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myself; but if he has a special antipathy to me, a letter from me will do you no good. Why, in the dispatch Bibulus sent to the Senate, he gives himself the whole credit for what was as much my business as his; he says that it was he who arranged that the exchange of the money should be to the advantage of the people[1]; besides in reference to my refusal to employ Transpadane auxiliaries,[2] which was entirely my own idea, that too, he writes, was a concession made by himself in favour of the people. On the other hand, where he himself was solely responsible, he takes me into partnership "When we," quoth he, "demanded more corn for the auxiliary cavalry." But what follows is the mark of a petty mind, starved and enfeebled by its own spitefulness—because the Senate gave Ariobarzanus the title of "king" through me, and commended him to me, our friend in his dispatch does not speak of him as "king" but as the "son of King Ariobarzanus." To make an appeal to men of that spirit only makes them worse. But there, I have humoured you, and written him a letter, on receipt of which you will do as you please.
XVIII
M. T. Cicero to Q. Minucius Thermus,[3] propraetor of Asia
Laodicea, early in May, 50 B.C.
1 I rejoice exceedingly that my service to Rhodo[4] and I any other efforts of mine on behalf of you and yours have earned your gratitude, very grateful man that
- ↑ Whatever taxes or spoils in Syria and Cilicia came into the Roman coffers in Asiatic coinage were exchanged into Roman money to the advantage of the treasury. Tyrrell.
- ↑ Ala being the allied contingent attached to a legion, alarii may be rendered "allies" or "auxiliaries." Cicero refused to bring such auxiliaries all the way from beyond the Po to help him in his Eastern campaigns.
- ↑ Thermus was propraetor in Asia in 51 and 50; Cicero had a high opinion of him as an administrator. In the Civil War he fought on the side of Pompey.
- ↑ A friend of Thermus.