and，whilsthewascarriedinalitterinthefrontofbattle，heinspiredterrortotheenemy，andajustconfidencetothetroops，who，underhisbanners，werealwayssuccessful。Afterhisdeath，thecommanddevolvedtoNacoragan，aproudsatrap，who，inaconferencewiththeImperialchiefs，hadpresumedtodeclarethathedisposedofvictoryasabsolutelyasoftheringonhisfinger。Suchpresumptionwasthenaturalcauseandforerunnerofashamefuldefeat。TheRomanshadbeengraduallyrepulsedtotheedgeofthesea—shore；andtheirlastcamp，ontheruinsoftheGreciancolonyofPhasis，wasdefendedonallsidesbystrongintrenchments，theriver，theEuxine，andafleetofgalleys。
Despairunitedtheircounselsandinvigoratedtheirarms:theywithstoodtheassaultofthePersiansandtheflightofNacoraganprecededorfollowedtheslaughteroftenthousandofhisbravestsoldiers。HeescapedfromtheRomanstofallintothehandsofanunforgivingmasterwhoseverelychastisedtheerrorofhisownchoice:theunfortunategeneralwasflayedalive，andhisskin，stuffedintothehumanform，wasexposedonamountain；adreadfulwarningtothosewhomighthereafterbeintrustedwiththefameandfortuneofPersia。^86YettheprudenceofChosroesinsensiblyrelinquishedtheprosecutionoftheColchianwar，inthejustpersuasion，thatitisimpossibletoreduce，or，atleast，toholdadistantcountryagainstthewishesandeffortsofitsinhabitants。ThefidelityofGubazessustainedthemostrigoroustrials。Hepatientlyenduredthehardshipsofasavagelife，andrejectedwithdisdain，thespecioustemptationsofthePersiancourt。ThekingoftheLazihadbeeneducatedintheChristianreligion；hismotherwasthedaughterofasenator；
duringhisyouthhehadservedtenyearsasilentiaryoftheByzantinepalace，^87andthearrearsofanunpaidsalarywereamotiveofattachmentaswellasofcomplaint。Butthelongcontinuanceofhissufferingsextortedfromhimanakedrepresentationofthetruth；andtruthwasanunpardonablelibelonthelieutenantsofJustinian，who，amidstthedelaysofaruinouswar，hadsparedhisenemiesandtrampledonhisallies。
Theirmaliciousinformationpersuadedtheemperorthathisfaithlessvassalalreadymeditatedaseconddefection:anorderwassurprisedtosendhimprisonertoConstantinople；atreacherousclausewasinserted，thathemightbelawfullykilledincaseofresistance；andGubazes，withoutarms，orsuspicionofdanger，wasstabbedinthesecurityofafriendlyinterview。Inthefirstmomentsofrageanddespair，theColchianswouldhavesacrificedtheircountryandreligiontothegratificationofrevenge。Buttheauthorityandeloquenceofthewiserfewobtainedasalutarypause:thevictoryofthePhasisrestoredtheterroroftheRomanarms，andtheemperorwassolicitoustoabsolvehisownnamefromtheimputationofsofoulamurder。A
judgeofsenatorialrankwascommissionedtoinquireintotheconductanddeathofthekingoftheLazi。Heascendedastatelytribunal，encompassedbytheministersofjusticeandpunishment: