that of Spain; Crassus, that of Syria.

CRASSUS now undertook the war against the Parthians. He was
accompanied by his son, who had done good service under Caesar in
Gaul. They arrived at Zeugma, a city of Syria, on the Euphrátes; and
the Romans, seven legions strong, with four thousand cavalry, drew
themselves up along the river. The Quaestor, CASSIUS, a man of
ability, proposed to Crassus a plan of the campaign, which consisted
in following the river as far as Seleucia, in order not to be
separated from his fleet and provisions, and to avoid being surrounded
by the cavalry of the enemy. But Crassus allowed himself to be
deceived by an Arab chief, who lured him to the sandy plains of
Mesopotamia at Carrhae.

The forces of the Parthians, divided into many bodies, suddenly rushed
upon the Roman ranks, and drove them back. The young Crassus attempted
a charge at the head of fifteen hundred horsemen. The Parthians
yielded, but only to draw him into an ambush, where he perished, after
great deeds of valor. His head, carried on the end of a pike, was
borne before the eyes of his unhappy father, who, crushed by grief and
despair, gave the command into the hands of Cassius. Cassius gave
orders for a general retreat. The Parthians subjected the Roman army
to continual losses, and Crassus himself was killed in a conference
(53).

In this disastrous campaign there perished more than twenty thousand
Romans. Ten thousand were taken prisoners and compelled to serve as
slaves in the army of the Parthians.

The death of Crassus broke the Triumvirate; that of Julia, in 54, had