e reason of my coming; and having received from him a silent
guide, well acquainted with the country, I was sent to some lofty rocks
at a distance, from which, if one's eyes did not fail, one could see
even the most minute object fifty miles off.

21. There we remained two whole days; and on the morning of the third
day we saw all the circuit of the earth, which we call the horizon,
filled with countless hosts of men, and the king marching before them
glittering with the brilliancy of his robes. And next to him on his left
hand marched Grumbates, king of the Chionitae, a man of middle age, and
wrinkled limbs, but of a grand spirit, and already distinguished for
many victories. On his right hand was the king of the Albani, of equal
rank and splendour. After them came various generals, renowned for their
rank and power, who were followed by a multitude of all classes, picked
from the flower of the neighbouring nations, and trained by long
hardship to endure any toil or danger.

22. How long, O mendacious Greece, wilt thou tell us of Doriscus,[96]
the Thracian town, and of the army counted there in battalions in a
fenced space, when we careful, or to speak more truly, cautious
historians, exaggerate nothing, and merely record what is established by
evidence neither doubtful nor uncertain!

VII.

Sec. 1. After the kings had passed by Nineveh, an important city of the
province of Adiabene, they offered a sacrifice in the middle of the
bridge over the Anzaba, and as the omens were favourable, they advanced
with great joy; while we, calculating that the rest of their host could
hardly pass over in three days, returned with speed to the satrap, and
rested, refreshing ourselves by his hospitable kindness.

2. And returning from thence through a deserted and solitary country,
under the pressure of great necessity, and reaching our army more
rapidly than could have been expected, we brought to those who were
hesitating the certain intelligence that the kings had crossed over the
river by a bridge of boats, and were marching straight towards us.

3. Without delay, therefore, horsemen with horses of picked speed were
sent to Cassianus, duke of Mesopotamia, and to Euphronius, at that time
the governor of the province, to compel the residents in the country to
retire with their families and all their flocks to a safer place; and
to quit at once the town of Carrae, which was defended by very slight
walls; and further, to burn a