a faithful subject of Pacurius.  But when, in the midst of his speaking, he came to the centre of the tent where they stepped upon Armenian earth, then, compelled by some unknown power, he suddenly changed the tone of his words to one of defiance, and from then on ceased not to threaten Pacurius and the Persians, announcing that he would have vengeance upon them for this insolence as soon as he should become his own master.  These words of youthful folly he continued to utter as they walked all the way, until turning back, he came again to the earth from the Persian land.  Thereupon, as if chanting a recantation, he was once more a suppliant, offering pitiable explanations to Pacurius.  But when he came again to the Armenian earth, he returned to his threats.  In this way he changed many times to one side and the other, and concealed none of his secrets.  Then at length the Magi passed judgment against him as having violated the treaty and the oaths.  Pacurius flayed Bassicius, and, making a bag of his skin, filled it with chaff and suspended it from a lofty tree.  As for Arsaces, since Pacurius could by no means bring himself to kill a man of the royal blood, he confined him in the Prison of Oblivion.

After a time, when the Persians were marching against a barbarian nation, they were accompanied by an Armenian who had been especially intimate with Arsaces and had followed him when he went into the Persian land.  This man proved himself a capable warrior in this campaign, as Pacurius observed, and was the chief cause of the Persian victory.  For this reason Pacurius begged him to make any request he wished, assuring him that he would be refused nothing by him.  The Armenian asked for nothing else than that he might for one day pay homage to Arsaces in the way he might desire.  Now it annoyed the king exceedingly, that he should be compelled to set aside a law so ancient; however, in order to be wholly true to his word, he permitted that the request be granted.  When the man found himself by the king’s order in the Prison of Oblivion, he greeted Arsaces, and both men, embracing each other, joined their voices in a sweet lament, and, bewailing the hard fate that was upon them, were able only with difficulty to release each other from the embrace.  Then, when they had sated themselves with weeping and ceased from tears, the Armenian bathed Arsaces, and completely adorned his person, neglecting nothing, and, putting on him the royal robe, caused him to recline on a bed of rushes.  Then Arsaces entertained those present with a royal banquet just as was formerly his custom.  During this feast many speeches were made over the cups which greatly pleased Arsaces, and many incidents occurred which delighted his heart.  The drinking was prolonged until nightfall, all feeling the keenest delight in their mutual intercourse; at length they parted from each other with great reluctance, and separated thoroughly imbued with happiness.  Then they tell how Arsaces