Thus did Cassius in brief time become strong:  and he sent a despatch to Caesar about reconciliation and to the senate about the situation, couched in similar language to that of Brutus.  Therefore the senate confirmed his governorship of Syria and voted for the war with Dolabella. [-29-] The latter had been appointed to govern Syria and had started out while consul, but he proceeded only slowly through Macedonia and Thrace into the province of Asia and delayed there also.  While he was still there he received news of the decree, and did not go forward into Syria but remained where he was, treating Trebonius in such a way as to make him believe most strongly that Dolabella was his friend.  Trebonius had his free permission to take food for his soldiers and to live on intimate terms with him.  When his dupe became in this way imbued with confidence and ceased to be on his guard, Dolabella by night suddenly seized Smyrna, where the other was, slew him, and hurled his head at Caesar’s image, and thereafter occupied all of Asia.  When the Romans at home heard of this they declared war against him; for as yet Caesar had neither conquered Antony nor obtained a hold upon affairs in the City.  The citizens also gave notice to Dolabella’s followers of a definite day before which they must leave off friendship with him, in order to avoid being regarded also in the light of enemies.  And they instructed the consuls to carry on opposition to him and the entire war as soon as they should have brought their temporary business to a successful conclusion (not knowing yet that Cassius held Syria).  But in order that he should not gain still greater power in the interval they gave the governors of the neighboring provinces charge of the matter.  Later they learned the news about Cassius, and before anything whatever had been done by his opponents at home they passed the vote that I cited. [-30-] Dolabella, accordingly, after becoming in this way master of Asia came into Cilicia while Cassius was in Palestine, took over the people of Tarsus with their consent, conquered a few of Cassius’s guards who were at Aegeae, and invaded Syria.

From Antioch he was repulsed by the contingent guarding the place, but gained Laodicea without a struggle on account of the friendship which its inhabitants felt for the former Caesar.  Upon this he spent some days in acquiring new strength,—­the fleet among other reinforcements came to him speedily from Asia,—­and crossed over into Aradus with the object of getting both money and ships from the people also.  There he was intercepted with but few followers and ran into danger.  He had escaped from this when he encountered Cassius marching toward him, and gave battle, which resulted in his own defeat.  He was then shut up and besieged in Laodicea, where he was entirely cut off from the land, to be sure (Cassius being assisted by some Parthians among others), but retained some power through the Asiatic ships and the Egyptian ones which Cleopatra