great extent, and had served to protect Assyria from
foreign invasion.

7. At this point a portion of the river is drawn off in large canals
which convey it to the interior districts of Babylonia, for the service
of the surrounding country and cities. Another branch of the river known
as the Nahamalca, which means "the river of kings," passes by Ctesiphon;
at the beginning of this stream there is a lofty tower like a
lighthouse, by which our infantry passed on a carefully constructed
bridge.

8. The cavalry and cattle then took the stream where it was less
violent, and swam across obliquely; another body was suddenly attacked
by the enemy with a storm of arrows and javelins, but our light-armed
auxiliaries as soon as they reached the other side, supported them, and
put the enemy to flight, cutting them to pieces as they fled.

9. After having successfully accomplished this exploit, we arrived at
the city of Pirisabora, of great size and populousness, and also
surrounded with water. But the emperor having ridden all round the walls
and reconnoitred its position, began to lay siege to it with great
caution, as if he would make the townsmen abandon its defence from mere
terror. But after several negotiations and conferences with them, as
they would yield neither to promises nor to threats, he set about the
siege in earnest, and surrounded the walls with three lines of soldiers.
The whole of the first day the combat was carried on with missiles till
nightfall.

10. But the garrison, full of courage and vigour, spreading cloths loose
everywhere over the battlements to weaken the attacks of our weapons,
and protected by shields strongly woven of osier, made a brave
resistance, looking like figures of iron, since they had plates of iron
closely fitting over every limb, which covered their whole person with a
safe defence.

11. Sometimes also they earnestly invited Hormisdas as a countryman and
a prince of royal blood to a conference; but when he came they reviled
him with abuse and reproaches as a traitor and deserter; and after a
great part of the day had been consumed in this slow disputing, at the
beginning of night many kinds of engines were brought against the walls,
and we began to fill up the ditches.

12. But before it was quite dawn, the garrison perceived what was being
done, with the addition that a violent stroke of a battering-ram had
broken down a tower at one corner; so they abandoned the double city
wa