Butanangrymurmuraroseintheassemblyassoonashepresumedtovindicatehisconduct，andtoapplaudthevictoriesofhisreign。Hedefinedthedutiesofaking，andthePersiannobleslistenedwithasmileofcontempt；theywerefiredwithindignationwhenhedaredtovilifythecharacterofChosroes；
andbytheindiscreetofferofresigningthesceptretothesecondofhissons，hesubscribedhisowncondemnation，andsacrificedthelifeofhisowninnocentfavorite。Themangledbodiesoftheboyandhismotherwereexposedtothepeople；theeyesofHormouzwerepiercedwithahotneedle；andthepunishmentofthefatherwassucceededbythecoronationofhiseldestson。Chosroeshadascendedthethronewithoutguilt，andhispietystrovetoalleviatethemiseryoftheabdicatedmonarch；fromthedungeonheremovedHormouztoanapartmentofthepalace，suppliedwithliberalitytheconsolationsofsensualenjoyment，andpatientlyenduredthefurioussalliesofhisresentmentanddespair。Hemightdespisetheresentmentofablindandunpopulartyrant，butthetiarawastremblingonhishead，tillhecouldsubvertthepower，oracquirethefriendship，ofthegreatBahram，whosternlydeniedthejusticeofarevolution，inwhichhimselfandhissoldiers，thetruerepresentativesofPersia，hadneverbeenconsulted。Theofferofageneralamnesty，andofthesecondrankinhiskingdom，wasansweredbyanepistlefromBahram，friendofthegods，conquerorofmen，andenemyoftyrants，thesatrapofsatraps，generalofthePersianarmies，andaprinceadornedwiththetitleofelevenvirtues。^14HecommandsChosroes，thesonofHormouz，toshuntheexampleandfateofhisfather，toconfinethetraitorswhohadbeenreleasedfromtheirchains，todepositinsomeholyplacethediademwhichhehadusurped，andtoacceptfromhisgraciousbenefactorthepardonofhisfaultsandthegovernmentofaprovince。Therebelmightnotbeproud，andthekingmostassuredlywasnothumble；buttheonewasconsciousofhisstrength，theotherwassensibleofhisweakness；andeventhemodestlanguageofhisreplystillleftroomfortreatyandreconciliation。Chosroesledintothefieldtheslavesofthepalaceandthepopulaceofthecapital:theybeheldwithterrorthebannersofaveteranarmy；theywereencompassedandsurprisedbytheevolutionsofthegeneral；andthesatrapswhohaddeposedHormouz，receivedthepunishmentoftheirrevolt，orexpiatedtheirfirsttreasonbyasecondandmorecriminalactofdisloyalty。ThelifeandlibertyofChosroesweresaved，buthewasreducedtothenecessityofimploringaidorrefugeinsomeforeignland；andtheimplacableBindoes，anxioustosecureanunquestionabletitle，hastilyreturnedtothepalace，andended，withabowstring，thewretchedexistenceofthesonofNushirvan。
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[Footnote13:TheOrientalssupposethatBahramconvenedthisassemblyandproclaimedChosroes；butTheophylactis，inthisinstance，moredistinctandcredible。
Note:YetTheophylactseemstohaveseizedtheopportunitytoindulgehispropensityforwritingorations；andtheorationsreadratherlikethoseofaGreciansophistthanofanEasternassembly。—M。]