as an act of kindness, to oblige the nation to him. Besides
which, he also deprived Joseph, who was also called Caiaphas, of the
high priesthood, and appointed Jonathan the son of Ananus, the former
high priest, to succeed him. After which, he took his journey back to
Antioch.

4. Moreover, Tiberius sent a letter to Vitellius, and commanded him to
make a league of friendship with Artabanus, the king of Parthia; for
while he was his enemy, he terrified him, because he had taken Armenia
away from him, lest he should proceed further, and told him he should
no otherwise trust him than upon his giving him hostages, and especially
his son Artabanus. Upon Tiberius's writing thus to Vitellius, by the
offer of great presents of money, he persuaded both the king of
Iberia and the king of Albania to make no delay, but to fight against
Artabanus; and although they would not do it themselves, yet did they
give the Scythians a passage through their country, and opened the
Caspian gates to them, and brought them upon Artabanus. So Armenia was
again taken from the Parthians, and the country of Parthis was filled
with war, and the principal of their men were slain, and all things were
in disorder among them: the king's son also himself fell in these wars,
together with many ten thousands of his army. Vitellius had also sent
such great sums of money to Artabanus's father's kinsmen and friends,
that he had almost procured him to be slain by the means of those bribes
which they had taken. And when Artabanus perceived that the plot laid
against him was not to be avoided, because it was laid by the principal
men, and those a great many in number, and that it would certainly
take effect,--when he had estimated the number of those that were truly
faithful to him, as also of those who were already corrupted, but were
deceitful in the kindness they professed to him, and were likely,
upon trial, to go over to his enemies, he made his escape to the upper
provinces, where he afterwards raised a great army out of the Dahae and
Sacre, and fought with his enemies, and retained his principality.

5. When Tiberius had heard of these things, he desired to have a league
of friendship made between him and Artabanus; and when, upon this
invitation, he received the proposal kindly, Artabanus and Vitellius
went to Euphrates, and as a bridge was laid over the river, they each of
them came with their guards about them, and met one another on the midst
of the