ORODES TAUNTS HIS ADVERSARY.
155
would know that Crassus was a sexagenarian, and may have heard that he had never yet shown himself a captain or even a soldier. Perhaps he almost doubted whether the proconsul had any
real intention of pres-
sing the contest to a decision, and might not rather be expected, when he had enriched himself and his troops with Mesopotamian plunder, to withdraw his garrisons
Under these circumstances, the Euphrates. Orodes, in the early spring, sent an embassy to the
across
Roman camp,
with a message which was well calcu-
lated to stir to action the
commanders.
of
spirited "
most sluggish and poor"
If
the war,"
said
his
must be fought envoys, out to the bitter end. But if, as they had good reason to believe, Crassus, against the wish of his country, had attacked Parthia and seized her territory for his own He would private gain, Arsaces would be moderate. have pity on the advanced years of the proconsul, and would give the Romans back those men of theirs, who were not so much keeping watch in Mesopotamia as having watch kept on them." Crassus, stung with was
really
waged by Rome,
it
the taunt, made the answer so significant of the pride " He would give the ambassathat goes before a fall
—
dors his response in their capital." Wagises, the chief envoy, prepared for some such exhibition of feeling,
and glad to heap taunt on taunt, replied, striking the palm of one hand with the fingers of the other " Hairs will grow here, Crassus, before you see :
Seleucia."
Soon
be said was taken against the Roman The towns garrisons and adherents in Mesopotamia. after this, before the winter could well
to be over, the offensive