nefs and Tranquillity. Fine Genius, and a true philofophic Turn, qualify not only for Study and Retirement, but will enable their Owners to fhine, I will not fay in more honourable, but, in more confpicuous Views, and to appear on the public Stage of Life with Dignity and Honour. And it was the Fortune of Longinus to be drawn from the contemplative Shades of Athens, to mix in more active Scenes, to train up young Princes to Virtue and Glory, to guide the busy and ambitious Paffions of the Great to noble Ends, to ftruggle for, and at laft to die in the Caufe of Liberty.

During the Refidence of Longinus at Trebellius Athens, the Emperor Valerian had underta-Pollio. ken an Expedition against the Perfians, who had revolted from the Roman Yoke. He was affifted in it by Odenathus King of Palmyra, who, after the Death of Valerian, carried on the War with uncommon Spirit and Succefs. Gallienus, who fucceeded his Father Valerian at Rome, being a Prince of a weak and effeminate Soul, of the most diffolute and abandon'd Manners, without any Shadow of Worth in himself, was willing to get a Support in the Valour of Odenathus, and therefore he made him his Partner in

Empire

Empire by the Title of Auguftus, and decreed his Medals, ftruck in honour of the Perfian Victories, to be current Coin throughout the Empire. Odenathus, fays an Hiftorian, feemed born for the Empire of the World, and would probably have risen to it, had he not been taken off, in a Career of Victory, by the Treachery of his own Relations. His Abilities were fo great, and his Actions fo illuftrious, that they were above the competition of every Perfon then alive, except his own Wife Zenobia, a Lady of fo extraordinary Magnanimity and Virtue, that fhe outfhone even her Husband, and engroffed the Attention and Admiration of the World. was defcended from the ancient Race of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, and had all those Qualifications, which are the Ornament of her own, and the Glory of the other Sex. A Miracle of Beauty, but chafte to a Prodigy: in punishing the Bad, inflexibly fevere; in rewarding the Good or relieving the Diftreffed, benevolent and active. Splendid, but not profufe; and generous without Prodigality. Superior to the Toils and Hardships of War, fhe was generally on Horseback; and would sometimes march on foot with her Soldiers. She was skilled in feveral Languages, and is faid to

She

have drawn up herself an Epitome of the Alexandrian and Oriental History.

The great Reputation of Longinus had been wafted to the Ears of Zenobia, who prevailed upon him to quit Athens, and undertake the Education of her Sons. He quickly gained an uncommon fhare in her Efteem, as fhe found him not only qualified to form the tender Minds of the young, but to improve the Virtue, and enlighten the Understanding of the aged. In his Conversation she spent the vacant Hours of her Life, modelling her Sentiments by his Inftructions, and fteering herfelf by his Counfels in the whole Series of her Conduct, and in carrying on that Plan of Empire, which she herself had formed, which her Husband Odenathus had begun to execute, but had left imperfect. The number of Competitors, who, in the vicious and fcandalous Reign of Gallienus, fet up for the Empire, but with Abilities far inferior to those of Zenobia, gave her an Opportunity to extend her Conquefts, by an uncommon Tide of Success, over all the Eaft. Claudius, who fucceeded Gallienus at Rome, was employed, during his whole Reign, which was very short, against the Northern Nations. Their Reduction was afterwards compleated by Aurelian, the great

eft

Vopifcus.

eft Soldier that had for a long Time worn the imperial Purple. He then turned his Arms against Zenobia, being furprized as well at the rapidity of her Conquefts, as enraged that fhe had dared to affume the Title of Queen of the East.

He marched against her with the best of Zofimus. his Forces, and met with no Check in his Ex

pedition, till he was advanced as far as Antioch. Zenobia was there in readiness to oppofe his further Progrefs. But the Armies coming to an Engagement at Daphne near Antioch, fhe was defeated by the good Conduct of Aurelian, and leaving Antioch at his Mercy, retired with her Army to Emifa. The Emperor marched immediately after, and found her ready to give him battle in the Plains before the City. The Difpute was fharp and bloody on both Sides, til at laft the Victory inclined a fecond time to Aurelian; and the unfortunate Zenobia, not daring to confide in the Emisenians, was again compelled to retire towards her capital Palmyra. As the Town was ftrongly fortified, and the Inhabitants full of Zeal for her Service, and Affection for her Perfon, fhe made no Doubt of defending herself here, in spite of the warmeft Efforts of Aurelian, till fhe could.

raise new Forces, and venture again into the open Field. Aurelian was not long behind, his Activity impelled him forwards, to crown his former Succefs, by compleating the Conqueft of Zenobia. His March was terribly harraffed by the frequent Attacks of the Syrian Banditti; and when he came up, he found Palmyra fo ftrongly fortified and so bravely defended, that tho' he invested it with his Army, yet the Siege was attended with a thousand Difficulties. His Army was daily weakened and difpirited by the gallant Refiftance of the Palmyrenians, and his own Life fometimes in the utmoft Danger. Tired at last with the Obftinacy of the befieged, and almost worn out by continued Fatigues, he fent Zenobia a written Summons to furrender, as if his Words could ftrike Terror into her, whom by force of Arms he was unable to fubdue.

Aurelian, Emperor of the Roman World, and Recoverer of the East, to Zenobia and her Adherents.

"Why am I forced to command, what you ought voluntarily to have done already? "I charge you to furrender, and thereby a

"void