vii。p。338。GeseniusdeInscriptionePhoenicio—GraecainCyrenaicanuperreperta，Halle，1825。Hamaker，LettreaM。RaoulRochette，Leyden，1825。—M。]
[Footnote39:ThefameofthenewlawforthecommunityofwomenwassoonpropagatedinSyriaAsseman。Bibliot。Orient。tom。iii。
p。402andGreece，Procop。Persic。l。i。c。5。]
[Footnote40:Heofferedhisownwifeandsistertotheprophet；
buttheprayersofNushirvansavedhismother，andtheindignantmonarchneverforgavethehumiliationtowhichhisfilialpietyhadstooped:pedestuosdeosculatussaidhetoMazdak，cujusfoetoradhucnaresoccupat，Pocock，SpecimenHist。Arab。p。
71。]
[Footnote*:St。Martinquestionsthisadoption:heurgesitsimprobability；andsupposesthatProcopius，pervertingsomepopulartraditions，ortheremembranceofsomefruitlessnegotiationswhichtookplaceatthattime，hasmistaken，foratreatyofadoptionsometreatyofguarantyorprotectionforthepurposeofinsuringthecrown，afterthedeathofKobad，tohisfavoritesonChosroes，vol。viii。p。32。YettheGreekhistoriansseemunanimousastotheproposal:thePersiansmightbeexpectedtomaintainsilenceonsuchasubject。—M。]
[Footnote41:Procopius，Persic。l。i。c。11。WasnotProclusover—wise?Wasnotthedangerimaginary?—Theexcuse，atleast，wasinjurioustoanationnotignorantofletters。WhetheranymodeofadoptionwaspractisedinPersia，Imuchdoubt。]
[Footnote42:FromProcopiusandAgathias，Pagitom。ii。p。543，626hasprovedthatChosroesNushirvanascendedthethroneinthefifthyearofJustinian，A。D。531，April1。—A。D。532，April1。Butthetruechronology，whichharmonizeswiththeGreeksandOrientals，isascertainedbyJohnMalala，tom。ii。
211。Cabades，orKobad，afterareignofforty—threeyearsandtwomonths，sickenedthe8th，anddiedthe13thofSeptember，A。D。531，agedeighty—twoyears。AccordingtotheannalsofEutychius，Nushirvanreignedfortysevenyearsandsixmonths；
andhisdeathmustconsequentlybeplacedinMarch，A。D。579。]
Butthejusticeofkingsisunderstoodbythemselves，andevenbytheirsubjects，withanampleindulgenceforthegratificationofpassionandinterest。ThevirtueofChosroeswasthatofaconqueror，who，inthemeasuresofpeaceandwar，isexcitedbyambition，andrestrainedbyprudence；whoconfoundsthegreatnesswiththehappinessofanation，andcalmlydevotesthelivesofthousandstothefame，oreventheamusement，ofasingleman。Inhisdomesticadministration，thejustNushirvanwouldmeritinourfeelingstheappellationofatyrant。Histwoelderbrothershadbeendeprivedoftheirfairexpectationsofthediadem:theirfuturelife，betweenthesupremerankandtheconditionofsubjects，wasanxioustothemselvesandformidabletotheirmaster:fearaswellasrevengemighttemptthemtorebel:theslightestevidenceofaconspiracysatisfiedtheauthoroftheirwrongs；andthereposeofChosroeswassecuredbythedeathoftheseunhappyprinces，withtheirfamiliesandadherents。Oneguiltlessyouthwassavedanddismissedbythecompassionofaveterangeneral；andthisactofhumanity，whichwasrevealedbyhisson，overbalancedthemeritofreducingtwelvenationstotheobedienceofPersia。ThezealandprudenceofMebodeshadfixedthediademontheheadofChosroeshimself；
buthedelayedtoattendtheroyalsummons，tillhehadperformedthedutiesofamilitaryreview:hewasinstantlycommandedtorepairtotheirontripod，whichstoodbeforethegateofthepalace，^43whereitwasdeathtorelieveorapproachthevictim；
andMebodeslanguishedseveraldaysbeforehissentencewaspronounced，bytheinflexibleprideandcalmingratitudeofthesonofKobad。Butthepeople，moreespeciallyintheEast，isdisposedtoforgive，andeventoapplaud，thecrueltywhichstrikesattheloftiestheads；attheslavesofambition，whosevoluntarychoicehasexposedthemtoliveinthesmiles，andtoperishbythefrown，ofacapriciousmonarch。Intheexecutionofthelawswhichhehadnotemptationtoviolate；inthepunishmentofcrimeswhichattackedhisowndignity，aswellasthehappinessofindividuals；Nushirvan，orChosroes，deservedtheappellationofjust。Hisgovernmentwasfirm，rigorous，andimpartial。Itwasthefirstlaborofhisreigntoabolishthedangeroustheoryofcommonorequalpossessions:thelandsandwomenwhichthesectariesofMazdakhasusurpedwererestoredtotheirlawfulowners；andthetemperatechastisementofthefanaticsorimpostorsconfirmedthedomesticrightsofsociety。
Insteadoflisteningwithblindconfidencetoafavoriteminister，heestablishedfourviziersoverthefourgreatprovincesofhisempire，Assyria，Media，Persia，andBactriana。
Inthechoiceofjudges，praefects，andcounsellors，hestrovetoremovethemaskwhichisalwaysworninthepresenceofkings:hewishedtosubstitutethenaturalorderoftalentsfortheaccidentaldistinctionsofbirthandfortune；heprofessed，inspeciouslanguage，hisintentiontopreferthosemenwhocarriedthepoorintheirbosoms，andtobanishcorruptionfromtheseatofjustice，asdogswereexcludedfromthetemplesoftheMagi。
ThecodeoflawsofthefirstArtaxerxeswasrevivedandpublishedastheruleofthemagistrates；buttheassuranceofspeedypunishmentwasthebestsecurityoftheirvirtue。Theirbehaviorwasinspectedbyathousandeyes，theirwordswereoverheardbyathousandears，thesecretorpublicagentsofthethrone；andtheprovinces，fromtheIndiantotheArabianconfines，wereenlightenedbythefrequentvisitsofasovereign，whoaffectedtoemulatehiscelestialbrotherinhisrapidandsalutarycareer。Educationandagricultureheviewedasthetwoobjectsmostdeservingofhiscare。IneverycityofPersiaorphans，andthechildrenofthepoor，weremaintainedandinstructedatthepublicexpense；thedaughtersweregiveninmarriagetotherichestcitizensoftheirownrank，andthesons，accordingtotheirdifferenttalents，wereemployedinmechanictrades，orpromotedtomorehonorableservice。Thedesertedvillageswererelievedbyhisbounty；tothepeasantsandfarmerswhowerefoundincapableofcultivatingtheirlands，hedistributedcattle，seed，andtheinstrumentsofhusbandry；andtherareandinestimabletreasureoffreshwaterwasparsimoniouslymanaged，andskilfullydispersedoverthearidterritoryofPersia。^44Theprosperityofthatkingdomwastheeffectandevidenceofhisvirtues；hisvicesarethoseofOrientaldespotism；butinthelongcompetitionbetweenChosroesandJustinian，theadvantagebothofmeritandfortuneisalmostalwaysonthesideoftheBarbarian。^45
[Footnote43:Procopius，Persic。l。i。c。23。Brisson，deRegn。
Pers。p。494。ThegateofthepalaceofIspahanis，orwas，thefatalsceneofdisgraceordeath，Chardin，VoyageenPerse，tom。
iv。p。312，313。]
[Footnote*:Thisisastrangeterm。NushirvanemployedastratagemsimilartothatofJehu，2Kings，x。18—28，toseparatethefollowersofMazdakfromtherestofhissubjects，andwithabodyofhistroopscutthemallinpieces。TheGreekwritersconcurwiththePersianinthisrepresentationofNushirvan'stemperateconduct。Theophanes，p。146。Mirkhond。p。
362。Eutychius，Ann。vol。ii。p。179。Abulfeda，inanuneditedpart，consultedbySt。Martinaswellasinapassageformerlycited。LeBeauvol。viii。p。38。Malcolmvollp。109。—M。]
[Footnote44:InPersia，theprinceofthewatersisanofficerofstate。Thenumberofwellsandsubterraneouschannelsismuchdiminished，andwithitthefertilityofthesoil:400wellshavebeenrecentlylostnearTauris，and42，000wereoncereckonedintheprovinceofKhorasanChardin，tom。iii。p。99，100。
Tavernier，tom。i。p。416。]
[Footnote45:ThecharacterandgovernmentofNushirvanisrepresentedsometimesinthewordsofD'Herbelot，Bibliot。
Orient。p。680，&c。，fromKhondemir，Eutychius，Annal。tom。ii。
p。179，180，—veryrich，Abulpharagius，Dynast。vii。p。94，95，—verypoor，TarikhSchikard，p。144—150，Texeira，inStevens，l。i。c。35，Asseman，BibliotOrient。tom。iii。p。404
—410，andtheAbbeFourmont，Hist。del'Acad。desInscriptions，tom。vii。p。325—334，whohastranslatedaspuriousorgenuinetestamentofNushirvan。]
TothepraiseofjusticeNushirvanunitedthereputationofknowledge；andthesevenGreekphilosophers，whovisitedhiscourt，wereinvitedanddeceivedbythestrangeassurance，thatadiscipleofPlatowasseatedonthePersianthrone。Didtheyexpect，thataprince，strenuouslyexercisedinthetoilsofwarandgovernment，shouldagitate，withdexterityliketheirown，theabstruseandprofoundquestionswhichamusedtheleisureoftheschoolsofAthens?Couldtheyhopethatthepreceptsofphilosophyshoulddirectthelife，andcontrolthepassions，ofadespot，whoseinfancyhadbeentaughttoconsiderhisabsoluteandfluctuatingwillastheonlyruleofmoralobligation?^46
ThestudiesofChosroeswereostentatiousandsuperficial:buthisexampleawakenedthecuriosityofaningeniouspeople，andthelightofsciencewasdiffusedoverthedominionsofPersia。
^47AtGondiSapor，intheneighborhoodoftheroyalcityofSusa，anacademyofphysicwasfounded，whichinsensiblybecamealiberalschoolofpoetry，philosophy，andrhetoric。^48Theannalsofthemonarchy^49werecomposed；andwhilerecentandauthentichistorymightaffordsomeusefullessonsbothtotheprinceandpeople，thedarknessofthefirstageswasembellishedbythegiants，thedragons，andthefabulousheroesofOrientalromance。^50Everylearnedorconfidentstrangerwasenrichedbythebounty，andflatteredbytheconversation，ofthemonarch:henoblyrewardedaGreekphysician，^51bythedeliveranceofthreethousand，captives；andthesophists，whocontendedforhisfavor，wereexasperatedbythewealthandinsolenceofUranius，theirmoresuccessfulrival。Nushirvanbelieved，oratleastrespected，thereligionoftheMagi；andsometracesofpersecutionmaybediscoveredinhisreign。^52Yetheallowedhimselffreelytocomparethetenetsofthevarioussects；andthetheologicaldisputes，inwhichhefrequentlypresided，diminishedtheauthorityofthepriest，andenlightenedthemindsofthepeople。Athiscommand，themostcelebratedwritersofGreeceandIndiaweretranslatedintothePersianlanguage；asmoothandelegantidiom，recommendedbyMahomettotheuseofparadise；thoughitisbrandedwiththeepithetsofsavageandunmusical，bytheignoranceandpresumptionofAgathias。^53YettheGreekhistorianmightreasonablywonderthatitshouldbefoundpossibletoexecuteanentireversionofPlatoandAristotleinaforeigndialect，whichhadnotbeenframedtoexpressthespiritoffreedomandthesubtiltiesofphilosophicdisquisition。And，ifthereasonoftheStagyritemightbeequallydark，orequallyintelligibleineverytongue，thedramaticartandverbalargumentationofthediscipleofSocrates，^54appeartobeindissolublymingledwiththegraceandperfectionofhisAtticstyle。Inthesearchofuniversalknowledge，Nushirvanwasinformed，thatthemoralandpoliticalfablesofPilpay，anancientBrachman，werepreservedwithjealousreverenceamongthetreasuresofthekingsofIndia。ThephysicianPerozeswassecretlydespatchedtothebanksoftheGanges，withinstructionstoprocure，atanyprice，thecommunicationofthisvaluablework。Hisdexterityobtainedatranscript，hislearneddiligenceaccomplishedthetranslation；
andthefablesofPilpay^55werereadandadmiredintheassemblyofNushirvanandhisnobles。TheIndianoriginal，andthePersiancopy，havelongsincedisappeared；butthisvenerablemonumenthasbeensavedbythecuriosityoftheArabiancaliphs，revivedinthemodernPersic，theTurkish，theSyriac，theHebrew，andtheGreekidioms，andtransfusedthroughsuccessiveversionsintothemodernlanguagesofEurope。Intheirpresentform，thepeculiarcharacter，themannersandreligionoftheHindoos，arecompletelyobliterated；andtheintrinsicmeritofthefablesofPilpayisfarinferiortotheconciseeleganceofPhaedrus，andthenativegracesofLaFontaine。Fifteenmoralandpoliticalsentencesareillustratedinaseriesofapologues:butthecompositionisintricate，thenarrativeprolix，andthepreceptobviousandbarren。YettheBrachmanmayassumethemeritofinventingapleasingfiction，whichadornsthenakednessoftruth，andalleviates，perhaps，toaroyalear，theharshnessofinstruction。Withasimilardesign，toadmonishkingsthattheyarestrongonlyinthestrengthoftheirsubjects，thesameIndiansinventedthegameofchess，whichwaslikewiseintroducedintoPersiaunderthereignofNushirvan。^56
[Footnote46:Athousandyearsbeforehisbirth，thejudgesofPersiahadgivenasolemnopinion，Herodot。l。iii。c。31，p。
210，edit。Wesseling。Norhadthisconstitutionalmaximbeenneglectedasauselessandbarrentheory。]
[Footnote47:OntheliterarystateofPersia，theGreekversions，philosophers，sophists，thelearningorignoranceofChosroes，Agathiasl。ii。c。66—71displaysmuchinformationandstrongprejudices。]
[Footnote48:Asseman。Bibliot。Orient。tom。iv。p。DCCXLV。vi。
vii。]
[Footnote49:TheShahNameh，orBookofKings，isperhapstheoriginalrecordofhistorywhichwastranslatedintoGreekbytheinterpreterSergius，Agathias，l。v。p。141，preservedaftertheMahometanconquest，andversifiedintheyear994，bythenationalpoetFerdoussi。SeeD'AnquetilMem。del'Academie，tom。xxxi。p。379andSirWilliamJones，Hist。ofNadirShah，p。161。]
[Footnote50:Inthefifthcentury，thenameofRestom，orRostam，aherowhoequalledthestrengthoftwelveelephants，wasfamiliartotheArmenians，MosesChorenensis，Hist。Armen。l。
ii。c。7，p。96，edit。Whiston。Inthebeginningoftheseventh，thePersianRomanceofRostamandIsfendiarwasapplaudedatMecca，Sale'sKoran，c。xxxi。p。335。YetthisexpositionofludicrumnovaehistoriaeisnotgivenbyMaracci，Refutat。
Alcoran。p。544—548。]
[Footnote51:Procop。Goth。l。iv。c。10。KobadhadafavoriteGreekphysician，StephenofEdessa，Persic。l。ii。c。26。Thepracticewasancient；andHerodotusrelatestheadventuresofDemocedesofCrotona，l。iiip。125—137。]
[Footnote52:SeePagi，tom。ii。p。626。InoneofthetreatiesanhonorablearticlewasinsertedforthetolerationandburialoftheCatholics，Menander，inExcerpt。Legat。p。142。
Nushizad，asonofNushirvan，wasaChristian，arebel，and—amartyr?D'Herbelot，p。681。]
[Footnote53:OnthePersianlanguage，anditsthreedialects，consultD'Anquetilp。339—343andJones，p。153—185:isthecharacterwhichAgathiasl。ii。p。66ascribestoanidiomrenownedintheEastforpoeticalsoftness。]
[Footnote54:AgathiasspecifiestheGorgias，Phaedon，Parmenides，andTimaeus。RenaudotFabricius，Bibliot。Graec。
tom。xii。p。246—261doesnotmentionthisBarbaricversionofAristotle。]
[Footnote55:Ofthesefables，Ihaveseenthreecopiesinthreedifferentlanguages:1。InGreek，translatedbySimeonSethA。D。
1100fromtheArabic，andpublishedbyStarckatBerlinin1697，in12mo。2。InLatin，aversionfromtheGreekSapientiaIndorum，insertedbyPerePoussinattheendofhiseditionofPachymer，p。547—620，edit。Roman。3。InFrench，fromtheTurkish，dedicated，in1540，toSultanSolimanContesetFablesIndiennesdeBidpaietdeLokman，parMm。GallandetCardonne，Paris，1778，3vols。in12mo。Mr。WartonHistoryofEnglishPoetry，vol。i。p。129—131takesalargerscope。
Note:TheoldestIndiancollectionextantisthePancha—tantra，thefivecollections，analyzedbyMr。WilsonintheTransactionsoftheRoyalAsiat。Soc。ItwastranslatedintoPersianbyBarsuyah，thephysicianofNushirvan，underthenameoftheFablesofBidpai，Vidyapriya，theFriendofKnowledge，or，astheOrientalwritersunderstandit，theFriendofMedicine。ItwastranslatedintoArabicbyAbdollaIbnMokaffa，underthenameofKalilaandDimnah。FromtheArabicitpassedintotheEuropeanlanguages。CompareWilson，inTrans。As。Soc。
i。52。dohlen，dasalteIndien，ii。p。386。SilvestredeSacy，MemoiresurKalilavsDimnah。—M。]
[Footnote56:SeetheHistoriaShahiludiiofDr。Hyde，Syntagm。
Dissertat。tom。ii。p。61—69。]
ChapterXLII:StateOfTheBarbaricWorld。
PartIII。
ThesonofKobadfoundhiskingdominvolvedinawarwiththesuccessorofConstantine；andtheanxietyofhisdomesticsituationinclinedhimtograntthesuspensionofarms，whichJustinianwasimpatienttopurchase。ChosroessawtheRomanambassadorsathisfeet。Heacceptedeleventhousandpoundsofgold，asthepriceofanendlessorindefinitepeace:^57somemutualexchangeswereregulated；thePersianassumedtheguardofthegatesofCaucasus，andthedemolitionofDarawassuspended，onconditionthatitshouldneverbemadetheresidenceofthegeneraloftheEast。Thisintervalofreposehadbeensolicited，andwasdiligentlyimproved，bytheambitionoftheemperor:hisAfricanconquestswerethefirstfruitsofthePersiantreaty；
andtheavariceofChosroeswassoothedbyalargeportionofthespoilsofCarthage，whichhisambassadorsrequiredinatoneofpleasantryandunderthecoloroffriendship。^58ButthetrophiesofBelisariusdisturbedtheslumbersofthegreatking；
andheheardwithastonishment，envy，andfear，thatSicily，Italy，andRomeitself，hadbeenreduced，inthreerapidcampaigns，totheobedienceofJustinian。Unpractisedintheartofviolatingtreaties，hesecretlyexcitedhisboldandsubtlevassalAlmondar。ThatprinceoftheSaracens，whoresidedatHira，^59hadnotbeenincludedinthegeneralpeace，andstillwagedanobscurewaragainsthisrivalArethas，thechiefofthetribeofGassan，andconfederateoftheempire。Thesubjectoftheirdisputewasanextensivesheep—walkinthedeserttothesouthofPalmyra。AnimmemorialtributeforthelicenseofpastureappearedtoattesttherightsofAlmondar，whiletheGassaniteappealedtotheLatinnameofstrata，apavedroad，asanunquestionableevidenceofthesovereigntyandlaborsoftheRomans。^60Thetwomonarchssupportedthecauseoftheirrespectivevassals；andthePersianArab，withoutexpectingtheeventofaslowanddoubtfularbitration，enrichedhisflyingcampwiththespoilandcaptivesofSyria。Insteadofrepellingthearms，JustinianattemptedtoseducethefidelityofAlmondar，whilehecalledfromtheextremitiesoftheearththenationsofAethiopiaandScythiatoinvadethedominionsofhisrival。Buttheaidofsuchallieswasdistantandprecarious，andthediscoveryofthishostilecorrespondencejustifiedthecomplaintsoftheGothsandArmenians，whoimplored，almostatthesametime，theprotectionofChosroes。ThedescendantsofArsaces，whowerestillnumerousinArmenia，hadbeenprovokedtoassertthelastrelicsofnationalfreedomandhereditaryrank；andtheambassadorsofVitigeshadsecretlytraversedtheempiretoexposetheinstant，andalmostinevitable，dangerofthekingdomofItaly。Theirrepresentationswereuniform，weighty，andeffectual。"Westandbeforeyourthrone，theadvocatesofyourinterestaswellasofourown。TheambitiousandfaithlessJustinianaspirestobethesolemasteroftheworld。Sincetheendlesspeace，whichbetrayedthecommonfreedomofmankind，thatprince，yourallyinwords，yourenemyinactions，hasalikeinsultedhisfriendsandfoes，andhasfilledtheearthwithbloodandconfusion。HashenotviolatedtheprivilegesofArmenia，theindependenceofColchos，andthewildlibertyoftheTzanianmountains?Hashenotusurped，withequalavidity，thecityofBosphorusonthefrozenMaeotis，andthevaleofpalm—treesontheshoresoftheRedSea?TheMoors，theVandals，theGoths，havebeensuccessivelyoppressed，andeachnationhascalmlyremainedthespectatoroftheirneighbor'sruin。Embrace，Oking!thefavorablemoment；theEastisleftwithoutdefence，whilethearmiesofJustinianandhisrenownedgeneralaredetainedinthedistantregionsoftheWest。Ifyouhesitateordelay，BelisariusandhisvictorioustroopswillsoonreturnfromtheTybertotheTigris，andPersiamayenjoythewretchedconsolationofbeingthelastdevoured。"^61Bysucharguments，Chosroeswaseasilypersuadedtoimitatetheexamplewhichhecondemned:butthePersian，ambitiousofmilitaryfame，disdainedtheinactivewarfareofarival，whoissuedhissanguinarycommandsfromthesecurestationoftheByzantinepalace。