osit it in some holy place, quit the palace, and restore to their
prisons the criminals whom you have set at liberty, and whom you had no
right to release until they had undergone trial for their crimes. When
you have done all this, come hither, and I will give you the government
of a province. Be well advised, and so farewell. Else, be sure you will
perish like your father." So insolent a missive might well have provoked
the young prince to some hasty act or some unworthy show of temper. It
is to the credit of Chosroes that he restrained himself, and even made
another attempt to terminate the quarrel by a reconciliation. While
striving to outdo Bahram in the grandeur of his titles, he still
addressed him as his friend. He complimented him on his courage,
and felicitated him on his excellent health. "There were certain
expressions," he said, "in the letter that he had received, which he
was sure did not speak his friend's real feelings. The amanuensis had
evidently drunk more wine than he ought, and, being half asleep when he
wrote, had put down things that were foolish and indeed monstrous. But
he was not disturbed by them. He must decline, however, to send back
to their prisons those whom he had released, since favors granted by
royalty could not with propriety be withdrawn; and he must protest that
in the ceremony of his coronation all due formalities had been observed.
As for stripping himself of his diadem, he was so far from contemplating
it that he looked forward rather to extending his dominion over new
worlds. As Bahram had invited him, he would certainly pay him a visit;
but he would be obliged to come as a king, and if his persuasions did
not produce submission he would have to compel it by force of arms. He
hoped that Bahram would be wise in time, and would consent to be his
friend and helper."

This second overture produced no reply; and it became tolerably evident
that the quarrel could only be decided by the arbitrament of battle.
Chosroes accordingly put himself at the head of such troops as he could
collect, and marched against his antagonist, whom he found encamped
on the Holwan River. The place was favorable for an engagement; but
Chosroes had no confidence in his soldiers. He sought a personal
interview with Bahram, and renewed his offers of pardon and favor; but
the conference only led to mutual recriminations, and at its close
both sides appealed to arms. During six days the two armies merely
skirm