There followed a great massacre of the townspeople, until one of the citizens—an old man and a priest—approached Cabades as he was riding into the city, and said that it was not a kingly act to slaughter captives. Then Cabades, still moved with passion, replied: “But why did you decide to fight against me?” And the old man answered quickly: “Because God willed to give Amida into thy hand not so much because of our decision as of thy valour.” Cabades was pleased by this speech, and permitted no further slaughter, but he bade the Persians plunder the property and make slaves of the survivors, and he directed them to choose out for himself all the notables among them.
Edition :
Procopius: De Bellis; in: Procopius. History of the Wars, Volume I-V. ed. and transl. H. B. Dewing, Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1914-1928.
Remark :
source: The quote extends into 1.7.32. long-term consequence: Cavades returned towards Persia with the majority of his army and the enslaved population, but released all of them shortly afterwards. (1.7.33-34.)
