History is silent as to the Fate and Circumstances of this City, during the great Revolutions in the several Empires of the East; but it may well be supposed, that so advanced a Garrison as this was, being above three hundred Miles from _Jerusalem_, continued not long in the Possession of the _Jews_, who immediately after _Solomon_, fell into Civil Dissention, and divided their Force: so that it is not to be doubted, but that it submitted to the _Babylonian_ and _Persian_ Monarchies, and afterwards to the _Macedonians_ under _Alexander_ and the _Seleucidæ_. But when the _Romans_ got footing into these Parts, and the _Parthians_ seemed to put a stop to their farther Conquests in the _East_, then was this City of _Palmyra_, by reason of its Situation, being a Frontier, and in the midst of a vast Sandy _Desart_, where Armies could not well subsist to reduce it by Force, courted and caressed by the contending Princes, and permitted to continue a Free State, a Mart or Staple for Trade, for the Convenience of both Empires, as is abundantly made out from the Words of _Appian_ and _Pliny_. _Appian_ (_lib._ 5. _de Bellis Civil._) tells us, that _M. Antonius_, after his Victory at _Philippi_, about forty Years before _Christ_, sent his Horse to Plunder the City of _Palmyra_, pretending only that they were not sufficiently in the _Roman_ Interest. ὅτι Ρωμαίων καὶ Παρθυαίων ὄντες ἔφοροι ἐς ἑκατέρας ἐπιδεξίως εἶχον, and that being Merchants, they conveyed the _Indian_ and _Arabian_ Commodities by the way of _Persia_ into the _Roman_ Territories; though the true reason were their Riches: But the _Palmyrenes_ being informed of the Design, took care to prevent them, and so escaped Plunder: And this Attempt of _Antony_'s occasioned a Rupture between the two Empires. The Words of _Pliny_ (_lib._ 5. _Nat. Hist._) above an hundred Years after, do likewise testifie that this City then continued in the same Enjoyment of their Liberties. They being very much to the purpose, I thought fit to Copy them: _Palmyra Urbs nobilis situ, divitiis soli atque aquis amœnis, vasto undique ambitu arinis includit agros, ac velut terris exempta à rerum Natura; privata sorte inter duo imperia summa Romanorum Parthorumque, & prima in discordia semper utrinque cura_. Whereby it appears not only that it was a Common-wealth in the time of _Vespasian_; but the situation thereof is truly described, as it were an Island of fertile Land, surrounded with a Sea of barren Sands. Such Spots _Strabo_ tells us were frequent in _Lybia_, and by the _Egyptians_ were called _Abases_; whence possibly the Name of the _Abassyne_ Nation is derived.