Deprivedoftheonlychiefwhomtheycouldfearoresteem，thebandswhichhehadledtovictoryweretwicebrokenbythecavalry，trampledbytheelephants，andpiercedbythearrowsoftheBarbarians；andagreatnumberofthecaptiveswerebeheadedonthefieldofbattlebythesentenceofthevictor，whomightjustlycondemntheseseditiousmercenariesastheauthorsoraccomplicesofthedeathofMaurice。UnderthereignofPhocas，thefortificationsofMerdin，Dara，Amida，andEdessa，weresuccessivelybesieged，reduced，anddestroyed，bythePersianmonarch:hepassedtheEuphrates，occupiedtheSyriancities，Hierapolis，Chalcis，andBerrhaeaorAleppo，andsoonencompassedthewallsofAntiochwithhisirresistiblearms。Therapidtideofsuccessdisclosesthedecayoftheempire，theincapacityofPhocas，andthedisaffectionofhissubjects；andChosroesprovidedadecentapologyfortheirsubmissionorrevolt，byanimpostor，whoattendedhiscampasthesonofMaurice^58andthelawfulheirofthemonarchy。
[Footnote55:Theophylact，l。viii。c。15。ThelifeofMauricewascomposedabouttheyear628l。viii。c。13byTheophylactSimocatta，ex—praefect，anativeofEgypt。Photius，whogivesanampleextractofthework，cod。lxv。p。81—100，gentlyreprovestheaffectationandallegoryofthestyle。HisprefaceisadialoguebetweenPhilosophyandHistory；theyseatthemselvesunderaplane—tree，andthelattertouchesherlyre。]
[Footnote56:Christianisnecpactumesse，necfidemnecfoedus……quodsiullaillisfidesfuisset，regemsuumnonoccidissent。Eutych。Annalestom。ii。p。211，vers。Pocock。]
[Footnote57:Wemustnow，forsomeages，takeourleaveofcontemporaryhistorians，anddescend，ifitbeadescent，fromtheaffectationofrhetorictotherudesimplicityofchroniclesandabridgments。ThoseofTheophanesChronograph。p。244—279
andNicephorusp。3—16supplyaregular，butimperfect，seriesofthePersianwar；andforanyadditionalfactsIquotemyspecialauthorities。Theophanes，acourtierwhobecameamonk，wasbornA。D。748；NicephoruspatriarchofConstantinople，whodiedA。D。829，wassomewhatyounger:theybothsufferedinthecauseofimagesHankius，deScriptoribusByzantinis，p。200—
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