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Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 1:43 PM
He then pursued the route opened up in former days by Lucius Lucullus,
clearing away the obstructions of long years. Envoys who came to him from
Tiridates and Vologeses about peace, he did not repulse, but sent back
with them some centurions with a message anything but harsh. "Matters,"
he said, "have not yet gone so far as to require the extremity of war.
Many successes have fallen to the lot of Rome, some to that of Parthia,
as a warning against pride. Therefore, it is to the advantage of Tiridates
to accept as a gift a kingdom yet unhurt by the ravages of war, and Vologeses
will better consult the welfare of the Parthian people by an alliance with
Rome than by mutual injuries. I know how much there is of internal discord,
and over what untamably fierce tribes he reigns. My emperor, on the other
hand, has undisturbed peace all around him, and this is his only
war."
In an instant Corbulo backed up his advice by a menacing attitude.
He drove from their possessions the nobles of Armenia, who had been the
first to revolt from us, destroyed their fortresses, and spread equal panic
throughout the plain and the hill country, among the strong and among the
weak.
Against the name of Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire no rage, nothing of the hatred of an
enemy, was felt by the barbarians, and they therefore thought his advice
trustworthy. Consequently Vologeses was not implacable to the uttermost,
and he even asked a truce for some divisions of his kingdom. Tiridates
demanded a place and a day for an interview. The time was to be soon, the
place that in which Paetus and his legions had been lately besieged, for
this was chosen by the barbarians in remembrance for their more prosperous
fortune. Corbulo did not refuse, resolved that a widely different issue
should enhance his renown. Nor did the disgrace of Paetus trouble him,
as was clearly proved by the fact that he commanded Paetus' son, who was
a tribune, to take some companies with him and cover up the relics of that
ill-starred battle-field. On the day appointed, Tiberius Alexander, a distinguished
Roman knight, sent to assist in the campaign, and Vinianus Annius, Corbulo's
son-in-law, who, though not yet of a senator's age, had the command of
the fifth legion as "legatus," entered the camp of Tiridates, by way of
compliment to him, and to reassure him against treachery by so valuable
a pledge. Each then took with him twenty horsemen. The king, seeing Corbulo,
was the first to dismount, and Corbulo hesitated not a moment, but both
on foot joined their right hands.
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