Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/115

70 been conferred upon him, Tigranes left with him, on his departure, a considerable number of troops. After their separation, we are told that Tigranes became daily more powerful. Many countries were subdued by him, whose kings were kept captive at his court, to render more splendid the daily state in which he lived. This fact is authenticated by the Roman historians. We are informed, that many unfortunate kings, prisoners at his court, were obliged to stand in his presence with their arms folded on their breasts, in token of the absolute power he had over them. Four of these wretched monarchs were obliged to be constantly in attendance on him dressed in their regal robes. To such an extravagance was the tate of this pompous prince carried, that when he exposed himself to his subjects publicly on horseback, his unfortunate royal captives were obliged to precede him on foot.

Mithridates, his brother-in-law, rendered himself no less glorious. He extended his dominions even to the borders of Scythia. His subjects and tributaries comprised 22 nations; and it is related that this prince conversed with equal fluency in the whole of the languages spoken by these people. He never needed the aid of an interpreter.

Cappadocia, one of the newly acquired king-