§Mithr.13equidem quom mihi ob ipsorum interna mala dilata proelia magis quam pacem datam intellegerem, abnuente Tigrane, qui mea dicta sero probat, te remoto procul, omnibus aliis obnoxiis, rursus tamen bellum coepi, Marcumque Cottam, Romanum ducem, apud Calchedona terra fudi, mari exui classe pulcherruma.
Indeed, since I understood that for me, because of their own internal troubles, battles were rather deferred than peace granted, although Tigranes refused (who now approves my words too late) and you were far removed, with all others being submissive, I nevertheless began the war anew, and routed Marcus Cotta, the Roman commander, on land at Calchedon, and stripped him of his most beautiful fleet on the sea.
§Mithr.14apud Cyzicum magno cum exercitu in obsidio moranti frumentum defuit, nullo circum adnitente; simul hiems mari prohibebat.
At Cyzicus, while I was staying with a large army in the siege, grain failed me, with no one around helping; at the same time, winter prevented navigation.
ita sine vi hostium regredi conatus in patrium regnum naufragiis apud Parium et Heracleam militum optumos cum classibus amisi.
Thus, trying to retreat without the enemy's force to my paternal kingdom, I lost the best of my soldiers along with the fleets by shipwrecks near Parium and Heraclea.
§Mithr.15restituto deinde apud Caberam exercitu et variis inter me atque Lucullum proeliis inopia rursus ambos incessit.
Then, having restored the army at Cabera and after various battles between me and Lucullus, scarcity again assailed both.
illi suberat regnum Ariobarzanis bello intactum, ego vastis circum omnibus locis in Armeniam concessi.
Under him was the kingdom of Ariobarzanis, untouched by war, while I, since all places around were devastated, withdrew into Armenia.
secutique Romani non me, sed morem suom omnia regna subvortundi, quia multitudinem artis locis pugna prohibuere, inprudentiam Tigranis pro victoria ostentant.
And the Romans, following not me, but their own custom of overturning all kingdoms, because they prevented our multitude from fighting in narrow places, display the imprudence of Tigranes as a victory.
§Mithr.16Nunc quaeso considera, nobis oppressis utrum firmiorem te ad resistundum an finem belli futurum putes? scio equidem tibi magnas opes virorum, armorum et auri esse; et ea re a nobis ad societatem, ab illis ad praedam peteris.
Now I ask you to consider, if we are crushed, whether you think you will be firmer to resist or that there will be an end of the war. Indeed, I know that you have great resources of men, arms, and gold; and for that reason you are sought by us for alliance, and by them for plunder.
ceterum consilium est, Tigranis regno integro meis militibus belli prudentibus procul ab domo parvo labore per nostra corpora bellum conficere, quo neque vincere neque vinci sine tuo periculo possumus.
But my plan is, with the kingdom of Tigranes intact, along with my soldiers experienced in war, far from your home, with little labor, to finish the war through our bodies, in which war we can neither conquer nor be conquered without your danger.
§Mithr.17an ignoras Romanos, postquam ad occidentem pergentibus finem Oceanus fecit, arma huc convortisse? neque quicquam a principio nisi raptum habere, domum coniuges agros imperium? convenas olim sine patria parentibus, peste conditos orbis terrarum; quibus non humana ulla neque divina obstant, quin socios amicos, procul iuxta sitos, inopes potentisque trahant excindant, omniaque non serva et maxume regna hostilia ducant?
Or are you ignorant that the Romans, after the Ocean set a limit to those marching to the west, turned their arms here? And that from the beginning they have had nothing except what was snatched — home, wives, lands, empire? Once a gathering of men without country or parents, established as the pestilence of the world; whom no laws human or divine prevent from dragging off and destroying allies and friends, situated far or near, poor and powerful, and from holding all things that are not enslaved, and especially kingdoms, as hostile?
§Mithr.18namque pauci libertatem, pars magna iustos dominos volunt; nos suspecti sumus aemuli et in tempore vindices adfuturi.
For few wish for liberty, the greater part want just masters; we are suspected as rivals and as avengers who will be present in time.
§Mithr.19tu vero, quoi Seleucea, maxuma urbium, regnumque Persidis inclutis divitiis est, quid ab illis nisi dolum in praesens et postea bellum expectas?
But you, who possess Seleucia, the greatest of cities, and the kingdom of Persia with celebrated wealth, what do you expect from them except guile for the present and war hereafter?
§Mithr.20Romani arma in omnis habent, acerruma in eos, quibus victis spolia maxuma sunt; audendo et fallundo et bella ex bellis serundo magni facti:
The Romans have arms against all, the sharpest against those who, when conquered, yield the greatest spoils; they have become great by daring, by deceiving, and by sowing war after war.
§Mithr.21per hunc morem extinguent omnia aut occident.
By this custom they will extinguish all things or perish.
quod haud difficile est, si tu Mesopotamia, nos Armenia circumgredimur exercitum sine frumento, sine auxiliis, fortuna aut nostris vitiis adhuc incolumem.
Which is not difficult, if you from Mesopotamia and we from Armenia encircle their army, which is without grain, without auxiliaries, and hitherto safe only by fortune or by our faults.
§Mithr.22teque illa fama sequetur, auxilio profectum magnis regibus latrones gentium oppressisse.
And that glory will follow you, that having set out to help great kings, you crushed the robbers of nations.
§Mithr.23quod uti facias, moneo hortorque, neu malis pernicie nostra tuam prolatare quam societate victor fieri. '
That you may do this, I advise and urge you, and not to prefer to prolong your own ruin by our destruction rather than to become a victor through alliance.'