§5.16.1etsi in ipso itinere et via discedebant publicanorum tabellarii et eramus in cursu, tamen surripiendum aliquid putavi spati, ne me immemorem mandati tui putares.
Although on the journey itself and on the road the couriers of the tax collectors were departing and we were on the move, nevertheless I thought I ought to snatch some time, lest you should think me unmindful of your mandate.
itaque subsedi in ipsa via, dum haec quae longiorem desiderant orationem summatim tibi perscriberem.
And so I sat down on the road itself, in order to write out to you in summary these matters which require a longer exposition.
§5.16.2maxima exspectatione in perditam et plane eversam in perpetuum provinciam nos venisse scito pridie Kal. Sextilis, moratos triduum Laodiceae, triduum Apameae, totidem dies Synnade. .
Know that we arrived, amidst the greatest expectation, on the day before the Kalends of August, in a ruined and plainly forever-destroyed province, having stayed three days at Laodicea, three days at Apamea, and as many days at Synnada.
audivimus nihil aliud nisi imperata ἐπικεφάλαια solvere non posse, ὠνὰσ omnium venditas, civitatum gemitus, ploratus, monstra quaedam non hominis sed ferae nescio cuius immanis.
We heard of nothing else except that they cannot pay the poll-taxes imposed, that the tax-contracts of all have been sold, of the groans and wailing of the states, and of certain monstrous deeds, not of a human being, but of some monstrous wild beast.
quid quaeris? taedet omnino eos vitae.
What more do you ask? They are utterly weary of life.
§5.16.3levantur tamen miserae civitates quod nullus fit sumptus in nos neque in legatos neque in quaestorem neque in quemquam.
Yet the wretched states are relieved because no expense is incurred on us, nor on our legates, nor on the quaestor, nor on anyone.
scito non modo nos foenum aut quod e lege Iulia dari solet non accipere sed ne ligna quidem, nec praeter quattuor lectos et tectum quemquam accipere quicquam, multis locis ne tectum quidem et in tabernaculo manere plerumque.
Know that not only do we not accept hay or what is accustomed to be given according to the Julian Law, but not even firewood, nor does anyone receive anything besides four beds and a roof—in many places not even a roof, and we stay for the most part in a tent.
itaque incredibilem in modum concursus fiunt ex agris, ex vicis, ex domibus omnibus.
Therefore, in an incredible manner, crowds flock together from the fields, from the villages, and from all houses.
me hercule etiam adventa nostro reviviscunt.
By Hercules, they even revive at our arrival!
iustitia, abstinentia, clementia tui Ciceronis opiniones omnium superavit.
The justice, self-restraint, and clemency of your Cicero have surpassed the expectations of all.
§5.16.4Appius ut audivit nos venire, in ultimam provinciam se coniecit Tarsum usque.
When Appius heard that we were coming, he threw himself into the furthest part of the province, all the way to Tarsus.
ibi forum agit.
There he holds court.
de Partho silentium est, sed tamen concisos equites nostros a barbaris nuntiabant ii qui veniebant.
Concerning the Parthian there is silence, but nevertheless those who arrived reported that our cavalry had been cut to pieces by the barbarians.
Bibulus ne cogitabat quidem etiam nunc in provinciam suam accedere; id autem facere ob eam causam dicebant quod tardius vellet decedere.
Bibulus was not even thinking, even now, of entering his province; but they said he did this for the reason that he wished to depart later.
nos in castra properabamus quae aberant tridui.
We were hastening to the camp, which was three days' journey away.