Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 5 (1897).djvu/106

 84 THE DECLINE AND FALL never been approached by a Roman conqueror. Alarmed by the danger ol" his kingdom^ the powers of Chosroes were ah'eady recalled from the Nile and the Bosphorus, and three formidable armies ^^" surrounded, in a distant and hostile land, the camp of the emperor. The Colchian allies prepared to desert his standard ; and the fears of the bravest veterans were expressed, rather than concealed, by their desponding silence. " Be not terrified," said the intrepid Heraclius, ''by the multitude of your foes. With the aid of Heaven, one Roman may triumph over a thousand barbarians. But, if we devote our lives for the salvation of our brethren, we shall obtain the crown of martyr- dom, and our immortal reward will be liberally paid by God and posterity." These magnanimous sentiments were supported by the vigour of his actions. He repelled the threefold attack of the Persians, improved the divisions of their chiefs, and, by a well-concerted train of marches, retreats, and successful actions, finally chased them from the field into the fortified cities of Media and Assyria. In the severity of the winter season, [Aii Sarbaraza deemed himself secure in the walls of Salban ; he was surprised by the activity of Heraclius, who divided his troops [AD. 625-6] and performed a laborious march in the silence of the night. The Hat roofs of the houses were defended with useless valour against the darts and torches of the Romans ; the satraps and nobles of Persia, with their wives and children, and the flower of their martial youth, were either slain or made prisoners. The general escaped by a precipitate flight, but his golden armour was the prize of the conqueror ; and the soldiers of Heraclius enjoyed the wealth and repose which they had so nobly deserved. On the return of spring, the emperor traversed in seven days the mountains of Curdistan, and passed without resistance the rapid stream of the Tigris. Oppressed by the weight of their spoils and captives, the Roman army halted under the walls of Amida ; and Heraclius informed the senate of Constantinople of his safety and success, which they had [iiiTch, AD. already felt by the retreat of the besiegers. The bridges of the Euphrates were destroyed by the Persians ; but, as soon as the emperor had discovered a ford, they hastily retired to defend the banks of the Sarus,^^^ in Cilicia. That river, an impetuous 11" [Under Shahrbarilz, Shahin, and Shahraplakan ( = Sarablangas).] m At ten parasangs from Tarsus, the army of the younger Cyrus passed the Sams, three plethra in breadth ; the Pyramus, a stadium in breadth, ran five parasangs farther to the east (Xenophon, Anabas. 1. i. p. 33, 34 [c. 4]).