y of the times. Those who captured Bryzacius cut off his nose
and his ears, and in this condition sent him to Chosroes. The Persian
prince was overjoyed at the success, which no doubt he accepted as a
good omen; he at once led his whole army across the river, and having
encamped for the night at a place called Dinabadon, entertained the
chief Persian and Roman nobles at a banquet. When the festivity was at
its height, the unfortunate prisoner was brought in loaded with fetters,
and was made sport of by the guests for a time, after which, at a
signal from the king, the guards plunged their swords into his body, and
despatched him in the sight of the feasters. Having amused his guests
with this delectable interlude, the amiable monarch concluded the whole
by anointing them with perfumed ointment, crowning them with flowers,
and bidding them drink to the success of the war. "The guests," says
Theophylact, "returned, to their tents, delighted with the completeness
of their entertainment, and told their friends how handsomely they
had been treated, but the crown of all (they said) was the episode of
Bryzacius."

Chosroes next day advanced across the Greater Zab, and, after marching
four days, reached Alexandrian a position probably not far from Arbela,
after which, in two days more, he arrived at Chnaethas, which was a
district upon the Zab Asfal, or Lesser Zab River. Here he found himself
in the immediate vicinity of Bahram, who had taken up his position on
the Lesser Zab, with the intention probably of blocking the route up its
valley, by which he expected that the Armenian army would endeavor to
effect a junction with the army of Chosroes. Here the two forces watched
each other for some days, and various manoeuvres were executed, which it
is impossible to follow, since Theophylact, our only authority, is not
a good military historian. The result, however, is certain. Bahram was
out-manoeuvred by Chosroes and his Roman allies; the fords of the Zab
were seized; and after five days of marching and counter-marching,
the longed-for junction took place. Chosroes had the satisfaction
of embracing his uncles Bindoes and Bostam, and of securing such a
reinforcement as gave him a great superiority in numbers over his
antagonist.

About the same time he received intelligence of another most important
success. Before quitting Daras, he had despatched Mebodes, at the head
of a small body of Romans, to create a diversion on the Mesopo