n
to threaten hostilities. Some negotiations, which are not very clearly
narrated, followed. Both sides, apparently, had determined on war,
but both wished to gain time. It is uncertain what would have been the
result had Constantine lived. But the death of that monarch in the early
summer of A.D. 337, on his way to the eastern frontier, dispelled the
last chance of peace by relieving Sapor from the wholesome fear which
had hitherto restrained his ambition. The military fame of Constantine
was great, and naturally inspired respect; his power was firmly fixed,
and he was without competitor or rival. By his removal the whole face
of affairs was changed; and Sapor, who had almost brought himself to
venture on a rupture with Rome during Constantine's life, no longer
hesitated on receiving news of his death, but at once commenced
hostilities.

It is probable that among the motives which determined the somewhat
wavering conduct of Sapor at this juncture was a reasonable fear of the
internal troubles which it seemed to be in the power of the Romans to
excite among the Persians, if from friends they became enemies. Having
tested his own military capacity in his Arab wars, and formed an army
on whose courage, endurance, and attachment he could rely, he was not
afraid of measuring his strength with that of Rome in the open field;
but he may well have dreaded the arts which the Imperial State was in
the habit of employing, to supplement her military shortcomings, in
wars with her neighbors. There was now at the court of Constantinople a
Persian refugee of such rank and importance that Constantine had, as it
were, a pretender ready made to his hand, and could reckon on creating
dissension among the Persians whenever he pleased, by simply proclaiming
himself this person's ally and patron. Prince Hormisdas, the elder
brother of Sapor, and rightful king of Persia, had, after a long
imprisonment, contrived, by the help of his wife, to escape from his
dungeon, and had fled to the court of Constantine as early as A.D.
323. He had been received by the emperor with every mark of honor and
distinction, had been given a maintenance suited to his rank, and had
enjoyed other favors. Sapor must have felt himself deeply aggrieved by
the undue attention paid to his rival; and though he pretended to make
light of the matter, and even generously sent Hormisdas the wife to whom
his escape was due, he cannot but have been uneasy at the possession, by