[Footnote70:PaulWarnefrid，deGestisLangobardorum，l。iv。c。
38，42。Muratori，Annalid\'Italia，tom。v。p。305，&c。]
[Footnote71:ThePaschalChronicle，whichsometimesintroducesfragmentsofhistoryintoabarrenlistofnamesanddates，givesthebestaccountofthetreasonoftheAvars，p。389，390。ThenumberofcaptivesisaddedbyNicephorus。]
[Footnote72:Someoriginalpieces，suchasthespeechorletteroftheRomanambassadors，p。386—388，likewiseconstitutethemeritofthePaschalChronicle，whichwascomposed，perhapsatAlexandria，underthereignofHeraclius。]
Ofthecharactersconspicuousinhistory，thatofHeracliusisoneofthemostextraordinaryandinconsistent。Inthefirstandlastyearsofalongreign，theemperorappearstobetheslaveofsloth，ofpleasure，orofsuperstition，thecarelessandimpotentspectatorofthepubliccalamities。Butthelanguidmistsofthemorningandeveningareseparatedbythebrightnessofthemeridiansun；theArcadiusofthepalacearosetheCaesarofthecamp；andthehonorofRomeandHeracliuswasgloriouslyretrievedbytheexploitsandtrophiesofsixadventurouscampaigns。ItwasthedutyoftheByzantinehistorianstohaverevealedthecausesofhisslumberandvigilance。Atthisdistancewecanonlyconjecture，thathewasendowedwithmorepersonalcouragethanpoliticalresolution；thathewasdetainedbythecharms，andperhapsthearts，ofhisnieceMartina，withwhom，afterthedeathofEudocia，hecontractedanincestuousmarriage；^73andthatheyieldedtothebaseadviceofthecounsellors，whourged，asafundamentallaw，thatthelifeoftheemperorshouldneverbeexposedinthefield。^74PerhapshewasawakenedbythelastinsolentdemandofthePersianconqueror；butatthemomentwhenHeracliusassumedthespiritofahero，theonlyhopesoftheRomansweredrawnfromthevicissitudesoffortune，whichmightthreatentheproudprosperityofChosroes，andmustbefavorabletothosewhohadattainedthelowestperiodofdepression。^75Toprovidefortheexpensesofwar，wasthefirstcareoftheemperor；andforthepurposeofcollectingthetribute，hewasallowedtosolicitthebenevolenceoftheeasternprovinces。Buttherevenuenolongerflowedintheusualchannels；thecreditofanarbitraryprinceisannihilatedbyhispower；andthecourageofHeracliuswasfirstdisplayedindaringtoborrowtheconsecratedwealthofchurches，underthesolemnvowofrestoring，withusury，whateverhehadbeencompelledtoemployintheserviceofreligionandtheempire。Theclergythemselvesappeartohavesympathizedwiththepublicdistress；andthediscreetpatriarchofAlexandria，withoutadmittingtheprecedentofsacrilege，assistedhissovereignbythemiraculousorseasonablerevelationofasecrettreasure。^76OfthesoldierswhohadconspiredwithPhocas，onlytwowerefoundtohavesurvivedthestrokeoftimeandoftheBarbarians；^77theloss，evenoftheseseditiousveterans，wasimperfectlysuppliedbythenewleviesofHeraclius，andthegoldofthesanctuaryunited，inthesamecamp，thenames，andarms，andlanguagesoftheEastandWest。
HewouldhavebeencontentwiththeneutralityoftheAvars；andhisfriendlyentreaty，thatthechaganwouldact，notastheenemy，butastheguardian，oftheempire，wasaccompaniedwithamorepersuasivedonativeoftwohundredthousandpiecesofgold。
TwodaysafterthefestivalofEaster，theemperor，exchanginghispurpleforthesimplegarbofapenitentandwarrior，^78
gavethesignalofhisdeparture。TothefaithofthepeopleHeracliusrecommendedhischildren；thecivilandmilitarypowerswerevestedinthemostdeservinghands，andthediscretionofthepatriarchandsenatewasauthorizedtosaveorsurrenderthecity，iftheyshouldbeoppressedinhisabsencebythesuperiorforcesoftheenemy。
[Footnote73:Nicephorus，p。10，11，ishappytoobserve，thatoftwosons，itsincestuousfruit，theelderwasmarkedbyProvidencewithastiffneck，theyoungerwiththelossofhearing。]
[Footnote74:GeorgeofPisidia，Acroas。i。112—125，p。5，
whostatestheopinions，acquitsthepusillanimouscounsellorsofanysinisterviews。WouldhehaveexcusedtheproudandcontemptuousadmonitionofCrispus?]
[Footnote75:GeorgePisid。Acroas。i。51，&c。p:4。
TheOrientalsarenotlessfondofremarkingthisstrangevicissitude；andIremembersomestoryofKhosrouParviz，notveryunliketheringofPolycratesofSamos。]
[Footnote76:Baroniusgravelyrelatesthisdiscovery，orrathertransmutation，ofbarrels，notofhoney，butofgold，Annal。
Eccles。A。D。620，No。3，&c。Yettheloanwasarbitrary，sinceitwascollectedbysoldiers，whowereorderedtoleavethepatriarchofAlexandrianomorethanonehundredpoundsofgold。
Nicephorus，p。11，twohundredyearsafterwards，speakswithillhumorofthiscontribution，whichthechurchofConstantinoplemightstillfeel。]
[Footnote77:TheophylactSymocatta，l。viii。c。12。Thiscircumstanceneednotexciteoursurprise。Themuster—rollofaregiment，evenintimeofpeace，isrenewedinlessthantwentyortwenty—fiveyears。]
[Footnote78:Hechangedhispurpleforblack，buckskins，anddyedthemredinthebloodofthePersians，Georg。Pisid。
Acroas。iii。118，121，122SeethenotesofFoggini，p。35。]
TheneighboringheightsofChalcedonwerecoveredwithtentsandarms:butifthenewleviesofHeracliushadbeenrashlyledtotheattack，thevictoryofthePersiansinthesightofConstantinoplemighthavebeenthelastdayoftheRomanempire。
AsimprudentwouldithavebeentoadvanceintotheprovincesofAsia，leavingtheirinnumerablecavalrytointercepthisconvoys，andcontinuallytohangonthelassitudeanddisorderofhisrear。ButtheGreekswerestillmastersofthesea；afleetofgalleys，transports，andstore—ships，wasassembledintheharbor；theBarbariansconsentedtoembark；asteadywindcarriedthemthroughtheHellespontthewesternandsoutherncoastofAsiaMinorlayontheirlefthand；thespiritoftheirchiefwasfirstdisplayedinastorm，andeventheeunuchsofhistrainwereexcitedtosufferandtoworkbytheexampleoftheirmaster。HelandedhistroopsontheconfinesofSyriaandCilicia，intheGulfofScanderoon，wherethecoastsuddenlyturnstothesouth；^79andhisdiscernmentwasexpressedinthechoiceofthisimportantpost。^80Fromallsides，thescatteredgarrisonsofthemaritimecitiesandthemountainsmightrepairwithspeedandsafetytohisImperialstandard。ThenaturalfortificationsofCiliciaprotected，andevenconcealed，thecampofHeraclius，whichwaspitchednearIssus，onthesamegroundwhereAlexanderhadvanquishedthehostofDarius。TheanglewhichtheemperoroccupiedwasdeeplyindentedintoavastsemicircleoftheAsiatic，Armenian，andSyrianprovinces；andtowhatsoeverpointofthecircumferenceheshoulddirecthisattack，itwaseasyforhimtodissemblehisownmotions，andtopreventthoseoftheenemy。InthecampofIssus，theRomangeneralreformedtheslothanddisorderoftheveterans，andeducatedthenewrecruitsintheknowledgeandpracticeofmilitaryvirtue。UnfoldingthemiraculousimageofChrist，heurgedthemtorevengetheholyaltarswhichhadbeenprofanedbytheworshippersoffire；addressingthembytheendearingappellationsofsonsandbrethren，hedeploredthepublicandprivatewrongsoftherepublic。Thesubjectsofamonarchwerepersuadedthattheyfoughtinthecauseoffreedom；andasimilarenthusiasmwascommunicatedtotheforeignmercenaries，whomusthaveviewedwithequalindifferencetheinterestofRomeandofPersia。Heracliushimself，withtheskillandpatienceofacenturion，inculcatedthelessonsoftheschooloftactics，andthesoldierswereassiduouslytrainedintheuseoftheirweapons，andtheexercisesandevolutionsofthefield。Thecavalryandinfantryinlightorheavyarmorweredividedintotwoparties；thetrumpetswerefixedinthecentre，andtheirsignalsdirectedthemarch，thecharge，theretreatorpursuit；
thedirectorobliqueorder，thedeeporextendedphalanx；torepresentinfictitiouscombattheoperationsofgenuinewar。
Whateverhardshipstheemperorimposedonthetroops，heinflictedwithequalseverityonhimself；theirlabor，theirdiet，theirsleep，weremeasuredbytheinflexiblerulesofdiscipline；and，withoutdespisingtheenemy，theyweretaughttoreposeanimplicitconfidenceintheirownvalorandthewisdomoftheirleader。CiliciawassoonencompassedwiththePersianarms；buttheircavalryhesitatedtoenterthedefilesofMountTaurus，tilltheywerecircumventedbytheevolutionsofHeraclius，whoinsensiblygainedtheirrear，whilstheappearedtopresenthisfrontinorderofbattle。Byafalsemotion，whichseemedtothreatenArmenia，hedrewthem，againsttheirwishes，toageneralaction。Theyweretemptedbytheartfuldisorderofhiscamp；butwhentheyadvancedtocombat，theground，thesun，andtheexpectationofbotharmies，wereunpropitioustotheBarbarians；theRomanssuccessfullyrepeatedtheirtacticsinafieldofbattle，^81andtheeventofthedaydeclaredtotheworld，thatthePersianswerenotinvincible，andthataherowasinvestedwiththepurple。Stronginvictoryandfame，HeracliusboldlyascendedtheheightsofMountTaurus，directedhismarchthroughtheplainsofCappadocia，andestablishedhistroops，forthewinterseason，insafeandplentifulquartersonthebanksoftheRiverHalys。^82HissoulwassuperiortothevanityofentertainingConstantinoplewithanimperfecttriumph；butthepresenceoftheemperorwasindispensablyrequiredtosoothetherestlessandrapaciousspiritoftheAvars。
[Footnote79:GeorgeofPisidia，Acroas。ii。10，p。8hasfixedthisimportantpointoftheSyrianandCiliciangates。TheyareelegantlydescribedbyXenophon，whomarchedthroughthemathousandyearsbefore。Anarrowpassofthreestadiabetweensteep，highrocks，andtheMediterranean，wasclosedateachendbystronggates，impregnabletotheland，accessiblebysea，Anabasis，l。i。p。35，36，withHutchinson\'sGeographicalDissertation，p。vi。Thegateswerethirty—fiveparasangs，orleagues，fromTarsus，Anabasis，l。i。p。33，34，andeightortenfromAntioch。CompareItinerar。Wesseling，p。580，581。
Schultens，IndexGeograph。adcalcemVit。Saladin。p。9。VoyageenTurquieetenPerse，parM。Otter，tom。i。p。78，79。]
[Footnote80:HeracliusmightwritetoafriendinthemodestwordsofCicero:CastrahabuimuseaipsaquaecontraDariumhabueratapudIssumAlexander，imperatorhaudpaulomeliorquamauttuautego。\"AdAtticum，v。20。Issus，arichandflourishingcityinthetimeofXenophon，wasruinedbytheprosperityofAlexandriaorScanderoon，ontheothersideofthebay。]
[Footnote81:FogginiAnnotat。p。31suspectsthatthePersiansweredeceivedbytheofAelian，Tactic。c。48，anintricatespiralmotionofthearmy。Heobservesp。28thatthemilitarydescriptionsofGeorgeofPisidiaaretranscribedintheTacticsoftheemperorLeo。]
[Footnote82:GeorgeofPisidia，aneye—witness，Acroas。ii。
122，&c。，describedinthreeacroaseis，orcantos，thefirstexpeditionofHeraclius。Thepoemhasbeenlately1777
publishedatRome；butsuchvagueanddeclamatorypraiseisfarfromcorrespondingwiththesanguinehopesofPagi，D\'Anville，&c。]
SincethedaysofScipioandHannibal，nobolderenterprisehasbeenattemptedthanthatwhichHeracliusachievedforthedeliveranceoftheempire^83HepermittedthePersianstooppressforawhiletheprovinces，andtoinsultwithimpunitythecapitaloftheEast；whiletheRomanemperorexploredhisperilouswaythroughtheBlackSea，^84andthemountainsofArmenia，penetratedintotheheartofPersia，^85andrecalledthearmiesofthegreatkingtothedefenceoftheirbleedingcountry。Withaselectbandoffivethousandsoldiers，HeracliussailedfromConstantinopletoTrebizond；assembledhisforceswhichhadwinteredinthePonticregions；and，fromthemouthofthePhasistotheCaspianSea，encouragedhissubjectsandalliestomarchwiththesuccessorofConstantineunderthefaithfulandvictoriousbannerofthecross。WhenthelegionsofLucullusandPompeyfirstpassedtheEuphrates，theyblushedattheireasyvictoryoverthenativesofArmenia。Butthelongexperienceofwarhadhardenedthemindsandbodiesofthateffeminatepeeple；
theirzealandbraverywereapprovedintheserviceofadecliningempire；theyabhorredandfearedtheusurpationofthehouseofSassan，andthememoryofpersecutionenvenomedtheirpioushatredoftheenemiesofChrist。ThelimitsofArmenia，asithadbeencededtotheemperorMaurice，extendedasfarastheAraxes:theriversubmittedtotheindignityofabridge，^86andHeraclius，inthefootstepsofMarkAntony，advancedtowardsthecityofTaurisorGandzaca，^87theancientandmoderncapitalofoneoftheprovincesofMedia。Attheheadoffortythousandmen，ChosroeshimselfhadreturnedfromsomedistantexpeditiontoopposetheprogressoftheRomanarms；butheretreatedontheapproachofHeraclius，decliningthegenerousalternativeofpeaceorofbattle。Insteadofhalfamillionofinhabitants，whichhavebeenascribedtoTaurisunderthereignoftheSophys，thecitycontainednomorethanthreethousandhouses；butthevalueoftheroyaltreasureswasenhancedbyatradition，thattheywerethespoilsofCroesus，whichhadbeentransportedbyCyrusfromthecitadelofSardes。TherapidconquestsofHeracliusweresuspendedonlybythewinterseason；amotiveofprudence，orsuperstition，^88determinedhisretreatintotheprovinceofAlbania，alongtheshoresoftheCaspian；andhistentsweremostprobablypitchedintheplainsofMogan，^89thefavoriteencampmentofOrientalprinces。Inthecourseofthissuccessfulinroad，hesignalizedthezealandrevengeofaChristianemperor:athiscommand，thesoldiersextinguishedthefire，anddestroyedthetemples，oftheMagi；thestatuesofChosroes，whoaspiredtodivinehonors，wereabandonedtotheflames；andtheruinsofThebarmaorOrmia，^90whichhadgivenbirthtoZoroasterhimself，madesomeatonementfortheinjuriesoftheholysepulchre。Apurerspiritofreligionwasshowninthereliefanddeliveranceoffiftythousandcaptives。Heracliuswasrewardedbytheirtearsandgratefulacclamations；butthiswisemeasure，whichspreadthefameofhisbenevolence，diffusedthemurmursofthePersiansagainsttheprideandobstinacyoftheirownsovereign。
[Footnote83:Theophanesp。256carriesHeracliusswiftlyintoArmenia。Nicephorus，p。11，thoughheconfoundsthetwoexpeditions，definestheprovinceofLazica。EutychiusAnnal。
tom。ii。p。231hasgiventhe5000men，withthemoreprobablestationofTrebizond。]
[Footnote84:FromConstantinopletoTrebizond，withafairwind，fourorfivedays；fromthencetoErzerom，five；toErivan，twelve；toTaurus，ten；inall，thirty—two。SuchistheItineraryofTavernier，Voyages，tom。i。p。12—56，whowasperfectlyconversantwiththeroadsofAsia。Tournefort，whotravelledwithapacha，spenttenortwelvedaysbetweenTrebizondandErzerom，VoyageduLevant，tom。iii。lettrexviii。；andChardinVoyages，tom。i。p。249—254givesthemorecorrectdistanceoffifty—threeparasangs，eachof5000
paces，whatpaces?betweenErivanandTauris。]
[Footnote85:TheexpeditionofHeracliusintoPersiaisfinelyillustratedbyM。D\'Anville，Memoiresdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xxviii。p。559—573。HediscoversthesituationofGandzaca，Thebarma，Dastagerd，&c。，withadmirableskillandlearning；buttheobscurecampaignof624hepassesoverinsilence。]
[Footnote86:EtpontemindignatusAraxes。—Virgil，Aeneid，viii。728。TheRiverAraxesisnoisy，rapid，vehement，and，withthemeltingofthesnows，irresistible:thestrongestandmostmassybridgesaresweptawaybythecurrent；anditsindignationisattestedbytheruinsofmanyarchesneartheoldtownofZulfa。VoyagesdeChardin，tom。i。p。252。]
[Footnote87:Chardin，tom。i。p。255—259。WiththeOrientals，D\'Herbelot，Biblioth。Orient。p。834，heascribesthefoundationofTauris，orTebris，toZobeide，thewifeofthefamousKhalifHarounAlrashid；butitappearstohavebeenmoreancient；andthenamesofGandzaca，Gazaca，Gaza，areexpressiveoftheroyaltreasure。Thenumberof550，000inhabitantsisreducedbyChardinfrom1，100，000，thepopularestimate。]
[Footnote88:Heopenedthegospel，andappliedorinterpretedthefirstcasualpassagetothenameandsituationofAlbania。
Theophanes，p。258。]
[Footnote89:TheheathofMogan，betweentheCyrusandtheAraxes，issixtyparasangsinlengthandtwentyinbreadth，Olearius，p。1023，1024，aboundinginwatersandfruitfulpastures，Hist。deNadirShah，translatedbyMr。JonesfromaPersianMs。，partii。p。2，3。SeetheencampmentsofTimur，Hist。parSherefeddinAli，l。v。c。37，l。vi。c。13，andthecoronationofNadirShah，Hist。Persanne，p。3—13andtheEnglishLifebyMr。Jones，p。64，65。]
[Footnote90:ThebarmaandOrmia，neartheLakeSpauta，areprovedtobethesamecitybyD\'Anville，Memoiresdel\'Academie，tom。xxviii。p。564，565。ItishonoredasthebirthplaceofZoroaster，accordingtothePersians，Schultens，IndexGeograph。
p。48；andtheirtraditionisfortifiedbyM。Perrond\'Anquetil，Mem。del\'Acad。desInscript。tom。xxxi。p。375，withsometextsfromhis，ortheir，Zendavesta。
Note:D\'AnvilleMem。del\'Acad。desInscript。tom。xxxii。
p。560laboredtoprovetheidentityofthesetwocities；butaccordingtoM。St。Martin，vol。xi。p。97，notwithperfectsuccess。Ourmiah。calledAriemaintheancientPehlvibooks，isconsidered，bothbythefollowersofZoroasterandbytheMahometans，ashisbirthplace。ItissituatedinthesouthernpartofAderbidjan。—M。]
ChapterXLVI:TroublesInPersia。
PartIV。
Amidstthegloriesofthesucceedingcampaign，Heracliusisalmostlosttooureyes，andtothoseoftheByzantinehistorians。^91FromthespaciousandfruitfulplainsofAlbania，theemperorappearstofollowthechainofHyrcanianMountains，todescendintotheprovinceofMediaorIrak，andtocarryhisvictoriousarmsasfarastheroyalcitiesofCasbinandIspahan，whichhadneverbeenapproachedbyaRomanconqueror。Alarmedbythedangerofhiskingdom，thepowersofChosroeswerealreadyrecalledfromtheNileandtheBosphorus，andthreeformidablearmiessurrounded，inadistantandhostileland，thecampoftheemperor。TheColchianalliespreparedtodeserthisstandard；
andthefearsofthebravestveteranswereexpressed，ratherthanconcealed，bytheirdespondingsilence。\"Benotterrified，\"saidtheintrepidHeraclius，\"bythemultitudeofyourfoes。WiththeaidofHeaven，oneRomanmaytriumphoverathousandBarbarians。
Butifwedevoteourlivesforthesalvationofourbrethren，weshallobtainthecrownofmartyrdom，andourimmortalrewardwillbeliberallypaidbyGodandposterity。\"Thesemagnanimoussentimentsweresupportedbythevigorofhisactions。HerepelledthethreefoldattackofthePersians，improvedthedivisionsoftheirchiefs，and，byawell—concertedtrainofmarches，retreats，andsuccessfulactions，finallychasedthemfromthefieldintothefortifiedcitiesofMediaandAssyria。