letters of cicero-第17章
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surprised most of the inhabitants； who； being cut off from all retreat； were killed or taken prisoners。 But Erana； which was more like a town than a village； and was the capital of Amanus； as also Sepyra and Commons； which offered a determined and protracted resistance from before daybreak till four in the afternoonPomptinus being in command in that part of Amanuswe took； after killing a great number of the enemy； and stormed and set fire to several fortresses。 After these operations we lay encamped for four days on the spurs of Amanus； near the Arce Alezandri； and all that time we devoted to the destruction of the remaining inhabitants of Amanus； and devastating their lands on that side of the mountain which belongs to my province。 Having accomplished this； I led the army away to Pindenissus； a town of the Eleutherocilices。 And since this town was situated on a very lofty and strongly fortified spot； and was inhabited by men who have never submitted even to the kings； and since they were offering harbourage to deserters； and were eagerly expecting the arrival of the Parthians； I thought it of importance to the prestige of the empire to suppress their audacity； in order that there might be less difficulty in breaking the spirits of all such as were anywhere disaffected to our rule。 I encircled them with a stockade and trench： I beleaguered them with six forts and huge camps： I assaulted them by the aid of earth…works； pent…houses； and towers： and having employed numerous catapults and bowmen； with great personal labour； and without troubling the allies or costing them anything； I reduced them to such extremities that； after every region of their town had been battered down or fired； they surrendered to me on the fifty…seventh day。 Their next neighbours were the people of Tebra； no less predatory and audacious： from them after the capture of Pindenissus I received hostages。 I then dismissed the army to winter quarters； and I put my brother in command； with orders to station the men in villages that had either been captured or were disaffected。
Well now； I would have you feel convinced that； should a motion be brought before the senate on these matters； I shall consider that the highest possible compliment has been paid me； if you give your vote in favour of a mark of honour being bestowed upon me。 And as to this； though I am aware that in such matters men of the most respectable character are accustomed to ask and to be asked； yet I think in your case that it is rather a reminder than a request which is called for from me。 For it is you who have on very many occasions complimented me in votes which you delivered； who have praised me to the skies in conversation； in panegyric； in the most laudatory speeches in senate and public meeting： you are the man to whose words I ever attached such weight as to hold myself in possession of my utmost ambition； if your lips joined the chorus of my praise。 It was you finally； as I recollect； who said； when voting against a supplicatlo in honour of a certain illustrious and noble person； that you would have voted for it； if the motion had related to what he had done in the city as consul。 It was you； too； who voted for granting me a supplicatio； though only a civilian； not as had been done in many instances； 〃for good services to the state；〃 but； as I remember； 〃for having saved the state。〃 I pass over your having shared the hatred I excited； the dangers I ran； all the storms' that I have encountered； and your having been entirely ready to have shared them much more fully if I had allowed it； and finally your having regarded my enemy as your own； of whose death eventhus shewing me clearly how much you valued meyou manifested your approval by supporting the cause of Milo in the senate。 On the other hand； I have borne a testimony to you； which I do not regard as constituting any claim on your gratitude； but as a frank expression of genuine opinion： for I did not confine myself to a silent admiration of your eminent virtueswho does not admire them？ But in all forms of speech； whether in the senate or at the bar； in all kinds of writing； Greek or Latin； in fine； in all the various branches of my literary activity； I proclaimed your superiority not only to contemporaries； but also to those of whom we have heard in history。
Yon will ask； perhaps； why I place such value on this or that modicum of congratulation or compliment from the senate。 I will be frank with you； as our common tastes' and mutual good services； our close friendship； nay； the intimacy of our fathers demand。 If there ever was anyone by natural inclination； and still more； I think； by reason and reflexion； averse from the empty praise and comments of the vulgar； I am certainly the man。 Witness my consulship； in which； as in the rest of my life； I confess that I eagerly pursued the objects capable of producing true glory： mere glory for its own sake I never thought a subject for ambition。 Accordingly； I not only passed over a province after the votes for its outfit had been taken； but also with it an almost certain hope of a triumph； and finally the priesthood； though； as I think you will agree with me； I could have obtained it without much difficulty； I did not try to get。 Yet after my unjust disgracealways stigmatized by you as a disaster to the Republic； and rather an honour than a disaster to myselfI was anxious that some very signal marks of the approbation of the senate and Roman people should be put on record。 Accordingly； in the first place； I did subsequently wish for the augurship； about which I had not troubled myself before； and the compliment usually paid by the senate in the case of success in war； though passed over by me in old times； I now think an object to be desired。 That you should approve and support this wish of mine； in which you may trace a strong desire to heal the wounds inflicted upon me by my disgrace； though I a little while ago declared that I would not ask it； I now do earnestly ask of you： but only on condition that you shall not think my humble services paltry and insignificant； but of such a nature and importance； that many for far less signal successes have obtained the highest honours from the senate。 I have； too； I think； noticed thisfor you know how attentively I ever listen to youthat in granting or withholding honours you are accustomed to look not so much to the particular achievements as to the character； the principles' and conduct of commanders。 Well； if you apply this test to my case； you will find that； with a weak army； my strongest support against the threat of a very formidable war has been my equity and purity of conduct。 With these as my aids I accomplished what I never could have accomplished by any amount of legions： among the allies I have created the warmest devotion in place of the most extreme alienation； the most complete loyalty in place of the most dangerous disaffection； and their spirits fluttered by the prospect of change I have brought back to feelings of affection for the old rule。
But I have said too much of myself； especially to you； in whom singly the grievances of all our allies alike find a listener。 You will learn the truth from those who think themselves restored to life by my administration。 And while all with nearly one consent will praise me in your hearing as I most desire to be praised； so will your two chief client statesthe island of Cyprus and the kingdom of Cappadociahave something to say to you about me also。 So； too； I think； will Deiotarus； who is attached to you with special warmth。 Now； if these things are above the common run； and if in all ages it has been rarer to find men capable of conquering their own desires than capable of conquering an enemy's army； it is quite in harmony with your principles； when you find these rarer and more difficult virtues combined with success in war； to regard that success itself as more complete and glorious。
I have only one last resourcephilosophy： and to make her plead for me； as though I doubted the efficacy of a mere request： philosophy； the best friend I have ever had in all my life； the greatest gift which has been bestowed by the gods upon mankind。 Yes！ this common sympathy in tastes and studiesour inse
