ired, and having arrived in Cilicia, gave his predecessor
letters from the emperor, desiring him to hasten to court to be invested
with higher dignities. In fact the affairs of Asia were in such a state
that, even if Ursicinus had been at Ultima Thule their urgency would
have required him to be summoned thence to set them right, since he was
a man of the ancient discipline, and from long experience especially
skilful in the Persian manner of conducting war.

2. But when the report of this reached the provinces, all ranks of the
citizens and agricultural population, by formal edicts and by unanimous
outcries, endeavoured to detain him, almost forcibly, as the public
defender of their country, remembering that though for ten years he had
been left to his own resources with a scanty and unwarlike force, he had
yet incurred no loss; and fearing for their safety if at so critical a
time he should be removed and a man of utter inactivity assume the rule
in his stead.

3. We believe, and indeed there is no doubt of it, that fame flies on
wings through the paths of the air; and she it was who now gave
information of these events to the Persians while deliberating on the
entire aspect of affairs. At last, after many arguments pro and con,
they determined, on the advice of Antoninus, that as Ursicinus was
removed, and as the new governor was contemptible, they might venture
to neglect laying siege to cities, an operation which would cause a
mischievous loss of time, and at once cross the Euphrates, and advance
further, in order, outstripping all rumour of their march, to occupy
those provinces which, throughout all our wars, had always been safe
(except in the time of Gallienus), and which, from their long enjoyment
of peace, were very wealthy. And in this enterprise, with the favour of
God, Antoninus offered himself as a most desirable guide.

4. His advice, therefore, being unanimously praised and adopted, and the
attention of the whole nation being directed to the speedy collection of
those things which were required, supplies, soldiers, arms, and
equipments, the preparation of everything for the coming campaign was
continued the whole winter.

5. In the mean time, we, hastening at the emperor's command towards
Italy, after having been detained a short time on the western side of
Mount Taurus, reached the river Hebrus, which descends from the
mountains of the Odrysae[94], and there we received letters from the
emperor, ord