d to Persia,
bearing a positive and plain answer to the proposals of Sapor: namely,
that he, who boasted of being a just man, and one contented with his
own, was acting wickedly in coveting Armenia, after a promise had been
made to its inhabitants, that they should be allowed to live according
to their own laws. And unless the soldiers who had been left as
auxiliaries to Sauromaces returned without hindrance at the beginning of
the ensuing year, as had been agreed, he would compel Sapor by force to
perform what he might at present do with a good grace.

5. And this embassy would in all respects have been a just and
honourable one, if the ambassadors had not, contrary to their
instructions, accepted some small districts in this same Armenia which
were offered them. When the ambassadors returned, the Surena (the
magistrate who enjoys an authority second only to that of the king) came
with them, offering the said districts to the emperor which our
ambassadors had ventured to take.

6. He was received with liberality and magnificence; but dismissed
without obtaining what he requested. And then, great preparations were
made for war, in order that, as soon as the severity of the winter was
over, the emperor might invade Persia with three armies; and with this
object he began with all speed to bargain for the services of some
Scythian auxiliaries.

7. Sapor not having succeeded in obtaining what his vain hopes had led
him to reckon on, and being exasperated in an extraordinary degree,
because he had learnt that our emperor was preparing for an expedition,
nevertheless stifled his wrath, and gave the Surena a commission to
endeavour to recover by force of arms (if any one should resist him) the
territories which Count Victor and Urbicius had accepted, and to press
hostilities with the utmost rigour against those soldiers who had been
destined to aid Sauromaces.

8. His orders were at once carried out. Nor was it found possible to
prevent or resist their execution, because a new cause of alarm suddenly
came on the republic; as the entire nation of the Goths suddenly burst
into Thrace. The calamities which we experienced from that event shall
be related succinctly in their proper places.

9. These were the occurrences which took place in the East. And while
they were proceeding, as has been related, the unfailing arm of justice
avenged the losses we had sustained in Africa, and the slaughter of the
ambassadors of Tripoli, w