THE DECLINE AND FALL

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1 chap, were solicited to descend from their moun

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__ tains; and two of the most powerful gover-nors, usurping the ensigns or the powers ofroyalty, implored the assistance of Sapor, andopened the gates of their cities to the Persiangarrisons. The Christian party, under theguidance of the archbishop of Artaxata, theimmediate successor of St. Gregory the illumi-nator, had recourse to the piety of Constantius .After the troubles had continued about threeyears, Antiochus, one of the officers‘of thehousehold, executed with success the imperialcommission of restoring Chosroes, the son ofTiridates , to the throne of his fathers, of distri-buting honours and rewards among the faith-ful servants of the house of Arsaces, and ofproclaiming a general amnesty, which was ac-cepted by the greater part of the rebellioussatraps. But the Romans derived more ho-nour than advantage fiom this revolution.Chosroes was a prince of a puny stature, and apusillanimous spirit. Unequal to the fatiguesof war, averse to the society of mankind, hewithdrew from his capital to a retired palace,which he built on the banks of the river Eleu-therus, and in the centre of a shady grove;where he consumed his vacant hours in the ruralsports of hunting and hawking. To secure thisinglorious ease, he submitted to the conditionsof peace which Sapor condescended to impose;the payment of an annual tribute, and the restitution of the fertile province of Atropatene ,which the courage of Tiridates , and the victori