Translation:Letters to Friends/15.1

Cilicia, 18 September 51 BC
M. Tullius, son of Marcus, proconsul, says hello to the consuls, praetors, tribunes of the plebs, and the Senate

If you are well, it is well. The army and I are well.

Although it had been reported to me, assuredly, that the Parthians had crossed the Euphrates with nearly all their troops, nevertheless, because I judged that more certain things could be written to you about these matters by the proconsul M. Bibulus, I decided it was not necessary for me to publicly write such matters that would be announced about another's province. But afterwards, I was informed by the most well-informed writers, legates, messengers, letters, because the matter was so great, or because we had not yet heard that Bibulus had come into Syria, or because my management of this war is almost shared with Bibulus, I thought these matters brought to me had to be written to you.

Ambassadors of King Antiochus of Commagene were the first to report to me that great troops of the Parthians had begun to cross the Euphrates. After this message had been reported, I decided I had to wait to see whether anything more certain was reported, since there were some who thought less trust should be given to this king. On September 18th, when I was leading the army toward Cilicia, in the territories of Lycaonia and Cappadocia a letter was delivered to me by Tarcondimotus, who is considered a most trustworthy ally across the Taurus and very friendly to the Roman people, that Pacorus, the son of Orodes, the king of the Parthians, had crossed the Euphrates with a very large Parthian cavalry and had placed his camp at Tyba, and that a great disturbance had been stirred up in the province of Syria. On the same day a letter about the same matters was delivered to me by Iamblichus, an emir of the Arabians, whom people believe to have sound views and to be friendly to our republic.

After these matters had been reported, although I understood that our allies were weak-minded and kept in suspense by the expectation of revolution, I was hoping that those whom I had approached and who had observed our clemency and integrity had become more friendly to the Roman people, and that Cilicia would be more stable if it were made a participant of our tranquility. And for this reason, in order that those from the race of Cilicians who were in arms might be subdued and in order that the enemy who was in Syria might know that the army of the Roman people not only did not yield to reported messages but even approached more closely, I decided to lead the army to the Taurus.

But if my authority has any weight with you, especially in these matters which you have heard, I am almost seeing, with great effort I both encourage and advise you to look after these provinces, later than it was fitting for you to do so, but now nevertheless. How you sent me, supplied and fortified with what protection for the expectation of so great a war, you are not ignorant of. Not blinded by stupidity did I not refuse this business, but frightened by modesty. For I have never considered any danger so great that I would prefer to avoid it than to obey your authority. At this moment, however, the matter holds itself in such a way that, unless you quickly send into these provinces as great an army as you are accustomed to send for the greatest war, there is the greatest danger that all these provinces will be lost, by which the revenue of the Roman people is kept. Accordingly, however, there is no reason for you to have any hope in this provincial levy. There are few men, and those who there are scatter when fear is introduced; a very brave man, M. Bibulus, who, although you had allowed him to do so, did not want to raise a levy in Asia, judged that this is the kind of soldiers. For the help of our allies, on account of the severity and wrongdoings of our government, either are so weak that they are not able to assist us much, or have been so estranged by us that there seems to be nothing to be expected from them or entrusted to them. I consider both the goodwill and troops, however many there are, of King Deiotarus to be ours. Cappadocia is empty, the remaining kings and tyrants are not strong enough, either in resources or goodwill. In this scarcity of soldiers I certainly do not lack courage, not even wisdom, I hope. It is uncertain what will happen. I wish I may be able to look after my own safety! I shall certainly look after my worth.