and our men returned with speed to their camp. Thus was this
large and populous city, with its powerful garrison, stormed by the
Romans, and the city itself reduced to ruins.

31. After this glorious exploit the bridges which led over several
rivers were crossed in succession, and we reached two forts, constructed
with great strength and skill, where the son of the king endeavoured to
prevent Count Victor, who was marching in the van of the army, from
crossing the river, having advanced for that purpose from Ctesiphon with
a large body of nobles and a considerable armed force; but when he saw
the numbers which were following Victor, he retreated.

V.

Sec. 1. So we advanced and came to some groves, and also to some fields
fertile with a great variety of crops, where we found a palace built in
the Roman fashion, which, so pleased were we with the circumstance, we
left unhurt.

2. There was also in this same place a large round space, enclosed,
containing wild beasts, intended for the king's amusement; lions with
shaggy manes, tusked boars, and bears of amazing ferocity (as the
Persian bears are), and other chosen beasts of vast size. Our cavalry,
however, forced the gates of this enclosure, and killed all the beasts
with hunting-spears and clouds of arrows.

3. This district is rich and well cultivated: not far off is Coche,
which is also called Seleucia; where we fortified a camp with great
celerity, and rested there two days to refresh the army with timely
supplies of water and provisions. The emperor himself in the meanwhile
proceeded with his advanced guard and reconnoitred a deserted city which
had been formerly destroyed by the Emperor Verus, where an everlasting
spring forms a large tube which communicates with the Tigris. Here we
saw, hanging on gallows, many bodies of the relations of the man whom we
have spoken of above as having betrayed Pirisabora.

4. Here also Nabdates was burnt alive, he whom I have mentioned above as
having been taken with eighty of his garrison while hiding among the
ruins of the city which we had taken; because at the beginning of the
siege he had secretly promised to betray it, but afterwards had resisted
us vigorously, and after having been unexpectedly pardoned had risen to
such a pitch of violence as to launch all kinds of abuse against
Hormisdas.

5. Then after advancing some distance we heard of a sad disaster: for
while three cohorts of the advanced guard, who were in