g forth his strength or making
any considerable effort; and the occasion once lost never returned.

In Parthia itself one immediate result of the expedition seems to have
been the ruin of Surenas. His services to his sovereign had exceeded
the measure which it is safe in the East for a subject to render to the
crown. The jealousy of his royal master was aroused, and he had to pay
the penalty of over-much success with his life. Parthia was thus left
without a general of approved merit, for Sillaces, the second in command
during the war with Crassus, had in no way distinguished himself through
the campaign. This condition of things may account for the feebleness of
the efforts made in B.C. 52 to retaliate on the Romans the damage done
by their invasion. A few weak bands only passed the Euphrates, and began
the work of plunder and ravage, in which they were speedily disturbed
by Cassius, who easily drove them back over the river. The next year,
however, a more determined attempt was made. Orodes sent his son,
Pacorus, the young bridegroom, to win his spurs in Syria, at the head of
a considerable force, and supported by the experience and authority of
an officer of ripe age, named Osaces. The army crossed the Euphrates
unresisted, for Cassius, the governor, had with him only the broken
remains of Crassus's army, consisting of about two legions, and, deeming
himself too weak to meet the enemy in the open field, was content to
defend the towns. The open country was consequently overrun; and a
thrill of mingled alarm and excitement passed through all the Roman
provinces in Asia. The provinces were at the time most inadequately
supplied with Roman troops, through the desire of Csesar and Pompey to
maintain large armies about their own persons. The natives were for the
most part disaffected and inclined to hail the Parthians as brethren
and deliverers. Excepting Deiotarus of Galatia, and Ariobarzanes of
Cappadocia, Rome had, as Cicero (then proconsul of Cilicia) plaintively
declared, "not a friend on the Asiatic continent. And Cappadocia was
miserably weak," and open to attack on the side of Armenia. Had Orodes
and Artavasdes acted in concert, and had the latter, while Orodes sent
his armies into Syria, poured the Armenian forces into Cappadocia and
then into Cilicia (as it was expected that he would do), there would
have been the greatest danger to the Roman possessions. As it was, the
excitement in Asia Minor was extreme. Cicer