eneral assembly of the
nobles to his coronation. Thus perils surrounded him on every side; but
the most pressing danger of all, that which required to be immediately
met and confronted, was the threatening attitude of Bahram, who had
advanced from Adiabene to Holwan, and occupied a strong position not
a hundred and fifty miles from the capital. Unless Bahram could be
conciliated or defeated, the young king could not hope to maintain
himself in power, or feel that he had any firm grasp of the sceptre.

Under these circumstances he took the resolution to try first the method
of conciliation. There seemed to be a fair opening for such a course. It
was not he, but his father, who had given the offence which drove
Bahram into rebellion, and almost forced him to vindicate his manhood by
challenging his detractor to a trial of strength. Bahram could have
no personal ground of quarrel with him. Indeed that general had at the
first, if we may believe the Oriental writers, proclaimed Chosroes as
king, and given out that he took up arms in order to place him upon
the throne. It was thought, moreover, that the rebel might feel himself
sufficiently avenged by the death of his enemy, and might be favorably
disposed towards those who had first blinded Hormisdas and then
despatched him by the bowstring. Chosroes therefore composed a letter in
which he invited Bahram to his court, and offered him the second place
in the kingdom, if he would come in and make his submission. The message
was accompanied by rich presents, and by an offer that if the terms
proposed wera accepted they should be confirmed by oath.

The reply of Bahram was as follows: "Bahram, friend of the gods,
conqueror, illustrious, enemy of tyrants, satrap of satraps, general of
the Persian host, wise, apt for command, god-fearing, without reproach,
noble, fortunate, successful, venerable, thrifty, provident, gentle,
humane, to Chosroes the son of Hormisdas (sends greeting). I have
received the letter which you wrote with such little wisdom, but have
rejected the presents which you sent with such excessive boldness. It
had been better that you should have abstained from sending either, more
especially considering the irregularity of your appointment, and the
fact that the noble and respectable took no part in the vote, which
was carried by the disorderly and low-born. If then it is your wish to
escape your father's fate, strip off the diadem which you have assumed
and dep