the Persians in his front, he first of all
held a parley with Perozes, in which, after reproaching him with his
ingratitude and breach of faith, he concluded by offering to renew the
peace. Perozes scornfully refused; whereupon the Ephthalite prince hung
on the point of a lance the broken treaty, and, parading it in front of
the Persian troops, exhorted them to avoid the vengeance which was sure
to fall on the perjured by deserting their doomed monarch. Upon this,
half the army, we are told, retired; and Khush-newaz proceeded to effect
the destruction of the remainder by means of the plan which he had so
carefully prepared beforehand. He sent a portion of his troops across
the ditch, with orders to challenge the Persians to an engagement, and,
when the fight began, to fly hastily, and, returning within the ditch
by the sound passage, unite themselves with the main army. The entire
Persian host, as he expected, pursued the fugitives, and coming unawares
upon the concealed trench plunged into it, was inextricably entangled,
and easily destroyed. Perozes himself, several of his sons, and most of
his army perished. Mruz-docht, his daughter, the chief Mobed, and great
numbers of the rank and file were made prisoners. A vast booty was
taken. Khush-newaz did not tarnish the glory of his victory by any
cruelties; he treated the captives tenderly, and caused search to be
made for the body of Perozes, which was found and honorably interred.

Thus perished Perozes, after a reign of (probably) twenty-six years.
He was undoubtedly a brave prince, and entitled to the epithet of Al
Merdaneh, "the Courageous," which he received from his subjects. But
his bravery, unfortunately, verged upon rashness, and was unaccompanied
(so far as appears) by any other military quality. Perozes had neither
the sagacity to form a good plan of campaign, nor the ability to conduct
a battle. In all the wars wherein he was personally engaged he was
unsuccessful, and the only triumphs which gilded his arms wore gained by
his generals. In his civil administration, on the contrary, he obtained
a character for humanity and justice; and, if the Oriental accounts
of his proceedings during the great famine are to be regarded as
trustworthy, we must admit that his wisdom and benevolence were such as
are not commonly found in those who bear rule in the East. His conduct
towards Khush-newaz has generally been regarded as the great blot upon
his good fame; and it is