登陆注册
5197200000145

第145章 A.D.32-37(11)

At this same time the Clitae, a tribe subject to the Cappadocian Archelaus, retreated to the heights of Mount Taurus, because they were compelled in Roman fashion to render an account of their revenue and submit to tribute.There they defended themselves by means of the nature of the country against the king's unwarlike troops, till Marcus Trebellius, whom Vitellius, the governor of Syria, sent as his lieutenant with four thousand legionaries and some picked auxiliaries, surrounded with his lines two hills occupied by the barbarians, the lesser of which was named Cadra, the other Davara.Those who dared to sally out, he reduced to surrender by the sword, the rest by drought.

Tiridates meanwhile, with the consent of the Parthians, received the submission of Nicephorium, Anthemusias and the other cities, which having been founded by Macedonians, claim Greek names, also of the Parthian towns Halus and Artemita.There was a rivalry of joy among the inhabitants who detested Artabanus, bred as he had been among the Scythians, for his cruelty, and hoped to find in Tiridates a kindly spirit from his Roman training.

Seleucia, a powerful and fortified city which had never lapsed into barbarism, but had clung loyally to its founder Seleucus, assumed the most marked tone of flattery.Three hundred citizens, chosen for wealth or wisdom, form a kind of senate, and the people have powers of their own.When both act in concert, they look with contempt on the Parthians; as soon as they are at discord, and the respective leaders invite aid for themselves against their rivals, the ally summoned to help a faction crushes them all.This had lately happened in the reign of Artabanus, who, for his own interest, put the people at the mercy of the nobles.As a fact, popular government almost amounts to freedom, while the rule of the few approaches closely to a monarch's caprice.

Seleucia now celebrated the arrival of Tiridates with all the honours paid to princes of old and all which modern times, with a more copious inventiveness, have devised.Reproaches were at the same time heaped on Artabanus, as an Arsacid indeed on his mother's side, but as in all else degenerate.Tiridates gave the government of Seleucia to the people.Soon afterwards, as he was deliberating on what day he should inaugurate his reign, he received letters from Phraates and Hiero, who held two very powerful provinces, imploring a brief delay.It was thought best to wait for men of such commanding influence, and meanwhile Ctesiphon, the seat of empire, was their chosen destination.But as they postponed their coming from day to day, the Surena, in the presence of an approving throng, crowned Tiridates, according to the national usage, with the royal diadem.

And now had he instantly made his way to the heart of the country and to its other tribes, the reluctance of those who wavered, would have been overpowered, and all to a man would have yielded.By besieging a fortress into which Artabanus had conveyed his treasure and his concubines, he gave them time to disown their compact.

Phraates and Hiero, with others who had not united in celebrating the day fixed for the coronation, some from fear, some out of jealousy of Abdageses, who then ruled the court and the new king, transferred their allegiance to Artabanus.They found him in Hyrcania, covered with filth and procuring sustenance with his bow.He was at first alarmed under the impression that treachery was intended, but when they pledged their honour that they had come to restore to him his dominion, his spirit revived, and he asked what the sudden change meant.Hiero then spoke insultingly of the boyish years of Tiridates, hinting that the throne was not held by an Arsacid, but that a mere empty name was enjoyed by a feeble creature bred in foreign effeminacy, while the actual power was in the house of Abdageses.

An experienced king, Artabanus knew that men do not necessarily feign hatred because they are false in friendship.He delayed only while he was raising auxiliaries in Scythia, and then pushed on in haste, thus anticipating the plots of enemies and the fickleness of friends.Wishing to attract popular sympathy, he did not even cast off his miserable garb.He stooped to wiles and to entreaties, to anything indeed by which he might allure the wavering and confirm the willing.

He was now approaching the neighbourhood of Seleucia with a large force, while Tiridates, dismayed by the rumour.and then by the king's presence in person, was divided in mind, and doubted whether he should march against him or prolong the war by delay.Those who wished for battle with its prompt decision argued that ill-arrayed levies fatigued by a long march could not even in heart be thoroughly united in obedience, traitors and enemies as they had lately been, to the prince whom now again they were supporting.Abdageses, however, advised a retreat into Mesopotamia.There, with a river in their front, they might in the interval summon to their aid the Armenians and Elymaeans and other nations in their rear, and then, reinforced by allies and troops which would be sent by the Roman general, they might try the fortune of war.This advice prevailed, for Abdageses had the chief influence and Tiridates was a coward in the face of danger.

But their retreat resembled a flight.The Arabs made a beginning, and then the rest went to their homes or to the camp of Artabanus, till Tiridates returned to Syria with a few followers and thus relieved all from the disgrace of desertion.

同类推荐
  • 春过赵墟

    春过赵墟

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 搜玉小集

    搜玉小集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 皇明异典述

    皇明异典述

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 泾林续记

    泾林续记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 广州记

    广州记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 故事会(2016年3月上)

    故事会(2016年3月上)

    《故事会》是上海文艺出版社编辑出版的仅有114个页码、32开本的杂志,是中国最通俗的民间文学小本杂志。《故事会》创刊于1963年,是中国的老牌刊物之一。先后获得两届中国期刊的最高奖——国家期刊奖。1998年,它在世界综合类期刊中发行量排名第5。
  • 逆天蛇尊

    逆天蛇尊

    新文推荐:《金鳞绝世》链接:(网游)遭遇爱人的背叛,亲人的欺骗,经历流产和死亡双重磨难,重生后的李晓蕾不再是那个成功男人背后温婉的女人,而是成为某人手中的美艳尖刀,深入‘敌人’内部,为复仇而生,为自己而活。你们既然都是冲着我的游戏天赋而来,压榨光了我的价值就抛弃。那么这一次,我就用我的游戏天赋,让你们厦毁楼塌,永无出头之日!第一次写网游,不足之处很多,请大家多多见谅了。阎寞兮,当今世界最顶尖的特工,拥有与生俱来的古武内功和神仙法术,天性狂邪妖侫,貌似清冷淡薄,实则腹黑妖孽。当身世诡秘、妖邪不羁的她,太子换狸猫,换走了相貌平平、懦弱无能、任人欺凌的她...命运之轮开始转动。杏眸重开,星光绽放。破封印,得秘宝,练就龙族秘技;携灵兽,孵龙蛋,纵横三界之巅;降野马,收美男,情义深种;救神龙,战麒麟,弑杀神佛;带阴兵,劫阎王,混乱鬼域。终于,她的身世之谜被解。前世的她,到底是谁,又有着怎样的逆天之举?女娲与她,是何关系?而今生,她又将如何登上世界之巅?让我们拭目以待吧!●本文爱情、友情、亲情三线并走,热血兄弟情谊,绝宠痴情美男,一个不少。【女强】【慢热】◆序章·神的存在◆寞兮:“历史”,是什么?伏羲:是记载了时间洪流运行轨迹的书寞兮:那“人”是什么?伏羲:是活跃在书中的角色寞兮:你说的“传奇”呢?伏羲:是金鳞化龙、鸾啸九天的乐章寞兮:那“我们”呢?伏羲:我们,是神!历史虽然会一再重演,但人类却无法回到过去。如果注定不能回头,那就坚定地走下去。因为,我们要活下去!在历史的洪流中前进,无所畏惧,书写历史,谱一曲传世乐章。这,就是神的存在!◆精彩片段◆神赐武斗会决赛现场,木石国的五皇子贾彦希凭借着诡异的身法,竟打败了青枫国的天罡灵师级别参赛者,站上了决赛高台。在他的对面,是众人预料之中的黑马——阎寞兮。冷然地睨了一眼高傲而得意的贾彦希,阎寞兮突然转头询问高台边上的会场工作人员,“是不是只要对方不掉出这个高台,也不开口认输,这比赛便要一直继续下去?”听到阎寞兮的问话,那工作人员一阵错愕,继而立刻自以为是地明白过来。这阎寞兮还挺聪明,知道打不过就要认输。而不是像她哥哥阎天君一样,在四分之一决赛的时候,被贾彦希打得差点成残废。一边这样想着,工作人员一边肯定地点点头:“是的,只要不认输、不下台,比赛就不能结束。”
  • 武当福地总真集

    武当福地总真集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 问道

    问道

    极情于剑,然后执剑,而后我以剑问天下,是否有道!我原本以为,复明之后,我睁开了眼便能看清这个世界,可当我睁开眼之后,我却发现更无法看清这个世界了,我想要活着,活到,我能看清这个世界的时候。又或者是,我问道巅峰,奏一曲金戈齐鸣,镇尽此世不羁之魂!
  • 我在爱情里落了单

    我在爱情里落了单

    世界上没有任何东西可以永恒,爱情也如此。如果它流动,它就流走;如果它存著,它就干涸;如果它生长,它就慢慢凋零……
  • 天骄逆战

    天骄逆战

    一场死劫,令他沦为凡人,从此,凡人之名伴随终身。 “凡人——不值一提,草芥而已!” “凡人——可悲的存在!” “一介凡人,垃圾而已!” 来自强者的藐视与不屑,林凡虽为一介凡人,却不能没有骨气、傲气··· 从而,一介凡人的狂暴曲开始演奏。 ps:本书是一个大杂烩,请慢慢品尝,它可能毒死你
  • 传习录

    传习录

    本书是中国明代哲学家、教育家代表人物王守仁流传最广的著作。王守仁是中国历史上罕见的全能大儒,其精通儒家、道家、佛教各家学说,且具非凡的军事才能和精深的文学造诣。本书是他的语录和论学书信集,包含了王守仁哲学思想的主要精华,是研究王守仁思想及心学发展最重要的资料,在中国哲学史上有着重要的地位。
  • 梦里六弦琴

    梦里六弦琴

    赵炎只是一个流浪吉他手,他穿越了。赵炎只想和几位新朋友一同在世间流浪,找到那个从天外而来的老和尚,想辄回家。可他没想到,自己被卷入了一个巨大的阴谋之中,更成了到道魔妖佛鬼与魔神殿争斗漩涡中的一颗棋子。为了朋友,为了生存,为了爱人,他也只有弹着六弦琴去战斗,哪怕有一天,自己坠入万劫不复之地。
  • 世间的情和爱

    世间的情和爱

    每次我都会讲人间不同的情和爱,喜望你们喜欢。
  • 肝疼的游戏异界之旅

    肝疼的游戏异界之旅

    上古纪元,神明陨落,无数的秘密隐藏在废墟之中。末日,游戏规则,到底是谁在幕后操纵这一切。黑暗物质,不朽神尸,神秘的生命至尊,一个一个秘密浮出水面,造神计划,古神复活,敌人究竟是谁?