seemed to believe that the moment
he made his appearance the besieged would be suddenly panic-stricken,
and have recourse to supplication and entreaty.

5. He rode up to the gates, escorted by the cohort of his royal guard;
and while pushing on more boldly, so that his very features might be
plainly recognized, his ornaments made him such a mark for arrows and
other missiles, that he would have been slain, if the dust had not
hindered the sight of those who were shooting at him; so that after a
part of his robe had been cut off by a blow of a javelin, he escaped to
cause vast slaughter at a future time.

6. After this, raging as if against sacrilegious men who had violated a
temple, he cried out that the lord of so many monarchs and nations had
been insulted, and resolved to use all his efforts to destroy the city.
But at the entreaty of his choicest generals not to break the example of
mercy which he had so gloriously set, by indulging in anger, he was
pacified, and the next day ordered the garrison to be summoned to
surrender.

7. Therefore, at daybreak, Grumbates, king of the Chionitae, went boldly
up to the walls to effect that object, with a brave body of guards; and
when a skilful reconnoitrer had noticed him coming within shot, he let
fly his balista, and struck down his son in the flower of his youth, who
was at his father's side, piercing through his breastplate, breast and
all; and he was a prince who in stature and beauty was superior to all
his comrades.

8. At his death all his countrymen took to flight, but presently
returning in order to prevent his body from being carried off, and
having roused with their dissonant clamours various tribes to their aid,
a stern conflict arose, the arrows flying on both sides like hail.

9. The deadly struggle having been continued till the close of day, it
was nightfall before the corpse of the young prince, which had been so
stubbornly defended, was extricated from the heap of dead and streams of
blood, amid the thick darkness; as formerly at Troy, the armies fought
in furious combat for the comrade of the Thessalian chieftain.[102]

10. At his death the count was sad, and all the nobles as well as his
father were distressed at his sudden loss; and a cessation of arms
having been ordered, the youth, so noble and beloved, was mourned after
the fashion of his nation. He was carried out in the arms he was wont to
wear, and placed on a spacious and lofty pile; around