were fo great, and his actions so 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 the outfhone even her hufband, and engroffed the attention and admiration of the world. She was defcended from the ancient race of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, and had all thofe 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 hardihips of war, she was generally on horseback; and would fometimes march on foot with her foldiers. She was skilled in feveral languages, and is faid to 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 fons. He quickly gained an uncommon fhare in her esteem, as fhe found him not only qualified to form the

tender

tender minds of the young, but to improve the virtue, and enlighten the understanding of the aged. In his converfation she spent the vacant hours of her life, modelling her fentiments by his inftructions, and steering herfelf by his counfels in the whole series of her conduct; and in carrying on that plan of empire, which the 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 fuccefs, 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 greatest foldier that had for a long time worn the imperial purple. He then turned his arms against Zenobia, being furprifed as well at the rapidity of her conquefts, as enraged that the had dared to affume the title of Queen of the Eaft.

He marched against her with the beft of Vopifcus. his forces, and met with no check in his ex

pedition,

Zofimus.

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 dispute was fharp and bloody on both fides, til at last the victory inclined a fecond time to Aurelian; and the unfortunate Zenobia, not daring to confide in the Emifenians, 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 herfelf here, in fpite of the warmest efforts of Aurelian, till she 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 fuccefs, 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 fo

bravely

- bravely defended, that tho' he invefted it with his army, yet the fiege was attended s 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 utmost danger. Tired at last with the obftinacy of the befieged, and almoft worn out by continued fatigues, = he fent Zenobia a written fummons 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 Eaft, 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 "avoid the certain penalty of death, which "otherwise attends you. You, You, Zenobia, "shall spend the remainder of your life, "where I, by the advice of the most ho"nourable senate, fhall think proper to place

you. Your jewels, your filver, your gold, your finest apparel, your horfes, and your "camels, you fhall refign to the difpofal of "the

"the Romans, in order to preserve the Pal"myrenians from being divested of all their "former privileges."

Zenobia, not in the leaft affrighted by the menace, nor foothed by the cruel promife of a life in exile and obfcurity; refolved by her anfwer to convince Aurelian, that he fhould find the ftouteft refiftance from her, whom he thought to frighten into compliance. This answer was drawn up by Longinus in a spirit peculiar to himself, and worthy of his

mistress.

Zenobia, queen of the Eaft, to the emperor Aurelian.

"Never was such an unreasonable demand proposed, or fuch rigorous terms offered by any, but yourself. Remember, Aurelian, "that in war, whatever is done, fhould be "done by valour. You imperiously command

me to furrender; but can you forget, that Cleopatra chofe rather to die with the title " of Queen, than to live in any inferior dig

nity? We expect fuccours from Perfia; "the Saracens are arming in our caufe; even "the Syrian banditti, have already defeated

66 your