OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

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Oa*sar, had been taught wisdom by adversity, chap.As the lawful successor of Darius Hystaspes ,

Sapor asserted, that the river Strymon in Mace-donia was the true and ancient boundary of hisempire; declaring, however, that as an evidenceof his moderation, he would content himselfwith the provinces of Armenia and Mesopota-mia , which had been fraudulently extorted fromhis ancestors. He alleged, that, without therestitution of these disputed countries, it wasimpossible to establish any treaty on a solid andpermanent basis; and he arrogantly threatened,that if his ambassador returned iu vain, he wasprepared to take the field in the spring, and tosupport the justice of his cause by the strengthof his invincible arms. Narses , who was en-dowed with the most polite and amiable man-ners, endeavoured, as far as was consistent withhis duty, to soften the harshness of the message.*

Both the style and substance were maturelyweighed in the imperial council, and he wasdismissed with the following answer: “ Con-“ stantius had a right to disclaim the officious-“ ness of his ministers, who had acted without“ any specific orders from the throne: he was“ not, however, averse to an equal and honour-“ able treaty; but it was highly indecent, as“ well as absurd, to propose to the sole and“ victorious emperor of the Roman world, the

6 Ammianus (xvii, 5) transcribes the haughty letter. Themistins(Orat. iv, p. 57, edit. Petav.) takes notice of the silken covering. lda-tius arid Zonaras mention the journey of the ambassador; and Peterthe Patrician (in Excerpt Legat. j>. 28) has informed us of bis conci-liating behaviour.