Page:The Children's Plutarch, Romans.djvu/113

 “To follow in the train of Lucullus when he goes through the streets of Rome in triumph.” “And suppose I will not yield him up?”

“Then, sir, the Romans will declare war against you.”

All the hearers wondered. Such bold speaking to the king they had never heard before.

War was declared. Near the Taurus mountains, capped with snow, lay the chief city of Armenia. Tigranes had collected an immense host of horsemen, archers, and slingers. Thirty-five thousand pioneers were employed to level the roads, to build bridges, and to provide wood and water for the warriors.

On the flat land by the river and the city was drawn the small army of Lucullus. Six thousand kept an eye on the city, eleven thousand prepared to attack the vast host of Tigranes.

From the hills the king looked down at the little band of Romans as it moved toward the river. His Armenians laughed at the smallness of the enemy's force.

“The Romans are afraid! They are marching away!” rose the cry.

It seemed so. Only one courtier thought otherwise.

“Sir,” he said to the king, “the Romans do not put on their helmets and polish their shields so brightly when they wish to retreat.”