son is slain.--II. Amida is
blockaded, and within two days is twice assaulted by the
Persians.--III. Ursicinus makes a vain proposal to sally out by
night, and surprise the besiegers, being resisted by Sabinianus,
the commander of the forces.--IV. A pestilence, which breaks out in
Amida, is checked within ten days by a little rain--A discussion of
the causes, and different kinds of pestilences.--V. Amida, betrayed
by a deserter, is assailed both by assaults on the walls and by
underground mines.--VI. A sally of the Gallic legions does great
harm to the Persians.--VII. Towers and other engines are brought
close to the walls of the city, but they are burnt by the
Romans.--VIII. Attempts are made to raise lofty mounds close to the
walls of Amida, and by these means it is entered--After the fall of
the city, Marcellinus escapes by night, and flees to Antioch.--IX.
Of the Roman generals at Amida, some are put to death, and others
are kept as prisoners--Craugasius of Nisibis deserts to the
Persians from love of his wife, who is their prisoner.--X. The
people of Rome, fearing a scarcity, become seditious.--XI. The
Limigantes of Sarmatia, under pretence of suing for peace, attack
Constantius, who is deceived by their trick; but are driven back
with heavy loss.--XII. Many are prosecuted for treason, and
condemned.--XIII. Lauricius, of the Isaurians checks the hordes of
banditti.

I.

Sec. 1. The king, rejoicing at this our disaster and captivity, and
expecting other successes, advanced from this castle, and marching
slowly, on the third day came to Amida.

2. And at daybreak, everything, as far as we could see, glittered with
shining arms; and an iron cavalry filled the plains and the hills.

3. And he himself, mounted on his charger, and being taller than the
rest, led his whole army, wearing instead of a crown a golden figure of
a ram's head inlaid with jewels; being also splendid from the retinue of
men of high rank and of different nations which followed him. And it was
evident that his purpose was merely to try the garrison of the walls
with a parley, as, in following out the counsel of Antoninus, he was
hastening to another quarter.

4. But the deity of heaven, mercifully limiting the disasters of the
empire within the compass of one region, led on this king to such an
extravagant degree of elation, that he