OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

siness was frequently discussed.® The dexte- chap.

rous fugitive promoted his interest by the same_

conduct which gratified his revenge. He in-cessantly urged the ambition of his new master,to embrace the favourable opportunity whenthe bravest of the Palatine troops were employ-ed with the emperor in a distant war on the Da-nube . He pressed Sapor to invade the exhaust-ed and defenceless provinces of the East, withthe numerous armies of Persia , now fortified bythe alliance and accession of the fiercest barba-rians. The ambassadors of Rome retired with-out success; and a second embassy, of a stillmore honourable rank, was detained in strictconfinement, and threatened either with deathor exile.

The military historian/ who was himself dis-invasionpatched to observe the army of the Persians , p f 0 tami°‘as they were preparing to construct a bridge ofboats over the Tigris, beheld from an eminencethe plain of Assyria , as far as the edge of thehorizon, covered with men, with horses, andwith arms. Sapor appeared in the front, con-spicuous by the splendour of his purple. Qnhis left hand, the place of honour among theorientals, Grumbates, king of the Chionites,displayed the stern countenance of an aged andrenowned warrior. The monarch had reserved

' This circumstance, as it is noticed by Ammianus , serves to provetlie veracity of Herodotus (I. i, c. 133), and tile permanency of thePersian manners. In every age the Persians have been addicted tointemperance, and tiic wines of Shiraz have triumphed over the law ofMahomet. Brisson de Regno Pers. 1. ii, p. 4G2-472, and Chardin .

Voyages cn Perse, tom. iii, p. 90.

f Ammian. 1. xviii G, 7, 8,10.