[Footnote69:AureliusVictor。JornandesdeRebusGeticis，c。
21。]
[Footnote70:AureliusVictorsays，"PerArmeniaminhostescontendit，quaefermosola，seufaciliorvincendiviaest。"HefollowedtheconductofTrajan，andtheideaofJuliusCaesar。]
[Footnote71:Xenophon'sAnabasis，l。iii。ForthatreasonthePersiancavalryencampedsixtystadiafromtheenemy。]
[Footnote72:ThestoryistoldbyAmmianus，l。xxii。Insteadofsaccum，somereadscutum。]
[Footnote73:ThePersiansconfessedtheRomansuperiorityinmoralsaswellasinarms。Eutrop。ix。24。Butthisrespectandgratitudeofenemiesisveryseldomtobefoundintheirownaccounts。]
ChapterXIII:ReignOfDiocletianAndThisThreeAssociates。
PartIII。
WhiletheEastanxiouslyexpectedthedecisionofthisgreatcontest，theemperorDiocletian，havingassembledinSyriaastrongarmyofobservation，displayedfromadistancetheresourcesoftheRomanpower，andreservedhimselfforanyfutureemergencyofthewar。Ontheintelligenceofthevictoryhecondescendedtoadvancetowardsthefrontier，withaviewofmoderating，byhispresenceandcounsels，theprideofGalerius。
TheinterviewoftheRomanprincesatNisibiswasaccompaniedwitheveryexpressionofrespectononeside，andofesteemontheother。ItwasinthatcitythattheysoonafterwardsgaveaudiencetotheambassadoroftheGreatKing。^74Thepower，oratleastthespirit，ofNarses，hadbeenbrokenbyhislastdefeat；andheconsideredanimmediatepeaceastheonlymeansthatcouldstoptheprogressoftheRomanarms。HedespatchedApharban，aservantwhopossessedhisfavorandconfidence，withacommissiontonegotiateatreaty，orrathertoreceivewhateverconditionstheconquerorshouldimpose。Apharbanopenedtheconferencebyexpressinghismaster'sgratitudeforthegeneroustreatmentofhisfamily，andbysolicitingthelibertyofthoseillustriouscaptives。HecelebratedthevalorofGalerius，withoutdegradingthereputationofNarses，andthoughtitnodishonortoconfessthesuperiorityofthevictoriousCaesar，overamonarchwhohadsurpassedingloryalltheprincesofhisrace。NotwithstandingthejusticeofthePersiancause，hewasempoweredtosubmitthepresentdifferencestothedecisionoftheemperorsthemselves；convincedashewas，that，inthemidstofprosperity，theywouldnotbeunmindfulofthevicissitudesoffortune。Apharbanconcludedhisdiscourseinthestyleofeasternallegory，byobservingthattheRomanandPersianmonarchieswerethetwoeyesoftheworld，whichwouldremainimperfectandmutilatedifeitherofthemshouldbeputout。
[Footnote74:TheaccountofthenegotiationistakenfromthefragmentsofPeterthePatrician，intheExcerptaLegationum，publishedintheByzantineCollection。PeterlivedunderJustinian；butitisveryevident，bythenatureofhismaterials，thattheyaredrawnfromthemostauthenticandrespectablewriters。]
"ItwellbecomesthePersians，"repliedGalerius，withatransportoffury，whichseemedtoconvulsehiswholeframe，"itwellbecomesthePersianstoexpatiateonthevicissitudesoffortune，andcalmlytoreaduslecturesonthevirtuesofmoderation。Letthemremembertheirownmoderation，towardstheunhappyValerian。Theyvanquishedhimbyfraud，theytreatedhimwithindignity。Theydetainedhimtillthelastmomentofhislifeinshamefulcaptivity，andafterhisdeaththeyexposedhisbodytoperpetualignominy。"Softening，however，histone，Galeriusinsinuatedtotheambassador，thatithadneverbeenthepracticeoftheRomanstotrampleonaprostrateenemy；andthat，onthisoccasion，theyshouldconsulttheirowndignityratherthanthePersianmerit。HedismissedApharbanwithahopethatNarseswouldsoonbeinformedonwhatconditionshemightobtain，fromtheclemencyoftheemperors，alastingpeace，andtherestorationofhiswivesandchildren。InthisconferencewemaydiscoverthefiercepassionsofGalerius，aswellashisdeferencetothesuperiorwisdomandauthorityofDiocletian。
TheambitionoftheformergraspedattheconquestoftheEast，andhadproposedtoreducePersiaintothestateofaprovince。
Theprudenceofthelatter，whoadheredtothemoderatepolicyofAugustusandtheAntonines，embracedthefavorableopportunityofterminatingasuccessfulwarbyanhonorableandadvantageouspeace。^75
[Footnote75:AdeovictorsaysAureliusutniValerius，cujusnutuomnisgerebantur，abnuisset，RomanifascesinprovinciamnovamferrenturVerumparsterrarumtamennobisutiliorquaesita。]
Inpursuanceoftheirpromise，theemperorssoonafterwardsappointedSicoriusProbus，oneoftheirsecretaries，toacquaintthePersiancourtwiththeirfinalresolution。Astheministerofpeace，hewasreceivedwitheverymarkofpolitenessandfriendship；but，underthepretenceofallowinghimthenecessaryreposeaftersolongajourney，theaudienceofProbuswasdeferredfromdaytoday；andheattendedtheslowmotionsoftheking，tillatlengthhewasadmittedtohispresence，neartheRiverAsprudusinMedia。ThesecretmotiveofNarses，inthisdelay，hadbeentocollectsuchamilitaryforceasmightenablehim，thoughsincerelydesirousofpeace，tonegotiatewiththegreaterweightanddignity。Threepersonsonlyassistedatthisimportantconference，theministerApharban，thepraefectoftheguards，andanofficerwhohadcommandedontheArmenianfrontier。^76Thefirstconditionproposedbytheambassadorisnotatpresentofaveryintelligiblenature；thatthecityofNisibismightbeestablishedfortheplaceofmutualexchange，or，asweshouldformerlyhavetermedit，forthestapleoftrade，betweenthetwoempires。ThereisnodifficultyinconceivingtheintentionoftheRomanprincestoimprovetheirrevenuebysomerestraintsuponcommerce；butasNisibiswassituatedwithintheirowndominions，andastheyweremastersbothoftheimportsandexports，itshouldseemthatsuchrestraintsweretheobjectsofaninternallaw，ratherthanofaforeigntreaty。Torenderthemmoreeffectual，somestipulationswereprobablyrequiredonthesideofthekingofPersia，whichappearedsoveryrepugnanteithertohisinterestortohisdignity，thatNarsescouldnotbepersuadedtosubscribethem。
Asthiswastheonlyarticletowhichherefusedhisconsent，itwasnolongerinsistedon；andtheemperorseithersufferedthetradetoflowinitsnaturalchannels，orcontentedthemselveswithsuchrestrictions，asitdependedontheirownauthoritytoestablish。
[Footnote76:HehadbeengovernorofSumium，Pot。PatriciusinExcerpt。Legat。p。30。ThisprovinceseemstobementionedbyMosesofChorene，Geograph。p。360，andlaytotheeastofMountArarat。
Note:TheSiounikhoftheArmenianwritersSt。Martini。
142。—M。]
Assoonasthisdifficultywasremoved，asolemnpeacewasconcludedandratifiedbetweenthetwonations。Theconditionsofatreatysoglorioustotheempire，andsonecessarytoPersiaPersian，maydeserveamorepeculiarattention，asthehistoryofRomepresentsveryfewtransactionsofasimilarnature；mostofherwarshavingeitherbeenterminatedbyabsoluteconquest，orwagedagainstbarbariansignorantoftheuseofletters。I。TheAboras，or，asitiscalledbyXenophon，theAraxes，wasfixedastheboundarybetweenthetwomonarchies。^77Thatriver，whichroseneartheTigris，wasincreased，afewmilesbelowNisibis，bythelittlestreamoftheMygdonius，passedunderthewallsofSingara，andfellintotheEuphratesatCircesium，afrontiertown，which，bythecareofDiocletian，wasverystronglyfortified。^78Mesopotomia，theobjectofsomanywars，wascededtotheempire；andthePersians，bythistreaty，renouncedallpretensionstothatgreatprovince。II。TheyrelinquishedtotheRomansfiveprovincesbeyondtheTigris。^79Theirsituationformedaveryusefulbarrier，andtheirnaturalstrengthwassoonimprovedbyartandmilitaryskill。Fourofthese，tothenorthoftheriver，weredistrictsofobscurefameandinconsiderableextent；Intiline，Zabdicene，Arzanene，andMoxoene；^!butontheeastoftheTigris，theempireacquiredthelargeandmountainousterritoryofCarduene，theancientseatoftheCarduchians，whopreservedformanyagestheirmanlyfreedomintheheartofthedespoticmonarchiesofAsia。ThetenthousandGreekstraversedtheircountry，afterapainfulmarch，orratherengagement，ofsevendays；anditisconfessedbytheirleader，inhisincomparablerelationoftheretreat，thattheysufferedmorefromthearrowsoftheCarduchians，thanfromthepoweroftheGreatKing。^80Theirposterity，theCurds，withverylittlealterationeitherofnameormanners，acknowledgedthenominalsovereigntyoftheTurkishsultan。III。Itisalmostneedlesstoobserve，thatTiridates，thefaithfulallyofRome，wasrestoredtothethroneofhisfathers，andthattherightsoftheImperialsupremacywerefullyassertedandsecured。ThelimitsofArmeniawereextendedasfarasthefortressofSinthainMedia，andthisincreaseofdominionwasnotsomuchanactofliberalityasofjustice。OftheprovincesalreadymentionedbeyondtheTigris，thefourfirsthadbeendismemberedbytheParthiansfromthecrownofArmenia；^81andwhentheRomansacquiredthepossessionofthem，theystipulated，attheexpenseoftheusurpers，anamplecompensation，whichinvestedtheirallywiththeextensiveandfertilecountryofAtropatene。Itsprincipalcity，inthesamesituationperhapsasthemodernTauris，wasfrequentlyhonoredbytheresidenceofTiridates；andasitsometimesborethenameofEcbatana，heimitated，inthebuildingsandfortifications，thesplendidcapitaloftheMedes。
^82IV。ThecountryofIberiawasbarren，itsinhabitantsrudeandsavage。Buttheywereaccustomedtotheuseofarms，andtheyseparatedfromtheempirebarbariansmuchfiercerandmoreformidablethanthemselves。ThenarrowdefilesofMountCaucasuswereintheirhands，anditwasintheirchoice，eithertoadmitortoexcludethewanderingtribesofSarmatia，wheneverarapaciousspiriturgedthemtopenetrateintothericherclimesoftheSouth。^83ThenominationofthekingsofIberia，whichwasresignedbythePersianmonarchtotheemperors，contributedtothestrengthandsecurityoftheRomanpowerinAsia。^84TheEastenjoyedaprofoundtranquillityduringfortyyears；andthetreatybetweentherivalmonarchieswasstrictlyobservedtillthedeathofTiridates；whenanewgeneration，animatedwithdifferentviewsanddifferentpassions，succeededtothegovernmentoftheworld；andthegrandsonofNarsesundertookalongandmemorablewaragainsttheprincesofthehouseofConstantine。
[Footnote77:ByanerrorofthegeographerPtolemy，thepositionofSingaraisremovedfromtheAborastotheTigris，whichmayhaveproducedthemistakeofPeter，inassigningthelatterriverfortheboundary，insteadoftheformer。ThelineoftheRomanfrontiertraversed，butneverfollowed，thecourseoftheTigris。
Note:Therearehereseveralerrors。Gibbonhasconfoundedthestreams，andthetownswhichtheypass。TheAboras，orrathertheChaboras，theAraxesofXenophon，hasitssourceaboveRas—AinorRe—Saina，Theodosiopolis，abouttwenty—sevenleaguesfromtheTigris；itreceivesthewatersoftheMygdonius，orSaocoras，aboutthirty—threeleaguesbelowNisibis。atatownnowcalledAlNahraim；itdoesnotpassunderthewallsofSingara；
itistheSaocorasthatwashesthewallsofthattown:thelatterriverhasitssourcenearNisibis。atfiveleaguesfromtheTigris。SeeD'Anv。l'EuphrateetleTigre，46，49，50，andthemap。
TotheeastoftheTigrisisanotherlessconsiderableriver，namedalsotheChaboras，whichD'AnvillecallstheCentrites，Khabour，Nicephorius，withoutquotingtheauthoritiesonwhichhegivesthosenames。Gibbondidnotmeantospeakofthisriver，whichdoesnotpassbySingara，anddoesnotfallintotheEuphrates。SeeMichaelis，Supp。adLex。Hebraica。3dpart，p。664，665。—G。]
[Footnote78:ProcopiusdeEdificiis，l。ii。c。6。]
[Footnote79:Threeoftheprovinces，Zabdicene，Arzanene，andCarduene，areallowedonallsides。Butinsteadoftheothertwo，PeterinExcerpt。Leg。p。30insertsRehimeneandSophene。
IhavepreferredAmmianus，l。xxv。7，becauseitmightbeprovedthatSophenewasneverinthehandsofthePersians，eitherbeforethereignofDiocletian，orafterthatofJovian。
Forwantofcorrectmaps，likethoseofM。d'Anville，almostallthemoderns，withTillemontandValesiusattheirhead，haveimagined，thatitwasinrespecttoPersia，andnottoRome，thatthefiveprovincesweresituatebeyondtheTigris。]
[Footnote!:SeeSt。Martin，noteonLeBeau，i。380。Hewouldread，forIntiline，Ingeleme，thenameofasmallprovinceofArmenia，nearthesourcesoftheTigris，mentionedbySt。
Epiphanius，Haeres，60；fortheunknownnameArzacene，withGibbon，Arzanene。TheseprovincesdonotappeartohavemadeanintegralpartoftheRomanempire；RomangarrisonsreplacedthoseofPersia，butthesovereigntyremainedinthehandsofthefeudatoryprincesofArmenia。AprinceofCarduene，allyordependentontheempire，withtheRomannameofJovianus，occursinthereignofJulian。—M。]
[Footnote80:Xenophon'sAnabasis，l。iv。Theirbowswerethreecubitsinlength，theirarrowstwo；theyrolleddownstonesthatwereeachawagonload。TheGreeksfoundagreatmanyvillagesinthatrudecountry。][Footnote*:Itravelledthroughthiscountryin1810，andshouldjudge，fromwhatIhavereadandseenofitsinhabitants，thattheyhaveremainedunchangedintheirappearanceandcharacterformorethantwentycenturiesMalcolm，notetoHist。ofPersia，vol。i。p。82。—M。]
[Footnote81:AccordingtoEutropius，vi。9，asthetextisrepresentedbythebestMss。，thecityofTigranocertawasinArzanene。Thenamesandsituationoftheotherthreemaybefaintlytraced。]
[Footnote82:CompareHerodotus，l。i。c。97，withMosesChoronens。HistArmen。l。ii。c。84，andthemapofArmeniagivenbyhiseditors。]
[Footnote83:Hiberi，locorumpotentes，CaspiaviaSarmataminArmeniosraptimeffundunt。Tacit。Annal。vi。34。SeeStrabon。
Geograph。l。xi。p。764，[edit。Casaub。]
[Footnote84:PeterPatriciusinExcerpt。Leg。p。30istheonlywriterwhomentionstheIberianarticleofthetreaty。]
ThearduousworkofrescuingthedistressedempirefromtyrantsandbarbarianshadnowbeencompletelyachievedbyasuccessionofIllyrianpeasants。AssoonasDiocletianenteredintothetwentiethyearofhisreign，hecelebratedthatmemorableaera，aswellasthesuccessofhisarms，bythepompofaRomantriumph。^85Maximian，theequalpartnerofhispower，washisonlycompanioninthegloryofthatday。ThetwoCaesarshadfoughtandconquered，butthemeritoftheirexploitswasascribed，accordingtotherigorofancientmaxims，totheauspiciousinfluenceoftheirfathersandemperors。^86ThetriumphofDiocletianandMaximianwaslessmagnificent，perhaps，thanthoseofAurelianandProbus，butitwasdignifiedbyseveralcircumstancesofsuperiorfameandgoodfortune。AfricaandBritain，theRhine，theDanube，andtheNile，furnishedtheirrespectivetrophies；butthemostdistinguishedornamentwasofamoresingularnature，aPersianvictoryfollowedbyanimportantconquest。Therepresentationsofrivers，mountains，andprovinces，werecarriedbeforetheImperialcar。Theimagesofthecaptivewives，thesisters，andthechildrenoftheGreatKing，affordedanewandgratefulspectacletothevanityofthepeople。^87Intheeyesofposterity，thistriumphisremarkable，byadistinctionofalesshonorablekind。ItwasthelastthatRomeeverbeheld。Soonafterthisperiod，theemperorsceasedtovanquish，andRomeceasedtobethecapitaloftheempire。
[Footnote85:Euseb。inChron。Pagiadannum。TillthediscoveryofthetreatiseDeMortibusPersecutorum，itwasnotcertainthatthetriumphandtheVicennaliawascelebratedatthesametime。]
[Footnote86:AtthetimeoftheVicennalia，GaleriusseemstohavekeptstationontheDanube。SeeLactant。deM。P。c。38。]
[Footnote87:Eutropiusix。27mentionsthemasapartofthetriumph。AsthepersonshadbeenrestoredtoNarses，nothingmorethantheirimagescouldbeexhibited。]
ThespotonwhichRomewasfoundedhadbeenconsecratedbyancientceremoniesandimaginarymiracles。Thepresenceofsomegod，orthememoryofsomehero，seemedtoanimateeverypartofthecity，andtheempireoftheworldhadbeenpromisedtotheCapitol。^88ThenativeRomansfeltandconfessedthepowerofthisagreeableillusion。Itwasderivedfromtheirancestors，hadgrownupwiththeirearliesthabitsoflife，andwasprotected，insomemeasure，bytheopinionofpoliticalutility。
Theformandtheseatofgovernmentwereintimatelyblendedtogether，norwasitesteemedpossibletotransporttheonewithoutdestroyingtheother。^89Butthesovereigntyofthecapitalwasgraduallyannihilatedintheextentofconquest；theprovincesrosetothesamelevel，andthevanquishednationsacquiredthenameandprivileges，withoutimbibingthepartialaffections，ofRomans。Duringalongperiod，however，theremainsoftheancientconstitution，andtheinfluenceofcustom，preservedthedignityofRome。Theemperors，thoughperhapsofAfricanorIllyrianextraction，respectedtheiradoptedcountry，astheseatoftheirpower，andthecentreoftheirextensivedominions。Theemergenciesofwarveryfrequentlyrequiredtheirpresenceonthefrontiers；butDiocletianandMaximianwerethefirstRomanprinceswhofixed，intimeofpeace，theirordinaryresidenceintheprovinces；andtheirconduct，howeveritmightbesuggestedbyprivatemotives，wasjustifiedbyveryspeciousconsiderationsofpolicy。ThecourtoftheemperoroftheWestwas，forthemostpart，establishedatMilan，whosesituation，atthefootoftheAlps，appearedfarmoreconvenientthanthatofRome，fortheimportantpurposeofwatchingthemotionsofthebarbariansofGermany。MilansoonassumedthesplendorofanImperialcity。Thehousesaredescribedasnumerousandwellbuilt；themannersofthepeopleaspolishedandliberal。A