Her first salutation to Aurelian was a specimen of abject flattery; and
her last _public_ words were evidences of the basest treachery in
giving up her generals, and her chief counsellor Longinus, to the
vengeance of the ungenerous enemy.] After two battles lost in Syria,
Zenobia retreated to Palmyra. With great difficulty Aurelian pursued her;
and with still greater difficulty he pressed the siege of Palmyra. Zenobia
looked for relief from Persia; but at that moment Sapor died, and the
Queen of Palmyra fled upon a dromedary, but was pursued and captured.
Palmyra surrendered and was spared; but unfortunately, with a folly which
marks the haughty spirit of the place unfitted to brook submission,
scarcely had the conquering army retired when a tumult arose, and the
Roman garrison was slaughtered. Little knowledge could those have had of
Aurelian's character, who tempted him to acts but too welcome to his cruel
nature by such an outrage as this. The news overtook the emperor on the
Hellespont. Instantly, without pause, "like Ate hot from hell," Aurelian
retraced his steps--reached the guilty city--and consigned it, with all
its population, to that utter destruction from which it has never since
arisen.
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