Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 1.djvu/467

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 443 soon be informed on what conditions he might obtain, CHAP. from the clemency of the emperors, a lasting peace, ' and the restoration of his wives and children. In this conference we may discover the fierce passions of Ga- lerius, as well as his deference to the superior wisdom and authority of Diocletian. The ambition of the for- mer grasped at the conquest of the east, and had pro- posed to reduce Persia into the state of a province. The prudence of the latter, who adhered to the mo- Moderation derate policy of Augustus and the Antonines, embraced °jan/°^ ^" the favourable opportunity of terminating a successful war by an honourable and advantageous peace ^ In pursuance of their promise, the emperors soon Conclusion afterwards appointed Sicorius Probus, one of their secretaries, to acquaint the Persian court with their final resolution. As the minister of peace, he was re- ceived with every mark of politeness and friendship ; but under the pretence of allowing him the necessary repose after so long a journey, the audience of Probus was deferred from day to day; and he attended the slow motions of the king, till at length he was admitted to his presence, near the river Asprudus in Media. The secret motive of Narses in this delay, had been to collect such a military force as might enable him, though sincerely desirous of peace, to negociate with the greater weight and dignity. Three persons only assisted at this important conference, the minister Apharban, the prefect of the guards, and an officer who had commanded on the Armenian frontier^. The first condition proposed by the ambassador is not at present of a very intelligible nature ; that the city of Nisibis might be established for the place of mutual exchange, or, as we should formerly have termed it, for the staple of trade between the two empires. ' Adeo victor (says Aurelius) ut ni Valerius, cujus nutu omnia gereban- tur, abnuisset, Romani fasces in provinciam novam ferrentur. Verum pars terrarum tamen nobis utilior quaesita. s He had been governor of Sumium : Pet. Patricius in Excerpt. Legat. p. 30. This province seems to be mentioned by Moses of Chorene, (Geo- graph. p. 360.) and lay to the east of mount Ararat.