Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/22

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not only the most antient in the World, but so powerful, That they could not in reason hope to overcome it, though their Army was much more considerable then it was. These discourses had so prepared the minds of the Persians for Sedition, that it was ready to break out, had not Cosroes applied a remedy in time, by reading the Letters which Zaberganes had received from the Empress, almost in these very terms.

Zaberganes,

YOu might easily perceive, when you were Am­bassador with us, how ready we were to oblige you, and how little we disputed any thing that was to be done in your favor. You have now an oppor­tunity, effectually to answer our good opinion of you, and that is, by prevailing with King Cosroes your Master, to continue that good intelligence with us, that the Peace did procure. I do engage, that the Emperor, my Husband, shall recompence any good office you shall do him, to the full; and let me tell you, he does nothing now without my counsel and approbation.

When Cosroes had read the Letter, he decla­red to the cheif Officers of his Army, That he could not but wonder the Persians should call that Empire invincible, which was governed by a Woman; and by this means he put a stop to their mutiny: Nevertheless, being still ap­prehensive, least Bellisarius should possess him­self of the Passes, he discamped immediately, and finding no opposition, he returned into his own Countrey without any impediment.

Bellisarius