ere made with more careful zeal than before, and while the
terror caused by past events still checked the outbreaks of the
barbarians, the king of the Persians, being still on the frontiers of
those nations which border on his dominions, and having made a treaty of
alliance with the Chionitae and the Gelani, the most warlike and
indefatigable of all tribes, being about to return to his own country,
received the letters of Tamsapor which announced to him that the Roman
emperor was a suppliant for peace.

2. And he, suspecting that Constantius would never have done so if the
empire had not been weakened all over, raised his own pretensions, and
embracing the name indeed of peace, offered very unwelcome conditions.
And having sent a man of the name of Narses as ambassador with many
presents, he gave him letters to Constantius, in which he in no respect
abated of his natural pride. The purport of these letters we have
understood to be this:--

3. "I, Sapor, king of kings, partner of the stars, brother of the sun
and moon, to Constantius Caesar my brother send much greeting. I am glad
and am well pleased that at last thou hast returned to the right way,
and hast acknowledged the incorruptible decree of equity, having gained
experience by facts, and having learnt what disasters an obstinate
covetousness of the property of others has often caused.

4. "Because therefore the language of truth ought to be unrestrained and
free, and because men in the highest rank ought only to say what they
mean, I will reduce my propositions into a few words; remembering that I
have already often repeated what I am now about to say.

5. "Even your own ancient records bear witness that my ancestors
possessed all the country up to the Strymon and the frontier of
Macedonia. And these lands it is fitting that I who (not to speak
arrogantly) am superior to those ancient kings in magnificence, and in
all eminent virtues, should now reclaim. But I am at all times
thoughtful to remember that, from my earliest youth, I have never done
anything to repent of.

6. "And therefore it is a duty in me to recover Armenia and Mesopotamia,
which were wrested from my ancestor by deliberate treachery. That
principle was never admitted by us which you with exultation assert,
that all successes in war deserve praise, without considering whether
they were achieved by valour or by treachery.

7. "Lastly, if you are willing to be guided by one who gives you good