ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives oj Noble Grecians and Romanes 285 his enemies. For first of all, where he should have wintered in Armenia to refresh his men, wearied with the long jorney they had made, having comen eight thowsand furlongs, and then at the beginning of the spring to go and invade Media, before the Parthians should stirre out of their houses and garrisons: he could tary no lenger, but led them forthwith unto the province of Atropatene, leaving Armenia on the left hand, and forraged al the contry. Furthermore, making all the hast he coulde, he left behinde him engines of battery which were caried with him in three hundred carts, (among the which also there was a ramme foure score foote long) being things most necessary for him, and the which he could not get againe for money if they were once lost or marred. For the hie provinces of Asia have no trees growing of such height and length, neither strong nor straight enough to make such like engines of battery. This notwithstanding, he left them all behind him, as a hinderance to bring his matters and intent speedily to passe: and left a certaine number of men to keepe them, and gave them in charge unto one Tatianus. Then he went to besiege the citie of Phraata, being the chief est and greatest citie the king of Media had, where his wife and children were.l Then he straight founde his owne fault, and the want of his artiIIerie he left behinde him, by the worke he had in hande: for he was fayne for lacke of a breache (where his men might come to the sworde with their enemies that defended the walle) to force a mount of earth hard to the walles of the citie, the which by litie and litle with greate labour, rose to some height. In the meane time king Phraortes came downe with a great armie, who understanding that Antonius had left his engines of batterie behind him, he sent a great number of horsemen before, which environed Tatianus with all his cariage, and slue him, and ten thowsand men he had with him. After this, the barbarous people tooke these engines of battery and burnt them, and got many prisoners, amongst whom they tooke also king Polemon.2 This discomfiture marvelously troubled all Antonius army, to receive so great an overthrow (beyond their expectacion) at the beginning of their jorney: insomuche that Artabazus, king of the Armenians, dispairing of the good successe of the Romanes: departed with his men, notwithstanding that he was him selfe the first procurer of this warre and jorney. On the other side, the Parthians came coragiously unto Antonius campe, who lay at the siege of their chief est citie, and cruelly reviled and threatned him .... [Antony suffered many setbacks.]
Then seeing him selle environned of all sides, he sent unto the
army, that they should come and aide him: but there the Captaines that led the legions (among the which Canidius, a man of great estimacion about Antonius made one) committed many faults. For where they should have made head with the whole army upon the Parthians, they sent him aide by small companies: and when they were slaine, they sent him others also. So that by their beastlinesse and lacke of consideracion, they had like to have made all the armie flie, if Antonius him selfe had not come from the front of the battell with the third legion, the which came through the middest of them that fled, untill they came to front of the enemies, and that they stayed them from chasing any further. Howbeit at this last conflict there were slaine no lesse then three thowsand men, and five thowsande besides brought sore hurt into the campe, and amongest them also Flavius Gallus, whose body was shot through in fome places, whereof he died.l Antonius went to the tents to visite and comfort the sicke and wounded,2 and for pities sake he could not refraine from weeping: and they also shewing him the best countenaunce they coulde, tooke him by the hand, and prayed him to go and be dressed, and not to trouble him selfe for them, most reverently calling him their Emperour and Captaine: and that for them selves, they were whole and safe, so that he had his health. For in deede to say truly, there was not at that time any Emperour or Captaine that had so great and puisant an army as his together, both for lusty youths, and corage of the souldiers, as also for their pacience to away with so great paines and trouble. Furthermore, the obedience and reverence they shewed unto their captaine,3 with a marvelous earnest love and good wil, was so great: and all were indifferently (as weI great as smal, the noble men, as meane men, the Captaines and souldiers) so earnestly bent to esteeme Antonius good will and favor, above their owne life and safety: that in this point of marshall discipline, the auncient Romanes could not have don any more. But divers things were cause therof, as we have told you before 4: Antonius nobility and ancient house, his eloquence, his plaine nature, his liberality and magnificence, and his familiarity to sport and to be mery in company: but specially the care he tooke at that time to help, visite, and lament those that were sicke and wounded, seing every man to have that which was meete for him: that was of such force and effect, as it made them that were sicke and wounded to love him better, and were more desirous to do him
