he regarded his own dignity as advanced by the
transaction; and the Parthians at first welcomed the object of their
choice with rejoicings. But after a little time their sentiments
altered. The young prince, bred up in Rome, and accustomed to the
refinements of Western civilization, neglected the occupations which
seemed to his subjects alone worthy of a monarch's regard, absented
himself from the hunting-field, took small pleasure in riding, when he
passed through the streets indulged in the foreign luxury of a litter,
shrank with disgust from the rude and coarse feastings which formed a
portion of the national manners. He had, moreover, brought with him from
the place of his exile a number of Greek companions, whom the Parthians
despised and ridiculed; and the favors bestowed on these foreign
interlopers were seen with jealousy and rage. It was in vain that he
endeavored to conciliate his offended subjects by the openness of his
manners and the facility with which he allowed access to his person. In
their prejudiced eyes virtues and graces unknown to the nation hitherto
were not merits but defects, and rather increased, than diminished their
aversion. Having conceived a dislike for the monarch personally, they
began to look back with dissatisfaction on their own act in sending for
him. "Parthia," they said, "had indeed degenerated from her former self
to have requested a king to be sent her who belonged to another world
and had had a hostile civilization ingrained into him." All the glory
gained by destroying Crassus and repulsing Antony was utterly lost and
gone, if the country was to be ruled by Caesar's bond-slave, and the
throne of the Arsacidse to be treated like a Roman province. It would
have been bad enough to have had a prince imposed on them by the will
of a superior, if they had been conquered; it was worse, in all respects
worse, to suffer such an insult, when they had not even had war made
on them. Under the influence of such feelings as these, the Parthians,
after tolerating Vonones for a few years, rose against him (ab. A.D.
16), and summoned Artabanus, an Arsacid who had grown to manhood among
the Dahee of the Caspian region, but was at this time king of Media
Atropatene, to rule over them.

It was seldom that a crown was declined in the ancient world; and
Artabanus, on receiving the overture, at once expressed his willingness
to accept the proffered dignity. He invaded Parthia at the head of an
army