Butanangrymurmuraroseintheassemblyassoonashepresumedtovindicatehisconduct，andtoapplaudthevictoriesofhisreign。Hedefinedthedutiesofaking，andthePersiannobleslistenedwithasmileofcontempt；theywerefiredwithindignationwhenhedaredtovilifythecharacterofChosroes；
andbytheindiscreetofferofresigningthesceptretothesecondofhissons，hesubscribedhisowncondemnation，andsacrificedthelifeofhisowninnocentfavorite。Themangledbodiesoftheboyandhismotherwereexposedtothepeople；theeyesofHormouzwerepiercedwithahotneedle；andthepunishmentofthefatherwassucceededbythecoronationofhiseldestson。Chosroeshadascendedthethronewithoutguilt，andhispietystrovetoalleviatethemiseryoftheabdicatedmonarch；fromthedungeonheremovedHormouztoanapartmentofthepalace，suppliedwithliberalitytheconsolationsofsensualenjoyment，andpatientlyenduredthefurioussalliesofhisresentmentanddespair。Hemightdespisetheresentmentofablindandunpopulartyrant，butthetiarawastremblingonhishead，tillhecouldsubvertthepower，oracquirethefriendship，ofthegreatBahram，whosternlydeniedthejusticeofarevolution，inwhichhimselfandhissoldiers，thetruerepresentativesofPersia，hadneverbeenconsulted。Theofferofageneralamnesty，andofthesecondrankinhiskingdom，wasansweredbyanepistlefromBahram，friendofthegods，conquerorofmen，andenemyoftyrants，thesatrapofsatraps，generalofthePersianarmies，andaprinceadornedwiththetitleofelevenvirtues。^14HecommandsChosroes，thesonofHormouz，toshuntheexampleandfateofhisfather，toconfinethetraitorswhohadbeenreleasedfromtheirchains，todepositinsomeholyplacethediademwhichhehadusurped，andtoacceptfromhisgraciousbenefactorthepardonofhisfaultsandthegovernmentofaprovince。Therebelmightnotbeproud，andthekingmostassuredlywasnothumble；buttheonewasconsciousofhisstrength，theotherwassensibleofhisweakness；andeventhemodestlanguageofhisreplystillleftroomfortreatyandreconciliation。Chosroesledintothefieldtheslavesofthepalaceandthepopulaceofthecapital:theybeheldwithterrorthebannersofaveteranarmy；theywereencompassedandsurprisedbytheevolutionsofthegeneral；andthesatrapswhohaddeposedHormouz，receivedthepunishmentoftheirrevolt，orexpiatedtheirfirsttreasonbyasecondandmorecriminalactofdisloyalty。ThelifeandlibertyofChosroesweresaved，buthewasreducedtothenecessityofimploringaidorrefugeinsomeforeignland；andtheimplacableBindoes，anxioustosecureanunquestionabletitle，hastilyreturnedtothepalace，andended，withabowstring，thewretchedexistenceofthesonofNushirvan。
^15
[Footnote13:TheOrientalssupposethatBahramconvenedthisassemblyandproclaimedChosroes；butTheophylactis，inthisinstance，moredistinctandcredible。
Note:YetTheophylactseemstohaveseizedtheopportunitytoindulgehispropensityforwritingorations；andtheorationsreadratherlikethoseofaGreciansophistthanofanEasternassembly。—M。]
[Footnote14:SeethewordsofTheophylact，l。iv。c。7。，&c。Inanswer，ChosroesstyleshimselfingenuineOrientalbombast。]
[Footnote15:Theophylactl。iv。c。7imputesthedeathofHormouztohisson，bywhosecommandhewasbeatentodeathwithclubs。IhavefollowedthemilderaccountofKhondemirandEutychius，andshallalwaysbecontentwiththeslightestevidencetoextenuatethecrimeofparricide。
Note:MalcolmconcursinascribinghisdeathtoBundawee，Bindoes，vol。i。p。123。TheEasternwritersgenerallyimputethecrimetotheuncleSt。Martin，vol。x。p。300。—M。]
WhileChosroesdespatchedthepreparationsofhisretreat，hedeliberatedwithhisremainingfriends，^16whetherheshouldlurkinthevalleysofMountCaucasus，orflytothetentsoftheTurks，orsolicittheprotectionoftheemperor。ThelongemulationofthesuccessorsofArtaxerxesandConstantineincreasedhisreluctancetoappearasasuppliantinarivalcourt；butheweighedtheforcesoftheRomans，andprudentlyconsideredthattheneighborhoodofSyriawouldrenderhisescapemoreeasyandtheirsuccorsmoreeffectual。Attendedonlybyhisconcubines，andatroopofthirtyguards，hesecretlydepartedfromthecapital，followedthebanksoftheEuphrates，traversedthedesert，andhaltedatthedistanceoftenmilesfromCircesium。Aboutthethirdwatchofthenight，theRomanpraefectwasinformedofhisapproach，andheintroducedtheroyalstrangertothefortressatthedawnofday。FromthencethekingofPersiawasconductedtothemorehonorableresidenceofHierapolis；andMauricedissembledhispride，anddisplayedhisbenevolence，atthereceptionofthelettersandambassadorsofthegrandsonofNushirvan。Theyhumblyrepresentedthevicissitudesoffortuneandthecommoninterestofprinces，exaggeratedtheingratitudeofBahram，theagentoftheevilprinciple，andurged，withspeciousargument，thatitwasfortheadvantageoftheRomansthemselvestosupportthetwomonarchieswhichbalancetheworld，thetwogreatluminariesbywhosesalutaryinfluenceitisvivifiedandadorned。TheanxietyofChosroeswassoonrelievedbytheassurance，thattheemperorhadespousedthecauseofjusticeandroyalty；butMauriceprudentlydeclinedtheexpenseanddelayofhisuselessvisittoConstantinople。Inthenameofhisgenerousbenefactor，arichdiademwaspresentedtothefugitiveprince，withaninestimablegiftofjewelsandgold；apowerfularmywasassembledonthefrontiersofSyriaandArmenia，underthecommandofthevaliantandfaithfulNarses，^17andthisgeneral，ofhisownnation，andhisownchoice，wasdirectedtopasstheTigris，andnevertosheathehisswordtillhehadrestoredChosroestothethroneofhisancestors。Theenterprise，howeversplendid，waslessarduousthanitmightappear。Persiahadalreadyrepentedofherfatalrashness，whichbetrayedtheheirofthehouseofSassantotheambitionofarebellioussubject:andtheboldrefusaloftheMagitoconsecratehisusurpation，compelledBahramtoassumethesceptre，regardlessofthelawsandprejudicesofthenation。
Thepalacewassoondistractedwithconspiracy，thecitywithtumult，theprovinceswithinsurrection；andthecruelexecutionoftheguiltyandthesuspectedservedtoirritateratherthansubduethepublicdiscontent。NosoonerdidthegrandsonofNushirvandisplayhisownandtheRomanbannersbeyondtheTigris，thanhewasjoined，eachday，bytheincreasingmultitudesofthenobilityandpeople；andasheadvanced，hereceivedfromeverysidethegratefulofferingsofthekeysofhiscitiesandtheheadsofhisenemies。AssoonasModainwasfreedfromthepresenceoftheusurper，theloyalinhabitantsobeyedthefirstsummonsofMebodesattheheadofonlytwothousandhorse，andChosroesacceptedthesacredandpreciousornamentsofthepalaceasthepledgeoftheirtruthandthepresageofhisapproachingsuccess。AfterthejunctionoftheImperialtroops，whichBahramvainlystruggledtoprevent，thecontestwasdecidedbytwobattlesonthebanksoftheZab，andtheconfinesofMedia。TheRomans，withthefaithfulsubjectsofPersia，amountedtosixtythousand，whilethewholeforceoftheusurperdidnotexceedfortythousandmen:thetwogeneralssignalizedtheirvalorandability；butthevictorywasfinallydeterminedbytheprevalenceofnumbersanddiscipline。Withtheremnantofabrokenarmy，BahramfledtowardstheeasternprovincesoftheOxus:theenmityofPersiareconciledhimtotheTurks；buthisdayswereshortenedbypoison，perhapsthemostincurableofpoisons；thestingsofremorseanddespair，andthebitterremembranceoflostglory。YetthemodernPersiansstillcommemoratetheexploitsofBahram；andsomeexcellentlawshaveprolongedthedurationofhistroubledandtransitoryreign。
[Footnote16:AfterthebattleofPharsalia，thePompeyofLucanl。viii。256—455holdsasimilardebate。HewashimselfdesirousofseekingtheParthians:buthiscompanionsabhorredtheunnaturalallianceandtheadverseprejudicesmightoperateasforciblyonChosroesandhiscompanions，whocoulddescribe，withthesamevehemence，thecontrastoflaws，religion，andmanners，betweentheEastandWest。]
[Footnote17:InthisagetherewerethreewarriorsofthenameofNarses，whohavebeenoftenconfounded，Pagi，Critica，tom。
ii。p。640:1。APersarmenian，thebrotherofIsaacandArmatius，who，afterasuccessfulactionagainstBelisarius，desertedfromhisPersiansovereign，andafterwardsservedintheItalianwar。—2。TheeunuchwhoconqueredItaly。—3。TherestorerofChosroes，whoiscelebratedinthepoemofCorippusl。iii。220—327asexcelsussuperomniaverticoagmina……
habitumodestus……morumprobitateplacens，virtuteverendus；
fulmineus，cautus，vigilans，&c。]
[Footnote*:TheArmeniansadheredtoChosroes。St。Martin，vol。
x。p。312。—M。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtoMivkhondandtheOrientalwriters，BahramreceivedthedaughteroftheKhakaninmarriage，andcommandedabodyofTurksinaninvasionofPersia。Somesaythathewasassassinated；Malcolmadoptstheopinionthathewaspoisoned。HissisterGourdieh，thecompanionofhisflight，iscelebratedintheShahNameh。ShewasafterwardsoneofthewivesofChosroes。St。Martin。vol。x。p。331。—M。]
TherestorationofChosroeswascelebratedwithfeastsandexecutions；andthemusicoftheroyalbanquetwasoftendisturbedbythegroansofdyingormutilatedcriminals。A
generalpardonmighthavediffusedcomfortandtranquillitythroughacountrywhichhadbeenshakenbythelaterevolutions；
yet，beforethesanguinarytemperofChosroesisblamed，weshouldlearnwhetherthePersianshadnotbeenaccustomedeithertodreadtherigor，ortodespisetheweakness，oftheirsovereign。TherevoltofBahram，andtheconspiracyofthesatraps，wereimpartiallypunishedbytherevengeorjusticeoftheconqueror；themeritsofBindoeshimselfcouldnotpurifyhishandfromtheguiltofroyalblood:andthesonofHormouzwasdesiroustoasserthisowninnocence，andtovindicatethesanctityofkings。DuringthevigoroftheRomanpower，severalprinceswereseatedonthethroneofPersiabythearmsandtheauthorityofthefirstCaesars。Buttheirnewsubjectsweresoondisgustedwiththevicesorvirtueswhichtheyhadimbibedinaforeignland；theinstabilityoftheirdominiongavebirthtoavulgarobservation，thatthechoiceofRomewassolicitedandrejectedwithequalardorbythecapriciouslevityofOrientalslaves。ButthegloryofMauricewasconspicuousinthelongandfortunatereignofhissonandhisally。AbandofathousandRomans，whocontinuedtoguardthepersonofChosroes，proclaimedhisconfidenceinthefidelityofthestrangers；hisgrowingstrengthenabledhimtodismissthisunpopularaid，buthesteadilyprofessedthesamegratitudeandreverencetohisadoptedfather；andtillthedeathofMaurice，thepeaceandallianceofthetwoempireswerefaithfullymaintained。YetthemercenaryfriendshipoftheRomanprincehadbeenpurchasedwithcostlyandimportantgifts；thestrongcitiesofMartyropolisandDarawererestored，andthePersarmeniansbecamethewillingsubjectsofanempire，whoseeasternlimitwasextended，beyondtheexampleofformertimes，asfarasthebanksoftheAraxes，andtheneighborhoodoftheCaspian。Apioushopewasindulged，thatthechurchaswellasthestatemighttriumphinthisrevolution:butifChosroeshadsincerelylistenedtotheChristianbishops，theimpressionwaserasedbythezealandeloquenceoftheMagi:ifhewasarmedwithphilosophicindifference，heaccommodatedhisbelief，orratherhisprofessions，tothevariouscircumstancesofanexileandasovereign。TheimaginaryconversionofthekingofPersiawasreducedtoalocalandsuperstitiousvenerationforSergius，^19
oneofthesaintsofAntioch，whoheardhisprayersandappearedtohimindreams；heenrichedtheshrinewithofferingsofgoldandsilver，andascribedtothisinvisiblepatronthesuccessofhisarms，andthepregnancyofSira，adevoutChristianandthebestbelovedofhiswives。^20ThebeautyofSira，orSchirin，^21herwit，hermusicaltalents，arestillfamousinthehistory，orratherintheromances，oftheEast:herownnameisexpressive，inthePersiantongue，ofsweetnessandgrace；andtheepithetofParvizalludestothecharmsofherroyallover。
YetSiraneversharedthepassionswhichsheinspired，andtheblissofChosroeswastorturedbyajealousdoubt，thatwhilehepossessedherperson，shehadbestowedheraffectionsonameanerfavorite。^22
[Footnote18:ExperimentiscognitumestBarbarosmalleRomapetereregesquamhabere。TheseexperimentsareadmirablyrepresentedintheinvitationandexpulsionofVonones，Annal。
ii。1—3，Tiridates，Annal。vi。32—44，andMeherdates，Annal。xi。10，xii。10—14。TheeyeofTacitusseemstohavetranspiercedthecampoftheParthiansandthewallsoftheharem。]
[Footnote*:ConcerningNisibis，seeSt。MartinandhisArmenianauthorities，vol。xp。332，andMemoiressurl\'Armenie，tom。i。
p。25。—M。]
[Footnote19:SergiusandhiscompanionBacchus，whoaresaidtohavesufferedinthepersecutionofMaximian，obtaineddivinehonorinFrance，Italy，Constantinople，andtheEast。TheirtombatRasaphewasfamousformiracles，andthatSyriantownacquiredthemorehonorablenameofSergiopolis。Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。
tom。v。p。481—496。Butler\'sSaints，vol。x。p。155。]
[Footnote20:Evagriusl。vi。c。21andTheophylactl。v。c。
13，14havepreservedtheoriginallettersofChosroes，writteninGreek，signedwithhisownhand，andafterwardsinscribedoncrossesandtablesofgold，whichweredepositedinthechurchofSergiopolis。TheyhadbeensenttothebishopofAntioch，asprimateofSyria。
Note:St。MartinthinksthattheywerefirstwritteninSyriac，andthentranslatedintothebadGreekinwhichtheyappear，vol。x。p。334。—M。]
[Footnote21:TheGreeksonlydescribeherasaRomanbybirth，aChristianbyreligion:butsheisrepresentedasthedaughteroftheemperorMauriceinthePersianandTurkishromanceswhichcelebratetheloveofKhosrouforSchirin，ofSchirinforFerhad，themostbeautifulyouthoftheEast，D\'Herbelot，Biblioth。
Orient。p。789，997，998。
Note:CompareM。vonHammer\'sprefaceto，andpoemof，SchirininwhichhegivesanaccountofthevariousPersianpoems，ofwhichhehasendeavoredtoextracttheessenceinhisownwork。—M。]
[Footnote22:ThewholeseriesofthetyrannyofHormouz，therevoltofBahram，andtheflightandrestorationofChosroes，isrelatedbytwocontemporaryGreeks—moreconciselybyEvagrius，l。vi。c。16，17，18，19，andmostdiffuselybyTheophylactSimocatta，l。iii。c。6—18，l。iv。c。1—16，l。v。c。1—
15:succeedingcompilers，ZonarasandCedrenus，canonlytranscribeandabridge。TheChristianArabs，EutychiusAnnal。
tom。ii。p。200—208andAbulpharagiusDynast。p。96—98
appeartohaveconsultedsomeparticularmemoirs。ThegreatPersianhistoriansofthexvthcentury，MirkhondandKhondemir，areonlyknowntomebytheimperfectextractsofSchikard，Tarikh，p。150—155，Texeira，orratherStevens，Hist。ofPersia，p。182—186，aTurkishMs。translatedbytheAbbeFourmount，Hist。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。vii。p。
325—334，andD\'Herbelot，auxmotsHormouz，p。457—459。
Bahram，p。174。KhosrouParviz，p。996。WereIperfectlysatisfiedoftheirauthority，IcouldwishtheseOrientalmaterialshadbeenmorecopious。]
ChapterXLVI:TroublesInPersia。
PartII。
WhilethemajestyoftheRomannamewasrevivedintheEast，theprospectofEuropeislesspleasingandlessglorious。BythedepartureoftheLombards，andtheruinoftheGepidae，thebalanceofpowerwasdestroyedontheDanube；andtheAvarsspreadtheirpermanentdominionfromthefootoftheAlpstothesea—coastoftheEuxine。ThereignofBaianisthebrightestaeraoftheirmonarchy；theirchagan，whooccupiedtherusticpalaceofAttila，appearstohaveimitatedhischaracterandpolicy；^23butasthesamesceneswererepeatedinasmallercircle，aminuterepresentationofthecopywouldbedevoidofthegreatnessandnoveltyoftheoriginal。TheprideofthesecondJustin，ofTiberius，andMaurice，washumbledbyaproudBarbarian，moreprompttoinflict，thanexposedtosuffer，theinjuriesofwar；andasoftenasAsiawasthreatenedbythePersianarms，Europewasoppressedbythedangerousinroads，orcostlyfriendship，oftheAvars。WhentheRomanenvoysapproachedthepresenceofthechagan，theywerecommandedtowaitatthedoorofhistent，till，attheendperhapsoftenortwelvedays，hecondescendedtoadmitthem。Ifthesubstanceorthestyleoftheirmessagewasoffensivetohisear，heinsulted，withrealoraffectedfury，theirowndignity，andthatoftheirprince；theirbaggagewasplundered，andtheirliveswereonlysavedbythepromiseofaricherpresentandamorerespectfuladdress。ButhissacredambassadorsenjoyedandabusedanunboundedlicenseinthemidstofConstantinople:theyurged，withimportunateclamors，theincreaseoftribute，ortherestitutionofcaptivesanddeserters:andthemajestyoftheempirewasalmostequallydegradedbyabasecompliance，orbythefalseandfearfulexcuseswithwhichtheyeludedsuchinsolentdemands。Thechaganhadneverseenanelephant；andhiscuriositywasexcitedbythestrange，andperhapsfabulous，portraitofthatwonderfulanimal。Athiscommand，oneofthelargestelephantsoftheImperialstableswasequippedwithstatelycaparisons，andconductedbyanumeroustraintotheroyalvillageintheplainsofHungary。Hesurveyedtheenormousbeastwithsurprise，withdisgust，andpossiblywithterror；andsmiledatthevainindustryoftheRomans，who，insearchofsuchuselessrarities，couldexplorethelimitsofthelandandsea。
Hewished，attheexpenseoftheemperor，toreposeinagoldenbed。ThewealthofConstantinople，andtheskilfuldiligenceofherartists，wereinstantlydevotedtothegratificationofhiscaprice；butwhentheworkwasfinished，herejectedwithscornapresentsounworthythemajestyofagreatking。^24Thesewerethecasualsalliesofhispride；buttheavariceofthechaganwasamoresteadyandtractablepassion:arichandregularsupplyofsilkapparel，furniture，andplate，introducedtherudimentsofartandluxuryamongthetentsoftheScythians；