There, too, were the best and bravest of the Roman troops, and an army more numerous than Rome had ever employed against Persia before.

It would be most perilous to risk an encounter on this ground.

Let Persia, however, invade the country beyond the Euphrates, and she would find but few obstacles.

In that region there were no strong fortresses, nor was there any army worth mention.

Antioch itself, the richest and most populous city of the Roman East, was without a garrison, and, if it were suddenly assaulted, could probably be taken.