f Curdistan, and passed without resistance the
rapid stream of the Tigris. Oppressed by the weight of their spoils and
captives, the Roman army halted under the walls of Amida; and Heraclius
informed the senate of Constantinople of his safety and success, which
they had already felt by the retreat of the besiegers. The bridges of
the Euphrates were destroyed by the Persians; but as soon as the emperor
had discovered a ford, they hastily retired to defend the banks of the
Sarus, [92] in Cilicia. That river, an impetuous torrent, was about
three hundred feet broad; the bridge was fortified with strong turrets;
and the banks were lined with Barbarian archers. After a bloody
conflict, which continued till the evening, the Romans prevailed in the
assault; and a Persian of gigantic size was slain and thrown into the
Sarus by the hand of the emperor himself. The enemies were dispersed and
dismayed; Heraclius pursued his march to Sebaste in Cappadocia; and at
the expiration of three years, the same coast of the Euxine applauded
his return from a long and victorious expedition. [93]

[Footnote 91: I cannot find, and (what is much more,) M. D'Anville does
not attempt to seek, the Salban, Tarantum, territory of the Huns, &c.,
mentioned by Theophanes, (p. 260-262.) Eutychius, (Annal. tom. ii. p.
231, 232,) an insufficient author, names Asphahan; and Casbin is most
probably the city of Sapor. Ispahan is twenty-four days' journey from
Tauris, and Casbin half way between, them (Voyages de Tavernier, tom. i.
p. 63--82.)]

[Footnote 92: At ten parasangs from Tarsus, the army of the younger
Cyrus passed the Sarus, three plethra in breadth: the Pyramus, a stadium
in breadth, ran five parasangs farther to the east, (Xenophon, Anabas.
l. i. p 33, 34.) Note: Now the Sihan.--M.]

[Footnote 93: George of Pisidia (Bell. Abaricum, 246--265, p. 49)
celebrates with truth the persevering courage of the three campaigns
against the Persians.]

Instead of skirmishing on the frontier, the two monarchs who disputed
the empire of the East aimed their desperate strokes at the heart of
their rival. The military force of Persia was wasted by the marches and
combats of twenty years, and many of the veterans, who had survived
the perils of the sword and the climate, were still detained in the
fortresses of Egypt and Syria. But the revenge and ambition of Chosroes
exhausted his kingdom; and the new levies of subjects, strangers, and
slaves, were divided in