sibis as of no importance, while the
conflagration increased through the dryness of the crops, the kings,
dreading a scarcity of food, marched through the grassy valleys at the
foot of the mountains.

9. When they had arrived at a small place called Bebase (from which
place to the town of Constantina, which is one hundred miles distant,
the whole country is an arid desert, except where a little water is
found in some wells), they hesitated for some time, doubting what to do;
and at last resolving to proceed in reliance on the endurance of their
men, they learnt from a trusty spy that the Euphrates was swollen by the
melting of the snow, and was now extensively inundating the adjacent
lands, and so could not possibly be forded.

10. Therefore they turned to see what opportunities chance might afford
them, being now cut off unexpectedly from the hope which they had
conceived. And in the present emergency a council was held, at which
Antoninus was requested to give his advice: and he counselled them to
direct their march to the right, so that by a longer circuit they might
reach the two strong forts of Barzala and Laudias, to which he could
guide them through a region fertile in everything, and still
undestroyed, since the march of the army was expected to be made in a
straight line. And the only river on their road was one small and
narrow, to be passed near its source, before it was increased by any
other streams, and easily fordable.

11. When they had heard this, they praised their adviser, and bidding
him lead the way, the whole army turned from its previously appointed
line, and followed his guidance.

VIII.

Sec. 1. When our generals received intelligence of this from their spies,
we settled to march in haste to Samosata, in order to cross the river at
that point, and destroying the bridges at Zeugma and Capersana, to check
the invasion of the enemy if we could find a favourable chance for
attacking them.

2. But we met with a sad disaster, worthy to be buried in profound
silence. For two squadrons of cavalry, of about seven hundred men, who
had just been sent from Illyricum to Mesopotamia as a reinforcement, and
who were guarding the passes, becoming enervated and timid, and fearing
a surprise by night, withdrew from the public causeways in the evening,
a time above all others when they most required watching.

3. And when it was remarked that they were all sunk in wine and sleep,
about twenty thousand P