ments made it
almost impossible to stay them. Indeed, within a very short space of
time the Roman army was hemmed in and surrounded. Crassus showed great
intrepidity, but his men could not withstand the superior numbers and
dreadful skill of the Parthians. With great difficulty he succeeded in
extricating a portion of his men; but the day closed in defeat and the
survivors were in the darkest spirits.

Next morning the enemy advanced again with loud shouts and songs of
victory and a fearsome noise of drums. And in the front of their line
was a man carrying on a high spear the head of young Publius Crassus,
the son of the Roman commander. This sight sent a thrill of horror
through the army. Crassus alone showed greatness of mind. Plutarch gives
the following account of his behaviour:

_Carrhae_

Crassus was in this condition. He had ordered his son to charge
the Parthians, and as a messenger had come with the news that
there was a great rout, and that the enemy were being hotly
pursued, and as, besides this, he saw that the force opposed to
him was not pressing so hard (for in truth the larger part had
moved off to meet Publius), he regained courage somewhat, and,
concentrating his force, posted it in a strong position on some
slopes, in the expectation that his son would soon come back from
the pursuit. It proved, however, that the first messengers sent to
him by Publius when he realized his danger had been intercepted by
the barbarians and slain, while others, getting through with
difficulty, reported that Publius was lost if he was not supported
strongly and at once. Then Crassus became the prey of contrary
impulses and no longer able to take a reasoned view of anything,
being distracted between the desire to help his son and the fear
of risking the safety of his force as a whole. At length he
determined to advance.

Meantime the enemy were hurrying to the attack, more terrible than
ever, with yells and shouts of triumph, and the kettledrums
thundered again round the Roman ranks, as they stood expecting
another battle to begin. Some of the Parthians, who were carrying
the head of Publius stuck on the end of a spear, rode close up and
displayed it, insolently asking about his parents and family, for
it was monstrous, they said, that a noble youth of such brilliant
courage should be the son of a coward like Crassus. This sight,
more than all else, crushed and