Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/124

 1^000 alingers vxd archers, and having approachr ed near the Armenian army pitched his catnp on a large plain. When Tigranes observed the Roman troops, he exclaimed with contempt, '' Who are these ? Ambassadors or enemies ? If the former, they come in large numbers; if the latter, they are very few." With this show of contempt, he gave himself no further trouble in providing against the chance of a defeat, but considered the Romans as already overthrown. He be* took himself to his usual amusements, in which he was imitated by his soldiers. As for the army of LucuUus, they were greatly alarmed when they observed the vast army marshalled against them, and intimated to their commander a desire to commence a retreat. But LucuUus, know* ing the careless security into which Tigranes was lulled by his too great contempt of the foes with whom he had to contend, encouraged his troops, telling them not to think of the numbers of the Armenians, but of the quantity of spoil they would secure in conquering them.

His language inspirited them, and they all demanded to be led to the attack. Tigranes in the meanwhile remained in a state of careless inaction, through a too great confidence in his numbers, and never dreamed of the possibility of an attack from the Romans until it actually com-

�� �