Perhaps no monarch was ever more zealous in promot ing the general happiness of his people than Nousheer wan. His impartial administration of justice, and his vi gilance in detecting and punishing every act of oppression in his inlerior officers, gave confidence and security to all. Many anecdotes are recorded of his strict adherence to justice, which seems to have been a principal feature in his character. He was surnamed by the Arabians, Al Malek, or, " The Just ;" and Mahomed used to boast of his good fortune in being born under the reign of so just a king. A Roman ambassador, one day, admiring the noble prospect from the windows of the imperial palace, remarked an uneven piece of ground, and inquired the reason why it was not made uniform. A Persian noble replied, " It is the property of an old woman, who has objections to sell it, though often requested to do so by our king; and he is more willing to have his prospect spoiled, than to commit violence." " That irregular spot," said the Roman, " con secrated as it is by justice, appears more beautiful than all the surrounding scene." " This prince," says Khonde mir, " possessed in a sovereign degree, as well the good qualities which render amiable a private man, as the ex alted virtues which add lustre to a diadem." He resisted the influence of that luxury by which he was courted, neither giving himself up to indulgence, nor permitting it in others ; and he remained, to the last hour of a life pro tracted to more than eighty years, unconquered by pros perity.
With Nousheerwan expired the glory of Persia. His son, Hoormuz III. who had been entrusted to the care of Abouzurg-a-Mihir, soon forgot the example of his father, and the instructions of his virtuous minister; and plung ing into every excess of indulgence and cruelty, rendered himself hateful to his subjects, and contemptible to bis enemies. The provinces of India and Arabia, which ac knowledged the power of Noushcerwan, disdained to yield obedience to his unworthy successor; and the Khan of Tartary crossed the Oxus, and demanded a free pas sage through Persia, under the pretence of invading the Roman empire. This chief, however, was opposed by Baharam, the Persian general, with only 12,000 chosen troops, and slain in the first engagement. In a subsequent battle, the son of the Khan was taken prisoner, and sent to Madain with 250 camels loaded with treasure. Floor muz was at first delighted with his general's success; but a worthless favourite maliciously insinuated, that Baharam had reserved the best of the spoil for his own use, or, ac cording to the Persian expression, " he had only sent the ear of the cow." The suspicious temper of the king im mediately took the alarm, and, instead of a habit of ho nour, the usual present of Persian kings, he sent to Ba haram, as a mark of disgrace, the apparel of a woman, a distaff and a spindle. The hardy warrior, arrayed in his
new apparel, presented himself to his army. "Behold," said he, " the reward of all my services." The soldiers were filled with indignation, and immediately hailed 13a haram as their king. The deposition and murder of Iloormuz soon followed; and his son Khoosroo Purveez, who had collected a considerable army to support his fa ther's throne, was completely defeated in the battle of Nahrwan, and fled for refuge to the emperor Maurice, where he met with a most hospitable and friendly recep tion.
Baharam assumed the reins of government ; but his rule was short. Within eight months of his elevation, he was defeated by Khoosroo, supported by an army of Romans, and, flying into Tartary, was welcomed and protected by a people whose armies he had often vanquished. He was soon afterwards cut off by poison, at the instance, it is al leged, of the Persian king.
Khoosroo, during the life-time of the emperor Mau rice, maintained inviolable his friendship with the Ro mans, many of whom he treated with great favour and distinction; but upon the murder of that prince by the centurion Phoeas, he dispatched an immense army into the Roman territories, under the pretence of avenging the death of his benefactor. His generals overran and pillaged Syria and Palestine; sacked the city of Jerusa lem; and the true cross, attended by a crowd of captive priests and bishops, was borne in triumph to Madain. But while his arms were every where victorious, this monarch, who had given himself up to every species of luxury and self-indulgence, seemed to value his conquests only as they added to his pleasures. The vast territories which his generals had subdued were exhausted, to add to the magnificence of his palaces, and swell the gorgeous pomp of his royal person. He built a noble palace for every season ; and his principal throne, called Takh-dis, was supported with 40,000 silver columns, and in the concave over them, which was formed to represent the twelve signs of the Zodiac, and adorned with a thousand globes of gold, were seen all the planets and great constellations performing their natural revolutions. Twelve thousand females, the most beautiful in Persia, filled his haram, 6,000 horses stood in the royal stables, 12,000 elephants followed his armies, and his treasures were deposited in 100 vaults. No monarch ever surpassed him in royal luxury and splendour, and for thirty years his arms were marked with complete success. His victorious troops carried the Persian banners to the frontiers of Ethiopia, and added Arabia, Egypt, and Colchos, to his dominions.