by his legions; for the Parthian leader was separated from the members of his tribe and had only soldiers from the neighborhood.  Ventidius found that he would not even risk a conflict and so pushed him back and pursued him into Syria, taking the lightest part of his fighting force with him on the expedition.  He overtook him near the Taurus range and allowed him to proceed no farther, and they encamped there quietly for several days.  Labienus awaited the Parthians and Ventidius the heavy-armed soldiers. [-40-] Both came at once during the same days and Ventidius through fear of the barbarian cavalry remained on the high ground, where he was encamped.  The Parthians, because of their numbers and because they had conquered once before, despised their opponents and rode up to the hill at dawn, before joining Labienus; as no one came out to meet them, they attacked it, charging straight up the incline.  When they were in that position the Romans rushed out and easily routed them, as it was down-hill.  Many of the assailants were killed in conflict, but still more in turning back were confused with one another; for some had already been routed and others were coming up.  The survivors took refuge not with Labienus but in Cilicia.  Ventidius pursued them as far as the camp, and there, seeing Labienus, stopped.  The latter marshaled his forces as if to offer him battle, but perceiving that his soldiers were dejected by reason of the flight of the barbarians he did not then venture any opposition and when night came he attempted to escape in some direction.  Ventidius learned beforehand from deserters of the contemplated move and by posting ambushes killed many in the retreat and took possession of the rest, who were abandoned by Labienus.  The latter by changing his dress reached safety and for some time escaped detection in Cilicia.  Later he was captured by Demetrius, a freedman of the former Caesar, who had at this time been assigned to Cyprus by Antony.  He learned that Labienus was in hiding and made a search for him, which resulted in the fugitive’s arrest.

[-41-] After this Ventidius recovered Cilicia and attended himself to the administration of this district, but sent ahead Pompaedius Silo with cavalry to Amanus.  This is a mountain on the border between Cilicia and Syria, and contains a pass so narrow that a wall and gates were once built across it and the place received its name from that fact.  Silo, however, found himself unable to occupy it and ran in danger of being annihilated by Phranapates, lieutenant of Pacorus, who was guarding the passage.  And that would have been his fate, had not Ventidius by chance come upon him when he was fighting and defended him.  He attacked the barbarians, who were not looking for his arrival and were likewise fewer in number, and slew Phranapates and many others.  In this way he gained Syria deserted by the Parthians,—­all except the district of the Aradii,—­and subsequently without effort occupied Palestine, by