Meanwhile Torquatus and the other legates on arriving at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a> attempted to induce the elder Ptolemy to be reconciled to his brother and cede <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a> to him.
When the king kept on alternately promising and refusing and thus wasted time,
his younger brother, who, as had been agreed, remained encamped with his Cretans near Apis in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, and was exceedingly put out at receiving no information, at first sent Gnaeus to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a>, supposing that he would bring Torquatus and the others.
But when Gnaeus proved equally inactive, and time dragged on, forty days having passed without any news, he did not know what to make of the whole matter.
For the elder king by every kind of complaisance won over the legates and detained them with him rather against their will than otherwise.
At the same time news reached the younger Ptolemy that the Cyreneans had revolted, that the towns were in sympathy with them, and that Ptolemy Sympetesis, an Egyptian,
whom he had placed in charge of the country when he left for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, had taken the part of the insurgents.
When he received this news, and when soon afterwards he heard that the Cyreneans had taken the field, fearing lest by trying to add <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a> to his dominions he should lose <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyrene&groupId=521&placeId=985">Cyrene</a> also, he treated all other matters as of lesser moment and at once marched on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyrene&groupId=521&placeId=985">Cyrene</a>.
Upon reaching the place known as the Great Slope he found the Libyans and Cyreneans occupying the pass.
Ptolemy, taken aback by this, embarked half of his force on the ships with orders to sail round the pass and take the enemy in the rear, while he himself with the other half advanced directly to force the ascent.
Upon the Libyans taking fright at this double attack and abandoning their position, he made himself master of the ascent and the place called the Four Towers beneath it, where there was plenty of water.
Setting out thence he arrived after six days' march through the desert.
The force under Mochyrinus coasted along parallel to him until they found the Cyreneans encamped eight thousand strong in foot and five hundred in cavalry.
For the Cyreneans had gained experience of Ptolemy\'s character from his behaviour at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a>, and, seeing that his government and his whole disposition were those of a tyrant rather than a king,
they were by no means disposed to submit willingly to his rule, but were resolved to suffer anything for the prospect of liberty.
They, therefore, on his approach, at once offered battle and in the end he was worsted.
Walbank Commentary