In  a  few  days  afterwards  the  two  armies  were  drawn  out
with  great  military  pomp.  On  one  side  stood  the  Parthian
cavalry,  ranged  in  battalions,  with  all  the  pride  of  eastern
magnificence.  The  Roman  legions  appeared  on  the  opposite
ground,  the  eagles  glittering  to  the  eye,  the  banners  displayed,
and  the  images  of  the  gods,  in  regular  order,  forming  a  kind
of  temple.  In  the  centre  stood  a  tribunal,  and  upon  it  a
curule   chair   supporting   the  statue  of   Nero.     Tiridates  ap-

1  Not  yet  five  and  twenty.  Tor


The  Annals  477

proached.  Having  immolated  victims  with  the  usual  rites,
he  took  the  diadem  from  his  brow,  and  laid  it  at  the  foot  of
the  statue.  The  spectators  gazed  with  earnest  ardour,  and
every  bosom  heavy  with  mixed  emotions.  The  place  where
the  legions  were  besieged  and  forced  to  capitulate  was  before
the  eye,  and  the  same  spot  exhibited  a  reverse  of  fortune.
They  saw  Tiridates  on  the  point  of  setting  out  for  Rome,  a
spectacle  to  the  nations  through  which  he  was  to  pass,  and  to
exhibit,  in  the  presence  of  Nero,  the  humble  condition  of  a
suppliant  prince  ;  how  little  better  than  a  captive  !

XXX.  To  the  glory  resulting  from  these  events,  Corbulo
added  the  graceful  qualities  of  affability  and  condescension.
