him to threaten more than he intended, in order to see how men would comport themselves when greatly alarmed.  There is some evidence that he aimed at saying good things; though it must be confessed that the wit is not of a high order.  Altogether he has more character than most Oriental monarchs; and the monotony of Arsacid biography is agreeably interrupted by the idiosyncrasy which his words and conduct indicate.

CHAPTER VIII.

Accession of Artabanus II.  Position of Parthia.  Growing pressure upon her, and general advance towards the south, of the Saka or Scyths.  Causes and extent of the movement.  Character and principal tribes of the Saka.  Scythic war of Artabanus.  His death.

The successor of Phraates was his uncle, Artabanus, a son of Priapatius.  It is probable that the late king had either left no son, or none of sufficient age to be a fit occupant of the throne at a season of difficulty.  The “Megistanes,” therefore, elected Artabanus in his nephew’s place, a man of mature age, and, probably, of some experience in war.  The situation of Parthia, despite her recent triumph over the Syro-Macedonians, was critical; and it was of the greatest importance that the sceptre should be committed to one who would bring to the discharge of his office those qualities of wisdom, promptness, and vigor, which a crisis demands.

The difficulty of the situation was two-fold.  In the first place, there was an immediate danger to be escaped.  The combined Greeks and Scythians, who had defeated the Parthian army and slain the monarch, might have been expected to push their advantage to the utmost, and seek to establish themselves as conquerors in the country which lay apparently at their mercy.  At any rate, the siege and sack of some of the chief towns was a probable contingency, if permanent occupation of the territory did not suit the views of the confederates.  The new monarch had to rid Parthia of her invaders at as little cost as possible, before he could allow himself to turn his attention to any other matter whatsoever.  Nor did this, under the circumstances, appear to be an easy task.  The flower of the Parthian troops had been destroyed in the late battle, and it was not easy to replace them by another native army.  The subject-nations were at no time to be depended upon when Parthia was reduced to straits, and at the present conjecture some of the most important were in a condition bordering upon rebellion.  Himerus, the viceroy left by Phraates in Babylonia, had first driven the Babylonians and Seleucians to desperation by his tyranny, and then plunged into a war with the people of Mesene, which must have made it difficult for him to send Artabanus any contingent.  Fortunately for the Parthians, the folly or moderation of their enemies rendered any great effort on their part unnecessary.  The Greeks, content with having revenged themselves, gave the new monarch no trouble at all:  the Scythians were satisfied with plundering and wasting the open country, after which they returned quietly to their homes.  Artabanus found himself quit of the immediate danger which had threatened him almost without exertion of his own, and could now bend his thoughts to the position of his country generally, and the proper policy to pursue under the circumstances.