Meanwhile, the Parthian king, Vologeses, when he heard of
Corbulo's achievements and of a foreign prince, Tigranes, having been set
over Armenia, though he longed at the same time to
avenge the majesty of the Arsacids, which had been insulted by the expulsion
of his brother Tiridates, was, on the other hand, drawn to different
thoughts as he reflected on the greatness of Rome,
and felt reverence for a hitherto unbroken treaty. Naturally irresolute, he
was now hampered by a revolt of the Hyrcanians, a powerful tribe, and by
several wars arising out of it. Suddenly, as he was wavering, fresh and
further tidings of disgrace goaded him to action. Tigranes, quitting Armenia, had ravaged the Adiabeni, a people on its
border, too extensively and continuously for mere plundering raids. The
chief men of the tribes were indignant at having fallen into such contempt
that they were victims to the inroads, not indeed of a Roman general, but of
a daring hostage, who for so many years had been numbered among slaves.
Their anger was inflamed by Monobazus, who ruled the Adiabeni, and
repeatedly asked what protection he was to seek and from what
quarter"Already," he said, "Armenia has been
given up, and its borders are being wrested from us, and unless the
Parthians help us, we shall find that subjection to Rome is lighter for those who surrender than for the
conquered." Tiridates too, exile as he was from his kingdom, by his silence
or very moderate complaints made the deeper impression. "It is not," he
urged, "by weak inaction that great empires are held together; there must be
the struggle of brave men in arms; might is right with those who are at the
summit of power. And though it is the glory of a private house to keep
its
[p. 358]
own, it is the glory of a king to fight for the possessions
of others."
