rted these captives to the extreme eastern parts of his empire,
where they might be of the greatest service to him in defending his
frontier against the Scythians and Indians.

It is not really surprising, though the historian of the war regards it
as needing explanation, that no attempt was made to relieve Singara by
the Romans. The siege was short; the place was considered strong; the
nearest point held by a powerful Roman force was Nisibis, which was at
least sixty miles distant from Singara. The neighborhood of Singara was,
moreover, ill supplied with water; and a relieving army would probably
have soon found itself in difficulties. Singara, on the verge of the
desert, was always perilously situated. Rome valued it as an outpost
from which her enemy might be watched, and which might advertise her of
a sudden danger, but could not venture to undertake its defence in case
of an attack in force, and was prepared to hear of its capture with
equanimity.

From Singara Sapor directed his march almost due northwards, and,
leaving Nisibis unassailed upon his left, proceeded to attack the strong
fort known indifferently as Phoenica or Bezabde. This was a position on
the east bank of the Tigris, near the point where that river quits the
mountains and debouches upon the plain; though not on the site, it may
be considered the representative of the modern Jezireh, which commands
the passes from the low country into the Kurdish mountains. Bezabde was
the chief city of the province, called after it Zabdicene, one of the
five ceded by Narses and greatly coveted by his grandson. It was much
valued by Rome, was fortified in places with a double wall, and was
guarded by three legions and a large body of Kurdish archers. Sapor,
having reconnoitred the place, and, with his usual hardihood, exposed
himself to danger in doing so, sent a flag of truce to demand a
surrender, joining with the messengers some prisoners of high rank taken
at Singara, lest the enemy should open fire upon his envoys. The device
was successful; but the garrison proved stanch, and determined on
resisting to the last. Once more all the known resources of attack and
defence were brought into play; and after a long siege, of which the
most important incident was an attempt made by the bishop of the place
to induce Sapor to withdraw, the wall was at last breached, the city
taken, and its defenders indiscriminately massacred. Regarding the
position as one of first-rate