[-29-]As they failed to take Antioch, where Cassius repulsed them severely and they were unable to institute any siege, they turned to Antigonea.  The neighborhood of the city was overgrown with wood and they were dismayed, not being able to march into it.  They then formed a plan to cut down the trees and lay bare the whole place so that they might approach the town with boldness and safety.  Finding themselves unable to do this, because the task was a great one and their time was spent in vain, while Cassius harassed those scattered about, they retired apparently with the intention of proceeding against some other position.  Meanwhile Cassius set an ambush on the road along which they were to depart, and confronting them there with a few men he induced them to pursue, led them into the trap, and killed Osaces and others.  Upon the latter’s death Pacorus abandoned all of Syria and never invaded it again.

[-30-] He had scarcely retired when Bibulus arrived to govern Syria.  His coming, to be sure, was in contravention of a decree intended to prevent rivalry for office, so productive of seditions, that no praetor nor consul, at once or at any time within four years, should go abroad to hold office.  He administered the subject country in peace, and turned the Parthians against one another.  Having won the friendship of Orondapates, a satrap, who had a grudge against Orodes, he persuaded him through messengers to set up Pacorus as king, and with him to conduct a campaign against the other.

[B.C. 51 (a.u. 703)]

This war came to an end in the fourth year from the time when it had begun, and while Marcus Marcellus and Sulpicius Rufus were consuls.

[-31-] In that same period Caesar by battle again gained control of Gallic affairs, which were in an unsettled state.  He accomplished very much himself and some things through his lieutenants, of which I will state only the most important.

[B.C. 54 (a.u. 700)]

Ambiorix won the confidence of the Treveri, who at this time were still smarting under the setback of Indutiomarus’s death, raised a greater conspiracy in that quarter, and sent for a mercenary force from the Celtae.  Labienus wishing to join issue with them before this last contingent should be added to their number invaded the country of the Treveri in advance.  The latter did not defend themselves, as they were awaiting reinforcements, but put a river between the two armies and remained quiet.  Labienus then gathered his soldiers and addressed them in words of such a nature as were likely to alarm his own men and encourage the others:  they must, he said, before the Celtae repelled them, withdraw to Caesar and safety; and he immediately gave the signal to pack up the baggage.  Not much later he began actually to withdraw, expecting that that would occur which really did.  The barbarians heard of his speech,—­they took very good care in such matters and it was for