372 CRASSUS.

ledge, for those that were by had not leisure to observe particulars, and were either killed fighting about Crassus, or ran off at once to get to their comrades on the hill. But the Parthians coming up to them, and saying that Cras- sus had the punishment he justly deserved, and that Surena bade the rest come down from the hill without fear, some of them came down and surrendered them- selves, others were scattered up and down in the night, a very few of whom got safe home, and others the Arabi- ans, beating through the country, hunted down and put to death. It is generally said, that in all twenty thou- sand men were slain, and ten thousand taken prisoners. Surena sent the head and hand of Crassus to Hyrodes, the king, into Armenia, but himself by his messengers scattering a report that he was bringing Crassus alive to Seleucia, made a ridiculous procession, which by way of scorn, he called a triumph. For one Caius Paccianus, who of all the prisoners was most like Crassus, being put into a woman's dress of the fashion of the barbarians, and instructed to answer to the title of Crassus and Impera- tor, was brought sitting upon his horse, while before him went a parcel of trumpeters and lictors upon camels. Purses were hung at the end of the bundles of rods, and the heads of the slain fresh bleeding at the end of their axes. After them followed the Seleucian singing women, repeating scurrilous and abusive songs upon the effemi- nacy and cowardliness of Crassus. This show was seen by eveiybody ; but Surena, calling together the senate of Seleucia, laid before them certain wanton books, of the writings of Aristides, his Milesiaca ; neither, indeed, was this any forgery, for they had been found among the baggage of Rustius, and were a good subject to supply Surena with insulting remarks upon the Romans, who were not able even in the time of war to foi'get such writings and practices. But the people of Seleucia had