[Footnote57:TheendlesspeaceProcopius，Persic。l。i。c。21
　　wasconcludedorratifiedinthevithyear，andiiidconsulship，ofJustinian，A。D。533，betweenJanuary1andApril1。Pagi，tom。ii。p。550。Marcellinus，inhisChronicle，usesthestyleofMedesandPersians。]
　　[Footnote58:Procopius，Persic。l。i。c。26。]
　　[Footnote59:Almondar，kingofHira，wasdeposedbyKobad，andrestoredbyNushirvan。Hismother，fromherbeauty，wassurnamedCelestialWater，anappellationwhichbecamehereditary，andwasextendedforamorenoblecauseliberalityinfaminetotheArabprincesofSyria，Pocock，SpecimenHist。Arab。p。69，70。]
　　[Footnote60:Procopius，Persic。l。ii。c。1。Weareignorantoftheoriginandobjectofthisstrata，apavedroadoftendays'
　　journeyfromAuranitistoBabylonia。SeeaLatinnoteinDelisle'sMapImp。Orient。WesselingandD'Anvillearesilent。]
　　[Footnote61:Ihaveblended，inashortspeech，thetwoorationsoftheArsacidesofArmeniaandtheGothicambassadors。
　　Procopius，inhispublichistory，feels，andmakesusfeel，thatJustinianwasthetrueauthorofthewar，Persic。l。ii。c。2，3。]
　　WhatevermightbetheprovocationsofChosroes，heabusedtheconfidenceoftreaties；andthejustreproachesofdissimulationandfalsehoodcouldonlybeconcealedbythelustreofhisvictories。^62ThePersianarmy，whichhadbeenassembledintheplainsofBabylon，prudentlydeclinedthestrongcitiesofMesopotamia，andfollowedthewesternbankoftheEuphrates，tillthesmall，thoughpopulous，townofDurapresumedtoarresttheprogressofthegreatking。ThegatesofDura，bytreacheryandsurprise，wereburstopen；andassoonasChosroeshadstainedhiscimeterwiththebloodoftheinhabitants，hedismissedtheambassadorofJustiniantoinformhismasterinwhatplacehehadlefttheenemyoftheRomans。Theconquerorstillaffectedthepraiseofhumanityandjustice；andashebeheldanoblematronwithherinfantrudelydraggedalongtheground，hesighed，hewept，andimploredthedivinejusticetopunishtheauthorofthesecalamities。Yettheherdoftwelvethousandcaptiveswasransomedfortwohundredpoundsofgold；
　　theneighboringbishopofSergiopolispledgedhisfaithforthepayment:andinthesubsequentyeartheunfeelingavariceofChosroesexactedthepenaltyofanobligationwhichitwasgeneroustocontractandimpossibletodischarge。HeadvancedintotheheartofSyria:butafeebleenemy，whovanishedathisapproach，disappointedhimofthehonorofvictory；andashecouldnothopetoestablishhisdominion，thePersiankingdisplayedinthisinroadthemeanandrapaciousvicesofarobber。Hierapolis，BerrhaeaorAleppo，ApameaandChalcis，weresuccessivelybesieged:theyredeemedtheirsafetybyaransomofgoldorsilver，proportionedtotheirrespectivestrengthandopulence；andtheirnewmasterenforced，withoutobserving，thetermsofcapitulation。EducatedinthereligionoftheMagi，heexercised，withoutremorse，thelucrativetradeofsacrilege；
　　and，afterstrippingofitsgoldandgemsapieceofthetruecross，hegenerouslyrestoredthenakedrelictothedevotionoftheChristiansofApamea。NomorethanfourteenyearshadelapsedsinceAntiochwasruinedbyanearthquake；^!butthequeenoftheEast，thenewTheopolis，hadbeenraisedfromthegroundbytheliberalityofJustinian；andtheincreasinggreatnessofthebuildingsandthepeoplealreadyerasedthememoryofthisrecentdisaster。Ononeside，thecitywasdefendedbythemountain，ontheotherbytheRiverOrontes；butthemostaccessiblepartwascommandedbyasuperioreminence:
　　theproperremedieswererejected，fromthedespicablefearofdiscoveringitsweaknesstotheenemy；andGermanus，theemperor'snephew，refusedtotrusthispersonanddignitywithinthewallsofabesiegedcity。ThepeopleofAntiochhadinheritedthevainandsatiricalgeniusoftheirancestors:theywereelatedbyasuddenreenforcementofsixthousandsoldiers；
　　theydisdainedtheoffersofaneasycapitulationandtheirintemperateclamorsinsultedfromtherampartsthemajestyofthegreatking。UnderhiseyethePersianmyriadsmountedwithscaling—ladderstotheassault；theRomanmercenariesfledthroughtheoppositegateofDaphne；andthegenerousassistanceoftheyouthofAntiochservedonlytoaggravatethemiseriesoftheircountry。AsChosroes，attendedbytheambassadorsofJustinian，wasdescendingfromthemountain，heaffected，inaplaintivevoice，todeploretheobstinacyandruinofthatunhappypeople；buttheslaughterstillragedwithunrelentingfury；andthecity，atthecommandofaBarbarian，wasdeliveredtotheflames。ThecathedralofAntiochwasindeedpreservedbytheavarice，notthepiety，oftheconqueror:amorehonorableexemptionwasgrantedtothechurchofSt。Julian，andthequarterofthetownwheretheambassadorsresided；somedistantstreetsweresavedbytheshiftingofthewind，andthewallsstillsubsistedtoprotect，andsoontobetray，theirnewinhabitants。FanaticismhaddefacedtheornamentsofDaphne，butChosroesbreathedapurerairamidsthergrovesandfountains；
　　andsomeidolatersinhistrainmightsacrificewithimpunitytothenymphsofthatelegantretreat。EighteenmilesbelowAntioch，theRiverOrontesfallsintotheMediterranean。ThehaughtyPersianvisitedthetermofhisconquests；and，afterbathingaloneinthesea，heofferedasolemnsacrificeofthanksgivingtothesun，orrathertotheCreatorofthesun，whomtheMagiadored。IfthisactofsuperstitionoffendedtheprejudicesoftheSyrians，theywerepleasedbythecourteousandeveneagerattentionwithwhichheassistedatthegamesofthecircus；andasChosroeshadheardthatthebluefactionwasespousedbytheemperor，hisperemptorycommandsecuredthevictoryofthegreencharioteer。Fromthedisciplineofhiscampthepeoplederivedmoresolidconsolation；andtheyintercededinvainforthelifeofasoldierwhohadtoofaithfullycopiedtherapineofthejustNushirvan。Atlength，fatigued，thoughunsatiated，withthespoilofSyria，heslowlymovedtotheEuphrates，formedatemporarybridgeintheneighborhoodofBarbalissus，anddefinedthespaceofthreedaysfortheentirepassageofhisnumeroushost。Afterhisreturn，hefounded，atthedistanceofoneday'sjourneyfromthepalaceofCtesiphon，anewcity，whichperpetuatedthejointnamesofChosroesandofAntioch。TheSyriancaptivesrecognizedtheformandsituationoftheirnativeabodes:bathsandastatelycircuswereconstructedfortheiruse；andacolonyofmusiciansandcharioteersrevivedinAssyriathepleasuresofaGreekcapital。
　　Bythemunificenceoftheroyalfounder，aliberalallowancewasassignedtothesefortunateexiles；andtheyenjoyedthesingularprivilegeofbestowingfreedomontheslaveswhomtheyacknowledgedastheirkinsmen。Palestine，andtheholywealthofJerusalem，werethenextobjectsthatattractedtheambition，orrathertheavarice，ofChosroes。Constantinople，andthepalaceoftheCaesars，nolongerappearedimpregnableorremote；andhisaspiringfancyalreadycoveredAsiaMinorwiththetroops，andtheBlackSeawiththenavies，ofPersia。
　　[Footnote62:TheinvasionofSyria，theruinofAntioch，&c。，arerelatedinafullandregularseriesbyProcopius，Persic。
　　l。ii。c。5—14。SmallcollateralaidcanbedrawnfromtheOrientals:yetnotthey，butD'Herbelothimself，p。680，shouldblushwhenheblamesthemformakingJustinianandNushirvancontemporaries。Onthegeographyoftheseatofwar，D'Anvillel'EuphrateetleTigreissufficientandsatisfactory。]
　　[Footnote*:ItisSurainProcopius。IsitamisprintinGibbon?—M。]
　　[Footnote!:JoannesLydusattributestheeasycaptureofAntiochtothewantoffortificationswhichhadnotbeenrestoredsincetheearthquake，l。iii。c。54。p。246。—M。]
　　[Footnote*:Lydusassertsthathecarriedawayallthestatues，pictures，andmarbleswhichadornedthecity，l。iii。c。54，p。
　　246。—M。]
　　Thesehopesmighthavebeenrealized，iftheconquerorofItalyhadnotbeenseasonablyrecalledtothedefenceoftheEast。^63WhileChosroespursuedhisambitiousdesignsonthecoastoftheEuxine，Belisarius，attheheadofanarmywithoutpayordiscipline，encampedbeyondtheEuphrates，withinsixmilesofNisibis。Hemeditated，byaskilfuloperation，todrawthePersiansfromtheirimpregnablecitadel，andimprovinghisadvantageinthefield，eithertointercepttheirretreat，orperhapstoenterthegateswiththeflyingBarbarians。Headvancedoneday'sjourneyontheterritoriesofPersia，reducedthefortressofSisaurane，andsentthegovernor，witheighthundredchosenhorsemen，toservetheemperorinhisItalianwars。HedetachedArethasandhisArabs，supportedbytwelvehundredRomans，topasstheTigris，andtoravagetheharvestsofAssyria，afruitfulprovince，longexemptfromthecalamitiesofwar。ButtheplansofBelisariusweredisconcertedbytheuntractablespiritofArethas，whoneitherreturnedtothecamp，norsentanyintelligenceofhismotions。TheRomangeneralwasfixedinanxiousexpectationtothesamespot；thetimeofactionelapsed，theardentsunofMesopotamiainflamedwithfevorsthebloodofhisEuropeansoldiers；andthestationarytroopsandofficersofSyriaaffectedtotrembleforthesafetyoftheirdefencelesscities。YetthisdiversionhadalreadysucceededinforcingChosroestoreturnwithlossandprecipitation；andiftheskillofBelisariushadbeensecondedbydisciplineandvalor，hissuccessmighthavesatisfiedthesanguinewishesofthepublic，whorequiredathishandstheconquestofCtesiphon，andthedeliveranceofthecaptivesofAntioch。Attheendofthecampaign，hewasrecalledtoConstantinoplebyanungratefulcourt，butthedangersoftheensuingspringrestoredhisconfidenceandcommand；andthehero，almostalone，wasdespatched，withthespeedofpost—horses，torepel，byhisnameandpresence，theinvasionofSyria。HefoundtheRomangenerals，amongwhomwasanephewofJustinian，imprisonedbytheirfearsinthefortificationsofHierapolis。Butinsteadoflisteningtotheirtimidcounsels，BelisariuscommandedthemtofollowhimtoEuropus，wherehehadresolvedtocollecthisforces，andtoexecutewhateverGodshouldinspirehimtoachieveagainsttheenemy。HisfirmattitudeonthebanksoftheEuphratesrestrainedChosroesfromadvancingtowardsPalestine；
　　andhereceivedwithartanddignitytheambassadors，orratherspies，ofthePersianmonarch。TheplainbetweenHierapolisandtheriverwascoveredwiththesquadronsofcavalry，sixthousandhunters，tallandrobust，whopursuedtheirgamewithouttheapprehensionofanenemy。OntheoppositebanktheambassadorsdescriedathousandArmenianhorse，whoappearedtoguardthepassageoftheEuphrates。ThetentofBelisariuswasofthecoarsestlinen，thesimpleequipageofawarriorwhodisdainedtheluxuryoftheEast。Aroundhistent，thenationswhomarchedunderhisstandardwerearrangedwithskilfulconfusion。TheThraciansandIllyrianswerepostedinthefront，theHeruliandGothsinthecentre；theprospectwasclosedbytheMoorsandVandals，andtheirloosearrayseemedtomultiplytheirnumbers。
　　Theirdresswaslightandactive；onesoldiercarriedawhip，anotherasword，athirdabow，afourth，perhaps，abattleaxe，andthewholepictureexhibitedtheintrepidityofthetroopsandthevigilanceofthegeneral。Chosroeswasdeludedbytheaddress，andawedbythegenius，ofthelieutenantofJustinian。
　　Consciousofthemerit，andignorantoftheforce，ofhisantagonist，hedreadedadecisivebattleinadistantcountry，fromwhencenotaPersianmightreturntorelatethemelancholytale。ThegreatkinghastenedtorepasstheEuphrates；andBelisariuspressedhisretreat，byaffectingtoopposeameasuresosalutarytotheempire，andwhichcouldscarcelyhavebeenpreventedbyanarmyofahundredthousandmen。Envymightsuggesttoignoranceandpride，thatthepublicenemyhadbeensufferedtoescape:buttheAfricanandGothictriumphsarelessgloriousthanthissafeandbloodlessvictory，inwhichneitherfortune，northevalorofthesoldiers，cansubtractanypartofthegeneral'srenown。ThesecondremovalofBelisariusfromthePersiantotheItalianwarrevealedtheextentofhispersonalmerit，whichhadcorrectedorsuppliedthewantofdisciplineandcourage。Fifteengenerals，withoutconcertorskill，ledthroughthemountainsofArmeniaanarmyofthirtythousandRomans，inattentivetotheirsignals，theirranks，andtheirensigns。
　　FourthousandPersians，intrenchedinthecampofDubis，vanquished，almostwithoutacombat，thisdisorderlymultitude；
　　theiruselessarmswerescatteredalongtheroad，andtheirhorsessunkunderthefatigueoftheirrapidflight。ButtheArabsoftheRomanpartyprevailedovertheirbrethren；theArmeniansreturnedtotheirallegiance；thecitiesofDaraandEdessaresistedasuddenassaultandaregularsiege，andthecalamitiesofwarweresuspendedbythoseofpestilence。AtacitorformalagreementbetweenthetwosovereignsprotectedthetranquillityoftheEasternfrontier；andthearmsofChosroeswereconfinedtotheColchianorLazicwar，whichhasbeentoominutelydescribedbythehistoriansofthetimes。^64
　　[Footnote63:InthepublichistoryofProcopius，Persic。l。ii。
　　c。16，18，19，20，21，24，25，26，27，28；and，withsomeslightexceptions，wemayreasonablyshutourearsagainstthemalevolentwhisperoftheAnecdotes，c。2，3，withtheNotes，asusual，ofAlemannus。]
　　[Footnote64:TheLazicwar，thecontestofRomeandPersiaonthePhasis，istediouslyspunthroughmanyapageofProcopiusPersic。l。ii。c。15，17，28，29，30。Gothic。l。iv。c。7—16
　　andAgathias，l。ii。iii。andiv。p。55—132，141。]
　　TheextremelengthoftheEuxineSea^65fromConstantinopletothemouthofthePhasis，maybecomputedasavoyageofninedays，andameasureofsevenhundredmiles。FromtheIberianCaucasus，themostloftyandcraggymountainsofAsia，thatriverdescendswithsuchobliquevehemence，thatinashortspaceitistraversedbyonehundredandtwentybridges。Nordoesthestreambecomeplacidandnavigable，tillitreachesthetownofSarapana，fivedays'journeyfromtheCyrus，whichflowsfromthesamehills，butinacontrarydirectiontotheCaspianLake。Theproximityoftheserivershassuggestedthepractice，oratleasttheidea，ofwaftingthepreciousmerchandiseofIndiadowntheOxus，overtheCaspian，uptheCyrus，andwiththecurrentofthePhasisintotheEuxineandMediterraneanSeas。AsitsuccessivelycollectsthestreamsoftheplainofColchos，thePhasismoveswithdiminishedspeed，thoughaccumulatedweight。
　　Atthemouthitissixtyfathomdeep，andhalfaleaguebroad，butasmallwoodyislandisinterposedinthemidstofthechannel；thewater，sosoonasithasdepositedanearthyormetallicsediment，floatsonthesurfaceofthewaves，andisnolongersusceptibleofcorruption。Inacourseofonehundredmiles，fortyofwhicharenavigableforlargevessels，thePhasisdividesthecelebratedregionofColchos，^66orMingrelia，^67
　　which，onthreesides，isfortifiedbytheIberianandArmenianmountains，andwhosemaritimecoastextendsabouttwohundredmilesfromtheneighborhoodofTrebizondtoDioscuriasandtheconfinesofCircassia。Boththesoilandclimatearerelaxedbyexcessivemoisture:twenty—eightrivers，besidesthePhasisandhisdependentstreams，conveytheirwaterstothesea；andthehollownessofthegroundappearstoindicatethesubterraneouschannelsbetweentheEuxineandtheCaspian。Inthefieldswherewheatorbarleyissown，theearthistoosofttosustaintheactionoftheplough；butthegom，asmallgrain，notunlikethemilletorcorianderseed，suppliestheordinaryfoodofthepeople；andtheuseofbreadisconfinedtotheprinceandhisnobles。Yetthevintageismoreplentifulthantheharvest；andthebulkofthestems，aswellasthequalityofthewine，displaytheunassistedpowersofnature。Thesamepowerscontinuallytendtoovershadowthefaceofthecountrywiththickforests；thetimberofthehills，andtheflaxoftheplains，contributetotheabundanceofnavalstores；thewildandtameanimals，thehorse，theox，andthehog，areremarkablyprolific，andthenameofthepheasantisexpressiveofhisnativehabitationonthebanksofthePhasis。ThegoldminestothesouthofTrebizond，whicharestillworkedwithsufficientprofit，wereasubjectofnationaldisputebetweenJustinianandChosroes；anditisnotunreasonabletobelieve，thataveinofpreciousmetalmaybeequallydiffusedthroughthecircleofthehills，althoughthesesecrettreasuresareneglectedbythelaziness，orconcealedbytheprudence，oftheMingrelians。Thewaters，impregnatedwithparticlesofgold，arecarefullystrainedthroughsheep—skinsorfleeces；butthisexpedient，thegroundworkperhapsofamarvellousfable，affordsafaintimageofthewealthextractedfromavirginearthbythepowerandindustryofancientkings。Theirsilverpalacesandgoldenchamberssurpassourbelief；butthefameoftheirrichesissaidtohaveexcitedtheenterprisingavariceoftheArgonauts。^68
　　Traditionhasaffirmed，withsomecolorofreason，thatEgyptplantedonthePhasisalearnedandpolitecolony，^69whichmanufacturedlinen，builtnavies，andinventedgeographicalmaps。
　　Theingenuityofthemodernshaspeopled，withflourishingcitiesandnations，theisthmusbetweentheEuxineandtheCaspian；^70
　　andalivelywriter，observingtheresemblanceofclimate，and，inhisapprehension，oftrade，hasnothesitatedtopronounceColchostheHollandofantiquity。^71
　　[Footnote65:ThePeriplus，orcircumnavigationoftheEuxineSea，wasdescribedinLatinbySallust，andinGreekbyArrian:
　　I。Theformerwork，whichnolongerexists，hasbeenrestoredbythesingulardiligenceofM。deBrosses，firstpresidentoftheparliamentofDijon，Hist。delaRepubliqueRomaine，tom。ii。l。
　　iii。p。199—298，whoventurestoassumethecharacteroftheRomanhistorian。HisdescriptionoftheEuxineisingeniouslyformedofallthefragmentsoftheoriginal，andofalltheGreeksandLatinswhomSallustmightcopy，orbywhomhemightbecopied；andthemeritoftheexecutionatonesforthewhimsicaldesign。2。ThePeriplusofArrianisaddressedtotheemperorHadrian，inGeograph。Minor。Hudson，tom。i。，andcontainswhateverthegovernorofPontushadseenfromTrebizondtoDioscurias；whateverhehadheardfromDioscuriastotheDanube；
　　andwhateverheknewfromtheDanubetoTrebizond。]
　　[Footnote66:Besidesthemanyoccasionalhintsfromthepoets，historians&c。，ofantiquity，wemayconsultthegeographicaldescriptionsofColchos，byStrabol。xi。p。760—765andPliny，Hist。Natur。vi。5，19，&c。]
　　[Footnote67:Ishallquote，andhaveused，threemoderndescriptionsofMingreliaandtheadjacentcountries。1。OfthePereArchangeliLamberti，RelationsdeThevenot，parti。p。31—
　　52，withamap，whohasalltheknowledgeandprejudicesofamissionary。2。OfChardia，VoyagesenPerse，tom。i。p。54，68
　　—168。Hisobservationsarejudiciousandhisownadventuresinthecountryarestillmoreinstructivethanhisobservations。3。
　　OfPeyssonel，ObservationssurlesPeuplesBarbares，p。49，50，51，5862，64，65，71，&c。，andamorerecenttreatise，SurleCommercedelaMerNoire，tom。ii。p。1—53。HehadlongresidedatCaffa，asconsulofFrance；andhiseruditionislessvaluablethanhisexperience。]
　　[Footnote68:Pliny，Hist。Natur。l。xxxiii。15。ThegoldandsilverminesofColchosattractedtheArgonauts，Strab。l。i。p。
　　77。ThesagaciousChardincouldfindnogoldinmines，rivers，orelsewhere。YetaMingrelianlosthishandandfootforshowingsomespecimensatConstantinopleofnativegold]
　　[Footnote69:Herodot。l。ii。c。104，105，p。150，151。Diodor。
　　Sicul。l。i。p。33，edit。Wesseling。Dionys。Perieget。689，andEustath。adloc。SchohastadApolloniumArgonaut。l。iv。282—
　　291。]
　　[Footnote70:Montesquieu，EspritdesLoix，l。xxi。c。6。
　　L'Isthme……couverodevillesetnationsquinesontplus。]