Letter 12.15

If you and your children are well, I am glad. I am well. Asia had been overwhelmed by Dolabella's criminal acts. I therefore went to the neighboring province of Macedonia and to the defenses of the republic held by the honorable Marcus Brutus, and I urged that the province of Asia and its revenues be restored to your authority by those who could do it most quickly. This alarmed Dolabella. After plundering the province, seizing its revenues, and deliberately choosing Roman citizens to ruin and sell up, he left Asia faster than the defending force could be brought in. I therefore thought I should delay no longer or wait for the garrison. I believed I ought to return to my duty at the earliest opportunity, both to collect the arrears of revenue and to call in the money I had deposited, and to discover as soon as possible what part of it had been seized, or by whose fault that had happened, and to report the whole matter to you. Meanwhile, while I was sailing by way of the islands into Asia, I learned that Dolabella's fleet was in Lycia and that the Rhodians had a number of fully equipped vessels already launched. So, with the ships I had brought with me and those secured by the proquaestor Patiscus, a man bound to me by close friendship and shared political views, I diverted my course to Rhodes. I trusted in your authority, in the senate's decree declaring Dolabella a public enemy, and in the treaty renewed with the Rhodians in the consulship of Marcus Marcellus and Servius Sulpicius, in which they swore to have the same enemies as the senate and Roman people. I was entirely mistaken. Far from strengthening our fleet with any help from them, the Rhodians warned our soldiers away from the city, the harbor, the roadstead outside the city, from buying provisions, and finally even from taking on water. I myself was only just allowed to approach in a single boat. I did not retaliate for this insult and for this affront not only to my office but to the authority of the Roman people, because I had learned from an intercepted dispatch that Dolabella, if he lost hope of Syria and Egypt, as he certainly would, was prepared to embark on his ships with all his criminals and all his money and sail for Italy. For that purpose, transports collected in Lycia, none of them with a burden of less than two thousand amphorae [large storage jars used here as a measure of cargo capacity], were being guarded by his fleet. Alarmed by this dangerous report, senators, I chose to endure the insult and to try every possible means first, even at the cost of personal indignity. I was therefore admitted, as they wished, into the city and the senate, where I argued the cause of the republic with all the earnestness I could command and explained the full danger that threatened us if that outlaw embarked with all his forces. But I found the Rhodians so completely misguided that they thought the loyal citizens were the weakest party; that they were more ready to disbelieve the present unanimity of all orders in defense of liberty; that they were confident the patience of the senate and the leading citizens was still what it had been before; and that they thought no one would have the courage to declare Dolabella a public enemy. In short, they believed every fiction of the traitors rather than the actual events that had taken place and were being reported by me. With these views, even before my arrival and after the atrocious murder of Trebonius and many other abominable crimes, they had sent two embassies to Dolabella. They did this contrary to all precedent, against their own laws, and despite the prohibition of the magistrates then in office. Though they could easily have remedied the crisis, they refused. I do not know whether this was, as they say, from fear for the lands they possess on the mainland, or from the delusion or indulgence of a few politicians who on earlier occasions insulted men of the highest rank and who now, without precedent and without any provocation from us, insult men holding the highest offices. Refuse they did, despite the danger threatening us who were on the spot, and despite the danger threatening Italy and our city if that murderer, with his company of criminals, sailed to Italy after being driven out of Asia and Syria. Some of us even suspected the magistrates of having detained us and wasted time until Dolabella's fleet could be informed of our arrival. That suspicion was strengthened by several later events, especially by the fact that Dolabella's legates, Sextus Marius and Gaius Titius, suddenly left the fleet on the Lycian coast and fled aboard a warship, abandoning the transports whose collection had cost them considerable time and labor. When we arrived in Lycia from Rhodes with the ships then in our possession, we took over the transports and sent them back to their owners. In this way we ceased to fear what had most alarmed us: that Dolabella might find a way to reach Italy with his criminals. We pursued his fleeing fleet as far as Side, the farthest district of my province. There I learned that some of Dolabella's ships had scattered and fled, and that the rest had made for Syria and Cyprus. Since they were thus dispersed, and since I knew that the very large fleet of the distinguished citizen and commander Cassius would be ready to meet him in Syria, I returned to my official duties. I shall do my utmost, senators, to give you and the republic the full benefit of my zeal and industry. As for the money, I will collect as much as I can, as quickly as possible, and will send it by every means in my power. When I have toured my province and have learned who remained faithful to us and to the republic in safeguarding the money I deposited with them, and who actually handed public money over and by that gift entered into partnership with Dolabella's crimes, I will inform you. If you are pleased to pass a severe judgment on these men and support me with the weight of your authority, I shall be able more easily both to collect the arrears of revenue and to keep safe what has already been collected. Meanwhile, in order to protect the revenues more thoroughly and defend my province from mistreatment, I have enrolled a guard of volunteers, and only as many as were absolutely necessary. After I wrote this dispatch, about thirty soldiers whom Dolabella had enlisted in Asia escaped from Syria and arrived in Pamphylia. They reported that Dolabella had reached Antioch in Syria; that he was refused admission and made several attempts to force his way in, but was always driven back with heavy loss; that after losing about six hundred men and abandoning his sick, he retreated by night from Antioch toward Laodicea; that during that night nearly all his Asiatic soldiers deserted him; that some returned to Antioch and surrendered to the officers Cassius had left in command of the city; that the rest crossed Mount Amanus and came down into Cilicia, and that they themselves belonged to that number. Finally, they said that Cassius with his whole force was reported to be four days' march from Laodicea at the time when Dolabella was pressing on to that town. For these reasons I feel sure that this most wicked outlaw will be punished sooner than I had thought.

DCCCLXXIX (Fam. XII, 15) P. LENTULUS, PROQUAESTOR, PROPRAETOR, TO THE CONSULS, PRAETORS, TRIBUNES, SENATE, AND ROMAN PEOPLE PERGA, 29 MAY-2 JUNE: If you and your children are well, I am glad. I am well. Asia having been overrun by the criminal proceedings of Dolabella , I betook myself to the neighbouring province of Macedonia and to those defences of the Republic which the honourable citizen Marcus Brutus had under his command, and urged that the province of Asia and its revenues should be restored to your authority by those who could do so most promptly. This alarmed Dolabella , and therefore, after plundering the province, seizing its revenues, selecting Roman citizens especially to beggar and sell up, he quitted Asia quicker than the protecting force could be brought into it. I therefore did not think it necessary to delay any longer, nor to wait for the garrison, and I conceived that I ought to return at the earliest opportunity to my duty, in order that I might both collect the arrears of revenue and call in the money I had deposited, and ascertain as soon as possible what part of it had been seized, or by whose fault that had occurred, and inform you about the whole affair. Meanwhile on my voyage by the island route into Asia I was met by the information that Dolabella 's fleet was in Lycia , and that the Rhodians had a number of vessels fully equipped and ready launched. Accordingly, with the ships which either I had brought with me or the proquaestor Patiscus had secured — a man very closely united to me both by intimate friendship and political sympathies — I diverted my course to Rhodes , trusting in your authority and the decree of the senate, by which you had declared Dolabella a public enemy, and also in the treaty which had been renewed with them in the consulship of M. Marcellus and Servius Sulpicius , in which the Rhodians had sworn to have the same enemies as the senate and Roman people. However, I found myself entirely mistaken. For so far from our strengthening our fleet by any assistance from them, our soldiers were even warned off by the Rhodians from city, harbour, the roadstead outside the city, from purchasing provisions, and finally even from taking in water; while I myself was only just allowed to approach in a single boat. This insult and derogation from the dignity, not only of my official position, but also of the imperial position of the Roman people, I did not resent, because from an intercepted despatch I had learnt that Dolabella , if he had despaired of Syria and Egypt — as was certain to happen-was prepared to embark on board his ships with all his outlaws and all his money and make for Italy ; and that for that purpose also some transports, not one of which was less than 2,000 amphorae burden, collected in Lycia were being guarded by his fleet. Dismayed by the alarming nature of this report, fathers of the senate, I preferred to submit to the insult and to try first every means, though involving personal indignities. Therefore, being in accordance with their wishes introduced into the city and senate, I pleaded the cause of the Republic with the greatest earnestness of which I was capable, and stated the whole danger of the situation which threatened us, if that outlaw embarked with all his forces. But I found the Rhodians to be so utterly misguided, that they thought the loyalists were the weakest of all parties: that they were more ready to disbelieve in the existing unanimity and agreement of all orders in the defence of liberty: that they were confident that the tolerance of the senate and the aristocracy was even now what it had been before, and that no one would have the Courage to declare Dolabella a public enemy: in fact that they regarded as true all the figments of the traitors rather than what had really taken place and was being stated by me. It was with these views that even before my arrival, after the atrocious murder of Trebonius and numerous other abominable crimes, two embassies from them had gone to Dolabella , and that too contrary to all precedent, it being against their own laws, and in spite of the prohibition of the then existing magistrates. Though they might easily have applied a remedy for this crisis, they refused to do so. I don't know whether it was, as they give out, from fear for the lands which they possess on the continent, or from the infatuation or tolerance of a few politicians who on previous occasions equally insulted men of the highest rank and now do so to those actually in the chief offices, without precedent and without provocation from us. They refused — I say — in spite of the danger threatening us who were on the spot, and of that which threatened Italy and our city, if that murderer with his crew of outlaws sailed to Italy after being expelled from Asia and Syria . Some of us even suspected the magistrates of having detained us and of having wasted time until Dolabella 's fleet was informed of our arrival. And this suspicion was deepened by several things that occurred afterwards, especially by the fact that Dolabella 's legates Sextus Marius and Gaius Titius suddenly quitted the fleet on the Lycian coast and fled on board a ship of war, abandoning the transports, in the collection of which they had spent considerable time and labour. Accordingly, when we arrived at Lycia from Rhodes with the ships then in our possession, we took over the transports and sent them back to their owners. Thus we ceased to feel what had been our chief fear — that Dolabella might find means to reach Italy with his outlaws. We pursued his flying fleet as far as Sida , which is the farthest district of my province. There I ascertained that some of Dolabella 's ships had scattered and fled, that the rest had made for Syria and Cyprus . These being thus dispersed, as I knew that the very large fleet of the eminent citizen and general Cassius would be ready to meet him in Syria , I returned to my official duties: as I shall do my best, fathers of the senate, to give you and the Republic the full benefit of my zeal and industry; and as to money — I will collect as much as I can and with the greatest possible promptness, and will send it by every means in my power. When I have made a tour of my province and have ascertained who have been faithful to us and to the Republic in safeguarding the money which I deposited with them, and who are guilty of actually handing over public money and by this gift entering into a partnership with Dolabella in his crimes, I will inform you. And if you will pass a severe sentence, should it so please you, upon these men and back me up by the weight of your authority, I shall be able with greater ease both to collect the arrears of revenue and keep that already collected safe. Meantime, in order more thoroughly to protect the revenues and to defend my province from ill-treatment, I have enrolled a guard formed of volunteers and only such as was absolutely necessary. After I had written this despatch, about thirty soldiers, whom Dolabella had enlisted in Asia , escaping from Syria arrived in Pamphylia . They brought word that Dolabella bad arrived at Antioch in Syria : that not being admitted he made several attempts to force an entry, but had always been repulsed with great loss; and accordingly after losing about 600 men, abandoning his sick, he retreated by night from Antioch towards Laodicea : that in that night nearly all his Asiatic soldiers deserted him: that of these about returned to Antioch and surrendered to the officers commanding the city who had been left there by Cassius : that the rest crossed Mount Amanus and descended into Cilicia , to which number they said that they also belonged themselves: finally, that Cassius with his whole force was reported to be four days' march from Laodicea at the time when Dolabella was pressing on to that town. Wherefore I feel sure that a most villainous outlaw will be punished sooner than I thought. 2 June, Perga .

XV. Scr. Pergae IIII. Nonas Iunias a.u.c. 711. P. LENTULUS P. F. PRO Q. PRO PR. S. D. COSS. PR. TR. PL. SENATUI POPULO PLEBIQUE ROMANAE. S. v. l. q. v. v. b. e. e. v. Scelere Dolabellae oppressa Asia in proximam provinciam Macedoniam praesidiaque rei publicae, quae M. Brutus, v. c., tenebat, me contuli et id egi, ut, per quos celerrime possent, Asia provincia vectigaliaque in vestram potestatem redigerentur: quod quum pertimuisset Dolabella vastataque provincia, correptis vectigalibus, praecipue civibus Romanis omnibus crudelissime denudatis ac divenditis celerius Asia excessisset, quam eo praesidium adduci potuisset, diutius morari aut exspectare praesidium non necesse habui et quam primum ad meum officium revertendum mihi esse existimavi, ut et reliqua vectigalia exigerem et quam deposui pecuniam colligerem, quidque ex ea correptum esset aut quorum id culpa accidisset, cognoscerem quam primum et vos de omni re facerem certiores. Interim quum per insulas in Asiam naviganti mihi nuntiatum esset classem Dolabellae in Lycia esse Rhodiosque naves complures instructas et paratas in aqua habere, cum iis navibus, quas aut mecum adduxeram aut comparaverat Patiscus proq., homo mihi quum familiaritate, tum etiam sensibus in re publica coniunctissimus, Rhodum deverti confisus auctoritate vestra senatusque consulto, quo hostem Dolabellam iudicaratis, foedere quoque, quod cum iis M. Marcello Ser. Sulpicio coss. renovatum erat, quo iuraverant Rhodii eosdem hostes se habituros, quos senatus populusque R: quae res nos vehementer fefellit; tantum enim afuit, ut illorum praesidio nostram firmaremus classem, ut etiam a Rhodiis urbe, portu, statione, quae extra urbem est, commeatu, aqua denique prohiberentur nostri milites, nos vix ipsi singulis cum navigolis reciperemur. Quam indignitatem deminutionemque non solum iuris nostri, sed etiam maiestatis imperiique populi Romani idcirco tulimus, quod interceptis litteris cognoramus Dolabellam, si desperasset de Syria Aegyptoque, quod necesse erat fieri, in naves cum omnibus suis latronibus atque omni pecunia conscendere esse paratum Italiamque petere; idcirco etiam naves onerarias, quarum minor nulla erat duum milium amphorum, contractas in Lycia a classe eius obsideri. Huius rei timore, p. c., percitus iniurias perpeti et cum contumelia etiam nostra omnia prius experiri malui: itaque ad illorum voluntatem introductus in urbem et in senatum eorum quam diligentissime potui causam rei publicae egi periculumque omne, quod instaret, si ille latro cum suis omnibus naves conscendisset, exposui; Rhodios autem tanta in pravitate animadverti, ut omnes firmiores putarent quam bonos, ut hanc concordiam et conspirationem omnium ordinum ad defendendam libertatem propense non crederent esse factam, ut patientiam senatus et optimi cuiusque manere etiam nunc confiderent nec potuisse audere quemquam Dolabellam hostem iudicare, ut denique omnia, quae improbi fingebant, magis vera existimarent, quam quae vere facta erant et a nobis docebantur. Qua mente etiam ante nostrum adventum post Trebonii indignissimam caedem ceteraque tot tamque nefaria facinora binae profectae erant ad Dolabellam legationes eorum, et quidem novo exemplo, contra leges ipsorum, prohibentibus iis, qui tum magistratus gerebant. Haec sive timore, ut dictitant, de agris, quos in continenti habent, sive furore, sive potentia paucorum, qui et antea pari contumelia viros clarissimos affecerant et nunc maximos magistratus gerentes, nullo exemplo neque nostra ex parte neque nostro praesentium neque imminenti Italiae urbique nostrae periculo, si ille parricida cum suis latronibus navibus ex Asia Syriaque expulsus Italiam petisset, mederi, quum facile possent, voluerunt. Nonnullis etiam ipsi magistratus veniebant in suspicionem detinuisse nos et demorati esse, dum classis Dolabellae certior fieret de adventu nostro; quam suspicionem consecutae res aliquot auxerunt, maxime quod subito ex Lycia Sex. Marius et C. Titius, legati Dolabellae, a classe discesserunt navique longa profugerunt onerariis relictis, in quibus colligendis non minimum temporis laborisque consumpserant. Itaque, quum ab Rhodo cum iis, quas habueramus, navibus in Lyciam venissemus, naves onerarias recepimus dominisque restituimus, iidemque, quod maxime verebamur, ne posset Dolabella cum suis latronibus in Italiam venire, timere desiimus: classem fugientem persecuti sumus usque Sidam, quae extrema regio est provinciae meae. Ibi cognovi partem navium Dolabellae diffugisse, reliquas Syriam Cyprumque petisse: quibus disiectis, quum scirem C. Cassii, singularis civis et ducis, classem maximam fore praesto in Syria, ad meum officium reverti, daboque operam, ut meum studium, diligentiam vobis, p. c., reique publicae praestem, pecuniamque quam maximam potero et quam celerrime cogam omnibusque rationibus ad vos mittam. Si pecurrero provinciam et cognovero, qui nobis et rei publicae fidem praestiterint in conservanda pecunia a me deposita, quique scelere ulrto deferentes pecuniam publicam hoc munere societatem facinorum cum Dolabella inierint, faicma vos certiores. De quibus, si vobis videbitur, si, ut meriti sunt, graviter constitueritis nosque vestra auctoritate firmaveritis, facilius et reliqua exigere vectigalia et exacta servare poterimus. Interea quo commodius vectigalia tueri provinciamque ab iniuria defendere possim, praesidium voluntarium necessariumque comparavi. His litteris scriptis milites circiter XXX, quos Dolabella ex Asia conscripserat, ex Syria fugientes in Pamphyliam venerunt: hi nuntiaverunt Dolabellam Antiocheam, quae in Syria est, venisse; non receptum conatum esse aliquoties vi introire; repulsum semper esse cum magno suo detrimento itaque c. circiter amissis, aegris relictis noctu Antiochea profugisse Laodiceam versus; ea nocte omnes fere Asiaticos milites ab eo discessisse; ex iis ad octingentos Antiocheam redisse et se iis tradidisse, qui a Cassio relicti urbi illi praeerant, ceteros per Amanum in Ciliciam descendisse, quo ex numero se quoque esse dicebant; Cassium autem cum suis omnibus copiis nuntiatum esse quatridui iter a Laodicea afuisse tum, quum Dolabella eo tenderet; quamobrem opinione celerius confido sceleratissimum latronem poenas daturum. IIII. Non. Iun. Perga.