Decimus Iunius M.F.  Silanus, L. Licinius L.F.  Murena. (B.C. 62 == a. u. 692.)

M. Pupius M.F.  Piso, M. Valerius M.F.  Messala Niger (B.C. 61 == a.u. 693.)

L. Afranius A.F., C. Caecilius C.F.  Celer. (B.C. 60 == a.u. 694.)

(BOOK 37, BOISSEVAIN.)

[B.C. 65 (a.u. 689)]

[-1-] The following year after these exploits and in the consulship of Lucius Cotta and Lucius Torquatus, he engaged in warfare against both the Albanians and the Iberians.  With the latter of these he was compelled to become embroiled quite contrary to his plan.  The Iberians dwell on both sides of the Cyrnus, adjoining on the one hand the Albanians and on the other the Armenians.  Arthoces, their king, fearing that Pompey would direct his steps against him, too, sent envoys to him on a pretence of peace, but prepared to attack the invader at a time when, feeling secure, he should be therefore off his guard.  Pompey learning of this betimes was in good season in making an incursion into the territory of Arthoces, ere the latter had made ready sufficiently or had occupied the pass on the frontier, which was well nigh impregnable.  He marched on, indeed, to the city called Acropolis,[11] before Arthoces ascertained that he was at hand.  At that moment he was right at the narrowest point, where the Cyrnus[12] flows on the one side and the Caucasus extends on the other, and had fortified the mountain in order to guard the pass.  Arthoces, panic-stricken, had no chance to array his forces, but crossed the river, burning down the bridge; and those within the wall, in view of his flight and a defeat they had sustained in battle, surrendered.  Pompey made himself master of the thoroughfares, left a garrison in charge of them, and advancing from that point subjugated all the territory within the river boundary. [-2-] But when he was on the point of crossing the Cyrnus also, Arthoces sent to him requesting peace and promising voluntarily to furnish him control of the bridge and provisions.  Both of these promises the king fulfilled as if he intended to come to terms, but terrified when he saw his adversary already across he fled away to the Pelorus, another river that flowed through his dominions.  The man that he might have hindered from crossing he avoided by running away after drawing him on.

Pompey, seeing this, pursued after, overtook and conquered him.  By a charge he got into close quarters with the enemy’s bowmen before they could show their skill, and in the briefest time routed them.  When things took this turn, Arthoces crossed the Pelorus and fled, burning the bridge over that stream too:  of the rest some were killed in hand-to-hand fights, and some while fording the river on foot.  Many, also, scattered through the woods, survived for a few days by shooting from the trees, which were exceedingly tall, but soon the trees were cut down at the base and they also were destroyed.  Under these conditions