onarch that, in
endeavoring to annex Lazica, he had engaged in a hopeless enterprise,
and that it would be the most prudent and judicious course to yield
to the inevitable, and gradually withdraw from a position which was
untenable. Having meted out to Nachoragan the punishment usually
assigned to unsuccessful commanders in Persia, he sent an ambassador to
Byzantium in the spring of A.D. 556, and commenced negotiations which
he intended to be serious. Diplomacy seems to have been as averse in the
days of Chosroes as in our own to an undignified rapidity of proceeding.
Hence, though there could be little to debate where both parties were
substantially at one, the negotiations begun in May A.D. 556 were not
concluded till after the commencement of the following year. A complete
suspension of hostilities was then agreed upon, to extend to Lazica no
less than to the other dominions of the two monarchs. In Lazica each
party was to keep what it possessed, territory, cities, and castles. As
this joint occupation was scarcely suitable for a permanent arrangement,
it was provided that the two belligerents should, during the continuance
of the truce, proceed to settle the terms on which a lasting peace might
be established.

An interval of five years elapsed before the happy result, for which
both parties had expressed themselves anxious, was accomplished. It is
uncertain how Chosroes was occupied during this period; but there are
some grounds for believing that he was engaged in the series of Oriental
wars whereof we shall have to speak presently. Success appears to have
crowned his arms wherever he directed them; but he remained undazzled by
his victories, and still retained the spirit of moderation which had
led him in A.D. 557 to conclude the general truce. He was even prepared,
after five years of consideration, to go further in the line of pacific
policy on which he had then entered, and, in order to secure the
continuance of his good relations with Rome, was willing to relinquish
all claim to the sovereignty of Lazica. Under these circumstances,
ambassadors of the highest rank, representing the two powers, met on the
frontier between Daras and Nisibis, proclaimed the power and explained
the motives of their respective sovereigns, and after a lengthy
conference formulated a treaty of peace. The terms, which are given
at length by a writer of the succeeding generation, may be briefly
expressed as follows: (1) the Persians we