Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/274

 ^50 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, fortunate. In repassing the mountains, great numbers ! of soldiers perished by the badness of the roads and the severity of the winter season. It had been resolved, that whilst these two great detachments penetrated into the opposite extremes of the Persian dominions, the main body, under the command of Alexander himself, should support their attack, by invading the centre of the kingdom. But the unexperienced youth, in- fluenced by his mother's counsels, and perhaps by his own fears, deserted the bravest troops and the fairest prospect of victory ; and after consuming in Mesopo- tamia an inactive and inglorious summer, he led back to Antioch an army diminished by sickness, and pro- voked by disappointment. The behaviour of Arta- xerxes had been very different. Flying with rapidity from the hills of Media to the marshes of the Eu- ) phrates, he had everywhere opposed the invaders in person; and in either fortune, had united with the ablest conduct the most undaunted resolution. But in several obstinate engagements against the veteran le- gions of Rome, the Persian monarch had lost the flower of his troops. Even his victories had weakened his power. The favourable opportunities of the absence of Alexander, and of the confusions that followed that emperor's death, presented themselves in vain to his ambition. Instead of expelling the Romans, as he pre- tended, from the continent of Asia, he found himself unable to wrest from their hands the little province of Mesopotamia^. Character The reign of Artaxerxes, which, from the last defeat of irta-'""' of the Parthians, lasted only fourteen years, forms a xerxes. memorable era in the history of the east, and even in that of Rome. His character seems to have been marked by those bold and commanding features, that generally distinguish the princes who conquer from those who inherit an empire. Till the last period of s For the account of this war, see Herodian, 1. vi. p. 209. 212. The old abbreviators and modern compilers have blindly followed the Augustan History.