1Since I have spoken of the nature of the war, I shall now say a few words about its scale. 1For it can be said that the war is so necessary that it must be waged, but not so great that it must be greatly feared. 1In this matter I must take the greatest pains that what needs to be provided for most carefully should not perhaps seem to you to deserve contempt. 1And so that all may understand that I give Lucullus as much praise as is due to a brave man, a wise person and a great commander, I say that at his arrival Mithridates had very large forces, furnished and equipped with everything, and that the city of the Cyzicenes, the most famous in Asia and most friendly to us, had been besieged by the king himself with a huge host and assaulted with the utmost violence; 1and Lucullus by his courage, persistence and strategy freed it from the extreme perils of the siege.
21I say that by the same commander a great and well-equipped fleet, which was hurrying to Italy under Sertorian leaders, fired with zeal and hatred, was defeated and sunk; 21that besides, great forces of the enemy were destroyed in many battles, and that Pontus was opened to our legions, though before it had been closed to the Roman people from every approach; 21that Sinope and Amisus, towns in which the king had palaces furnished and filled with everything, and a great many other cities of Pontus and Cappadocia, were captured at a single approach and arrival; 21that the king, stripped of his father's and grandfather's kingdom, betook himself as a suppliant to other kings and other nations; 21and that all this was achieved with the allies of the Roman people safe and the revenues intact.
21This is praise enough, I think, and of such a kind, citizens, that you may understand that Lucullus has not been praised in like manner from this place by any of those who are disparaging this law and this cause.