akest agaynst
me, and thy quarell, bee most vniuste beefore the supernall
Gods, and very vnreasonable before men, and I for my part if I
haue entred or doe take armes, it is but to defend my self and
myne. Thy comming then into Asia is for none other purpose, but
to spoile and make hauocke of that which an other hath. And
think not that I am greatly afrayde of the name of Romane
Prynce, nor yet the power of thyne huge army. For if it bee in
thy handes to gyue battell, it belongeth onely to the gods to
gyue eyther to thee or me the victory. That I remaine in fielde
it is to me greate fame, but thou to fight with a widdowe,
oughtest truelye to bee ashamed. There be come vnto myne ayde
and Campe the Persians, the Medes, the Agamennonians, the
Irenees, and the Syrians, and with them all the Gods immortall,
who be wont to chastice sutch proude princes as thou art, and to
helpe poore Widowes as I am. And if it so come to passe, that
the Gods doe permit and suffre my lucke to be sutch, as thou do
bereue me of lyfe and dispoyle me of goods, yet it will be
bruted at Rome, and published in Asia, that the wofull wight
Zenobia, was ouerthrowne and slayne, in defence of hir
Patrimony, and for the conseruation of hir husbande's honor.
Labor no more then Aurelianus, to flatter and pray me, nor yet
to threaten me: requere me no more to yeelde and become thy
prisoner, nor yet to surrender that which I haue: for by doinge
that I can, I accomplish that I ought. For it will be sayd and
noysed through the world, (may it so come to passe as Fortune do
not fauor mee) that if the Empresse Zenobia be captiue, she was
not yet vanquished. Now touchinge my son which thou demaundest
to cary with thee to Rome, truely that request I cannot abide,
and mutch lesse do meane to graunt, knowing full well that thy
house is stored full of manyfolde vices, where myne is garnished
with many notable Philosophers: whereby if I leaue vnto my
Children no great heapes of goods, yet they shalbe wel taught
and instructed: For the one half of the day they spend in
Learninge, and the other halfe in exercise of Armes. For
conclusion of thy demaund, and finall aunswere, thereunto,
I pray thee trauayle no more by letters to write vnto mee, ne
yet by ambassage to spende any furder talke, but attend vntill
our controuersie bee decided rather by force of Armes than by
vttered wordes. The Gods preserue thee.

It is sayd that Aurelianus, receiuing that aunswere did reioyc