§11.1Id cum satis se confirmasse arbitratus esset, certiorem facit Datamen, tempus esse maiores res parari et bellum cum ipso rege suscipi, deque ea re, si ei videretur, quo loco vellet, in colloquium veniret.
When he thought that he had sufficiently established this confidence, he informed Datames that it was time for greater things to be prepared and for war to be undertaken against the king himself, and that, concerning this matter, if it seemed good to him, he should come to a conference at whatever place he wished.
probata re colloquendi tempus sumitur locusque, quo conveniretur.
The proposal being approved, a time for the conference and a place where they should meet were agreed upon.
§11.2huc Mithridates cum uno, cui maxime habebat fidem, ante aliquot dies venit compluribusque locis separatim gladios obruit eaque loca diligenter notat.
To this place Mithridates came a few days beforehand with one companion in whom he had the greatest confidence, and buried swords in several places separately, carefully marking those spots.
ipso autem colloquii die utrique, locum qui explorarent atque ipsos scrutarentur, mittunt; deinde ipsi sunt congressi.
On the very day of the conference, however, both sent men to scout the ground and search their own persons; then they met in person.
§11.3hic cum aliquamdiu in colloquio fuissent et diversi discessissent iamque procul Datames abesset, Mithridates, priusquam ad suos perveniret, ne quam suspicionem pareret, in eundem locum revertitur atque ibi, ubi telum erat infossum, resedit, ut si lassitudine cuperet acquiescere, Datamenque revocavit, simulans se quiddam in colloquio esse oblitum.
When they had been in conference here for some time and had departed in different directions, and Datames was already at a distance, Mithridates, before he should reach his own men, so that he might not produce any suspicion, returned to the same spot and sat down there where the weapon was buried, as if he wished to rest from weariness, and called Datames back, pretending that he had forgotten something in their conversation.
§11.4interim telum, quod latebat, protulit nudatumque vagina veste texit ac Datami venienti ait, digredientem se animadvertisse locum quendam, qui erat in conspectu, ad castra ponenda esse idoneum.
Meanwhile, he drew out the weapon that was hidden, and having unsheathed it, concealed it under his garment, and said to Datames as he approached that, while departing, he had noticed a certain place in sight that was suitable for pitching a camp.
§11.5quem cum digito demonstraret et ille respiceret, aversum ferro transfixit priusque, quam quisquam posset succurrere, interfecit.
When he pointed to it with his finger and the other looked back, he ran him through from behind with the sword, and killed him before anyone could come to his assistance.
ita ille vir, qui multos consilio, neminem perfidia ceperat, simulata captus est amicitia.
Thus that man, who had caught many by stratagem but no one by treachery, was caught himself by a pretense of friendship.