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and determination not to be beaten by them； and with difficulty and
great danger passed back over the Cyrnus； which the barbarous people
had fortified a great way down the banks with palisadoes。 And after
this； having a tedious march to make through a waterless and difficult
country； he ordered ten thousand skins to be filled with water； and so
advanced towards the enemy； whom he found drawn up in order of
battle near the river Abas； to the number of sixty thousand horse
and twelve thousand foot； ill…armed generally； and most of them
covered only with the skins of wild beasts。 Their general was Cosis；
the king's brother； who； as soon as the battle was begun； singled
out Pompey； and rushing in upon him darted his javelin into the joints
of his breastplate； while Pompey； in return； struck him through the
body with his lance and slew him。 It is related that in this battle
there were Amazons fighting as auxiliaries with the barbarians； and
that they came down from the mountains by the river Thermodon。 For
that after the battle； when the Romans were taking the spoils and
plunder of the field； they met with several targets and buskins of the
Amazons； but no woman's body was found among the dead。 They inhabit
the parts of Mount Caucasus that reach down to the Hyrcanian Sea；
not immediately bordering upon the Albanians； for the Gelae and the
Leges lie betwixt； and they keep company with these people yearly； for
two months only； near the river Thermodon； after which they retire
to their own habitations； and live alone all the rest of the year。
After this engagement； Pompey was eager to advance with his forces
upon the Hyrcanian and Caspian Sea； but was forced to retreat at a
distance of three days' march from it by the number of venomous
serpents； and so he retreated into Armenia the Less。 Whilst he was
there； the kings of the Elymaeans and Medes sent ambassadors to him；
to whom he gave friendly answer by letter； and sent against the King
of Parthia； who had made incursions upon Gordyene； and despoiled the
subjects of Tigranes； an army under the command of Afranius； who put
him to the rout； and followed him in chase as far as the district of
Arbela。
Of the concubines of King Mithridates that were brought before
Pompey； he took none to himself； but sent them all away to their
parents and relations； most of them being either the daughters or
wives of princes and great commanders。 Stratonice； however； who had
the greatest power and influence with him； and to whom he had
committed the custody of his best and richest fortress； had been； it
seems； the daughter of a musician； an old man； and of no great
fortune； and happening to sing one night before Mithridates at a
banquet； she struck his fancy so that immediately he took her with
him； and sent away the old man much dissatisfied； the king having
not so much as said one kind word to himself。 But when he rose in
the morning； and saw tables in his house richly covered with gold
and silver plate； a great retinue of servants； eunuchs； and pages
bringing him rich garments； and a horse standing before the door
richly caparisoned； in all respects as was usual with the king's
favourites； he looked upon it all as a piece of mockery； and
thinking himself trifled with； attempted to make off and run away。 But
the servants laying hold upon him； and informing him really that the
king had bestowed on him the house and furniture of a rich man
lately deceased； and that these were but the first fruits or
earnests of greater riches and possession that were to come； he was
persuaded at last with much difficulty to believe them。 And so putting
on his purple robes； and mounting his horse； he rode through the city；
crying out； 〃All this is mine；〃 and to those at laughed at him； he
said； there was no such wonder in this； but it was a wonder rather
that he did not throw stones at all he met； he was so transported with
joy。 Such was the parentage and blood of Stratonice。 She now delivered
up this castle into the hands of Pompey； and offered him many presents
of great value of which he accepted only such as he thought might
serve to adorn the temples of the gods and add to the splendour of his
triumph： the rest he left to Stratonice's disposal； bidding her please
herself in the enjoyment of them。
And in the same manner he dealt with the presents offered him by the
King of Iberia； who sent him a bedstead； table； and a chair of
state； all of gold； desiring him to accept of them； but he delivered
them all into the custody of the public treasurers； for the use of the
commonwealth。
In another castle called Caenum； Pompey found and read with pleasure
several secret writings of Mithridates； containing much that threw
light on his character。 For there were memoirs by which it appeared
that； besides others； he had made away with his son Ariarathes by
poison； as also with Alcaeus the Sardian； for having robbed him of the
first honours in a horse…race。 There were several judgments upon the
interpretation of dreams； which either he himself or some of his
mistresses had had； and besides these； there was a series of wanton
letters to and from his concubine Monime。 Theophanes tells us that
there was found also an address by Rutilius； in which he attempted
to exasperate him to the slaughter of all the Romans in Asia； though
most men justly conjecture this to be a malicious invention of
Theophanes； who probably hated Rutilius because he was a man in
nothing like himself； or perhaps it might be to gratify Pompey；
whose father is described by Rutilius in his history as the vilest man
alive。
From thence Pompey came to the city of Amisus； where his passion for
glory put him into a position which might be called a punishment on
himself。 For whereas he had often sharply reproached Lucullus； in that
while the enemy was still living he had taken upon him to issue
decrees； and distribute rewards and honours； as conquerors usually
do only when the war is brought to an end； yet now was he himself；
while Mithridates was paramount in the kingdom of Bosphorus； and at
the head of a powerful army； as if all were ended； just doing the same
thing； regulating the provinces； and distributing rewards； many
great commanders and princes having flocked to him； together with no
less than twelve barbarian kings； insomuch that to gratify these other
kings； when he wrote to the King of Parthia； he would not
condescend； as others used to do； in the superscription of his letter；
to give him his title of king of kings。
Moreover； he had a great desire and emulation to occupy Syria； and
to march through Arabia to the Red Sea； that he might thus extend
his conquests every way to the great ocean that encompasses the
habitable earth； as in Africa he was the first Roman that advanced his
victories to the ocean； and again in Spain he made the Atlantic Sea
the limit of the empire： and then thirdly； in his late pursuit of
the Albanians； he had wanted but little of reaching the Hyrcanian Sea。
Accordingly he raised his camp； designing to bring the Red Sea
within the circuit of his expedition； especially as he saw how
difficult it was to hunt after Mithridates w