commanded some strong places towards the Caucasus, which the late changes had attached nominally to the authority of Rome. In that wild region, Viriathes stated that there were various independent leaders, who held fortresses among the rocks, from which, should they be driven, they would probably retire either into the depths of Caucasus, or into the Scythian desert. As yet the capturer of Flavia had left her, with his other booty, in one of his strongest mountain-fortresses, while he had himself gone, as was thought, to meet some distant members of his tribe; and it was of the utmost moment to rescue her before he could retire to some more distant region, where to follow was impossible. This news had reached Viriathes at Tigranocerta, where he was in attendance on Tiridates; and he had hastened to Nisibis to inform his friend.

The resolution of Rutilius was instantly taken. It suited well with the ardour of his youthful enthusiasm to traverse those wild mountains, of which he had seen the outskirts while with the army of Galerius, and to attempt the deliverance of this captive maiden. Already did he in fancy bring her back from her lonely captivity, and anticipate his uncle's delight when he should return to meet his betrothed bride. Having obtained a sum of money in his uncle's name, and secured the services of a few well-mounted men, he set out with Viriathes on the following morning. Their route lay at first along the level plain of Mesopotamia, where travelling was rendered safe by the

authority of Rome. They soon reached the Tigris, which was swelled by the melting of the snows on the lofty ridge which forms the southern barrier of Armenia. Happily, however, there were vessels to be procured. The difficulty of crossing this rapid stream recalled the thoughts of Rutilius to the interesting narrative of Xenophon; for the hilly country into which he was now about to enter was the same through which the ten thousand Greeks had been compelled to retreat, in order to avoid the deep rivers of Mesopotamia. The party soon began to ascend along a precipitous mountain-path, which, following the direction of the water-courses, led into the heart of the mountains. The Roman now felt how much he was indebted to the assistance of his Armenian guide. At times their way was along narrow defiles, where the mountains seemed every moment about to close before them, and to forbid any further access into the secrets of their wild grandeur. A sudden turn would unexpectedly give a passage into a green and fertile valley, teeming with all the luxuriance of natural beauty; just as a miser will sometimes be prodigal of his gifts, when he has been induced in some single instance to forego his wonted parsimony. At such times Viriathes would send forward one or two of his countrymen, for a small party had joined him at the entrance of the mountains, to ascertain whether any danger was to be expected from the rude inhabitants. At night he carried the Roman to villages which preserved the same simple form which had been described by

Xenophon. "The houses were underground; the mouth like a well: a wider space within. There was a paved entrance for the descent of cattle; the men went down by ladders. Within there were sheep, goats, cattle, and birds." They had now reached the highest level of the mountains, and after a time began to descend towards the plains to the northwest. And now Viriathes, whose conversation had hitherto been of a general kind, began to enter more particularly into the difficulties which lay before them. He had gained more certain information from the party which had met him on his route. He was assured that Flavia was in a castle adjoining the great lake of Arsissa, or Van, as it has since been called; and that the fortress was held by a large body of Scythian soldiers, who were masters of the city of Artemita, or Van, which lay beneath it. With a view to obtain entrance into the castle, Viriathes proposed to seek the assistance of Mamgo, whose wild tribe was settled in the neighbourhood. On this account he had crossed the hills at some distance from the line which he would otherwise have adopted, and he now descended considerably to the westward of the lake of Arsissa.

"You crossed the Tigris four days back," he told Rutilius; "you imagine that the Euphrates is far behind you; but towards evening you will cross a branch of it again."

"How shall we get over?" asked the Roman. "The Tigris was so flooded, that but for the aid of vessels we should have been unable to pass; and

since these two rivers are said to rise in the same range of mountains, their streams are no doubt highest at the same period."

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"The floods of the Euphrates," said the Armenian, are not yet begun. Its waters run from the northern side of the mountains, whose southern face is drained by the Tigris; and it is ever a week or two later before the melting snows increase the northern stream."

So the travellers found it. They passed easily over a large branch of the Euphrates which ran in a north-west direction, and speedily approached the tent of Mamgo.

While they were approaching the Scythian encampment, Rutilius put some questions to his companion respecting its chief. "You are right," replied Viriathes," in supposing that Mamgo is unlike any of the wandering Scythians of this land. He comes from a country which lies eight months' journey to the eastward. The whole of the immense tract which lies between is uncultivated, and uninhabited except by wandering shepherds like himself. But if his accounts can be believed, a kingdom of greater wealth, if not of greater power, than even your famous empire lies beyond. Indeed, we have proof of its riches; for the silk which you so highly value is known to be common enough among these inhabitants of Seres. Mamgo has often told me, as a

1 The history of Mamgo is given by Moses of Chorene, Hist. Armen. ii. § 81.

mark of their industry, that they have raised a wall of prodigious height and thickness, which runs for some hundred miles along their frontiers, to guard them from the incursions of his countrymen. However, they can be in no fear of them at present; for he himself is a fugitive, in consequence of the anger of the king of Seres, and his countrymen have either been subdued, or have fled to the northward, into those trackless deserts which extend to the western bounds of your empire on the Danube and the Rhine."

The curiosity of Rutilius was excited; and he learned, by further inquiry, that Mamgo had fled for refuge to the king of Persia; and when the Chinese emperor had demanded his surrender, had been allowed to occupy his present quarters; the king of Persia saying that he had inflicted a heavier punishment than death, by banishing him into the utmost West. Mamgo's own discontent with his place of settlement had led him to espouse the party of the Romans. Viriathes said something further, on the possibility that these Huns-for so this nation of Scythians was called-might one day become dangerous to the civilised world; when their conversation was stopped by their arrival at a rude encampment.

Rutilius knew by description what was the mode of life among the barbarous Germans; but now he saw the savage state in a different form. A single glance shewed him that, instead of the fastnesses among woods and marshes, to which the Germans trusted for defence,- the Scythians, whom he was