Nepos: LIBER DE EXCELLENTIBUS DVCIBUS EXTERARVM GENTIVM

[1] DATAMES, patre Camisare, natione Care, matre Scythissa natus, primum militum in numero fuit apud Artaxerxen eorum, qui regiam tuebantur. Pater eius Camisares, quod et manu fortis et bello strenuus et regi multis locis fidelis erat repertus, habuit provinciam partem Ciliciae iuxta Cappadociam, quam incolunt Leucosyri.

[1] DATAMES, with father Camisares, of Carian nation, and a Scythian mother, was at first in the number of the soldiers under Artaxerxes—among those who guarded the royal palace. His father Camisares, because he was found both strong in hand, strenuous in war, and faithful to the king in many places, held as his province a part of Cilicia next to Cappadocia, which the Leucosyri (White Syrians) inhabit.

2 Datames, militare munus fungens, primum, qualis esset, aperuit in bello, quod rex adversus Cadusios gessit. Namque hic multis milibus regiorum interfectis magni fuit eius opera. Quo factum est, cum in eo bello cecidisset Camisares, ut paterna ei traderetur provincia.

2 Datames, discharging the military office, first disclosed what sort he was in the war which the king waged against the Cadusians. For here, with many thousands of the royal troops slain, his service was of great moment. Whence it came about that, when Camisares had fallen in that war, the paternal province was handed over to him.

[2] Pari se virtute postea praebuit, cum Autophrodates iussu regis bello persequeretur eos, qui defecerant. Namque huius opera hostes, cum castra iam intrassent, profligati sunt exercitusque reliquus conservatus regis est. Qua ex re maioribus rebus praeesse coepit.

[2] He later showed himself of equal virtue, when Autophrodates, by the king’s order, was prosecuting in war those who had defected. For by his agency the enemies, when they had already entered the camp, were routed, and the rest of the king’s army was preserved. From this matter he began to preside over greater affairs.

2 Erat eo tempore Thuys, dynastes Paphlagoniae antiquo genere, ortus a Pylaemene illo, quem Homerus Troico bello a Patroclo interfectum ait.

2 At that time there was Thuys, dynast of Paphlagonia, of ancient lineage, descended from that Pylaemenes whom Homer says was slain by Patroclus in the Trojan War.

3 Is regi dicto audiens non erat. Quam ob causam bello eum persequi constituit eique rei praefecit Datamen, propinquum Paphlagonis: namque ex fratre et sorore erant nati. Quam ob causam Datames primum experiri voluit, ut sine armis propinquum ad officium reduceret.

3 He was not obedient to the king's command. For which cause he resolved to pursue him with war and put Datames in charge of this matter, a kinsman of the Paphlagonian: for they had been born from a brother and a sister. For which cause Datames first wished to try to bring back his kinsman to duty without arms.

Ad quem cum venisset sine praesidio, quod ab amico nullas vereretur insidias, paene interiit: nam Thuys eum clam interficere voluit.

To whom, when he had come without escort, because he feared no ambushes from a friend, he nearly perished; for Thuys wished to kill him secretly.

4 Erat mater cum Datame, amita Paphlagonis: ea, quid ageretur, resciit filiumque monuit.

4 His mother was with Datames, the aunt of Paphlagon: she found out what was being done and warned her son.

5 Ille fuga periculum evitavit bellumque indixit Thuyni. In quo cum ab Ariobarzane, praefecto Lydiae et Ioniae totiusque Phrygiae, desertus esset, nihilo segnius perseveravit vivumque Thuym cepit cum uxore et liberis.

5 He avoided the danger by flight and declared war on Thuys. In this, when he had been deserted by Ariobarzanes, prefect of Lydia and Ionia and of all Phrygia, he persevered none the less and captured Thuys alive with his wife and children.

[3] Cuius facti ne prius fama ad regem quam ipse perveniret, dedit operam. Itaque omnibus insciis eo, ubi erat rex, venit posteroque die Thuyn, hominem maximi corporis terribilique facie, quod et niger et capillo longo barbaque erat promissa, optima veste texit, quam satrapae regii gerere consuerant, ornavit etiam torque atque armillis aureis ceteroque regio cultu;

[3] He took pains that the fame of this deed should not reach the king before he himself arrived. And so, with all unaware, he came to the place where the king was; and on the next day he clothed Thuyn—a man of the greatest stature and with a terrifying face, since he was dark and had long hair and a flowing beard—in the finest garment, such as the royal satraps were accustomed to wear; he also adorned him with a golden torque and armlets and with the rest of the royal attire.

2 ipse agresti duplici amiculo circumdatus hirtaque tunica, gerens in capite galeam venatoriam, dextra manu clavam, sinistra copulam, qua vinctum ante se Thuynem agebat, ut si feram bestiam captam duceret.

2 he himself, wrapped in a rustic double cloak and a shaggy tunic, wearing on his head a hunting helmet, with a club in his right hand, in his left a leash, with which he was driving before him Thuyn, bound, as if he were leading a captured wild beast.

3 Quem cum omnes conspicerent propter novitatem ornatus ignotamque formam ob eamque rem magnus esset concursus, fuit nonnemo, qui agnosceret Thuym regique nuntiaret.

3 As all were looking at him because of the novelty of his adornment and his unknown appearance, and for that reason there was a great concourse, there was someone who recognized Thuyn and reported it to the king.

4 Primo non accredidit: itaque Pharnabazum misit exploratum. A quo ut rem gestam comperit, statim admitti iussit, magnopere delectatus cum facto tum ornatu, in primis quod nobilis rex in potestatem inopinanti venerat.

4 At first he did not give credence; and so he sent Pharnabazus to explore. From him, as soon as he learned how the matter had been done, he immediately ordered that he be admitted, greatly delighted both with the deed and with the attire, especially because a noble king had, unexpectedly to him, come into his power.

5 Itaque magnifice Datamen donatum ad exercitum misit, qui tum contrahebatur duce Pharnabazo et Tithrauste ad bellum Aegyptium, parique eum atque illos imperio esse iussit. Postea vero quam Pharnabazum rex revocavit, illi summa imperii tradita est.

5 Therefore, after presenting Datames magnificently with gifts, he sent him to the army, which was then being assembled under the leadership of Pharnabazus and Tithraustes for the Egyptian war, and ordered that he be in equal command with them. But afterwards, when the king recalled Pharnabazus, the supreme command was handed over to him.

[4] Hic 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] While he, with the greatest zeal, was assembling an army and preparing to set out for Egypt, suddenly letters were sent to him by the king, that he should attack Aspis, who held Cataonia; which region lies above Cilicia, adjoining Cappadocia.

2 Namque Aspis, saltuosam regionem castellisque munitam incolens, non solum imperio regis non parebat, sed etiam finitimas regiones vexabat et, quae regi portarentur, abripiebat.

2 For indeed Aspis, inhabiting a wooded region and fortified with castles, not only did not obey the king’s command, but also vexed the neighboring regions and snatched away the things which were being carried to the king.

3 Datames etsi longe aberat ab his regionibus et a maiore re abstrahebatur, tamen regis voluntati morem gerendum putavit. Itaque cum paucis, sed viris fortibus navem conscendit, existimans, quod accidit, facilius se imprudentem parva manu oppressurum quam paratum quamvis magno exercitu.

3 Datames, although he was far away from these regions and was being diverted from a greater matter, nevertheless thought he ought to comply with the king’s will. Therefore with a few, but brave men, he boarded a ship, thinking—as happened—that he would more easily overwhelm the unwary with a small band than the prepared, even with a great army.

4 Hac delatus in Ciliciam, egressus inde, dies noctesque iter faciens Taurum transiit eoque, quo studuerat, venit. Quaerit, quibus locis sit Aspis; cognoscit haud longe abesse profectumque eum venatum. Quae dum speculatur, adventus eius causa cognoscitur.

4 By this he was conveyed into Cilicia; having disembarked thence, traveling day and night he crossed the Taurus and came to that place which he had been eager for. He inquires in what locale Aspis is; he learns that he is not far off and that he has set out to hunt. While he is reconnoitering these matters, the cause of his arrival becomes known.

Pisidas cum eis, quos secum habebat, ad resistendum Assis comparat.

He arrays the Pisidians, together with those whom he had with him, to resist Aspis.

5 Id Datames ubi audivit, arma sumit, suos sequi iubet; ipse equo concitato ad hostem vehitur. Quem procul Aspis conspiciens ad se ferentem pertimescit atque a conatu resistendi deterritus sese dedidit. Hunc Datames vinctum ad regem ducendum tradit Mithridati.

5 When Datames heard this, he takes up arms, orders his men to follow; he himself, with his horse spurred on, is borne toward the enemy. Aspis, seeing him from afar bearing himself toward him, is terrified and, deterred from the attempt to resist, surrendered himself. Datames delivers him bound to Mithridates, to be led to the king.

[5] Haec dum geruntur, Artaxerxes reminiscens, a quanto bello a ad quam parvam rem principem ducum misisset, se ipse reprehendit et nuntium ad exercitum Acen misit, quod nondum Datamen profectum putabat, qui diceret, ne ab exercitu discederet. Hic priusquam perveniret, quo erat profectus, in itinere convenit, qui Aspim ducebant.

[5] While these things are being transacted, Artaxerxes, recalling from how great a war to how small a matter he had sent the chief of commanders, blamed himself and sent a messenger to the army, since he thought that Datames had not yet set out, to say that he should not depart from the army. This man, before he arrived whither he had set out, met on the way those who were leading Aspis.

2 Qua celeritate cum magnam benevolentiam regis Datames consecutus esset, non minorem invidiam aulicorum excepit, quod illum unum pluris quam se omnes fieri videbant.

2 By this celerity, since Datames had gained great benevolence from the king, he incurred no less envy from the courtiers, because they saw that he alone was being valued more highly than all of them.

3 Quo facto cuncti ad eum opprimendum consenserunt. Haec Pandantes, gazae custos regiae, amicus Datami, perscripta ei mittit, in quibus docet eum in magno fore periculo, si quid illo imperante adversi in Aegypto accidisset.

3 This having been done, all agreed to crush him. These things Pandantes, keeper of the royal treasury, a friend of Datames, sends to him set down in writing, in which he shows that he would be in great peril, if anything adverse had happened in Egypt while he was in command.

4 Namque eam esse consuetudinem regiam, ut casus adversos hominibus tribuant, secundos fortunae suae; quo fieri, ut facile impellantur ad eorum perniciem, quorum ductu res male gestae nuntientur. Illum hoc maiore fore in discrimine, quod, quibus rex maxime oboediat, eos habeat inimicissimos.

4 For it is a royal custom to ascribe adverse contingencies to men, but favorable ones to their own fortune; whereby it comes about that they are easily impelled toward the ruin of those under whose leadership affairs are reported to have been ill-conducted. He will be in greater peril for this reason: that those whom the king most obeys he has as most inimical.

5 Talibus ille litteris cognitis, cum iam ad exercitum Acen venisset, quod non ignorabat ea vere scripta, desciscere a rege constituit. Neque tamen quicquam fecit, quod fide sua esset indignum.

5 Upon learning such letters, when he had now come to the army at Acen, since he did not ignore that they had been truly written, he resolved to secede from the king. Yet he did nothing, however, that was unworthy of his faith.

6 Nam Mandroclen Magnetem exercitui praefecit; ipse cum suis in Cappadociam discedit coniunctamque huic Paphlagoniam occupat, celans, qua voluntate esset in regem. Clam cum Ariobarzane facit amicitiam, manum comparat, urbes munitas suis tuendas tradit.

6 For he put Mandrocles the Magnesian in command of the army; he himself with his own men departed into Cappadocia and occupied Paphlagonia adjoining to it, concealing what his disposition was toward the king. Secretly he makes friendship with Ariobarzanes, musters a band, and entrusts fortified cities to his own men to be guarded.

[6] Sed haec propter hiemale tempus minus prospere procedebant. Audit Pisidas quasdam copias adversus se parare. Filium eo Arsidaeum cum exercitu mittit: cadit in proelio adulescens.

[6] But these matters, on account of the winter season, were proceeding less prosperously. He hears that the Pisidians are preparing certain forces against him. He sends his son Arsidaeus there with an army: the youth falls in battle.

Proficiscitur eo pater non ita cum magna manu, celans, quantum vulnus accepisset, quod prius ad hostem pervenire cupiebat quam de male re gesta fama ad suos perveniret, ne cognita filii morte animi debilitarentur militum.

The father sets out thither with no very great force, concealing how great a wound he had received, because he wished to reach the enemy before the report of the ill-conducted affair reached his own men, lest, with his son’s death known, the spirits of the soldiers be debilitated.

2 Quo contenderat, pervenit iisque locis castra ponit, ut neque circumiri multitudine adversariorum posset neque impediri, quo minus ipse ad dimicandum manum haberet expeditam.

2 He arrived where he had hastened and pitches his camp in such places that he could neither be encircled by the multitude of adversaries nor be hindered from having his force unencumbered for combat.

3 Erat cum eo Mithrobarzanes, socer eius, praefectus equitum. Is desperatis generi rebus ad hostes transfugit. Id Datames ut audivit, sensit, si in turbam exisset ab homine tam necessario se relictum, futurum, ut ceteri consilium sequerentur.

3 With him was Mithrobarzanes, his father-in-law, prefect of the cavalry. He, despairing of his son-in-law’s affairs, defected to the enemy. When Datames heard this, he perceived that, if it got out among the ranks that he had been abandoned by so necessary a man, it would come to pass that the rest would follow the same counsel.

4 In vulgus edit: suo iussu Mithrobarzanem profectum pro perfuga, quo facilius receptus interficeret hostes. Quare relinqui eum par non esse et omnes confestim sequi. Quod si animo strenuo fecissent, futurum, ut adversarii non possent resistere, cum et intra vallum et foris caederentur.

4 He put out among the rank-and-file: that, by his own order, Mithrobarzanes had set out as a deserter, so that, once more easily received, he might slay the enemies. Therefore it was not fitting that he be left, and that all should follow at once. And if they did this with a strenuous spirit, it would come to pass that the adversaries could not resist, since they would be cut down both within the rampart and outside.

5 Hac re probata exercitum educit Mithrobarzanem persequitur tantum; qui cum ad hostes pervenerat, Datames signa inferri iubet.

5 With this plan approved, he leads the army out and pursues only Mithrobarzanes; and when he had reached the enemy, Datames orders the standards to be advanced.

6 Pisidae nova re commoti in opinionem adducuntur perfugas mala fide compositoque fecisse, ut recepti maiori essent calamitati. Primum eos adoriuntur. Illi cum, quid ageretur aut quare fieret, ignorarent, coacti sunt cum eis pugnare, ad quos transierant, ab iisque stare, quos reliquerant; quibus cum neutri parcerent, celeriter sunt concisi.

6 The Pisidians, stirred by the new situation, are brought into the opinion that the deserters had acted in bad faith and by a preconcerted arrangement, so that, once received, they might be a greater calamity. First they attack them. They, since they did not know what was being done or why it was happening, were compelled to fight against those to whom they had crossed over, and to stand with those whom they had left; and since neither party spared them, they were quickly cut to pieces.

7 Reliquos Pisidas resistentis Datames invadit; primo impetu pellit, fugientis persequitur, multos interficit, castra hostium capit.

7 Datames assaults the remaining Pisidians who were resisting; at the first charge he routs them, pursues those fleeing, kills many, and captures the enemy camp.

8 Tali consilio uno tempore et proditores perculit et hostis profligavit et, quod ad perniciem suam fuerat cogitatum, id ad salutem convertit. Quo neque acutius ullius imperatoris cogitatum neque celerius factum usquam legimus.

8 By such a plan he at one and the same time struck down the traitors and routed the enemy, and what had been contrived for his destruction he converted to safety. Than this we have read nowhere a more acute design of any general, nor a deed done more swiftly.

[7] Ab hoc tamen viro Sysinas, maximo natu filius, desciit ad regemque transiit et de defectione patris detulit. Quo nuntio Artaxerxes commotus, quod intellegebat sibi cum viro forti ac strenuo negotium esse, qui, cum cogitasset, facere auderet et prius cogitare quam conari consuesset, Autophrodatem in Cappadociam mittit.

[7] From this man, however, Sysinas, the eldest son, defected and went over to the king and reported the defection of his father. At this message Artaxerxes was stirred, because he understood that he had business with a brave and strenuous man, who, when he had deliberated, would dare to act, and was accustomed to think before attempting; he sends Autophradates into Cappadocia.

2 Hic ne intrare posset, saltum, in quo Ciliciae portae sunt sitae, Datames praeoccupare studuit.

2 He, lest he be able to enter, Datames strove to preoccupy the pass in which the Cilician Gates are situated.

3 Sed tam subito copias contrahere non potuit. A qua re depulsus cum ea manu, quam contraxerat, locum deligit talem, ut neque circumiretur ab hostibus neque praeteriret adversarius, quin ancipitibus locis premeretur, et, si dimicare eo vellet, non multum obesse multitudo hostium suae paucitati posset.

3 But he could not concentrate his troops so suddenly. Driven from this plan, with the force that he had assembled, he chose such a position that he could neither be outflanked by the enemies nor could the adversary pass by without being pressed in places of twofold hazard; and, if he should wish to fight there, the multitude of the enemy could not greatly harm his own fewness.

[8] Haec etsi Autophrodates videbat, tamen statuit congredi quam cum tantis copiis refugere aut tam diu uno loco sedere.

[8] Although Autophrodates saw these things, nevertheless he resolved to engage rather than to retreat with such forces or to sit so long in one place.

2 Habebat barbarorum equitum XX, peditum centum milia, quos illi Cardacas appellant, eiusdemque generis III milia funditorum; praeterea Cappadocum VIII milia, Armeniorum X milia, Paphlagonum V milia, Phrygum X milia, Lydorum V milia, Aspendiorum et Pisidarum circiter III milia, Cilicum II, Captianorum totidem, ex Graecia conductorum III, levis armaturae maximum numerum.

2 He had 20,000 of barbarian cavalry, 100,000 infantry, whom they call Cardaces, and of the same kind 3,000 slingers; besides 8,000 Cappadocians, 10,000 Armenians, 5,000 Paphlagonians, 10,000 Phrygians, 5,000 Lydians, about 3,000 Aspendians and Pisidians, 2,000 Cilicians, as many Captians, 3,000 hired from Greece, a very great number of light-armed troops.

3 Has adversus copias spes omnis consistebat Datami in se locique natura: namque huius partem non habebat vicesimam militum. Quibus fretus conflixit adversariorumque multa milia concidit, cum de ipsius exercitu non amplius hominum mille cecidisset; quam ob causam postero die tropaeum posuit, quo loco pridie pugnatum erat.

3 Against these forces all of Datames’ hope rested in himself and in the nature of the place: for he did not have even the twentieth part of their soldiery. Relying on these, he joined battle and cut down many thousands of the adversaries, while from his own army not more than a thousand men had fallen; for which cause on the next day he set up a trophy in the place where the day before the fighting had been.

4 Hinc cum castra movisset semperque inferior copiis superior omnibus proeliis discederet, quod numquam manum consereret, nisi cum adversarios locorum angustiis clausisset, quod perito regionum callideque cogitanti saepe accidebat,

4 From there, when he had moved camp, and although inferior in forces he would depart superior from all battles, because he never joined battle unless he had shut in his adversaries by the narrowness of the terrain—a thing which, being experienced in the regions and thinking shrewdly, often befell—

5 Autophrodates, cum bellum duci maiore regis calamitate quam adversariorum videret, pacem amicitiamque hortatus est, ut cum rege in gratiam rediret.

5 Autophrodates, when he saw that the war was being drawn out with a greater calamity for the king than for the adversaries, urged peace and amity, that he might return into favor with the king.

6 Quam ille etsi fidam non fore putabat, tamen condicionem accepit seque ad Artaxerxen legatos missurum dixit. Sic bellum, quod rex adversus Datamen susceperat, sedatum est. Autophrodates in Phrygiam se recepit.

6 Which, although he thought would not be faithful, he nevertheless accepted the condition and said that he would send envoys to Artaxerxes. Thus the war which the king had undertaken against Datames was composed. Autophrodates withdrew into Phrygia.

[9] At rex quod implacabile odium in Datamen susceperat, postquam bello eum opprimi non posse animadvertit, insidiis interficere studuit; quas ille plerasque vitavit.

[9] But the king, since he had conceived an implacable odium against Datames, after he observed that he could not overwhelm him by war, strove to kill him by plots; most of which he avoided.

2 Sicut, cum ei nuntiatum esset quosdam sibi insidiari, qui in amicorum erant numero. De quibus quod inimici detulerant, neque credendum neque neglegendam putavit: experiri voluit, verum falsumne sibi esset relatum.

2 Thus, when it had been announced to him that certain men were plotting against him, who were in the number of his friends. About whom, what the enemies had reported, he judged neither to be believed nor to be neglected: he wished to test whether what had been reported to him was true or false.

3 Itaque eo profectus est, in quo itinere futuras insidias dixerant. Sed elegit corpore ac statura simillimum sui eique vestitum suum dedit atque eo loco ire, quo ipse consuerat, iussit. Ipse autem ornatu vestituque militari inter corporis custodes iter facere coepit.

3 Therefore he set out thither, on the very journey where they had said ambushes would be. But he chose a man most similar to himself in body and stature, gave him his own clothing, and ordered him to go to the place where he himself was accustomed to go. He himself, however, in military ornament and dress, began to travel among the bodyguards.

4 At insidiatores, postquam in eum locum agmen pervenit, decepti ordine atque vestitu impetum in eum faciunt, qui suppositus erat. Praedixerat autem iis Datames, cum quibus iter faciebat, ut parati essent facere, quod ipsum vidissent.

4 But the ambushers, after the column reached that place, deceived by the formation and by the dress, make an assault upon him who had been substituted. Datames, however, had forewarned those with whom he was traveling to be ready to do what they had seen himself do.

5 Ipse, ut concurrentis insidiatores animum advertit, tela in eos coniecit. Hoc idem cum universi fecissent, priusquam pervenirent ad eum, quem aggredi volebant, confixi conciderunt.

5 He himself, as soon as he noticed the ambushers rushing together, hurled missiles at them. When all did the same, before they reached the one whom they wished to attack, they fell, transfixed.

[10] Hic tamen tam callidus vir extremo tempore captus est Mithridatis, Ariobarzanis filii, dolo. Namque is pollicitus est regi se eum interfecturum, si ei rex permitteret, ut, quodcumque vellet, liceret impune facere, fidemque de ea re more Persarum dextra dedisset.

[10] This man, however, though so crafty, in the end was caught by the deceit of Mithridates, son of Ariobarzanes. For he promised the king that he would kill him, if the king permitted him to do whatever he wished with impunity, and gave a pledge on that matter, according to the custom of the Persians, by his right hand.

2 Hanc ut accepit a rege missam, copias parat et absens amicitiam cum Datame facit; regis provincias vexat, castella expugnat, magnas praedas capit, quarum partim suis dispertit, partim ad Datamen mittit; pari modo complura castella ei tradit.

2 When he received this, sent by the king, he prepares his forces and, though absent, enters into amity with Datames; he harasses the king’s provinces, storms forts, takes great booty, part of which he parcels out to his own men, part he sends to Datames; in like manner he hands over several forts to him.

3 Haec diu faciendo persuasit homini se infinitum adversus regem suscepisse bellum, cum nihilo magis, ne quam suspicionem illi praeberet insidiarum, neque colloquium eius petivit neque in conspectum venire studuit. Sic absens amicitiam gerebat, ut non beneficiis mutuis, sed communi odio, quod erga regem susceperant, contineri viderentur.

3 By doing these things for a long time, he persuaded the man that he had undertaken an endless war against the king; and yet, so as to offer him no suspicion of treachery, he neither sought a colloquy with him nor strove to come into his sight. Thus, in absence, he maintained the friendship, such that it seemed to be held together not by mutual benefactions, but by a common hatred which they had conceived toward the king.

[11] Id cum satis se confirmasse arbitratus est, certiorem facit Datamen tempus esse maiores exercitus parari et bellum cum ipso rege suscipi, deque ea re, si ei videretur, quo loco vellet, in colloquium veniret. Probata re colloquendi tempus sumitur locusque, quo conveniretur.

[11] When he judged that he had sufficiently confirmed this, he informs Datames that it is time for larger armies to be prepared and for war to be undertaken with the king himself, and on that matter, if it seemed good to him, he should come to a conference at whatever place he wished. The proposal approved, a time for conferring is chosen and a place appointed where they would meet.

2 Huc Mithridates cum uno, cui maxime habebat fidem, ante aliquot dies venit compluribusque locis separatim gladios obruit eaque loca diligenter notat. Ipso autem colloquii die utrique, locum qui explorarent atque ipsos scrutarentur, mittunt; deinde ipsi sunt congressi.

2 Hither Mithridates came several days earlier with one man in whom he had the greatest trust, and in several places he buried swords separately and carefully marked those places. But on the very day of the colloquy, both sides send men to explore the place and to search their persons; then they themselves met.

3 Hic cum aliquamdiu in colloquio fuissent et diverse 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.

3 Here, when they had been for some time in colloquy and had departed separately and Datames was now far off, Mithridates, before he should reach his own men, so as to create no suspicion, returned to the same place and there, where the weapon had been buried, sat down, as if he wished from lassitude to take repose, and called Datames back, pretending that he had forgotten something in the colloquy.

4 Interim 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.

4 In the meantime he brought forth the weapon which had been hidden, and, drawn from the scabbard, he covered it with a garment; and to Datames as he was coming he said: that, as he was departing, he had noticed a certain place, which was in view, to be suitable for pitching camp.

5 Quem cum digito demonstraret et ille respiceret, aversum ferro transfixit priusque, quam quisquam posset succurrere, interfecit. Ita ille vir, qui multos consilio, neminem perfidia ceperat, simulata captus est amicitia.

5 Whom, when he was pointing out with his finger and the other looked back, he transfixed from behind with the iron, and before anyone could succor, he slew him. Thus that man, who had captured many by counsel, no one by perfidy, was captured by feigned friendship.