ndependence at Palmyra,
which, through the advantages of its situation, had lately become a
flourishing commercial town. Odenathus sent a long train of camels laden
with gifts, consisting in part of rare and precious merchandise, to the
Persian monarch, begging him to accept them, and claiming his favorable
regard on the ground that he had hitherto refrained from all acts of
hostility against the Persians. It appears that Sapor took offence at
the tone of the communication, which was not sufficiently humble to
please him. Tearing the letter to fragments and trampling it beneath his
feet, he exclaimed--"Who is this Odenathus, and of what country, that he
ventures thus to address his lord? Let him now, if he would lighten his
punishment, come here and fall prostrate before me with his hands tied
behind his back. Should he refuse, let him be well assured that I will
destroy himself, his race, and his land." At the same time he ordered
his servants to cast the costly presents of the Palmyrene prince into
the Euphrates.

This arrogant and offensive behavior naturally turned the willing
friend into an enemy. Odenathus, finding himself forced into a hostile
position, took arms and watched his opportunity. So long as Sapor
continued to advance, he kept aloof. As soon, however, as the retreat
commenced, and the Persian army, encumbered with its spoil and captives,
proceeded to make its way back slowly and painfully to the Euphrates,
Odenathus, who had collected a large force, in part from the Syrian
villages, in part from the wild tribes of Arabia, made his appearance in
the field. His light and agile horsemen hovered about the Persian host,
cut off their stragglers, made prize of much of their spoil, and even
captured a portion of the seraglio of the Great King. The harassed
troops were glad when they had placed the Euphrates between themselves
and their pursuer, and congratulated each other on their escape. So
much had they suffered, and so little did they feel equal to further
conflicts, that on their march through Mesopotamia they consented to
purchase the neutrality of the people of Edessa by making over to them
all the coined money that they had carried off in their Syrian raid.
After this it would seem that the retreat was unmolested, and Sapor
succeeded in conveying the greater part of his army, together with his
illustrious prisoner, to his own country.

With regard to the treatment that Valerian received at the hands