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—
246。]
[Footnote58:ThePersianhistorianshavebeenthemselvesdeceived:butTheophanesp。244accusesChosroesofthefraudandfalsehood；andEutychiusbelievesAnnal。tom。ii。p。212
thatthesonofMaurice，whowassavedfromtheassassins，livedanddiedamonkonMountSinai。]
ThefirstintelligencefromtheEastwhichHeracliusreceived，^59wasthatofthelossofAntioch；buttheagedmetropolis，sooftenoverturnedbyearthquakes，andpillagedbytheenemy，couldsupplybutasmallandlanguidstreamoftreasureandblood。ThePersianswereequallysuccessful，andmorefortunate，inthesackofCaesarea，thecapitalofCappadocia；andastheyadvancedbeyondtherampartsofthefrontier，theboundaryofancientwar，theyfoundalessobstinateresistanceandamoreplentifulharvest。ThepleasantvaleofDamascushasbeenadornedineveryagewitharoyalcity:
herobscurefelicityhashithertoescapedthehistorianoftheRomanempire:butChosroesreposedhistroopsintheparadiseofDamascusbeforeheascendedthehillsofLibanus，orinvadedthecitiesofthePhoeniciancoast。TheconquestofJerusalem，^60
whichhadbeenmeditatedbyNushirvan，wasachievedbythezealandavariceofhisgrandson；theruinoftheproudestmonumentofChristianitywasvehementlyurgedbytheintolerantspiritoftheMagi；andhecouldenlistforthisholywarfarewithanarmyofsix—and—twentythousandJews，whosefuriousbigotrymightcompensate，insomedegree，forthewantofvaloranddiscipline。
AfterthereductionofGalilee，andtheregionbeyondtheJordan，whoseresistanceappearstohavedelayedthefateofthecapital，Jerusalemitselfwastakenbyassault。ThesepulchreofChrist，andthestatelychurchesofHelenaandConstantine，wereconsumed，oratleastdamaged，bytheflames；thedevoutofferingsofthreehundredyearswererifledinonesacrilegiousday；thePatriarchZachariah，andthetruecross，weretransportedintoPersia；andthemassacreofninetythousandChristiansisimputedtotheJewsandArabs，whoswelledthedisorderofthePersianmarch。ThefugitivesofPalestinewereentertainedatAlexandriabythecharityofJohntheArchbishop，whoisdistinguishedamongacrowdofsaintsbytheepithetofalmsgiver:^61andtherevenuesofthechurch，withatreasureofthreehundredthousandpounds，wererestoredtothetrueproprietors，thepoorofeverycountryandeverydenomination。
ButEgyptitself，theonlyprovincewhichhadbeenexempt，sincethetimeofDiocletian，fromforeignanddomesticwar，wasagainsubduedbythesuccessorsofCyrus。Pelusium，thekeyofthatimperviouscountry，wassurprisedbythecavalryofthePersians:
theypassed，withimpunity，theinnumerablechannelsoftheDelta，andexploredthelongvalleyoftheNile，fromthepyramidsofMemphistotheconfinesofAethiopia。Alexandriamighthavebeenrelievedbyanavalforce，butthearchbishopandthepraefectembarkedforCyprus；andChosroesenteredthesecondcityoftheempire，whichstillpreservedawealthyremnantofindustryandcommerce。Hiswesterntrophywaserected，notonthewallsofCarthage，^62butintheneighborhoodofTripoli；
theGreekcoloniesofCyrenewerefinallyextirpated；andtheconqueror，treadinginthefootstepsofAlexander，returnedintriumphthroughthesandsoftheLibyandesert。Inthesamecampaign，anotherarmyadvancedfromtheEuphratestotheThracianBosphorus；Chalcedonsurrenderedafteralongsiege，andaPersiancampwasmaintainedabovetenyearsinthepresenceofConstantinople。Thesea—coastofPontus，thecityofAncyra，andtheIsleofRhodes，areenumeratedamongthelastconquestsofthegreatking；andifChosroeshadpossessedanymaritimepower，hisboundlessambitionwouldhavespreadslaveryanddesolationovertheprovincesofEurope。
[Footnote59:EutychiusdatesallthelossesoftheempireunderthereignofPhocas；anerrorwhichsavesthehonorofHeraclius，whomhebringsnotfromCarthage，butSalonica，withafleetladenwithvegetablesforthereliefofConstantinople，Annal。
tom。ii。p。223，224。TheotherChristiansoftheEast，Barhebraeus，apudAsseman，Bibliothec。Oriental。tom。iii。p。
412，413，Elmacin，Hist。Saracen。p。13—16，Abulpharagius，Dynast。p。98，99，aremoresincereandaccurate。TheyearsofthePersianwararedisposedinthechronologyofPagi。]
[Footnote60:OntheconquestofJerusalem，aneventsointerestingtothechurch，seetheAnnalsofEutychius，tom。ii。
p。212—223，andthelamentationsofthemonkAntiochus，apudBaronium，Annal。Eccles。A。D。614，No。16—26，whoseonehundredandtwenty—ninehomiliesarestillextant，ifwhatnoonereadsmaybesaidtobeextant。]
[Footnote*:SeeHist。ofJews，vol。iii。p。240。—M。]
[Footnote61:ThelifeofthisworthysaintiscomposedbyLeontius，acontemporarybishop；andIfindinBaroniusAnnal。
Eccles。A。D。610，No。10，&c。andFleurytom。viii。p。235—
242sufficientextractsofthisedifyingwork。]
[Footnote62:TheerrorofBaronius，andmanyotherswhohavecarriedthearmsofChosroestoCarthageinsteadofChalcedon，isfoundedonthenearresemblanceoftheGreekwords，inthetextofTheophanes，&c。，whichhavebeensometimesconfoundedbytranscribers，andsometimesbycritics。]
Fromthelong—disputedbanksoftheTigrisandEuphrates，thereignofthegrandsonofNushirvanwassuddenlyextendedtotheHellespontandtheNile，theancientlimitsofthePersianmonarchy。Buttheprovinces，whichhadbeenfashionedbythehabitsofsixhundredyearstothevirtuesandvicesoftheRomangovernment，supportedwithreluctancetheyokeoftheBarbarians。
Theideaofarepublicwaskeptalivebytheinstitutions，oratleastbythewritings，oftheGreeksandRomans，andthesubjectsofHeracliushadbeeneducatedtopronouncethewordsoflibertyandlaw。ButithasalwaysbeentheprideandpolicyofOrientalprincestodisplaythetitlesandattributesoftheiromnipotence；toupbraidanationofslaveswiththeirtruenameandabjectcondition，andtoenforce，bycruelandinsolentthreats，therigoroftheirabsolutecommands。TheChristiansoftheEastwerescandalizedbytheworshipoffire，andtheimpiousdoctrineofthetwoprinciples:theMagiwerenotlessintolerantthanthebishops；andthemartyrdomofsomenativePersians，whohaddesertedthereligionofZoroaster，^63wasconceivedtobethepreludeofafierceandgeneralpersecution。BytheoppressivelawsofJustinian，theadversariesofthechurchweremadetheenemiesofthestate；theallianceoftheJews，Nestorians，andJacobites，hadcontributedtothesuccessofChosroes，andhispartialfavortothesectariesprovokedthehatredandfearsoftheCatholicclergy。Consciousoftheirfearandhatred，thePersianconquerorgovernedhisnewsubjectswithanironsceptre；and，asifhesuspectedthestabilityofhisdominion，heexhaustedtheirwealthbyexorbitanttributesandlicentiousrapinedespoiledordemolishedthetemplesoftheEast；andtransportedtohishereditaryrealmsthegold，thesilver，thepreciousmarbles，thearts，andtheartistsoftheAsiaticcities。Intheobscurepictureofthecalamitiesoftheempire，^64itisnoteasytodiscernthefigureofChosroeshimself，toseparatehisactionsfromthoseofhislieutenants，ortoascertainhispersonalmeritinthegeneralblazeofgloryandmagnificence。Heenjoyedwithostentationthefruitsofvictory，andfrequentlyretiredfromthehardshipsofwartotheluxuryofthepalace。Butinthespaceoftwenty—fouryears，hewasdeterredbysuperstitionorresentmentfromapproachingthegatesofCtesiphon:andhisfavoriteresidenceofArtemita，orDastagerd，wassituatebeyondtheTigris，aboutsixtymilestothenorthofthecapital。^65Theadjacentpastureswerecoveredwithflocksandherds:theparadiseorparkwasreplenishedwithpheasants，peacocks，ostriches，roebucks，andwildboars，andthenoblegameoflionsandtigerswassometimesturnedlooseforthebolderpleasuresofthechase。Ninehundredandsixtyelephantsweremaintainedfortheuseorsplendorofthegreatking:histentsandbaggagewerecarriedintothefieldbytwelvethousandgreatcamelsandeightthousandofasmallersize；^66andtheroyalstableswerefilledwithsixthousandmulesandhorses，amongwhomthenamesofShebdizandBaridarerenownedfortheirspeedorbeauty。Sixthousandguardssuccessivelymountedbeforethepalacegate；theserviceoftheinteriorapartmentswasperformedbytwelvethousandslaves，andinthenumberofthreethousandvirgins，thefairestofAsia，somehappyconcubinemightconsolehermasterfortheageortheindifferenceofSira。
Thevarioustreasuresofgold，silver，gems，silks，andaromatics，weredepositedinahundredsubterraneousvaultsandthechamberBadaverddenotedtheaccidentalgiftofthewindswhichhadwaftedthespoilsofHeracliusintooneoftheSyrianharborsofhisrival。Theviceofflattery，andperhapsoffiction，isnotashamedtocomputethethirtythousandrichhangingsthatadornedthewalls；thefortythousandcolumnsofsilver，ormoreprobablyofmarble，andplatedwood，thatsupportedtheroof；andthethousandglobesofgoldsuspendedinthedome，toimitatethemotionsoftheplanetsandtheconstellationsofthezodiac。^67WhilethePersianmonarchcontemplatedthewondersofhisartandpower，hereceivedanepistlefromanobscurecitizenofMecca，invitinghimtoacknowledgeMahometastheapostleofGod。Herejectedtheinvitation，andtoretheepistle。\"Itisthus，\"exclaimedtheArabianprophet，\"thatGodwilltearthekingdom，andrejectthesupplicationsofChosroes。\"^68^!PlacedonthevergeofthetwogreatempiresoftheEast，Mahometobservedwithsecretjoytheprogressoftheirmutualdestruction；andinthemidstofthePersiantriumphs，heventuredtoforetell，thatbeforemanyyearsshouldelapse，victoryshouldagainreturntothebannersoftheRomans。^69
[Footnote63:ThegenuineactsofSt。Anastasiusarepublishedinthoseofthewithgeneralcouncil，fromwhenceBaroniusAnnal。
Eccles。A。D。614，626，627andButlerLivesoftheSaints，vol。
i。p。242—248havetakentheiraccounts。TheholymartyrdesertedfromthePersiantotheRomanarmy，becameamonkatJerusalem，andinsultedtheworshipoftheMagi，whichwasthenestablishedatCaesareainPalestine。]
[Footnote64:Abulpharagius，Dynast。p。99。Elmacin，Hist。
Saracen。p。14。]
[Footnote65:D\'Anville，Mem。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxxii。p。568—571。]
[Footnote66:Thedifferencebetweenthetworacesconsistsinoneortwohumps；thedromedaryhasonlyone；thesizeofthepropercamelislarger；thecountryhecomesfrom，TurkistanorBactriana；thedromedaryisconfinedtoArabiaandAfrica。
Buffon，Hist。Naturelle，tom。xi。p。211，&c。Aristot。Hist。
Animal。tom。i。l。ii。c。1，tom。ii。p。185。]
[Footnote*:TheruinsofthesescenesofKhoosroo\'smagnificencehavebeenvisitedbySirR。K。Porter。AttheruinsofTokhtiBostan，hesawagorgeouspictureofahunt，singularlyillustrativeofthispassage。Travels，vol。ii。p。204。KisraShirene，whichheafterwardsexamined，appearstohavebeenthepalaceofDastagerd。Vol。ii。p。173—175。—M。]
[Footnote67:Theophanes，Chronograph。p。268。D\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。997。TheGreeksdescribethedecay，thePersiansthesplendor，ofDastagerd；buttheformerspeakfromthemodestwitnessoftheeye，thelatterfromthevaguereportoftheear。]
[Footnote68:ThehistoriansofMahomet，AbulfedainVit。
Mohammed，p。92，93andGagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。ii。p。
247，datethisembassyintheviithyearoftheHegira，whichcommencesA。D。628，May11。Theirchronologyiserroneous，sinceChosroesdiedinthemonthofFebruaryofthesameyear，Pagi，Critica，tom。ii。p。779。ThecountdeBoulainvilliersViedeMahomed，p。327，328placesthisembassyaboutA。D。615，soonaftertheconquestofPalestine。YetMahometwouldscarcelyhaveventuredsosoononsoboldastep。]
[Footnote!:KhoosrooPurveezwasencampedonthebanksoftheKarasooRiverwhenhereceivedtheletterofMahomed。HetoretheletterandthrewitintotheKarasoo。Forthisaction，themoderateauthoroftheZeenut—ul—Tuarikhcallshimawretch，andrejoicesinallhissubsequentmisfortunes。Theseimpressionsstillexist。IremarkedtoaPersian，whenencampedneartheKarasoo，in1800，thatthebankswereveryhigh，whichmustmakeitdifficulttoapplyitswaterstoirrigation。\"Itoncefertilizedthewholecountry，\"saidthezealousMahomedan，\"butitschannelsunkwithhonorfromitsbanks，whenthatmadman，Khoosroo，threwourholyProphet\'sletterintoitsstream；whichhaseversincebeenaccursedanduseless。Malcolm\'sPersia，vol。
i。p。126—M。]
[Footnote69:SeethexxxthchapteroftheKoran，entitledtheGreeks。Ourhonestandlearnedtranslator，Sale，p。330，331，
fairlystatesthisconjecture，guess，wager，ofMahomet；butBoulainvilliers，p。329—344，withwickedintentions，laborstoestablishthisevidentprophecyofafutureevent，whichmust，inhisopinion，embarrasstheChristianpolemics。]
Atthetimewhenthispredictionissaidtohavebeendelivered，noprophecycouldbemoredistantfromitsaccomplishment，sincethefirsttwelveyearsofHeracliusannouncedtheapproachingdissolutionoftheempire。IfthemotivesofChosroeshadbeenpureandhonorable，hemusthaveendedthequarrelwiththedeathofPhocas，andhewouldhaveembraced，ashisbestally，thefortunateAfricanwhohadsogenerouslyavengedtheinjuriesofhisbenefactorMaurice。TheprosecutionofthewarrevealedthetruecharacteroftheBarbarian；andthesuppliantembassiesofHeracliustobeseechhisclemency，thathewouldsparetheinnocent，acceptatribute，andgivepeacetotheworld，wererejectedwithcontemptuoussilenceorinsolentmenace。Syria，Egypt，andtheprovincesofAsia，weresubduedbythePersianarms，whileEurope，fromtheconfinesofIstriatothelongwallofThrace，wasoppressedbytheAvars，unsatiatedwiththebloodandrapineoftheItalianwar。TheyhadcoollymassacredtheirmalecaptivesinthesacredfieldofPannonia；thewomenandchildrenwerereducedtoservitude，andthenoblestvirginswereabandonedtothepromiscuouslustoftheBarbarians。TheamorousmatronwhoopenedthegatesofFriulipassedashortnightinthearmsofherroyallover；thenextevening，RomildawascondemnedtotheembracesoftwelveAvars，andthethirddaytheLombardprincesswasimpaledinthesightofthecamp，whilethechaganobservedwithacruelsmile，thatsuchahusbandwasthefitrecompenseofherlewdnessandperfidy。^70Bytheseimplacableenemies，Heraclius，oneitherside，wasinsultedandbesieged:andtheRomanempirewasreducedtothewallsofConstantinople，withtheremnantofGreece，Italy，andAfrica，andsomemaritimecities，fromTyretoTrebizond，oftheAsiaticcoast。AfterthelossofEgypt，thecapitalwasafflictedbyfamineandpestilence；andtheemperor，incapableofresistance，andhopelessofrelief，hadresolvedtotransferhispersonandgovernmenttothemoresecureresidenceofCarthage。Hisshipswerealreadyladenwiththetreasuresofthepalace；buthisflightwasarrestedbythepatriarch，whoarmedthepowersofreligioninthedefenceofhiscountry；ledHeracliustothealtarofSt。Sophia，andextortedasolemnoath，thathewouldliveanddiewiththepeoplewhomGodhadintrustedtohiscare。ThechaganwasencampedintheplainsofThrace；
buthedissembledhisperfidiousdesigns，andsolicitedaninterviewwiththeemperornearthetownofHeraclea。Theirreconciliationwascelebratedwithequestriangames；thesenateandpeople，intheirgayestapparel，resortedtothefestivalofpeace；andtheAvarsbeheld，withenvyanddesire，thespectacleofRomanluxury。OnasuddenthehippodromewasencompassedbytheScythiancavalry，whohadpressedtheirsecretandnocturnalmarch:thetremendoussoundofthechagan\'swhipgavethesignaloftheassault，andHeraclius，wrappinghisdiademroundhisarm，wassavedwithextremehazard，bythefleetnessofhishorse。Sorapidwasthepursuit，thattheAvarsalmostenteredthegoldengateofConstantinoplewiththeflyingcrowds:^71buttheplunderofthesuburbsrewardedtheirtreason，andtheytransportedbeyondtheDanubetwohundredandseventythousandcaptives。OntheshoreofChalcedon，theemperorheldasaferconferencewithamorehonorablefoe，who，beforeHeracliusdescendedfromhisgalley，salutedwithreverenceandpitythemajestyofthepurple。ThefriendlyofferofSain，thePersiangeneral，toconductanembassytothepresenceofthegreatking，wasacceptedwiththewarmestgratitude，andtheprayerforpardonandpeacewashumblypresentedbythePraetorianpraefect，thepraefectofthecity，andoneofthefirstecclesiasticsofthepatriarchalchurch。^72ButthelieutenantofChosroeshadfatallymistakentheintentionsofhismaster。\"Itwasnotanembassy，\"saidthetyrantofAsia，\"itwasthepersonofHeraclius，boundinchains，thatheshouldhavebroughttothefootofmythrone。IwillnevergivepeacetotheemperorofRome，tillhehadabjuredhiscrucifiedGod，andembracedtheworshipofthesun。\"Sainwasflayedalive，accordingtotheinhumanpracticeofhiscountry；andtheseparateandrigorousconfinementoftheambassadorsviolatedthelawofnations，andthefaithofanexpressstipulation。YettheexperienceofsixyearsatlengthpersuadedthePersianmonarchtorenouncetheconquestofConstantinople，andtospecifytheannualtributeorransomoftheRomanempire；athousandtalentsofgold，athousandtalentsofsilver，athousandsilkrobes，athousandhorses，andathousandvirgins。Heracliussubscribedtheseignominiousterms；butthetimeandspacewhichheobtainedtocollectsuchtreasuresfromthepovertyoftheEast，wasindustriouslyemployedinthepreparationsofaboldanddesperateattack。