“The Parthian king In Ctesiphon[203] hath gathered all his host Against the Scythian, whose incursions wild Have wasted Sogdiana; to her aid He marches now in haste: see though from far His thousands, in what martial equipage They issue forth; steel bows and shafts their arm Of equal dread in flight, or in pursuit; All horsemen, in which fight they most excel; See how in warlike muster they appear, In rhombs and wedges, and half–moons and wings. “He looked, and saw what numbers numberless The city gates out–poured, light–armed troops In coats of mail and military pride; In mail their horses clad, yet fleet and strong, Prancing their riders bore, the flower and choice Of many provinces from bound to bound From Arachosia,[204] from Candaor east, And Margiana to the Hyrcanian cliffs Of Caucasus, and dark Iberian dales, From Atropatia, and the neighbouring plains Of Adiabene, Media, and the south Of Susiana, to Balsara’s haven. He saw them in their forms of battle ranged, How quick they wheeled, and flying, behind them shot Sharp sleet of arrowy showers against the face Of their pursuers, and overcame by flight; The fields, all iron, cast a gleaming brown: Nor wanted clouds of foot, nor on each horn Cuirassiers all in steel for standing fight, Chariots or elephants indorsed with towers Of archers, nor of labouring pioneers A multitude, with spades and axes armed To lay hills plain, fell woods, or valleys fill Or where plain was raise hill, or overlay With bridges rivers proud, as with a yoke; Mules after these, camels, and dromedaries, And waggons fraught with utensils of war. Such forces met not, nor so wide a camp When Agrican with all his northern powers Besieged Albracca, as romances tell, The city of Gallaphrone, from thence to win The fairest of her sex, Angelica His daughter, sought by many prowest knights Both Paynim and the peers of Charlemain. Such and so numerous was their chivalry.”[205]