t was the sabbath, which is
among the Jews a day of rest from all sorts of work] he supposed that
the enemy would not dare to fight him thereon, but that he would take
them and carry them away prisoners, without fighting. He therefore
proceeded gradually, and thought to fall upon them on the sudden. Now
Asineus was sitting with the rest, and their weapons lay by them; upon
which he said, "Sirs, I hear a neighing of horses; not of such as are
feeding, but such as have men on their backs; I also hear such a noise
of their bridles, that I am afraid that some enemies are coming upon us
to encompass us round. However, let somebody go to look about, and make
report of what reality there is in the present state of things; and may
what I have said prove a false alarm." And when he had said this, some
of them went out to spy out what was the matter; and they came again
immediately, and said to him, that "neither hast thou been mistaken in
telling us what our enemies were doing, nor will those enemies permit us
to be injurious to people any longer. We are caught by their intrigues
like brute beasts, and there is a large body of cavalry marching upon
us, while we are destitute of hands to defend ourselves withal, because
we are restrained from doing it by the prohibition of our law, which
obliges us to rest [on this day]." But Asiueus did not by any means
agree with the opinion of his spy as to what was to be done, but thought
it more agreeable to the law to pluck up their spirits in this necessity
they were fallen into, and break their law by avenging themselves,
although they should die in the action, than by doing nothing to please
their enemies in submitting to be slain by them. Accordingly, he took up
his weapons, and infused courage into those that were with him to act
as courageously as himself. So they fell upon their enemies, and slew a
great many of them, because they despised them and came as to a certain
victory, and put the rest to flight.

3. But when the news of this fight came to the king of Parthia, he was
surprised at the boldness of these brethren, and was desirous to see
them, and speak with them. He therefore sent the most trusty of all his
guards to say thus to them: "That king Artsbanus, although he had
been unjustly treated by you, who have made an attempt against his
government, yet hath he more regard to your courageous behavior, than to
the anger he bears to you, and hath sent me to give you his right han