etely exhausted the
resources of the Euphrates region. The line of the Tigris was therefore
preferred for the retreat; and while the ships with difficulty made
their way up the course of the stream, the army pursued its march upon
the banks, without, so far as appears, any molestation. It happened,
however, that the route selected led Severus near to the small state of
Hatra, which had given him special offence by supporting the cause
of his rival, Niger; and it seemed to him of importance that the
inhabitants should receive condign punishment for this act of audacity.
He may also have hoped to eclipse the fame of Trajan by the capture of a
town which had successfully resisted that hero. He therefore stopped
his march in order to lay siege to the place, which he attacked with
military engines, and with all the other offensive means known at the
time to the Romans. His first attempt was, however, easily repulsed.
The walls of the town were strong, its defenders brave and full of
enterprise. They burnt the siege-machines brought against them, and
committed great havoc among the soldiers. Under these circumstances
disorders broke out among the besiegers; mutinous words were heard;
and the emperor thought himself compelled to have recourse to severe
measures of repression. Having put to death two of his chief officers,
and then found it necessary to deny that he had given orders for the
execution of one of them, he broke up from before the place and removed
his camp to a distance.

He had not, however, as yet relinquished the hope of bringing his
enterprise to a successful issue. In the security of his distant camp
he constructed fresh engines in increased numbers, collected an abundant
supply of provisions, and made every preparation for renewing the siege
with effect at no remote period. The treasures stored up in the
city were reported to be great, especially those which the piety of
successive generations had accumulated in the Temple of the Sun. This
rich booty appealed forcibly to the cupidity of the emperor, while his
honor seemed to require that he should not suffer a comparatively
petty town to defy his arms with impunity. He, therefore, after a short
absence retraced his steps, and appeared a second time before Hatrawith
a stronger siege-train and a better appointed army than before. But the
Hatreni met his attack with a resolution equal to his own. They were
excellent archers; they possessed a powerful force of c