Afterthisunsuccessfulcampaign，thewantofmagazines，andperhapssomeinroadoftheTurks，obligedhimtodisbandordividehisforces；theRomanswereleftmastersofthefield，andtheirgeneralJustinian，advancingtothereliefofthePersarmenianrebels，erectedhisstandardonthebanksoftheAraxes。ThegreatPompeyhadformerlyhaltedwithinthreedays\'
marchoftheCaspian:^5thatinlandseawasexplored，forthefirsttime，byahostilefleet，^6andseventythousandcaptivesweretransplantedfromHyrcaniatotheIsleofCyprus。Onthereturnofspring，JustiniandescendedintothefertileplainsofAssyria；theflamesofwarapproachedtheresidenceofNushirvan；
theindignantmonarchsunkintothegrave；andhislastedictrestrainedhissuccessorsfromexposingtheirpersoninbattleagainsttheRomans。Yetthememoryofthistransientaffrontwaslostinthegloriesofalongreign；andhisformidableenemies，afterindulgingtheirdreamofconquest，againsolicitedashortrespitefromthecalamitiesofwar。^7
[Footnote3:ThegeneralindependenceoftheArabs，whichcannotbeadmittedwithoutmanylimitations，isblindlyassertedinaseparatedissertationoftheauthorsoftheUniversalHistory，vol。xx。p。196—250。AperpetualmiracleissupposedtohaveguardedtheprophecyinfavoroftheposterityofIshmael；andtheselearnedbigotsarenotafraidtoriskthetruthofChristianityonthisfrailandslipperyfoundation。
Note:ItcertainlyappearsdifficulttoextractapredictionoftheperpetualindependenceoftheArabsfromthetextinGenesis，whichwouldhavereceivedanamplefulfilmentduringcenturiesofuninvadedfreedom。Butthedisputantsappeartoforgettheinseparableconnectioninthepredictionbetweenthewild，theBedoweenhabitsoftheIsmaelites，withtheirnationalindependence。ThestationaryandcivilizeddescendantofIsmaelforfeited，asitwere，hisbirthright，andceasedtobeagenuinesonofthe\"wildman\"Thephrase，\"dwellinginthepresenceofhisbrethren，\"isinterpretedbyRosenmullerinloc。andothers，accordingtotheHebrewgeography，\"totheEast\"ofhisbrethren，thelegitimateraceofAbraham—M。]
[Footnote4:D\'Herbelot，Biblioth。Orient。p。477。Pocock，SpecimenHist。Arabum，p。64，65。FatherPagiCritica，tom。ii。
p。646hasprovedthat，aftertenyears\'peace，thePersianwar，whichcontinuedtwentyyears，wasrenewedA。D。571。MahometwasbornA。D。569，intheyearoftheelephant，orthedefeatofAbrahah，Gagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。i。p。89，90，98；andthisaccountallowstwoyearsfortheconquestofYemen。
Note:Abrahah，accordingtosomeaccounts，wassucceededbyhissonTaksoum，whoreignedseventeenyears；hisbrotherMascouh，whowasslaininbattleagainstthePersians，twelve。
ButthischronologyisirreconcilablewiththeArabianconquestsofNushirvantheGreat。EitherSeif，orhissonMaadiKarb，wasthenativeprinceplacedonthethronebythePersians。St。
Martin，vol。x。p。78。SeelikewiseJohannsen，Hist。Yemanae。—
M。]
[Footnote*:PersarmeniawaslongmaintainedinpeacebythetolerantadministrationofMejej，princeoftheGnounians。Onhisdeathhewassucceededbyapersecutor，aPersian，namedTen—Schahpour，whoattemptedtopropagateZoroastrianismbyviolence。Nushirvan，onanappealtothethronebytheArmenianclergy，replacedTen—Schahpour，in552，byVeschnas—Vahram。Thenewmarzban，orgovernor，wasinstructedtorepressthebigotedMagiintheirpersecutionsoftheArmenians，butthePersianconvertstoChristianitywerestillexposedtocruelsufferings。
Themostdistinguishedofthem，Izdbouzid，wascrucifiedatDovininthepresenceofavastmultitude。ThefameofthismartyrspreadtotheWest。Menander，thehistorian，notonly，asappearsbyafragmentpublishedbyMai，relatedthiseventinhishistory，but，accordingtoM。St。Martin，wroteatragedyonthesubject。This，however，isanunwarrantableinferencefromthephrasewhichmerelymeansthatherelatedthetragiceventinhishistory。Anepigramonthesamesubject，preservedintheAnthology，Jacob\'sAnth。Palat。i。27，belongstothehistorian。
YetArmeniaremainedinpeaceunderthegovernmentofVeschnas—VahramandhissuccessorVarazdat。ThetyrannyofhissuccessorSurenaledtotheinsurrectionunderVartan，theMamigonian，whorevengedthedeathofhisbrotheronthemarzbanSurena，surprisedDovin，andputtotheswordthegovernor，thesoldiers，andtheMagians。FromSt。Martin，volx。p。79—89。—
M。]
[Footnote*:Malathiah。ItwasinthelesserArmenia。—M。]
[Footnote5:HehadvanquishedtheAlbanians，whobroughtintothefield12，000horseand60，000foot；buthedreadedthemultitudeofvenomousreptiles，whoseexistencemayadmitofsomedoubt，aswellasthatoftheneighboringAmazons。Plutarch，inPompeio，tom。ii。p。1165，1166。]
[Footnote6:InthehistoryoftheworldIcanonlyperceivetwonaviesontheCaspian:1。OftheMacedonians，whenPatrocles，theadmiralofthekingsofSyria，SeleucusandAntiochus，descendedmostprobablytheRiverOxus，fromtheconfinesofIndia，Plin。
Hist。Natur。vi。21。2。OftheRussians，whenPetertheFirstconductedafleetandarmyfromtheneighborhoodofMoscowtothecoastofPersia，Bell\'sTravels，vol。ii。p。325—352。Hejustlyobserves，thatsuchmartialpomphadneverbeendisplayedontheVolga。]
[Footnote*:ThiscircumstancerestsonthestatementsofEvagriusandTheophylaciSimocatta。Theyarenotofsufficientauthoritytoestablishafactsoimprobable。St。Martin，vol。x。
p。140。—M。]
[Footnote7:ForthesePersianwarsandtreaties，seeMenander，inExcerpt。Legat。p。113—125。TheophanesByzant。apudPhotium，cod。lxivp。77，80，81。Evagrius，l。v。c。7—15。
Theophylact，l。iii。c。9—16Agathias，l。iv。p。140。]
ThethroneofChosroesNushirvanwasfilledbyHormouz，orHormisdas，theeldestorthemostfavoredofhissons。WiththekingdomsofPersiaandIndia，heinheritedthereputationandexampleofhisfather，theservice，ineveryrank，ofhiswiseandvaliantofficers，andageneralsystemofadministration，harmonizedbytimeandpoliticalwisdomtopromotethehappinessoftheprinceandpeople。Buttheroyalyouthenjoyedastillmorevaluableblessing，thefriendshipofasagewhohadpresidedoverhiseducation，andwhoalwayspreferredthehonortotheinterestofhispupil，hisinteresttohisinclination。InadisputewiththeGreekandIndianphilosophers，Buzurg^8hadoncemaintained，thatthemostgrievousmisfortuneoflifeisoldagewithouttheremembranceofvirtue；andourcandorwillpresumethatthesameprinciplecompelledhim，duringthreeyears，todirectthecouncilsofthePersianempire。HiszealwasrewardedbythegratitudeanddocilityofHormouz，whoacknowledgedhimselfmoreindebtedtohispreceptorthantohisparent:butwhenageandlaborhadimpairedthestrength，andperhapsthefaculties，ofthisprudentcounsellor，heretiredfromcourt，andabandonedtheyouthfulmonarchtohisownpassionsandthoseofhisfavorites。Bythefatalvicissitudeofhumanaffairs，thesamesceneswererenewedatCtesiphon，whichhadbeenexhibitedatRomeafterthedeathofMarcusAntoninus。
Theministersofflatteryandcorruption，whohadbeenbanishedbyhisfather，wererecalledandcherishedbytheson；thedisgraceandexileofthefriendsofNushirvanestablishedtheirtyranny；andvirtuewasdrivenbydegreesfromthemindofHormouz，fromhispalace，andfromthegovernmentofthestate。
Thefaithfulagents，theeyesandearsoftheking，informedhimoftheprogressofdisorder，thattheprovincialgovernorsflewtotheirpreywiththefiercenessoflionsandeagles，andthattheirrapineandinjusticewouldteachthemostloyalofhissubjectstoabhorthenameandauthorityoftheirsovereign。Thesincerityofthisadvicewaspunishedwithdeath；themurmursofthecitiesweredespised，theirtumultswerequelledbymilitaryexecution:theintermediatepowersbetweenthethroneandthepeoplewereabolished；andthechildishvanityofHormouz，whoaffectedthedailyuseofthetiara，wasfondofdeclaring，thathealonewouldbethejudgeaswellasthemasterofhiskingdom。
Ineveryword，andineveryaction，thesonofNushirvandegeneratedfromthevirtuesofhisfather。Hisavaricedefraudedthetroops；hisjealouscapricedegradedthesatraps；
thepalace，thetribunals，thewatersoftheTigris，werestainedwiththebloodoftheinnocent，andthetyrantexultedinthesufferingsandexecutionofthirteenthousandvictims。Astheexcuseofhiscruelty，hesometimescondescendedtoobserve，thatthefearsofthePersianswouldbeproductiveofhatred，andthattheirhatredmustterminateinrebellionbutheforgotthathisownguiltandfollyhadinspiredthesentimentswhichhedeplored，andpreparedtheeventwhichhesojustlyapprehended。
Exasperatedbylongandhopelessoppression，theprovincesofBabylon，Susa，andCarmania，erectedthestandardofrevolt；andtheprincesofArabia，India，andScythia，refusedthecustomarytributetotheunworthysuccessorofNushirvan。ThearmsoftheRomans，inslowsiegesandfrequentinroads，afflictedthefrontiersofMesopotamiaandAssyria:oneoftheirgeneralsprofessedhimselfthediscipleofScipio；andthesoldierswereanimatedbyamiraculousimageofChrist，whosemildaspectshouldneverhavebeendisplayedinthefrontofbattle。^9Atthesametime，theeasternprovincesofPersiawereinvadedbythegreatkhan，whopassedtheOxusattheheadofthreeorfourhundredthousandTurks。TheimprudentHormouzacceptedtheirperfidiousandformidableaid；thecitiesofKhorassanorBactrianawerecommandedtoopentheirgatesthemarchoftheBarbarianstowardsthemountainsofHyrcaniarevealedthecorrespondenceoftheTurkishandRomanarms；andtheirunionmusthavesubvertedthethroneofthehouseofSassan。
[Footnote8:BuzurgMihirmaybeconsidered，inhischaracterandstation，astheSenecaoftheEast；buthisvirtues，andperhapshisfaults，arelessknownthanthoseoftheRoman，whoappearstohavebeenmuchmoreloquacious。ThePersiansagewasthepersonwhoimportedfromIndiathegameofchessandthefablesofPilpay。Suchhasbeenthefameofhiswisdomandvirtues，thattheChristiansclaimhimasabelieverinthegospel；andtheMahometansrevereBuzurgasaprematureMussulman。
D\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。218。]
[Footnote9:SeetheimitationofScipioinTheophylact，l。i。c。
14；theimageofChrist，l。ii。c。3。HereafterIshallspeakmoreamplyoftheChristianimages—Ihadalmostsaididols。
This，ifIamnotmistaken，istheoldestofdivinemanufacture；
butinthenextthousandyears，manyothersissuedfromthesameworkshop。]
Persiahadbeenlostbyaking；itwassavedbyahero。
Afterhisrevolt，VaranesorBahramisstigmatizedbythesonofHormouzasanungratefulslave；theproudandambiguousreproachofdespotism，sincehewastrulydescendedfromtheancientprincesofRei，^10oneofthesevenfamilieswhosesplendid，aswellassubstantial，prerogativesexaltedthemabovetheheadsofthePersiannobility。^11AtthesiegeofDara，thevalorofBahramwassignalizedundertheeyesofNushirvan，andboththefatherandsonsuccessivelypromotedhimtothecommandofarmies，thegovernmentofMedia，andthesuperintendenceofthepalace。ThepopularpredictionwhichmarkedhimasthedelivererofPersia，mightbeinspiredbyhispastvictoriesandextraordinaryfigure:theepithetGiubinisexpressiveofthequalityofdrywood:hehadthestrengthandstatureofagiant；
andhissavagecountenancewasfancifullycomparedtothatofawildcat。Whilethenationtrembled，whileHormouzdisguisedhisterrorbythenameofsuspicion，andhisservantsconcealedtheirdisloyaltyunderthemaskoffear，Bahramalonedisplayedhisundauntedcourageandapparentfidelity:andassoonashefoundthatnomorethantwelvethousandsoldierswouldfollowhimagainsttheenemy；heprudentlydeclared，thattothisfatalnumberHeavenhadreservedthehonorsofthetriumph。^!ThesteepandnarrowdescentofthePuleRudbar，^12orHyrcanianrock，istheonlypassthroughwhichanarmycanpenetrateintotheterritoryofReiandtheplainsofMedia。Fromthecommandingheights，abandofresolutemenmightoverwhelmwithstonesanddartsthemyriadsoftheTurkishhost:theiremperorandhissonweretranspiercedwitharrows；andthefugitiveswereleft，withoutcounselorprovisions，totherevengeofaninjuredpeople。ThepatriotismofthePersiangeneralwasstimulatedbyhisaffectionforthecityofhisforefathers:inthehourofvictory，everypeasantbecameasoldier，andeverysoldierahero；andtheirardorwaskindledbythegorgeousspectacleofbeds，andthrones，andtablesofmassygold，thespoilsofAsia，andtheluxuryofthehostilecamp。Aprinceofalessmalignanttempercouldnoteasilyhaveforgivenhisbenefactor；andthesecrethatredofHormouzwasenvenomedbyamaliciousreport，thatBahramhadprivatelyretainedthemostpreciousfruitsofhisTurkishvictory。ButtheapproachofaRomanarmyonthesideoftheAraxescompelledtheimplacabletyranttosmileandtoapplaud；andthetoilsofBahramwererewardedwiththepermissionofencounteringanewenemy，bytheirskillanddisciplinemoreformidablethanaScythianmultitude。Elatedbyhisrecentsuccess，hedespatchedaheraldwithabolddefiancetothecampoftheRomans，requestingthemtofixadayofbattle，andtochoosewhethertheywouldpasstheriverthemselves，orallowafreepassagetothearmsofthegreatking。ThelieutenantoftheemperorMauricepreferredthesaferalternative；andthislocalcircumstance，whichwouldhaveenhancedthevictoryofthePersians，renderedtheirdefeatmorebloodyandtheirescapemoredifficult。Butthelossofhissubjects，andthedangerofhiskingdom，wereoverbalancedinthemindofHormouzbythedisgraceofhispersonalenemy；andnosoonerhadBahramcollectedandreviewedhisforces，thanhereceivedfromaroyalmessengertheinsultinggiftofadistaff，aspinning—wheel，andacompletesuitoffemaleapparel。Obedienttothewillofhissovereignheshowedhimselftothesoldiersinthisunworthydisguisetheyresentedhisignominyandtheirown；
ashoutofrebellionranthroughtheranks；andthegeneralacceptedtheiroathoffidelityandvowsofrevenge。Asecondmessenger，whohadbeencommandedtobringtherebelinchains，wastrampledunderthefeetofanelephant，andmanifestoswerediligentlycirculated，exhortingthePersianstoasserttheirfreedomagainstanodiousandcontemptibletyrant。Thedefectionwasrapidanduniversal；hisloyalslavesweresacrificedtothepublicfury；thetroopsdesertedtothestandardofBahram；andtheprovincesagainsalutedthedelivererofhiscountry。
[Footnote10:Ragae，orRei，ismentionedintheApocryphalbookofTobitasalreadyflourishing，700yearsbeforeChrist，undertheAssyrianempire。UndertheforeignnamesofEuropusandArsacia，thiscity，500stadiatothesouthoftheCaspiangates，wassuccessivelyembellishedbytheMacedoniansandParthians，Strabo，l。xi。p。796。Itsgrandeurandpopulousnessintheixthcenturyareexaggeratedbeyondtheboundsofcredibility；
butReihasbeensinceruinedbywarsandtheunwholesomenessoftheair。Chardin，VoyageenPerse，tom。i。p。279，280。
D\'Herbelot，Biblioth。Oriental。p。714。]
[Footnote11:Theophylact。l。iii。c。18。ThestoryofthesevenPersiansistoldinthethirdbookofHerodotus；andtheirnobledescendantsareoftenmentioned，especiallyinthefragmentsofCtesias。YettheindependenceofOtanesHerodot。l。iii。c。83，84ishostiletothespiritofdespotism，anditmaynotseemprobablethatthesevenfamiliescouldsurvivetherevolutionsofelevenhundredyears。Theymight，however，berepresentedbythesevenministers，Brisson，deRegnoPersico，l。i。p。190；andsomePersiannobles，likethekingsofPontusPolybl。v。p。
540andCappadocia，Diodor。Sicul。l。xxxi。tom。ii。p。517，
mightclaimtheirdescentfromtheboldcompanionsofDarius。]
[Footnote*:HeisgenerallycalledBaharamChoubeen，Baharam，thestick—like，probablyfromhisappearance。Malcolm，vol。i。
p。120。—M。]
[Footnote!:ThePersianhistorianssay，thatHormouzentreatedhisgeneraltoincreasehisnumbers；butBaharamreplied，thatexperiencehadtaughthimthatitwasthequality，notthenumberofsoldiers，whichgavesuccess。***Nomaninhisarmywasunderfortyyears，andnoneabovefifty。Malcolm，vol。i。p。121
—M。]
[Footnote12:SeeanaccuratedescriptionofthismountainbyOlearius，VoyageenPerse，p。997，998，whoascendeditwithmuchdifficultyanddangerinhisreturnfromIspahantotheCaspianSea。]
Asthepasseswerefaithfullyguarded，Hormouzcouldonlycomputethenumberofhisenemiesbythetestimonyofaguiltyconscience，andthedailydefectionofthosewho，inthehourofhisdistress，avengedtheirwrongs，orforgottheirobligations。
Heproudlydisplayedtheensignsofroyalty；butthecityandpalaceofModainhadalreadyescapedfromthehandofthetyrant。
Amongthevictimsofhiscruelty，Bindoes，aSassanianprince，hadbeencastintoadungeon；hisfetterswerebrokenbythezealandcourageofabrother；andhestoodbeforethekingattheheadofthosetrustyguards，whohadbeenchosenastheministersofhisconfinement，andperhapsofhisdeath。Alarmedbythehastyintrusionandboldreproachesofthecaptive，Hormouzlookedround，butinvain，foradviceorassistance；discoveredthathisstrengthconsistedintheobedienceofothers；andpatientlyyieldedtothesinglearmofBindoes，whodraggedhimfromthethronetothesamedungeoninwhichhehimselfhadbeensolatelyconfined。Atthefirsttumult，Chosroes，theeldestofthesonsofHormouz，escapedfromthecity；hewaspersuadedtoreturnbythepressingandfriendlyinvitationofBindoes，whopromisedtoseathimonhisfather\'sthrone，andwhoexpectedtoreignunderthenameofaninexperiencedyouth。Inthejustassurance，thathisaccomplicescouldneitherforgivenorhopetobeforgiven，andthateveryPersianmightbetrustedasthejudgeandenemyofthetyrant，heinstitutedapublictrialwithoutaprecedentandwithoutacopyintheannalsoftheEast。ThesonofNushirvan，whohadrequestedtopleadinhisowndefence，wasintroducedasacriminalintothefullassemblyofthenoblesandsatraps。^13Hewasheardwithdecentattentionaslongasheexpatiatedontheadvantagesoforderandobedience，thedangerofinnovation，andtheinevitablediscordofthosewhohadencouragedeachothertotrampleontheirlawfulandhereditarysovereign。Byapatheticappealtotheirhumanity，heextortedthatpitywhichisseldomrefusedtothefallenfortunesofaking；andwhiletheybeheldtheabjectpostureandsqualidappearanceoftheprisoner，histears，hischains，andthemarksofignominiousstripes，itwasimpossibletoforgethowrecentlytheyhadadoredthedivinesplendorofhisdiademandpurple。