Dat. 4.1Hic cum maximō studiō comparāret exercitum Aegyptumque proficīscī parāret, subitō ā rēge litterae sunt eī missae, ut Aspim aggrederētur, quī Cataoniam tenēbat: quae gēns iacet suprā Ciliciam, cōnfīnis Cappadociae.While he was preparing the army with the greatest zeal and getting ready to set out for Egypt, a letter was suddenly sent to him by the king, ordering him to attack Aspis, who held Cataonia: this people lies above Cilicia, bordering on Cappadocia. Dat. 4.2Namque Aspis, saltuōsam regiōnem castellīsque mūnītam incolēns, nōn sōlum imperiō rēgis nōn pārēbat, sed etiam fīnitimās regiōnēs vexābat et quae rēgī portārentur abripiēbat.For Aspis, who inhabited a wooded region fortified with strongholds, not only refused to obey the king's authority but also harried the neighbouring regions and carried off whatever was being conveyed to the king. Dat. 4.3Datamēs etsī longē aberat ab iīs regiōnibus et ā maiōre rē abstrahēbātur, tamen rēgis voluntātī mōrem gerendum putāvit.Although Datames was far away from those regions and was being drawn away from a greater undertaking, he nevertheless thought that he must comply with the king's wishes. Dat. 4.3Itaque cum paucīs, sed virīs fortibus nāvem cōnscendit, exīstimāns, quod accidit, facilius sē imprūdentem parvā manū oppressūrum quam parātum quamvīs magnō exercitū.And so he boarded a ship with a few men, but brave ones, reckoning, as in fact happened, that he would more easily overpower an unsuspecting man with a small force than a prepared one with however large an army.
Dat. 4.4Hāc dēlātus in Ciliciam, ēgressus inde, diēs noctēsque iter faciēns Taurum trānsit eōque quō studuerat vēnit.Carried by it to Cilicia, he landed there, and marching day and night he crossed the Taurus and arrived at the place he had been making for. Dat. 4.4Quaerit quibus locīs sit Aspis: cognōscit haud longē abesse profectumque tum vēnātum.He asks where Aspis is: he learns that he is not far away and has gone out hunting. Dat. 4.4Quem dum speculātur, adventus eius causa cognōscitur.While he is watching for him, the reason for his arrival becomes known. Dat. 4.4Pisidās cum iīs, quōs sēcum habēbat, ad resistendum Aspis comparat.Aspis prepares the Pisidians, together with those he had with him, to resist. Dat. 4.5Id Datamēs ubi audīvit, arma sūmit, suōs sequī iubet;When Datames heard this, he takes up arms and orders his men to follow; Dat. 4.5ipse equō concitātō ad hostem vehitur.he himself rides at the enemy on a galloping horse. Dat. 4.5Quem procul Aspis cōnspiciēns ad sē ferentem pertimēscit atque ā cōnātū resistendī dēterritus sēsē dēdidit.Aspis, seeing him from afar bearing down on him, is terrified and, frightened out of his attempt at resistance, surrendered himself.
Dat. 4.5Hunc Datamēs vinctum ad rēgem dūcendum trādit Mithridātī.Datames hands him over in chains to Mithridates, to be taken to the king.