belot, (aux mots Hormouz,
p. 457--459. Bahram, p. 174. Khosrou Parviz, p. 996.) Were I perfectly
satisfied of their authority, I could wish these Oriental materials had
been more copious.]

Chapter XLVI: Troubles In Persia.--Part II.

While the majesty of the Roman name was revived in the East, the
prospect of Europe is less pleasing and less glorious. By the departure
of the Lombards, and the ruin of the Gepidae, the balance of power was
destroyed on the Danube; and the Avars spread their permanent dominion
from the foot of the Alps to the sea-coast of the Euxine. The reign
of Baian is the brightest aera of their monarchy; their chagan, who
occupied the rustic palace of Attila, appears to have imitated his
character and policy; [23] but as the same scenes were repeated in a
smaller circle, a minute representation of the copy would be devoid
of the greatness and novelty of the original. The pride of the second
Justin, of Tiberius, and Maurice, was humbled by a proud Barbarian, more
prompt to inflict, than exposed to suffer, the injuries of war; and as
often as Asia was threatened by the Persian arms, Europe was oppressed
by the dangerous inroads, or costly friendship, of the Avars. When the
Roman envoys approached the presence of the chagan, they were commanded
to wait at the door of his tent, till, at the end perhaps of ten or
twelve days, he condescended to admit them. If the substance or the
style of their message was offensive to his ear, he insulted, with real
or affected fury, their own dignity, and that of their prince; their
baggage was plundered, and their lives were only saved by the promise
of a richer present and a more respectful address. But his sacred
ambassadors enjoyed and abused an unbounded license in the midst of
Constantinople: they urged, with importunate clamors, the increase of
tribute, or the restitution of captives and deserters: and the majesty
of the empire was almost equally degraded by a base compliance, or
by the false and fearful excuses with which they eluded such insolent
demands. The chagan had never seen an elephant; and his curiosity was
excited by the strange, and perhaps fabulous, portrait of that wonderful
animal. At his command, one of the largest elephants of the Imperial
stables was equipped with stately caparisons, and conducted by a
numerous train to the royal village in the plains of Hungary. He
surveyed the enormous beast with surprise, with disgust, and possibly