§4.1Hic cum maximo studio compararet exercitum Aegyptumque proficisci pararet, subito a rege litterae sunt ei missae, ut Aspim aggrederetur, qui Cataoniam tenebat: quae gens iacet supra Ciliciam, confinis Cappadociae. §4.2namque Aspis, saltuosam regionem castellisque munitam incolens, non solum imperio regis non parebat, sed etiam finitimas regiones vexabat et quae regi portarentur abripiebat. §4.3Datames etsi longe aberat ab iis regionibus et a maiore re abstrahebatur, tamen regis voluntati morem gerendum putavit.
While he was organizing his army with the greatest zeal and preparing to set out for Egypt, letters were suddenly sent to him by the king, ordering him to attack Aspis, who held Cataonia; this nation lies above Cilicia, bordering on Cappadocia. For Aspis, inhabiting a woody region fortified with castles, not only did not obey the king's command, but also harassed the neighboring regions and plundered what was being carried to the king. Datames, although he was far away from those regions and was being drawn away from a greater task, nevertheless thought that he must comply with the king's will.
itaque cum paucis, sed viris fortibus navem conscendit, existimans, quod accidit, facilius se imprudentem parva manu oppressurum quam paratum quamvis magno exercitu. §4.4hac delatus in Ciliciam, egressus inde, dies noctesque iter faciens Taurum transit eoque quo studuerat venit.
Therefore, he embarked on a ship with a few, but brave men, thinking—which indeed happened—that he would more easily crush him with a small force while he was off his guard, than when he was prepared, however large an army he might have. Having been carried by this ship to Cilicia, and having disembarked from there, marching day and night, he crossed the Taurus and arrived at the place he had aimed for.
quaerit quibus locis sit Aspis: cognoscit haud longe abesse profectumque tum venatum.
He inquired in what places Aspis was; he learned that he was not far off, and had gone out at that time to hunt.
quem dum speculatur, adventus eius causa cognoscitur.
While Datames was watching him, the reason for his arrival became known.
Pisidas cum iis, quos secum habebat, ad resistendum Aspis comparat. §4.5id Datames ubi audivit, arma sumit, suos sequi iubet; ipse equo concitato ad hostem vehitur.
Aspis prepared the Pisidians, along with those he had with him, to resist. When Datames heard this, he took up arms and ordered his men to follow; he himself rode at full speed toward the enemy.
quem procul Aspis conspiciens ad se ferentem pertimescit atque a conatu resistendi deterritus sese dedidit.
Aspis, seeing him from afar rushing against him, was terrified, and, deterred from his attempt at resistance, surrendered himself.
hunc Datames vinctum ad regem ducendum tradit Mithridati.
Datames delivered him bound to Mithridates to be led to the king.