where the Enemy should fall on) commanded by Bonilus & Ʋligangus: there was also Ʋarazes the Persamenian with them, wholate came out of Italy followed by 800 Tza∣nians. Bessas was retired into Pontus and Armenia, his Government, meaning to toil no more, but to get what he could by his place; and by his avariciousnesse he again ruined the Roman affaires. After his victory at Petra, if he had made haste to fortifie the passages into Lazica from Iberia, the Persians had not entred Lazica, which he e∣ven as good as delivered to the Enemy by his neglect, and carelesnesse of the Empe∣rours indignation. Who indeed used much to connive at the Errours of his cheif Ministers, and they from thence committed many, both in the courses of their lives, and in their Governments. The two Castles of Scanda and Sarapanis, in Lazica, about the frontier of Iberia, standing upon two passages very hard to get through, the Lazians had demolisht. These Castles Justinian in the beginning of the War guarded with Romans, taking out the Lazians formerly in it; but the Romans wan∣ting victuall, and being not able like the Lazians to live long upon Elymus, a kind of pulse like mill-seed; the Lazians also being weary of bringing Provision upon their backs (there being no passage for horses) the Romans there abandoned them, and the Persians took them; but upon the truce restored them to Justinian for the Forts of Bolum and Pharangium, as I have said before. But the Lazians having de∣molisht them now, the Persians repaired Scanda, and held it at this coming of Mer∣meroes into Lazica. And entring the same from Iberia, the first Towne you meet with in the Plaine, is Rodopolis, very assaultable; whereupon the Lazians demolisht it, fearing the Persian Invasion; so that now Mermeroes marcht on to Archaeopolis. But he would not sit downe before it, fearing the Romans Army at his back, en∣camping neer the Phasis. Towards them he went first, and passing by Archaeopolis told them, That he meant to make a visit to the Romans upon the Phasis, and that done, would come to them againe. They answered him bravely, and bade him go, and that if he spake once with the Romans there, he would never come back to them. But the Commanders of the Roman Army hearing the newes, and finding them∣selves too weak, went aboard their Darks, carrying with them what they could, and throwing the rest into the River. Soon after came Mermeroes, and was very melancholly to see the Romans Camp with not a man in it; he burnt the same, and in much anger led his Army back to Archaeopolis.
This City stands upon a kind of Rock, and by it runs a River descending from the next Mountaines. The Low Gate opens neer the foot of the Rock, and the ground to it from the Plaine rises onely, but makes no difficulty of accesse. The Gate opening toward the Rock is very hard to approach, having also for a great way thereabout great Thickets. The towne Walls were built up to the River, that they may draw up their water, having none within the Towne. Mermcroes was eager to assault, and finding it rising ground, not to be medled with by ordinary Rams, he caused his Sabirians to make Rams portable on mens shoulders, using the advantage of his Enemies experiment thereof at Petra, which he had heard of. And these Sabirians made such Rams as their Countrey-men in league with the Ro∣mans made then. Mermeroes set against the rocky part of the City the Delomites, a people dwelling in the midst of Persia, among unaccessable Mountaines, and so not subject to the Persian, but free; and in the Persians wars they serve them for pay, being all foot men, with sword and sheild and two Javelins; and are nimble to climbe rocks, and to runne along the sides of mountaines, as upon plain Ground. These being there ordered, Mermeroes with the rest of his army assaulted at the low∣er gate, and with his new Rams, and his Elephants. Where the Persians and Sabi∣rians galled the Romans with their shot, making them almost to quit the Battlements, and the Delomites did as much on their side with their Javelins, that the Romans were in much extremity. Odonachus and Babas (were it to shew their own, or try the Romans resolution, or by some instinct) leaving some few upon the Battlements, drew together the rest, and sayd thus to them.
Fellow Souldiers! you see our danger; but neverthelesse you must nor yeild to it: Nothing preserves men despairing of life, but not to be in love with life: which sond love is commonly attended with destruction. Consider how in such a difficulty as this, it is not safe to resist an Enemy from the Battlements of a Towne: We may do it bravely, but the distance of place will not permit us to