciliciae finis adducerem, cumque mihi rex patefactis iam insidiis non egere exercitu p. R. sed posse se suis opibus defendere videretur, illum cohortatus sum ut in sua vita conservanda primum regnare disceret; a quibus perspexisset sibi insidias paratas, in eos uteretur iure regio; poena adficeret eos quos necesse esset, reliquos metu liberaret; praesidio exercitus mei ad eorum qui in culpa essent timorem potius quam ad contentionem uteretur; fore autem ut omnes, quoniam senatus consultum nossent, intellegerent me regi, si opus esset, ex auctoritate vestra praesidio futurum.
When the king requested cavalry and cohorts from my army, although I understood that by your decree of the senate I was not only able to do this but also owed it, nevertheless, since the republic demanded, on account of daily reports from Syria, that I should lead the army to the borders of Cilicia as soon as possible, and since the king, the plots having now been exposed, seemed to me not to need the army of the Roman people but to be able to defend himself with his own resources, I exhorted him that, in preserving his own life, he should first learn to reign; that against those whom he had perceived to have prepared plots for him, he should use his royal right; that he should punish those whom it was necessary, and free the rest from fear; that he should use the protection of my army to inspire fear in those who were in fault rather than for actual conflict; and that all, since they knew the decree of the senate, would understand that I would be a protection to the king, if there should be need, by your authority.
§15.2.8ita confirmato illo ex eo loco castra movi; iter in Ciliciam facere institui, cum hac opinione e Cappadocia discederem, ut consilio vestro, casu incredibili ac paene divino regem, quem vos honorificentissime appellassetis nullo postulante quemque meae fidei commendassetis et cuius salutem magnae vobis curae esse decressetis, meus adventus praesentibus insidiis liberarit.
Having thus encouraged him, I moved camp from that place; I resolved to make a journey into Cilicia, departing from Cappadocia with this opinion, that by your counsel, by an incredible and almost divine chance, my arrival had freed from present plots the king whom you, with no one requesting it, had addressed in the most honorable terms, and whom you had commended to my fidelity, and whose safety you had decreed to be of great concern to you.
quod ad vos a me scribi non alienum putavi, ut intellegeretis ex iis, quae paene acciderunt, vos multo ante ne ea acciderent providisse, eoque vos studiosius feci certiores, quod in rege Ariobarzane ea mihi signa videor virtutis, ingeni, fidei benevolentiaeque erga vos perspexisse, ut non sine causa tantam curam in eius vos salutem diligentiamque videamini contulisse.
I thought it not out of place that this should be written to you by me, so that you might understand from those things which almost happened, that you had provided long before lest they should happen; and I have informed you of this the more eagerly because I seem to have perceived in King Ariobarzanes such signs of virtue, talent, fidelity, and goodwill toward you, that you appear to have bestowed such great care and diligence upon his safety not without reason.