the recent exactions of the profligate Triumvir,
who, to reward his parasites and favorites, had laid upon them a burden
that they were scarcely able to bear. Further, the Parthians enjoyed at
this time the advantage of having a Roman officer of good position in
their service, whose knowledge of the Roman tactics, and influence in
Roman provinces, might be expected to turn to their advantage. Under
these circumstances, when the spring of the year arrived, Antony being
still in Egypt, and Octavian (as far as was known) occupied in the siege
of Perusia, the Parthian hordes, under Labienus and Pacorus, burst upon
Syria in greater force than on any previous occasion. Overrunning with
their numerous cavalry the country between the Euphrates and Antioch,
and thence the valley of the Orontes, they had (as usual) some
difficulty with the towns. From Apamaea, placed (like Durham) on a rocky
peninsula almost surrounded by the river, they were at first repulsed;
but, having shortly afterwards defeated Decidius Saxa, the governor of
Syria, in the open field, they received the submission of Apamaea and
Antioch, which latter city Saxa abandoned at their approach, flying
precipitately into Cilicia. Encouraged by these successes, Labienus and
Pacorus agreed to divide their troops, and to engage simultaneously in
two great expeditions. Pacorus undertook to carry the Parthian standard
throughout the entire extent of Syria, Phoenicia, and Palestine, while
Labienus determined to invade Asia Minor, and to see if he could not
wrest some of its more fertile regions from the Romans. Both expeditions
were crowned with success. Pacorus reduced all Syria, and all Phoenicia,
except the single city of Tyre, which he was unable to capture for want
of a naval force. He then advanced into Palestine, which he found in
its normal condition of intestine commotion. Hyrcanus and Antigonus, two
princes of the Asmonsean house, were rivals for the Jewish crown; and
the latter, whom Hyrcanus had expelled, was content to make common
cause with the invader, and to be indebted to a rude foreigner for
the possession of the kingdom whereto he aspired. He offered Pacorus a
thousand talents, and five hundred Jewish women, if he would espouse
his cause and seat him upon his uncle's throne. The offer was readily
embraced, and by the irresistible help of the Parthians a revolution
was effected at Jerusalem. Hyrcanus was deposed and mutilated. A new
priest-king was set up