[Footnote127:Intra，sicrederelibet，vixjamhominesetmagissemiferi……Blemmyes，Satyri，&c。PomponiusMela，i。4，p。26，edit。Voss。in8vo。Plinyphilosophicallyexplainsvi。35theirregularitiesofnature，whichhehadcredulouslyadmitted，v。
8。]
[Footnote128:IfthesatyrwastheOrang—outang，thegreathumanape，Buffon，Hist。Nat。tom。xiv。p。43，&c。，oneofthatspeciesmightactuallybeshownaliveatAlexandria，inthereignofConstantine。YetsomedifficultywillstillremainabouttheconversationwhichSt。Anthonyheldwithoneofthesepioussavages，inthedesertofThebais。Jerom。inVit。Paul。Eremit。
tom。i。p。238。]
[Footnote129:St。Anthonylikewisemetoneofthesemonsters；
whoseexistencewasseriouslyassertedbytheemperorClaudius。
Thepubliclaughed；buthispraefectofEgypthadtheaddresstosendanartfulpreparation，theembalmedcorpseofaHippocentaur，whichwaspreservedalmostacenturyafterwardsintheImperialpalace。SeePliny，Hist。Natur。vii。3，andthejudiciousobservationsofFreret。Memoiresdel\'Acad。tom。vii。
p。321，&c。]
[Footnote130:ThefableofthepygmiesisasoldasHomer，Iliad。iii。6ThepygmiesofIndiaandAethiopiaweretrispithamitwenty—sevenincheshigh。Everyspringtheircavalrymountedonramsandgoatsmarched，inbattlearray，todestroythecranes\'eggs，alitersaysPlinyfuturisgregibusnonresisti。Theirhouseswerebuiltofmud，feathers，andegg—
shells。SeePliny，vi。35，vii。2，andStrabo，l。ii。p。
121。]
[Footnote131:ThethirdandfourthvolumesofthevaluableHistoiredesVoyagesdescribethepresentstateoftheNegroes。
Thenationsofthesea—coasthavebeenpolishedbyEuropeancommerce；andthoseoftheinlandcountryhavebeenimprovedbyMoorishcolonies。
Note:Themartialtribesinchainarmor，discoveredbyDenham，areMahometan；thegreatquestionoftheinferiorityoftheAfricantribesintheirmentalfacultieswillprobablybeexperimentallyresolvedbeforethecloseofthecentury；buttheSlaveTradestillcontinues，andwill，itistobefeared，tillthespiritofgainissubduedbythespiritofChristianhumanity。—M。]
[Footnote132:HistoirePhilosophiqueetPolitique，&c。，tom。iv。
p。192。]
ChapterXXV:ReignsOfJovianAndValentinian，DivisionOfTheEmpire。
PartVI。
IV。Theignominioustreaty，whichsavedthearmyofJovian，hadbeenfaithfullyexecutedonthesideoftheRomans；andastheyhadsolemnlyrenouncedthesovereigntyandallianceofArmeniaandIberia，thosetributarykingdomswereexposed，withoutprotection，tothearmsofthePersianmonarch。^133
SaporenteredtheArmenianterritoriesattheheadofaformidablehostofcuirassiers，ofarchers，andofmercenaryfoot；butitwastheinvariablepracticeofSaportomixwarandnegotiation，andtoconsiderfalsehoodandperjuryasthemostpowerfulinstrumentsofregalpolicy。HeaffectedtopraisetheprudentandmoderateconductofthekingofArmenia；andtheunsuspiciousTiranuswaspersuaded，bytherepeatedassurancesofinsidiousfriendship，todeliverhispersonintothehandsofafaithlessandcruelenemy。Inthemidstofasplendidentertainment，hewasboundinchainsofsilver，asanhonorduetothebloodoftheArsacides；and，afterashortconfinementintheTowerofOblivionatEcbatana，hewasreleasedfromthemiseriesoflife，eitherbyhisowndagger，orbythatofanassassin。ThekingdomofArmeniawasreducedtothestateofaPersianprovince；theadministrationwassharedbetweenadistinguishedsatrapandafavoriteeunuch；andSapormarched，withoutdelay，tosubduethemartialspiritoftheIberians。
Sauromaces，whoreignedinthatcountrybythepermissionoftheemperors，wasexpelledbyasuperiorforce；and，asaninsultonthemajestyofRome，thekingofkingsplacedadiademontheheadofhisabjectvassalAspacuras。ThecityofArtogerassa^134wastheonlyplaceofArmenia^!!whichpresumedtoresisttheeffortsofhisarms。ThetreasuredepositedinthatstrongfortresstemptedtheavariceofSapor；butthedangerofOlympias，thewifeorwidowoftheArmenianking，excitedthepubliccompassion，andanimatedthedesperatevalorofhersubjectsandsoldiers。^!!!ThePersiansweresurprisedandrepulsedunderthewallsofArtogerassa，byaboldandwell—concertedsallyofthebesieged。ButtheforcesofSaporwerecontinuallyrenewedandincreased；thehopelesscourageofthegarrisonwasexhausted；thestrengthofthewallsyieldedtotheassault；andtheproudconqueror，afterwastingtherebelliouscitywithfireandsword，ledawaycaptiveanunfortunatequeen；who，inamoreauspicioushour，hadbeenthedestinedbrideofthesonofConstantine。^135YetifSaporalreadytriumphedintheeasyconquestoftwodependentkingdoms，hesoonfelt，thatacountryisunsubduedaslongasthemindsofthepeopleareactuatedbyahostileandcontumaciousspirit。
Thesatraps，whomhewasobligedtotrust，embracedthefirstopportunityofregainingtheaffectionoftheircountrymen，andofsignalizingtheirimmortalhatredtothePersianname。SincetheconversionoftheArmeniansandIberians，thesenationsconsideredtheChristiansasthefavorites，andtheMagiansastheadversaries，oftheSupremeBeing:theinfluenceoftheclergy，overasuperstitiouspeoplewasuniformlyexertedinthecauseofRome；andaslongasthesuccessorsofConstantinedisputedwiththoseofArtaxerxesthesovereigntyoftheintermediateprovinces，thereligiousconnectionalwaysthrewadecisiveadvantageintothescaleoftheempire。AnumerousandactivepartyacknowledgedPara，thesonofTiranus，asthelawfulsovereignofArmenia，andhistitletothethronewasdeeplyrootedinthehereditarysuccessionoffivehundredyears。BytheunanimousconsentoftheIberians，thecountrywasequallydividedbetweentherivalprinces；andAspacuras，whoowedhisdiademtothechoiceofSapor，wasobligedtodeclare，thathisregardforhischildren，whoweredetainedashostagesbythetyrant，wastheonlyconsiderationwhichpreventedhimfromopenlyrenouncingtheallianceofPersia。TheemperorValens，whorespectedtheobligationsofthetreaty，andwhowasapprehensiveofinvolvingtheEastinadangerouswar，ventured，withslowandcautiousmeasures，tosupporttheRomanpartyinthekingdomsofIberiaandArmenia。^!!!!TwelvelegionsestablishedtheauthorityofSauromacesonthebanksoftheCyrus。TheEuphrateswasprotectedbythevalorofArintheus。A
powerfularmy，underthecommandofCountTrajan，andofVadomair，kingoftheAlemanni，fixedtheircampontheconfinesofArmenia。Buttheywerestrictlyenjoinednottocommitthefirsthostilities，whichmightbeunderstoodasabreachofthetreaty:andsuchwastheimplicitobedienceoftheRomangeneral，thattheyretreated，withexemplarypatience，underashowerofPersianarrowstilltheyhadclearlyacquiredajusttitletoanhonorableandlegitimatevictory。Yettheseappearancesofwarinsensiblysubsidedinavainandtediousnegotiation。Thecontendingpartiessupportedtheirclaimsbymutualreproachesofperfidyandambition；anditshouldseem，thattheoriginaltreatywasexpressedinveryobscureterms，sincetheywerereducedtothenecessityofmakingtheirinconclusiveappealtothepartialtestimonyofthegeneralsofthetwonations，whohadassistedatthenegotiations。^136TheinvasionoftheGothsandHunswhichsoonafterwardsshookthefoundationsoftheRomanempire，exposedtheprovincesofAsiatothearmsofSapor。Butthedecliningage，andperhapstheinfirmities，ofthemonarchsuggestednewmaximsoftranquillityandmoderation。Hisdeath，whichhappenedinthefullmaturityofareignofseventyyears，changedinamomentthecourtandcouncilsofPersia；andtheirattentionwasmostprobablyengagedbydomestictroubles，andthedistanteffortsofaCarmanianwar。^137Theremembranceofancientinjurieswaslostintheenjoymentofpeace。ThekingdomsofArmeniaandIberiawerepermitted，bythemutual，thoughtacitconsentofbothempires，toresumetheirdoubtfulneutrality。InthefirstyearsofthereignofTheodosius，aPersianembassyarrivedatConstantinople，toexcusetheunjustifiablemeasuresoftheformerreign；andtooffer，asthetributeoffriendship，orevenofrespect，asplendidpresentofgems，ofsilk，andofIndianelephants。^138
[Footnote133:TheevidenceofAmmianusisoriginalanddecisive，xxvii。12。MosesofChorene，l。iii。c。17，p。249，andc。34，p。269，andProcopius，deBell。Persico，l。i。c。5，p。17，edit。Louvre，havebeenconsulted:butthosehistorianswhoconfounddistinctfacts，repeatthesameevents，andintroducestrangestories，mustbeusedwithdiffidenceandcaution。
Note:ThestatementofAmmianusismorebriefandsuccinct，butharmonizeswiththemorecomplicatedhistorydevelopedbyM。
St。MartinfromtheArmenianwriters，andfromProcopius，whowrote，ashestatesfromArmenianauthorities。—M。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtoM。St。Martin，Sapor，thoughsupportedbythetwoapostateArmenianprinces，MeroujantheArdzronnianandVahantheMamigonian，wasgallantlyresistedbyArsaces，andhisbravethoughimpiouswifePharandsem。HistroopsweredefeatedbyVasag，thehighconstableofthekingdom。SeeM。
St。Martin。Butafterfouryears\'courageousdefenceofhiskingdom，Arsaceswasabandonedbyhisnobles，andobligedtoaccepttheperfidioushospitalityofSapor。Hewasblindedandimprisonedinthe\"CastleofOblivion；\"hisbravegeneralVasagwasflayedalive；hisskinstuffedandplacednearthekinginhislonelyprison。ItwasnottillmanyyearsafterA。D。371
thathestabbedhimself，accordingtotheromanticstory，St。M。
iii。387，389，inaparoxysmofexcitementathisrestorationtoroyalhonors。St。Martin，AdditionstoLeBeau，iii。283，296。—
M。]
[Footnote134:PerhapsArtagera，orArdis；underwhosewallsCaius，thegrandsonofAugustus，waswounded。ThisfortresswassituateaboveAmida，nearoneofthesourcesoftheTigris。SeeD\'Anville，GeographieAncienue，tom。ii。p。106。
Note:St。MartinagreeswithGibbon，thatitwasthesamefortresswithArdisNote，p。373。—M。]
[Footnote!!:Artaxata，Vagharschabad，orEdchmiadzin，Erovantaschad，andmanyothercities，inallofwhichtherewasaconsiderableJewishpopulationweretakenanddestroyed。—M。]
[Footnote!!!:Pharandsem，notOlympias，refusingtheordersofhercaptivehusbandtosurrenderherselftoSapor，threwherselfintoArtogerassaSt。Martin，iii。293，302。Shedefendedherselfforfourteenmonths，tillfamineanddiseasehadleftfewsurvivorsoutof11，000soldiersand6000womenwhohadtakenrefugeinthefortress。Shethenthrewopenthegateswithherownhand。M。St。Martinadds，whateventhehorrorsofOrientalwarfarewillscarcelypermitustocredit，thatshewasexposedbySaporonapublicscaffoldtothebrutallustsofhissoldiery，andafterwardsempaled，iii。373，&c。—M。]
[Footnote135:TillemontHist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。701
proves，fromchronology，thatOlympiasmusthavebeenthemotherofPara。
Note*:AnerroraccordingtoSt。M。273。—M。]
[Footnote!!!!:AccordingtoThemistius，quotedbySt。Martin，heonceadvancedtotheTigris，iii。436。—M。]
[Footnote136:Ammianusxxvii。12，xix。1。xxx。1，2hasdescribedtheevents，withoutthedates，ofthePersianwar。
MosesofChoreneHist。Armen。l。iii。c。28，p。261，c。31，p。
266，c。35，p。271affordssomeadditionalfacts；butitisextremelydifficulttoseparatetruthfromfable。]
[Footnote137:Artaxerxeswasthesuccessorandbrotherthecousin—germanofthegreatSapor；andtheguardianofhisson，SaporIII。Agathias，l。iv。p。136，edit。Louvre。SeetheUniversalHistory，vol。xi。p。86，161。TheauthorsofthatunequalworkhavecompiledtheSassaniandynastywitheruditionanddiligence；butitisapreposterousarrangementtodividetheRomanandOrientalaccountsintotwodistincthistories。
Note:OnthewarofSaporwiththeBactrians，whichdivertedfromArmenia，seeSt。M。iii。387。—M。]
[Footnote138:PacatusinPanegyr。Vet。xii。22，andOrosius，l。
vii。c。34。Ictumquetumfoedusest，quouniversusOriensusqueadnumA。D。416tranquillissimefruitur。]
InthegeneralpictureoftheaffairsoftheEastunderthereignofValens，theadventuresofParaformoneofthemoststrikingandsingularobjects。Thenobleyouth，bythepersuasionofhismotherOlympias，hadescapedthroughthePersianhostthatbesiegedArtogerassa，andimploredtheprotectionoftheemperoroftheEast。Byhistimidcouncils，Parawasalternatelysupported，andrecalled，andrestored，andbetrayed。ThehopesoftheArmeniansweresometimesraisedbythepresenceoftheirnaturalsovereign，andtheministersofValensweresatisfied，thattheypreservedtheintegrityofthepublicfaith，iftheirvassalwasnotsufferedtoassumethediademandtitleofKing。Buttheysoonrepentedoftheirownrashness。TheywereconfoundedbythereproachesandthreatsofthePersianmonarch。TheyfoundreasontodistrustthecruelandinconstanttemperofParahimself；whosacrificed，totheslightestsuspicions，thelivesofhismostfaithfulservants，andheldasecretanddisgracefulcorrespondencewiththeassassinofhisfatherandtheenemyofhiscountry。Underthespeciouspretenceofconsultingwiththeemperoronthesubjectoftheircommoninterest，ParawaspersuadedtodescendfromthemountainsofArmenia，wherehispartywasinarms，andtotrusthisindependenceandsafetytothediscretionofaperfidiouscourt。ThekingofArmenia，forsuchheappearedinhisowneyesandinthoseofhisnation，wasreceivedwithduehonorsbythegovernorsoftheprovincesthroughwhichhepassed；butwhenhearrivedatTarsusinCilicia，hisprogresswasstoppedundervariouspretences；hismotionswerewatchedwithrespectfulvigilance，andhegraduallydiscovered，thathewasaprisonerinthehandsoftheRomans。Parasuppressedhisindignation，dissembledhisfears，andaftersecretlypreparinghisescape，mountedonhorsebackwiththreehundredofhisfaithfulfollowers。TheofficerstationedatthedoorofhisapartmentimmediatelycommunicatedhisflighttotheconsularofCilicia，whoovertookhiminthesuburbs，andendeavoredwithoutsuccess，todissuadehimfromprosecutinghisrashanddangerousdesign。
Alegionwasorderedtopursuetheroyalfugitive；butthepursuitofinfantrycouldnotbeveryalarmingtoabodyoflightcavalry；anduponthefirstcloudofarrowsthatwasdischargedintotheair，theyretreatedwithprecipitationtothegatesofTarsus。Afteranincessantmarchoftwodaysandtwonights，ParaandhisArmeniansreachedthebanksoftheEuphrates；butthepassageoftheriverwhichtheywereobligedtoswim，*wasattendedwithsomedelayandsomeloss。Thecountrywasalarmed；
andthetworoads，whichwereonlyseparatedbyanintervalofthreemileshadbeenoccupiedbyathousandarchersonhorseback，underthecommandofacountandatribune。Paramusthaveyieldedtosuperiorforce，iftheaccidentalarrivalofafriendlytravellerhadnotrevealedthedangerandthemeansofescape。AdarkandalmostimperviouspathsecurelyconveyedtheArmeniantroopthroughthethicket；andParahadleftbehindhimthecountandthetribune，whiletheypatientlyexpectedhisapproachalongthepublichighways。TheyreturnedtotheImperialcourttoexcusetheirwantofdiligenceorsuccess；andseriouslyalleged，thatthekingofArmenia，whowasaskilfulmagician，hadtransformedhimselfandhisfollowers，andpassedbeforetheireyesunderaborrowedshape。^!Afterhisreturntohisnativekingdom，ParastillcontinuedtoprofesshimselfthefriendandallyoftheRomans:buttheRomanshadinjuredhimtoodeeplyevertoforgive，andthesecretsentenceofhisdeathwassignedinthecouncilofValens。TheexecutionofthebloodydeedwascommittedtothesubtleprudenceofCountTrajan；andhehadthemeritofinsinuatinghimselfintotheconfidenceofthecredulousprince，thathemightfindanopportunityofstabbinghimtotheheartParawasinvitedtoaRomanbanquet，whichhadbeenpreparedwithallthepompandsensualityoftheEast；thehallresoundedwithcheerfulmusic，andthecompanywasalreadyheatedwithwine；whenthecountretiredforaninstant，drewhissword，andgavethesignalofthemurder。ArobustanddesperateBarbarianinstantlyrushedonthekingofArmenia；andthoughhebravelydefendedhislifewiththefirstweaponthatchanceofferedtohishand，thetableoftheImperialgeneralwasstainedwiththeroyalbloodofaguest，andanally。SuchweretheweakandwickedmaximsoftheRomanadministration，that，toattainadoubtfulobjectofpoliticalinterestthelawsofnations，andthesacredrightsofhospitalitywereinhumanlyviolatedinthefaceoftheworld。^139
[Footnote*:OnthereconquestofArmeniabyPara，orratherbyMouschegh，theMamigonianseeSt。M。iii。375，383。—M。]
[Footnote**:Onplanksfloatedbybladders。—M。]
[Footnote!:ItiscuriousenoughthattheArmenianhistorian，FaustusofByzandum，representsParaasamagician。HisimpiousmotherPharandachaddevotedhimtothedemonsonhisbirth。St。
M。iv。23。—M。]
[Footnote139:SeeinAmmianusxxx。1theadventuresofPara。
MosesofChorenecallshimTiridates；andtellsalong，andnotimprobablestoryofhissonGnelus，whoafterwardsmadehimselfpopularinArmenia，andprovokedthejealousyofthereigningking，l。iii。c21，&c。，p。253，&c。
Note:Thisnoteisatissueofmistakes。TiridatesandParaaretwototallydifferentpersons。TiridateswasthefatherofGnelfirsthusbandofPharandsem，themotherofPara。St。
Martin，iv。27—M。]
V。Duringapeacefulintervalofthirtyyears，theRomanssecuredtheirfrontiers，andtheGothsextendedtheirdominions。