, who was received in his
capital like Camillus or Marius, the saviors of ancient Rome. But the
merit of the victory was attributed by the pious emperor to the mother
of God; and the image of the Virgin Mary, with the divine infant in her
arms, was placed on a triumphal car, adorned with the spoils of war,
and the ensigns of Bulgarian royalty. Zimisces made his public entry on
horseback; the diadem on his head, a crown of laurel in his hand; and
Constantinople was astonished to applaud the martial virtues of her
sovereign. [72]

[Footnote 69: This singular epithet is derived from the Armenian
language. As I profess myself equally ignorant of these words, I may
be indulged in the question in the play, "Pray, which of you is the
interpreter?" From the context, they seem to signify Adolescentulus,
(Leo Diacon l. iv. Ms. apud Ducange, Glossar. Graec. p. 1570.) * Note:
Cerbied. the learned Armenian, gives another derivation. There is a city
called Tschemisch-gaizag, which means a bright or purple sandal, such as
women wear in the East. He was called Tschemisch-ghigh, (for so his name
is written in Armenian, from this city, his native place.) Hase. Note to
Leo Diac. p. 454, in Niebuhr's Byzant. Hist.--M.]

[Footnote 70: In the Sclavonic tongue, the name of Peristhlaba implied
the great or illustrious city, says Anna Comnena, (Alexiad, l. vii. p.
194.) From its position between Mount Haemus and the Lower Danube, it
appears to fill the ground, or at least the station, of Marcianopolis.
The situation of Durostolus, or Dristra, is well known and conspicuous,
(Comment. Academ. Petropol. tom. ix. p. 415, 416. D'Anville, Geographie
Ancienne, tom. i. p. 307, 311.)]

[Footnote 71: The political management of the Greeks, more especially
with the Patzinacites, is explained in the seven first chapters, de
Administratione Imperii.]

[Footnote 72: In the narrative of this war, Leo the Deacon (apud Pagi,
Critica, tom. iv. A.D. 968-973) is more authentic and circumstantial
than Cedrenus (tom. ii. p. 660-683) and Zonaras, (tom. ii. p.
205-214.) These declaimers have multiplied to 308,000 and 330,000 men,
those Russian forces, of which the contemporary had given a moderate and
consistent account.]

Photius of Constantinople, a patriarch, whose ambition was equal to his
curiosity, congratulates himself and the Greek church on the conversion
of the Russians. [73] Those fierce and bloody Barbarians had been
persuaded, by the voice of reason