[Sidenote:  LXXV, 9, 6] When Volgaesus, the son of Sanatruces, confronted in battle array the followers of Severus and before coming to an actual test of strength asked and secured an armistice, Trajan sent envoys to him and granted him a portion of Armenia in return for peace.

[Sidenote:—­31—­] Next he came into Arabia and commenced operations against the people of Hatra, since they, too, had revolted.  This city is neither large nor prosperous.  The surrounding country is mostly desert and holds no water (save a small amount, poor in quality), nor timber, nor herb.  It is protected by these very features, which make a siege in any form impossible, and by the Sun, to whom it is, in a way, consecrated.  It was neither at this time taken by Trajan nor later by Severus, although they knocked down some parts of its wall.  Trajan sent the cavalry ahead against the wall but failed in his attempt, and the attacking force was hurled back into the camp.  As he was riding by, he barely missed being wounded himself, in spite of the fact that he had laid aside his imperial attire to avoid being recognized.  Seeing the majestic gray head and his august countenance they suspected him to be the man he was, shot at him, and killed a cavalryman in his escort.  There were peals of thunder and rainbow tints glimmered indistinctly.  Flashes of lightning and spray-like storms, hail and thunderbolts fell upon the Romans as often as they made assaults.  And whenever they ate a meal, flies settled on the food and drink causing universal discomfort.  Thus Trajan left the place and not long after began to fail in health.

[Sidenote:—­32—­] Meanwhile the Jews in the region of Cyrene had put one Andreas at their head and were destroying both the Romans and the Greeks.  They would cook their flesh, make belts for themselves of their entrails, anoint themselves with their blood, and wear their skins for clothing.  Many they sawed in two, from the head downwards.  Others they would give to wild beasts and force still others to fight as gladiators.  In all, consequently, two hundred and twenty thousand perished.  In Egypt, also, they performed many similar deeds, and in Cyprus under the leadership of Artemio.  There, likewise, two hundred and forty thousand perished.  For this reason no Jew may set foot in that land, but even if one of them is driven upon the island by force of the wind, he is put to death.  Various persons took part in subduing these Jews, one being Lusius, who was sent by Trajan.

[Lusius Quietus was a Moor, himself a leader of the Moors, and had belonged to [Footnote:  Some puzzling corruption in the MS.] a troop in the cavalry.  Condemned for base conduct he was temporarily relieved of his command and dishonored. [Footnote:  Probably in the days of Domitian.] But later, when the Dacian war came on and the army stood in need of the Moorish alliance, he came to it of his own accord and gave great exhibitions of prowess.  For this he was