204

CHAP.

XIX.

THE DECLINE AND FALL

a similar place on liis right hand for the king ofthe Albanians, who led his independent tribesfrom the shores of the Caspian . The satrapsand generals were distributed according to theirseveral ranks, and the whole army, besides thenumerous train of oriental luxury, consisted ofmore than one hundred thousand effective men,inured to fatigue, and selected from the bravestnations of Asia . The Roman deserter, who insome measure guided the councils of Sapor,had prudently advised, that instead of wastingthe summer in tedious and difficult sieges, heshould march directly to the Euphrates , andpress forwards without delay to seize the feebleand wealthy metropolis of Syria. But the Per-sians were no sooner advanced into the plainsof Mesopotamia , than they discovered that eve-ry precaution had been used which could re-tard their progress, or defeat their design. Theinhabitants, with their cattle, were secured inplaces of strength, the green forage throughoutthe country was set on fire, the fords of the riverwere fortified by sharp stakes, military engineswere planted on the opposite hanks, and a sea<sonable swell of the waters of the Euphrates deterred the barbarians from attempting theordinary passage of the bridge of Thapsacus.Their skilful guide, changing his plan of opera-tions, then conducted the army by a longer cir-cuit, but through a fertile territory, towards thehead of the Euphrates , where the infant riveris reduced to a shallow and accessible streamSapor overlooked, with prudent disdain, thestrength of Nisibis ; but as he passed under