Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/203

ANTONY. 195 answer, that as for the standards and prisoners, he need not trouble hhnself ; but if he thought fit to retreat, he might do it when, he pleased, in peace and safety. Some few days, therefore, being spent in collecting the baggage, he set out upon his march. On which occasion, though there was no man of his time like him for addressing a multitude, or for carrying soldiers with him by the force of words, out of shame and sadness he could not find in his heart to speak himself, but employed Domitius ^no- barbus. And some of the soldiei's resented it, as an un- dervaluing of them ; but the greater number saw the true cause, and pitied it, and thought it rather a reason why they on their side should treat their general with more respect and obedience than ordinary. Antony had resolved to return by the same way he came, which was through a level comitry clear of all trees ; but a certain Mardian came to him (one that was very conversant with the manners of the Parthians, and whose fidelity to the Romans had been tried at the battle where the machines were lost), and advised him to keep the mountains close on his right hand, and not to expose his men, heavily armed, in a broad, open, riding country, to the attacks of a numerous army of light-horse and arch- ers ; that Phraates with fair promises had persuaded hmi from the siege on purpose that he might with more ease cut him off in his retreat ; but, if so he pleased, he would conduct him by a nearer route, on which moreover he should find the necessaries for his army in greater abun- dance. Antony upon this began to consider what was best to be done ; he was unwilling to seem to have any mistrust of the Parthians after their treaty ; but, holding it to be really best to march his army the shorter and more inhabited way, he demanded of the Mardian some assurance of his faith, who offered himself to be bound until the army came safe into Armenia. Two days he