Note:St。Paul\'sCathedralis500feet。DallawayonArchitecture—M。]
[Footnote131:Thepolicy，however，oftheRomansinducedthemtoabridgetheextentofthesanctuaryorasylum，whichbysuccessiveprivilegeshadspreaditselftwostadiaroundthetemple。Strabo，l。xiv。p。641。Tacit。Annal。iii。60，&c。]
[Footnote132:TheyofferednosacrificestotheGreciangods。
SeeEpistolGregor。Thaumat。]
Anothercircumstanceisrelatedoftheseinvasions，whichmightdeserveournotice，wereitnotjustlytobesuspectedasthefancifulconceitofarecentsophist。Wearetold，thatinthesackofAthenstheGothshadcollectedallthelibraries，andwereonthepointofsettingfiretothisfuneralpileofGrecianlearning，hadnotoneoftheirchiefs，ofmorerefinedpolicythanhisbrethren，dissuadedthemfromthedesign；bytheprofoundobservation，thataslongastheGreekswereaddictedtothestudyofbooks，theywouldneverapplythemselvestotheexerciseofarms。^133Thesagaciouscounsellorshouldthetruthofthefactbeadmittedreasonedlikeanignorantbarbarian。Inthemostpoliteandpowerfulnations，geniusofeverykindhasdisplayeditselfaboutthesameperiod；andtheageofsciencehasgenerallybeentheageofmilitaryvirtueandsuccess。
[Footnote133:Zonaras，l。xii。p。635。SuchananecdotewasperfectlysuitedtothetasteofMontaigne。HemakesuseofitinhisagreeableEssayonPedantry，l。i。c。24。]
IV。ThenewsovereignofPersia，ArtaxerxesandhissonSapor，hadtriumphedaswehavealreadyseenoverthehouseofArsaces。Ofthemanyprincesofthatancientrace。Chosroes，kingofArmenia，hadalonepreservedbothhislifeandhisindependence。Hedefendedhimselfbythenaturalstrengthofhiscountry；bytheperpetualresortoffugitivesandmalecontents；
bytheallianceoftheRomans，andaboveall，byhisowncourage。
Invincibleinarms，duringathirtyyears\'war，hewasatlengthassassinatedbytheemissariesofSapor，kingofPersia。ThepatrioticsatrapsofArmenia，whoassertedthefreedomanddignityofthecrown，imploredtheprotectionofRomeinfavorofTiridates，thelawfulheir。ButthesonofChosroeswasaninfant，theallieswereatadistance，andthePersianmonarchadvancedtowardsthefrontierattheheadofanirresistibleforce。YoungTiridates，thefuturehopeofhiscountry，wassavedbythefidelityofaservant，andArmeniacontinuedabovetwenty—sevenyearsareluctantprovinceofthegreatmonarchyofPersia。^134Elatedwiththiseasyconquest，andpresumingonthedistressesorthedegeneracyoftheRomans，SaporobligedthestronggarrisonsofCarrhaeandNisibistosurrender，andspreaddevastationandterroroneithersideoftheEuphrates。
[Footnote134:MosesChorenensis，l。ii。c。71，73，74。Zonaras，l。xii。p。628。TheanthenticrelationoftheArmenianhistorianservestorectifytheconfusedaccountoftheGreek。ThelattertalksofthechildrenofTiridates，whoatthattimewashimselfaninfant。CompareStMartinMemoiressurl\'Armenie，i。p。301。
—M。]
[Footnote*:Nisibis，accordingtoPersianauthors，wastakenbyamiracle，thewallfell，incompliancewiththeprayersofthearmy。Malcolm\'sPersia，l。76。—M]
Thelossofanimportantfrontier，theruinofafaithfulandnaturalally，andtherapidsuccessofSapor\'sambition，affectedRomewithadeepsenseoftheinsultaswellasofthedanger。Valerianflatteredhimself，thatthevigilanceofhislieutenantswouldsufficientlyprovideforthesafetyoftheRhineandoftheDanube；butheresolved，notwithstandinghisadvancedage，tomarchinpersontothedefenceoftheEuphrates。
DuringhisprogressthroughAsiaMinor，thenavalenterprisesoftheGothsweresuspended，andtheafflictedprovinceenjoyedatransientandfallaciouscalm。HepassedtheEuphrates，encounteredthePersianmonarchnearthewallsofEdessa，wasvanquished，andtakenprisonerbySapor。Theparticularsofthisgreateventaredarklyandimperfectlyrepresented；yet，bytheglimmeringlightwhichisaffordedus，wemaydiscoveralongseriesofimprudence，oferror，andofdeservedmisfortunesonthesideoftheRomanemperor。HereposedanimplicitconfidenceinMacrianus，hisPraetorianpraefect。^135Thatworthlessministerrenderedhismasterformidableonlytotheoppressedsubjects，andcontemptibletotheenemiesofRome。^136Byhisweakorwickedcounsels，theImperialarmywasbetrayedintoasituationwherevalorandmilitaryskillwereequallyunavailing。
^137ThevigorousattemptoftheRomanstocuttheirwaythroughthePersianhostwasrepulsedwithgreatslaughter；^138andSapor，whoencompassedthecampwithsuperiornumbers，patientlywaitedtilltheincreasingrageoffamineandpestilencehadinsuredhisvictory。ThelicentiousmurmursofthelegionssoonaccusedValerianasthecauseoftheircalamities；theirseditiousclamorsdemandedaninstantcapitulation。Animmensesumofgoldwasofferedtopurchasethepermissionofadisgracefulretreat。ButthePersian，consciousofhissuperiority，refusedthemoneywithdisdain；anddetainingthedeputies，advancedinorderofbattletothefootoftheRomanrampart，andinsistedonapersonalconferencewiththeemperor。
Valerianwasreducedtothenecessityofintrustinghislifeanddignitytothefaithofanenemy。Theinterviewendedasitwasnaturaltoexpect。Theemperorwasmadeaprisoner，andhisastonishedtroopslaiddowntheirarms。^139Insuchamomentoftriumph，theprideandpolicyofSaporpromptedhimtofillthevacantthronewithasuccessorentirelydependentonhispleasure。Cyriades，anobscurefugitiveofAntioch，stainedwitheveryvice，waschosentodishonortheRomanpurple；andthewillofthePersianvictorcouldnotfailofbeingratifiedbytheacclamations，howeverreluctant，ofthecaptivearmy。^140
[Footnote135:Hist。Aug。p。191。AsMacrianuswasanenemytotheChristians，theychargedhimwithbeingamagician。]
[Footnote136:Zosimus，l。i。p。33。]
[Footnote137:Hist。Aug。p。174。]
[Footnote138:VictorinCaesar。Eutropius，ix。7。]
[Footnote139:Zosimus，l。i。p。33。Zonaras，l。xii。p。630。
PeterPatricius，intheExcerptaLegat。p。29。]
[Footnote140:Hist。August。p。185。ThereignofCyriadesappearsinthatcollectionpriortothedeathofValerian；butI
havepreferredaprobableseriesofeventstothedoubtfulchronologyofamostinaccuratewriter]
TheImperialslavewaseagertosecurethefavorofhismasterbyanactoftreasontohisnativecountry。HeconductedSaporovertheEuphrates，and，bythewayofChalcis，tothemetropolisoftheEast。SorapidwerethemotionsofthePersiancavalry，that，ifwemaycreditaveryjudicioushistorian，^141
thecityofAntiochwassurprisedwhentheidlemultitudewasfondlygazingontheamusementsofthetheatre。ThesplendidbuildingsofAntioch，privateaswellaspublic，wereeitherpillagedordestroyed；andthenumerousinhabitantswereputtothesword，orledawayintocaptivity。^142ThetideofdevastationwasstoppedforamomentbytheresolutionofthehighpriestofEmesa。Arrayedinhissacerdotalrobes，heappearedattheheadofagreatbodyoffanaticpeasants，armedonlywithslings，anddefendedhisgodandhispropertyfromthesacrilegioushandsofthefollowersofZoroaster。^143ButtheruinofTarsus，andofmanyothercities，furnishesamelancholyproofthat，exceptinthissingularinstance，theconquestofSyriaandCiliciascarcelyinterruptedtheprogressofthePersianarms。TheadvantagesofthenarrowpassesofMountTauruswereabandoned，inwhichaninvader，whoseprincipalforceconsistedinhiscavalry，wouldhavebeenengagedinaveryunequalcombat:andSaporwaspermittedtoformthesiegeofCaesarea，thecapitalofCappadocia；acity，thoughofthesecondrank，whichwassupposedtocontainfourhundredthousandinhabitants。Demosthenescommandedintheplace，notsomuchbythecommissionoftheemperor，asinthevoluntarydefenceofhiscountry。Foralongtimehedeferreditsfate；andwhenatlastCaesareawasbetrayedbytheperfidyofaphysician，hecuthiswaythroughthePersians，whohadbeenorderedtoexerttheirutmostdiligencetotakehimalive。Thisheroicchiefescapedthepowerofafoewhomighteitherhavehonoredorpunishedhisobstinatevalor；butmanythousandsofhisfellow—citizenswereinvolvedinageneralmassacre，andSaporisaccusedoftreatinghisprisonerswithwantonandunrelentingcruelty。^144Muchshouldundoubtedlybeallowedfornationalanimosity，muchforhumbledprideandimpotentrevenge；yet，uponthewhole，itiscertain，thatthesameprince，who，inArmenia，haddisplayedthemildaspectofalegislator，showedhimselftotheRomansunderthesternfeaturesofaconqueror。Hedespairedofmakinganypermanentestablishmentintheempire，andsoughtonlytoleavebehindhimawasteddesert，whilsthetransportedintoPersiathepeopleandthetreasuresoftheprovinces。^145
[Footnote141:ThesackofAntioch，anticipatedbysomehistorians，isassigned，bythedecisivetestimonyofAmmianusMarcellinus，tothereignofGallienus，xxiii。5。
Note:Heyne，inhisnoteonZosimus，conteststhisopinionofGibbonandobserves，thatthetestimonyofAmmianusisinfactbynomeansclear，decisive。GallienusandValerianreignedtogether。Zosimus，inapassage，l。iiii。32，8，distinctlyplacesthiseventbeforethecaptureofValerian。—M。]
[Footnote142:Zosimus，l。i。p。35。]
[Footnote143:JohnMalala，tom。i。p。391。Hecorruptsthisprobableeventbysomefabulouscircumstances。]
[Footnote144:Zonaras，l。xii。p。630。Deepvalleyswerefilledupwiththeslain。Crowdsofprisonersweredriventowaterlikebeasts，andmanyperishedforwantoffood。]
[Footnote145:Zosimus，l。i。p。25asserts，thatSapor，hadhenotpreferredspoiltoconquest，mighthaveremainedmasterofAsia。]
AtthetimewhentheEasttrembledatthenameofSapor，hereceivedapresentnotunworthyofthegreatestkings；alongtrainofcamels，ladenwiththemostrareandvaluablemerchandises。Therichofferingwasaccompaniedwithanepistle，respectful，butnotservile，fromOdenathus，oneofthenoblestandmostopulentsenatorsofPalmyra。\"WhoisthisOdenathus，\"
saidthehaughtyvictor，andhecommandedthatthepresentshouldbecastintotheEuphrates，\"thathethusinsolentlypresumestowritetohislord?Ifheentertainsahopeofmitigatinghispunishment，lethimfallprostratebeforethefootofourthrone，withhishandsboundbehindhisback。Shouldhehesitate，swiftdestructionshallbepouredonhishead，onhiswholerace，andonhiscountry。\"^146ThedesperateextremitytowhichthePalmyrenianwasreduced，calledintoactionallthelatentpowersofhissoul。HemetSapor；buthemethiminarms。
InfusinghisownspiritintoalittlearmycollectedfromthevillagesofSyria^147andthetentsofthedesert，^148hehoveredroundthePersianhost，harassedtheirretreat，carriedoffpartofthetreasure，and，whatwasdearerthananytreasure，severalofthewomenofthegreatking；whowasatlastobligedtorepasstheEuphrateswithsomemarksofhasteandconfusion。
^149Bythisexploit，Odenathuslaidthefoundationsofhisfuturefameandfortunes。ThemajestyofRome，oppressedbyaPersian，wasprotectedbyaSyrianorArabofPalmyra。
[Footnote146:PeterPatriciusinExcerpt。Leg。p。29。]
[Footnote147:Syrorumagrestiummanu。SextusRufus，c。23。
RufusVictortheAugustanHistory，p。192，andseveralinscriptions，agreeinmakingOdenathusacitizenofPalmyra。]
[Footnote148:Hepossessedsopowerfulaninterestamongthewanderingtribes，thatProcopiusBell。Persic。l。ii。c。5andJohnMalala，tom。i。p。391stylehimPrinceoftheSaracens。]
[Footnote149:PeterPatricius，p。25。]
Thevoiceofhistory，whichisoftenlittlemorethantheorganofhatredorflattery，reproachesSaporwithaproudabuseoftherightsofconquest。WearetoldthatValerian，inchains，butinvestedwiththeImperialpurple，wasexposedtothemultitude，aconstantspectacleoffallengreatness；andthatwheneverthePersianmonarchmountedonhorseback，heplacedhisfootontheneckofaRomanemperor。Notwithstandingalltheremonstrancesofhisallies，whorepeatedlyadvisedhimtorememberthevicissitudesoffortune，todreadthereturningpowerofRome，andtomakehisillustriouscaptivethepledgeofpeace，nottheobjectofinsult，Saporstillremainedinflexible。
WhenValeriansunkundertheweightofshameandgrief，hisskin，stuffedwithstraw，andformedintothelikenessofahumanfigure，waspreservedforagesinthemostcelebratedtempleofPersia；amorerealmonumentoftriumph，thanthefanciedtrophiesofbrassandmarblesooftenerectedbyRomanvanity。
^150Thetaleismoralandpathetic，butthetruth^!ofitmayveryfairlybecalledinquestion。ThelettersstillextantfromtheprincesoftheEasttoSaporaremanifestforgeries；^151norisitnaturaltosupposethatajealousmonarchshould，eveninthepersonofarival，thuspubliclydegradethemajestyofkings。WhatevertreatmenttheunfortunateValerianmightexperienceinPersia，itisatleastcertainthattheonlyemperorofRomewhohadeverfallenintothehandsoftheenemy，languishedawayhislifeinhopelesscaptivity。
[Footnote150:ThePaganwriterslament，theChristianinsult，themisfortunesofValerian。TheirvarioustestimoniesareaccuratelycollectedbyTillemont，tom。iii。p。739，&c。SolittlehasbeenpreservedofeasternhistorybeforeMahomet，thatthemodernPersiansaretotallyignorantofthevictorySapor，aneventsoglorioustotheirnation。SeeBibliothequeOrientale。
Note:MalcolmappearstowritefromPersianauthorities，i。
76。—M。]
[Footnote!:YetGibbonhimselfrecordsaspeechoftheemperorGalerius，whichalludestothecrueltiesexercisedagainsttheliving，andtheindignitiestowhichtheyexposedthedeadValerian，vol。ii。ch。13。Respectforthekinglycharacterwouldbynomeanspreventaneasternmonarchfromratifyinghisprideandhisvengeanceonafallenfoe。—M。]
[Footnote151:OneoftheseepistlesisfromArtavasdes，kingofArmenia；sinceArmeniawasthenaprovinceofPersia，theking，thekingdom，andtheepistlemustbefictitious。]
TheemperorGallienus，whohadlongsupportedwithimpatiencethecensorialseverityofhisfatherandcolleague，receivedtheintelligenceofhismisfortuneswithsecretpleasureandavowedindifference。\"Iknewthatmyfatherwasamortal，\"
saidhe；\"andsincehehasactedasitbecomesabraveman，Iamsatisfied。\"WhilstRomelamentedthefateofhersovereign，thesavagecoldnessofhissonwasextolledbytheservilecourtiersastheperfectfirmnessofaheroandastoic。^152Itisdifficulttopaintthelight，thevarious，theinconstantcharacterofGallienus，whichhedisplayedwithoutconstraint，assoonashebecamesolepossessoroftheempire。Ineveryartthatheattempted，hislivelygeniusenabledhimtosucceed；andashisgeniuswasdestituteofjudgment，heattemptedeveryart，excepttheimportantonesofwarandgovernment。Hewasamasterofseveralcurious，butuselesssciences，areadyorator，anelegantpoet，^153askilfulgardener，anexcellentcook，andmostcontemptibleprince。Whenthegreatemergenciesofthestaterequiredhispresenceandattention，hewasengagedinconversationwiththephilosopherPlotinus，^154wastinghistimeintriflingorlicentiouspleasures，preparinghisinitiationtotheGrecianmysteries，orsolicitingaplaceintheArcopagusofAthens。Hisprofusemagnificenceinsultedthegeneralpoverty；
thesolemnridiculeofhistriumphsimpressedadeepersenseofthepublicdisgrace。^155Therepeatedintelligenceofinvasions，defeats，andrebellions，hereceivedwithacarelesssmile；andsinglingout，withaffectedcontempt，someparticularproductionofthelostprovince，hecarelesslyasked，whetherRomemustberuined，unlessitwassuppliedwithlinenfromEgypt，andarrasclothfromGaul。Therewere，however，afewshortmomentsinthelifeofGallienus，when，exasperatedbysomerecentinjury，hesuddenlyappearedtheintrepidsoldierandthecrueltyrant；
till，satiatedwithblood，orfatiguedbyresistance，heinsensiblysunkintothenaturalmildnessandindolenceofhischaracter。^156
[Footnote152:SeehislifeintheAugustanHistory。]
[Footnote153:ThereisstillextantaveryprettyEpithalamium，composedbyGallienusforthenuptialsofhisnephews:—
\"Iteait，Ojuvenes，paritersudatemedullisOmnibus，intervos:nonmurmuravestracolumbae，Brachianonhederae，nonvincantosculaconchae。\"]
[Footnote154:HewasonthepointofgivingPlotinusaruinedcityofCampaniatotrytheexperimentofrealizingPlato\'sRepublic。SeetheLifeofPlotinus，byPorphyry，inFabricius\'sBiblioth。Graec。l。iv。]
[Footnote155:AmedalwhichbearstheheadofGallienushasperplexedtheantiquariansbyitslegendandreverse；theformerGallienoeAugustoe，thelatterUbiquePax。M。SpanheimsupposesthatthecoinwasstruckbysomeoftheenemiesofGallienus，andwasdesignedasaseveresatireonthateffeminateprince。ButastheuseofironymayseemunworthyofthegravityoftheRomanmint，M。deVallemonthasdeducedfromapassageofTrebelliusPollioHist。Aug。p。198aningeniousandnaturalsolution。