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as he appeared before Pompey； he pulled off his royal turban； and
attempted to have laid it at his feet。 Nay； worst of all； even he
himself had fallen prostrate as an humble suppliant at his knees had
not Pompey prevented it； taking him by the hand and placing him near
him； Tigranes himself on one side of him and his son upon the other。
Pompey now told him that the rest of his losses were chargeable upon
Lucullus； by whom he had been dispossessed of Syria； Phoenicia；
Cilicia； Galatia； and Sophene； but all that he had preserved to
himself entire till that time he should peaceably enjoy； paying the
sum of six thousand talents as a fine or penalty for injuries done
to the Romans； and that his son should have the kingdom of Sophene。
Tigranes himself was well pleased with these conditions of peace；
and when the Romans saluted him king； seemed to be overjoyed； and
promised to every common soldier half a mina of silver； to every
centurion ten minas； and to every tribune a talent； but the son was
displeased； insomuch that when he was invited to supper he replied；
that he did not stand in need of Pompey for that sort of honour； for
he would find out some other Roman to sup with。 Upon this he was put
into close arrest； and reserved for the triumph。
Not long after this Phraates； King of Parthia； sent to Pompey； and
demanded to have young Tigranes； as his son…in…law； given up to him；
and that the river Euphrates should be the boundary of the empires。
Pompey replied； that for Tigranes； he belonged more to his own natural
father than his father…in…law； and for the boundaries； he would take
care that they should be according to right and justice。
So Pompey； leaving Armenia in the custody of Afranius； went
himself in chase of Mithridates； to do which he was forced of
necessity to march through several nations inhabiting about Mount
Caucasus。 Of these the Albanians and Iberians were the two chiefest。
The Iberians stretch out as far as the Moschian mountains and the
Pontus； the Albanians lie more eastwardly； and towards the Caspian
Sea。 These Albanians at first permitted Pompey； upon his request； to
pass through the country； but when winter had stolen upon the Romans
whilst they were still in the country； and they were busy
celebrating the festival of Saturn； they mustered a body of no less
than forty thousand fighting men； and set upon them； having passed
over the river Cyrnus； which rising from the mountains of Iberia；
and receiving the river Araxes in its course from Armenia；
discharges itself by twelve mouths into the Caspian。 Or； according
to others； the Araxes does not fall into it； but they flow near one
another； and so discharge themselves as neighbours into the same
sea。 It was in the power of Pompey to have obstructed the enemy's
passage over the river； but he suffered them to pass over quietly； and
then leading on his forces and giving battle he routed them and slew
great numbers of them in the field。 The king sent ambassadors with his
submission； and Pompey upon his supplication pardoned the offence； and
making a treaty with him； he marched directly against the Iberians；
a nation no less in number than the other； but much more warlike；
and extremely desirous of gratifying Mithridates and driving out
Pompey。
These Iberians were never subject to the Medes or Persians； and they
happened likewise to escape the dominion of the Macedonians； because
Alexander was so quick in his march through Hyrcania。 But these also
Pompey subdued in a great battle； where there were slain nine thousand
upon the spot； and more than ten thousand taken prisoners。 From thence
he entered into the country of Colchis； where Servilius met him by the
river Phasis； bringing the fleet with which he was guarding the
Pontus。
The pursuit of Mithridates； who had thrown himself among the
tribes inhabiting Bosphorus and the shores of the Maeotian Sea；
presented great difficulties。 News was also brought to Pompey that the
Albanians had again revolted。 This made him turn back； out of anger
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