ABSTRACT
There Antonius mustring his whole army, found that he had lost twenty thowsand footemen, and foure thowsand horsemen, which had not all bene slayne by their enemies: for the most part of them dyed of sicknes, making seven and twenty dayes jorney, comming from the citie of Phraata into Armenia, and having overcome the Parthians in eighteene severall battells.1 But these victories were not throughly performed nor accomplished, bicause they followed no long chase: and thereby it easily appeared, that Artabazus king of Armenia, had reserved Antonius to end this warre.2 ••• Therefore, all those that were of any credit and countenaunce in the army, did perswade and egge Antonius to be revenged of this Armenian king. But Antonius wisely dissembling his anger, he told him not of his trechery, nor gave him the worse countenaunce, nor did him lesse honor then he did before: bicause he knew his armie was weake, and lacked things necessary, Howbeit afterwards he returned againe into Armenia with a great army, and so with fayer wordes, and sweete promises of Messengers, he allured Artabazus to come unto him: whome he then kept prisoner, and led in triumphe in the citie of Alexandria. 3 This greatly offended the Romanes, and made them much to mislike it: when they saw that for Cleopatraes sake he deprived his contry of her due honor and glory, onely to gratifie the ./Egyptians. But this was a prety while after. Howbeit then, the great haste he made to returne unto Cleopatra, caused him to put his men to so great paines, forcing them to lye in the field all winter long when it snew unreasonably, that by the way he lost eight thowsand of his men, and so came downe to the sea side with a small companye, to a certaine place called B1ancbourg, which standeth betwixt the cities of Berytus and Sidon, and there taried for Cleopatra. And bicause she taried longer then he would have had her, he pined away for love and sorrow.4 So that he was at such a straight, that he wist not what to doe, and therefore to weare it out, he gave him selfe to quaffing and feasting. But he was so drowned with the love of her, that he could not abide to sit at the table till the feast were ended: but many times while others banketted, he ranne to the sea side to see if she were comming. At length she came, and brought with her a worlde of apparell and money to
