102 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period I. 



Surena awaited him with a portion only of his light 

 cavalry of the advanced guard being visible. His heavy 

 horsemen were concealed behind them with coats and 

 skins thrown over their brilliant armour, so that its 

 glitter might not betray their presence. When the 

 armies were within fighting distance the Parthian kettle- 

 drums broke out into their discordant clang, the steel- 

 clad warriors uncovered their arms, and appeared like 

 squadrons of fire, with the sun gleaming upon their 

 breastplates and upon their highly-polished helmets of 

 steel.' 



In front of them sat Surena upon his charger, tall, 

 erect, and well made, surpassing in size and beauty all 

 the men of Parthia. Though only thirty years of age he 

 had won a great reputation in the field for distinguished 

 bravery. Plutarch says that his almost womanly beauty 

 did not promise such courage as he was possessed of. Like 

 Murat, Dundee, and many other celebrated generals of 

 cavalry, he must have been a great dandy, for he was 

 splendidly dressed, his face painted, and his hair curled 

 and parted in the middle. 



At first he seems to have decided to open the attack 

 by a charge of his heavy armed lancers, but probably 

 when he saw the immense depth and solidity of the 

 bristling masses of Roman infantry, and the firmness of 

 their demeanour, he considered it wiser not to risk a 

 general charge. His cavalry therefore wheeled outwards 

 and surrounded the Romans. Crassus thereupon ordered 

 his archers and light infantry to charge. They were 

 met, however, by the mounted bowmen, who plied them 

 with such showers of arrows, driven with such force and 

 execution, that they were at once hurled back upon the 

 main body. The Parthians then began to swarm around 

 the Romans, and witli their large bows they kept up a 

 continual shower of arrows, which were launched with 

 such power as to pierce shield, breastplate, or greaves, 

 inflicting fearful wounds. 



The Romans were now in a desperate condition. 

 When they cliarged forward, their assailants retired, still 



' Plntavpli, Orassns. 



