come to terms with his eastern enemies, and had succeeded in inducing
them to become his allies. He was naturally elated at his success, and
regarded the Roman overture as a simple acknowledgment of weakness.
Accordingly he answered in the most haughty style. His letter, which was
conveyed to the Roman emperor at Sirmium by an ambassador named Narses,
was conceived in the following terms:

"Sapor, king of kings, brother of the sun and moon, and companion of the
stars, sends salutation to his brother, Constantius Caesar. It glads me
to see that thou art at last returned to the right way, and art ready to
do what is just and fair, having learned by experience that inordinate
greed is oft-times punished by defeat and disaster. As then the voice
of truth ought to speak with all openness, and the more illustrious of
mankind should make their words mirror their thoughts, I will briefly
declare to thee what I propose, not forgetting that I have often said
the same things before. Your own authors are witness that the entire
tract within the river Strymon and the borders of Macedon was once held
by my ancestors; if I required you to restore all this, it would not ill
become me (excuse the boast), inasmuch as I excel in virtue and in the
splendor of my achievements the whole line of our ancient monarchs.
But as moderation delights me, and has always been the rule of my
conduct--wherefore from my youth up I have had no occasion to repent of
any action--I will be content to receive Mesopotamia and Armenia, which
was fraudulently extorted from my grandfather. We Persians have never
admitted the principle, which you proclaim with such effrontery, that
success in war is always glorious, whether it be the fruit of courage or
trickery. In conclusion, if you will take the advice of one who speaks
for your good, sacrifice a small tract of territory, one always in
dispute and causing continual bloodshed, in order that you may rule the
remainder securely. Physicians, remember, often cut and burn, and even
amputate portions of the body, that the patient may have the healthy use
of what is left to him; and there are animals which, understanding why
the hunters chase them, deprive themselves of the thing coveted, to live
thenceforth without fear. I warn you, that, if my ambassador returns in
vain, I will take the field against you, so soon as the winter is past,
with all my forces, confiding in my good fortune and in the fairness of
the conditi