from the claims of various pretenders to the sovereignty:  externally, it was kept in continual alarm by the Egyptians, Arabians, or Romans.  During the sixty years which elapsed between the return of Demetrius to his kingdom and the conversion of Syria into a Roman province, she ceased wholly to be formidable to her neighbors.  Her flourishing period was gone by, and a rapid decline set in, from which there was no recovery.  It is surprising that the Romans did not step in earlier and terminate a rule which was but a little removed from anarchy.  Rome, however, had other work on her hands; and the Syrian kingdom continued to exist till B.C. 65, though in a feeble and moribund condition.

But Phraates could not, without prophetic foresight, have counted on such utter prostration following as the result of a single—­albeit a terrible—­blow.  Accordingly, we find him still exhibiting a dread of the Seleucid power even after his great victory.  He had released Demetrius too late to obtain any benefit from the hostile feeling which that prince probably entertained towards his brother.  Had he not released him too soon for his own safety?  Was it not to be feared that the Syrians might rally under one who was their natural leader, might rapidly recover their strength, and renew the struggle for the mastery of Western Asia?  The first thought of the dissatisfied monarch was to hinder the execution of his own project.  Demetrius was on his way to Syria, but had not yet arrived there, or, at any rate, his arrival had not been as yet reported.  Was it not possible to intercept him?  The Parthian king hastily sent out a body of horse, with orders to pursue the Syrian prince at their best speed, and endeavor to capture him before he passed the frontier.  If they succeeded, they were to bring him hack to their master, who would probably have then committed his prisoner to close custody.  The pursuit, however, failed.  Demetrius had anticipated, or at least feared, a change of purpose, and, having prosecuted his journey with the greatest diligence, had reached his own territory before the emissaries of Phraates could overtake him.

It is uncertain whether policy or inclination dictated the step which Phraates soon afterwards took of allaying himself by marriage with the Seleucidae.  He had formally given his sister, Ehodogune, as a wife to Demetrius, and the marriage had been fruitful, Rhodogune having borne Demetrius several children.  The two houses of the Seleucidae and Arsacidae were thus already allied to some extent.  Phraates resolved to strengthen the bond.  The unmarried daughter of Demetrius whom he had captured after his victory over Antiochus took his fancy; and he determined to make her his wife.  At the same time he adopted other measures calculated to conciliate the Seleucid prince.  He treated his captive, Seleucus, the son of Antiochus, with the greatest respect.  To the corpse of Antiochus he paid royal honors; and, having placed it in a silver coffin, he transmitted it to the Syrians for sepulture.