The annales of Cornelius Tacitus. The description of Germanie

VIII. Corbulo conquereth all Armenia; ouer which Nero sendeth Tigranes to be King.

BVt Corbulo after the rasing of Artaxata, thinking it his best to make profit of the fresh terrour: for the easilier forcing of Tigranocerta, by destroying of which, he should augment feare in the enimie; or by sparing it, purchase the reputation of clemencie: marcheth thither, vsing no hostilitie by the way, least he should take from them all hope of pardon: yet with no remisnes or carelesse procee∣ding, as one knowing that that nation is easilie subiect to chaunge: as slow to perill, so faithles when occasion is offered. The Barbarians euerie man according to his wit, some entreated; some forsooke their villages and conueighed themselues to inaccessible places; some hid themselues, and the things they made most recko∣ning of in caues. The Roman Captaine therefore, vsing diuers policies, shewed mercie towards the humble; vsed celeritie in pursuing those which ranne away; and crueltie against those which fled to the dennes and caues, stopping the mouthes of them with vine branches and small wood, and after set them on fire. And passing by the confines of the Mardians, a people well practised in theeuing and robbing; they set on him, but fled to their mountaines for their defence, when they saw he tur∣ned towards them. But Corbulo sent an armie of Hiberians to waste them, reuen∣ging by that meanes with the blood of strangers the audaciousnes of the enemie. Himselfe and his armie, albeit he receiued no hurt by the battell; yet began to faint for want of victuals and ouer great trauell, hauing no meanes to driue away hunger, but with the flesh of beasts. All this, with the want of water, feruent heat, long iour∣nies, was mitigated by the onely patience of the Captaine; himselfe induring more

than a common souldier. Then we came into tilled groundes, but where haruest was in: and of two castles into which the Armenians had fled, the one was taken by force; and the other which had resisted the first assault was forced with siege. From thence passing into the countrey of the Taurantians he escaped an vnlooked for danger: for not farre from his pauilion, there was found a Barbarian of no small reputation with a weapon; which by torture discouered the order of a treason (him∣selfe the inuentor of it) and all his complices: and they were conuicted and puni∣shed which vnder colour of friendship went about treason. Not long after Embassa∣dors sent frō Tigranocerta, bring tidings that the gates are open, and the inhabitāts willing to obey the Romans. Withall, they presented him a crowne of gold as a gift to honour a stranger: which honorably he accepted, and tooke away no priui∣lege from the towne, bicause they should more faithfully retaine their obedience. Neuerthelesse the Kings fortresse, which the fierce youth had shut themselues in, was not gotten but by fight: for they came foorth & skirmisht before the wals, but driuē into their rampiers, & no lōger able to resist, at the last yeeld to the forces of the assailers. All which the Roman atchieued so much the easlier, bicause the Parthians were hindered with warre against the Hyrcanians: who had sent to the Romane Prince to craue their alliance, declaring that for a pledge of their frindship, they had stopped Vologeses. Corbulo fearing least those Embassadors in returning backe, hauing past Euphrates should be surprised by the ambushe of the enimie, with a good guard conducted them to the red sea: whereby hauing escaped the confines of the Parthians, they retuned safe to their countrey. Besides this, Corbulo droue away Tiridates farre off: and from all hope of warres entering the confines of Ar∣menia by the Medes; by sending before the Lieutenant Verulanus with the confe∣derates, himselfe following with vncombred legions: and hauing wasted with fire & sword those he knew to be our enimies, & adhere to the King, put himselfe in pos∣session of Armenia: when as not long after came Tigranes chosen by Nero to take the kingdome, one of the nobilitie of the Cappadocians, and King Archelaus ne∣phew: but by being kept a long time an hostage in the citie, was humble and lowly euen vnto seruile patience: neither accepted by consent, some still fauoring the Ar∣sacides: but the most part hating the pride of the Parthians, desired rather the King giuen by the Romans. He had also a garrison sent him by the Romans, a thousand le∣gionarie souldiers, three bands of allies, and two wings of horsemen. And to the end he might the easlier defend the new kingdome, part of Armenia, as it adioyned to Nipolis *, Aristobolus, and part Antiochus had charge of. Corbulo came into Syria, which by the death of the Lieutenant Vinidius was without a gouernor and com∣mitted to his charge.