360
DOWNFALL OF THE PARTHIAN EMPIRE,
suzerain proved a weak bond when any strain was it, and there was constant danger of this or
put upon
that province detaching itself from the great mass of the empire, and entering upon a separate existence. are thus entitled to say that there was some-
We
thing like a general discontent of the provinces with under the central government, at any
their condition
rate for the last century and a half of Parthian rule. It is difficult, however, to analyse the grounds of this
discontent, or to decide
what elements
in
it
had the
greater weight, and which were of minor importance. An alien rule must always be more or less irksome to
those
who have
to submit to
it,
and must more or
chafe and gall them, as they exceed or
fall
less
short in
The friction will be increased pride and sensibility. or diminished by the character of the rule, its consonance with
equity.
It
justice, its
its
care for
regard
for
promises and
subjects, its clemency, will to protect, its general fairness and cannot be said that the Parthians fell
engagements, its power and
its
flagrantly short in any of these particulars, or deserve to be regarded as either on the one hand weak and
on the other harsh, unjust, and oppressive. no took the lion's share of pomp, power, doubt They and privilege but beyond this advantage, which is one taken by all dominant peoples, it does not appear that their subjects had any special grievances of which to complain. The Parthians were tolerant they did
careless, or
;
;
not interfere with the religious prejudices of their subjects, or attempt to enforce uniformity of creed or
Their military system did not press overheavily on the subject races nor is there any reason
worship.
;