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 384 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xlii started, whether the adoption should be performed as a civil or military rite ; 48 the treaty was abruptly dissolved ; and the sense of this indignity sank deep into the mind of Chosroes, who had already advanced to the Tigris on his road to Constantinople. [Death of His father did not long survive the disappointment of his sept. i3, wishes ; the testament of their deceased sovereign was read in the assembly of the nobles ; and a powerful faction, prepared for the event and regardless of the priority of age, exalted Chosroes to the throne of Persia. He filled that throne during a prosperous period of forty-eight years ; 49 and the justice of [Anosbar- Nushirvan is celebrated as the theme of immortal praise by the nations of the East. Reign of But the justice of kings is understood by themselves, and orchos- 'even by their subjects, with an ample indulgence for the grati- 531-579 ' fication of passion and interest. The virtue of Chosroes was that of a conqueror, who, in the measures of peace and war, is excited by ambition and restrained by prudence ; who confounds the greatness with the happiness of a nation, and calmly devotes the lives of thousands to the fame, or even the amusement, of a single man. In his domestic administration, the just Nushirvan would merit, in our feelings, the appellation of a tyrant. His two elder brothers had been deprived of their fair expectations of the diadem ; their future life, between the supreme rank and the condition of subjects, was anxious to themselves and formidable to their master ; fear as well as revenge might tempt them to rebel ; the slightest evidence of a conspiracy satisfied the author of their wrongs ; and the repose of Chosroes was secured by the death of these unhappy princes, with their families and adherents. One guiltless 48 Procopius, Persic. 1. i. c. 11. Was not Proclus overwise? Was not the clanger imaginary ? — The excuse, at least, was injurious to a nation not ignorant of letters : ov ypdfj.fia.cri ol fidp&apoi rovs ira75as iroiovvrai oAA' '6irwv crKtvy. Whether any mode of adoption was practised in Persia, I much doubt. 4 * From Procopius and Agathias, Pagi (torn. ii. p. 543, 626) has proved that Chosroes Nushirvan ascended the throne in the vth year of Justinian (a.d. 531, April 1 — a.d. 532, April 1). But the true chronology, which harmonizes with the Greeks and Orientals, is ascertained by John Malala (torn. ii. 211). Cabadea, or Kobad, after a reign of forty-three years and two months, sickened the 8th, and died the 13th of September, a.d. 531, aged eighty-two years. According o the annals of Eutychius, Nushirvan reigned forty-seven years and six months ; and his death must consequently be placed in March, a.d. 579. [Theophylactus Simocatta (3, 16) says that he died in the beginning of Spring, ?>pos apxofxivov. The name Nushirvan (properly Anosharvan) seems to mean having an immortal send, blessed. Cp. Noldeke, op. cit. p. 136.]