these negotiations, sent some of his allies to threaten the Parthian king, should he join forces with Mithradates and Tigranes, and to promise rewards for his friendship. Phraates replied in a conciliatory manner to the overtures of both parties, and both felt that he had promised them support. The Parthian response reached Lucullus in Gorduene, and the legate Sextilius[1] was sent to continue negotiations. Phraates suspected, perhaps rightly, that the officer was sent to report Parthian movements; the net result was that he did not give aid to either side, but attempted the dangerous procedure of straddling the diplomatic fence. Lucullus, who felt that Mithradates and Tigranes were both so exhausted from the prolonged struggle that they were not dangerous, determined to attack Parthia.[2] Sornatius[3] was ordered to bring the army from Pontus to Gorduene, but the troops refused to move and even threatened to leave Pontus undefended. When this news reached the legions with Lucullus they also mutinied, and the Parthian
- ↑ PW, art. "Sextilius," No. 2.
- ↑ Plut. Lucullus 30; Appian Mith. 87; Dio Cass. xxxvi. 3.
- ↑ PW, art. "Sornatius."
brecher's edition of Sallust's history, where the letter is placed after the battle, must therefore be corrected. With this rearrangement we understand why in line 16 Sallust could say that the kingdom of Tigranes was still unimpaired. Cf. also line 21: "Quod haud difficile est, si tu Mesopotamia, nos Armenia circumgredimur exercitum sine frumento, sine auxiliis, fortuna aut nostris vitiis adhuc incolumem." If we may trust Orosius vi. 13. 2, the Euphrates was recognized as the boundary.
