Caesar, and
therein told him that Antiochus, with his son Epiphanes, had resolved to
rebel against the Romans, and had made a league with the king of Parthia
to that purpose; that it was therefore fit to prevent them, lest they
prevent us, and begin such a war as may cause a general disturbance in
the Roman empire. Now Caesar was disposed to take some care about the
matter, since this discovery was made; for the neighborhood of the
kingdoms made this affair worthy of greater regard; for Samoseta, the
capital of Commagene, lies upon Euphrates, and upon any such design
could afford an easy passage over it to the Parthians, and could also
afford them a secure reception. Petus was accordingly believed, and had
authority given him of doing what he should think proper in the case; so
he set about it without delay, and fell upon Commagene before Antiochus
and his people had the least expectation of his coming: he had with him
the tenth legion, as also some cohorts and troops of horsemen. These
kings also came to his assistance: Aristobulus, king of the country
called Chalcidene, and Sohemus, who was called king of Emesa. Nor was
there any opposition made to his forces when they entered the kingdom;
for no one of that country would so much as lift up his hand against
them. When Antiochus heard this unexpected news, he could not think in
the least of making war with the Romans, but determined to leave his
whole kingdom in the state wherein it now was, and to retire privately,
with his wife and children, as thinking thereby to demonstrate himself
to the Romans to be innocent as to the accusation laid against him. So
he went away from that city as far as a hundred and twenty furlongs,
into a plain, and there pitched his tents.

2. Petus then sent some of his men to seize upon Samosate, and by their
means took possession of that city, while he went himself to attack
Antiochus with the rest of his army. However, the king was not prevailed
upon by the distress he was in to do any thing in the way of war against
the Romans, but bemoaned his own hard fate, and endured with patience
what he was not able to prevent. But his sons, who were young, and
unexperienced in war, but of strong bodies, were not easily induced
to bear this calamity without fighting. Epiphanes, therefore, and
Callinicus, betook themselves to military force; and as the battle was a
sore one, and lasted all the day long, they showed their own valor in
a remarkable ma