ns with his voice, and more by his actions. Wherever he
turned his steps he was followed by the bravest youth of his party, and
there the efforts and the slaughter were always greatest. Five times,
covered with blood and dust, he made a desperate charge upon the troops
of Tigranes, and five times did he force his bravest soldiers to give
ground. At length the superiority of discipline and experience began to
prevail over the generous but more unequal efforts of the defenders.
The veterans of Tigranes perceived their advantage, and pressed the
enemy with redoubled vigour.

"This was the decisive moment which Chares had foreseen and provided
for; in an instant the bands of Lebanon retreated, by the orders of
Sophron, with a precipitation bordering upon flight. Tigranes, supposing
himself certain of victory, orders his troops to advance, and decide the
fortune of the battle; but while they are rashly preparing to obey, a
sudden noise is heard that equals the loudest thunders; the earth itself
trembles with a convulsive motion under their feet, then bursts asunder
with a violence that nothing can resist! Hundreds are in an instant
swallowed up, or dashed against rocks, and miserably destroyed!
Meanwhile all nature seems to be convulsed around; the rocks themselves
are torn from their solid base, and, with their enormous fragments,
crush whole bands of miserable wretches beneath! Clouds of smoke obscure
the field of battle, and veil the combatants in a dreadful shade, which
is from time to time dispelled by flashes of destructive fire! Such a
succession of horrors daunted even the most brave; scarcely could the
troops of Lebanon, who had been prepared to expect some extraordinary
interposition, maintain their post, or behold the spectacle of their
enemy's ruin; but the bands of Tigranes were struck with the wildest
consternation, and fled with trembling steps over the field. And now
these prodigies were succeeded by an awful interval of quiet; the peals
of bursting thunder were no longer heard, the lightnings ceased to
flash, the mists that darkened the scene were rolled away, and
discovered the various fortunes of the fight, when the voice of Sophron
was heard, exhorting his companions to pursue the fugitives and complete
their victory. They rushed forward like angry lions to the chase, but
all resistance was at an end; and Sophron, who now perceived that the
enemy was irretrievably broken, checked the ardour of his men, and