Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/181

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 161 the sons of the Bulgarian king were rescued from an ignominious prison, and invested with a nominal diadem. After these re- peated losses, Swatoslaus retired to the strong post of Dristra, on the banks of the Danube, and was pursued by an enemy who alternately employed the arms of celerity and delay. The By- [sie-e of 11 ^ •' 111. 11- iiji- Drster begins zantme galleys ascended the river; the legions completed a line April 25] of circumvallation ; ^- and the Russian prince was encompassed, assaulted, and famished, in the fortifications of the camp and city. Many deeds of valour were performed ; several desperate sallies were attempted ; nor was it till after a siege of sixty-five days that Swatoslaus yielded to his adverse fortune. The liberal [JQiy 2S] terms which he obtained announce the prudence of the victor, who respected the valour, and apprehended the despair, of an unconquered mind. The great duke of Russia bound himself by solemn imprecations to relinquish all hostile designs ; a safe passage was opened for his return ; the liberty of trade and navi- gation was restored ; a measure of corn was distributed to each of his soldiers ; and the allowance of twenty-two thousand measures attests the loss and the remnant of the barbarians. ^^ After a painful voyage, they again reached the mouth of the Borysthenes ; but their provisions were exhausted ; the season was unfavourable ; they passed the winter on the ice ; and, before they could prosecute their march, Swatoslaus was surprised and oppressed by the neighbouring tribes, with whom the Greeks entertained a perpetual and useful correspondence.''^ Far dif- ferent was the return of Zimisces, who was received in his capital like Camillus or Marius, the saviours of ancient Rome. But the merit of the victory was attributed by the pious emperor to the Mother of God ; and the image of the Virgin Mary, with the divine infant in her arms, was placed on a triumphal car, adorned with the spoils of war and the ensigns of Bulgarian royalty. Zimisces made his public entry on horseback ; the diadem on his head, a crown of laurel in his hand ; and Constantinople was astonished to applaud the martial virtues of her sovereign. ^^ before the siege began.] "■'[For the treaty see above, p. 153, note 7.] ®*The political management of the Greeks, more especially with the Patzinacites, is explained in the seven first chapters de Administratione Imperii. "••In the narrative of this war, Leo the Deacon (apud Pagi, Critica, torn. iv. a.d. 968-973 [Bk. vi. c. 3-13]) is more authentic and circumstantial than Cedrenus (tom. ii. p. 660-683) find ^onaras (tom. ii. p. 205-214 [xvi. 27-xvii. 3]). These declaimers have multiplied to 308,000 and 330,000 men those Russian forces of which the con- temporary had given a moderate and consistent account. VOL. VI. 11
 * ^[A battle was fought outside Silistria and the Russians discomfited, in April 23,