Fellow-Soldier to a Duel? What, was there never a ~Christian~ to fight with? Do not both of you eat your Emperor’s Bread? And yet, forsooth, you must go about to take away one another’s Lives! What Precedent had you for this? Don’t you know, that whoever of the two had died, the Emperor had lost a Subject?_ Whereupon, by their Command, he was haled to Prison, where he lay pining many Months, and was, at last, with Difficulty, released; yet with the loss of his Reputation. Among us _Christians_, many who have never come in sight of a public Enemy, draw their Swords upon one another, and think it a brave and honourable Thing. What shall a Man do in such a Case, when Vice usurps the seat of Virtue, and that which deserves Punishment, is counted noble and glorious? But to return, I know you are inquisitive, and therefore give me leave to acquaint you with the public Entrance, which the King of _Cholchos_ made into this City. His Kingdom is by the River _Phasis_, in a Creek or Bay of the _Euxine_ Sea, not far from Mount _Caucasus_. His Name is _Dadianus_, a Man of a tall Stature and grateful Countenance, but of a rough-hew’n Disposition, as some say. He came with a great Train, but in a very Thread-bare, and old-fashion’d Garb. The _Italians_, at this Day, call the _Colchians Mingrelians_: They are some of that People, inhabiting between the _Caspian Gates_, (called by the _Turks_, _Demit capi_, i. e. _Iron Gates_,) and the _Potic_ and _Hyrcanian_-Seas: They are at this Day called _Georgians_; whether from that sort of Christian Religion, which they profess, or whether that be their ancient Name (which seems most probable,) is not fully determined. The _Albanians_ and _Iberians_ are reckoned a Part of them. The Cause of his coming is uncertain: Some say, he was sent for by the _Turk_; for, when he makes Wars upon the _Persian_, if the _Colchians_ and the People of that Tract join with him, they may give him notable Assistance. But the vulgar and more credible Opinion was, that he came to desire the Assistance of some Gallies against his Neighbour, the _Iberian_, who had slain his Father; which if he could obtain, then he would become Tributary to the _Sultan_. For, you must know, that there is an old and inveterate Hatred between the _Colchians_ and the _Iberians_. Once there were some Overtures of Accommodation between them, and a Conference was had thereupon, between great Numbers of both Nations. At this Meeting, they began, first, to try who should be the greatest Drinkers; in which Contest, the _Colchians_, fell fast asleep. The treacherous _Iberians_ made use of this Opportunity, and hurried away honest _Dadianus_ as yet snoring, into a Chariot, and shut him up Prisoner in a high Tower, as if he had been lawful Prize taken in War. To revenge this Injury, and to recover their King, the _Colchians_ levied an Army of 30,000 Men, who were commanded by the Wife of the captive King, a Woman of great Spirit, and not unskill’d