tothecaptives，libertyandrewards；andtothenation，instantpeaceandthereductionoftaxes。Itwasdeterminedbytheconspirators，thatSiroes，withtheensignsofroyalty，shouldappearinthecamp；andiftheenterpriseshouldfail，hisescapewascontrivedtotheImperialcourt。Butthenewmonarchwassalutedwithunanimousacclamations；theflightofChosroesyetwherecouldhehavefled?wasrudelyarrested，eighteensonsweremassacredbeforehisface，andhewasthrownintoadungeon，whereheexpiredonthefifthday。TheGreeksandmodernPersiansminutelydescribehowChosroeswasinsulted，andfamished，andtortured，bythecommandofaninhumanson，whosofarsurpassedtheexampleofhisfather:butatthetimeofhisdeath，whattonguewouldrelatethestoryoftheparricide?whateyecouldpenetrateintothetowerofdarkness?AccordingtothefaithandmercyofhisChristianenemies，hesunkwithouthopeintoastilldeeperabyss；^107anditwillnotbedenied，thattyrantsofeveryageandsectarethebestentitledtosuchinfernalabodes。ThegloryofthehouseofSassanendedwiththelifeofChosroes:hisunnaturalsonenjoyedonlyeightmonthsthefruitofhiscrimes:andinthespaceoffouryears，theregaltitlewasassumedbyninecandidates，whodisputed，withtheswordordagger，thefragmentsofanexhaustedmonarchy。Everyprovince，andeachcityofPersia，wasthesceneofindependence，ofdiscord，andofblood；andthestateofanarchyprevailedabouteightyearslonger，^!!tillthefactionsweresilencedandunitedunderthecommonyokeoftheArabiancaliphs。^108
[Footnote*:TheSchirinofPersianpoetry。TheloveofChosruandSchirinrivalsinPersianromancethatofJosephwithZuleikathewifeofPotiphar，ofSolomonwiththequeenofSheba，andthatofMejnounandLeila。ThenumberofPersianpoemsonthesubjectmaybeseeninM。vonHammer\'sprefacetohispoemofSchirin。—M]
[Footnote105:ThewordsofTheophanesareremarkable。Youngprinceswhodiscoverapropensitytowarshouldrepeatedlytranscribeandtranslatesuchsalutarytexts。]
[Footnote*:HisnamewasKabadasappearsfromanofficialletterinthePaschalChronicle，p。402。St。MartinconsidersthenameSiroes，SchirquiehofSchirwey，derivedfromthewordschir，royal。St。Martin，xi。153。—M。]
[Footnote106:TheauthenticnarrativeofthefallofChosroesiscontainedintheletterofHeracliusChron。Paschal。p。398andthehistoryofTheophanes，p。271。]