But though Bahram might feel that the glory of the day was his, he was not elated by his success, nor rendered blind to the difficulties of his position.  Fighting with his back to the mountains, he was liable, if he suffered defeat, to be entangled in their defiles and lose his entire force.  Moreover, now that Ctesiphon was no longer his, he had neither resources nor point d’appui in the low country, and by falling back he would at once be approaching nearer to the main source of his own supplies, which was the country about Rei, south of the Caspian, and drawing his enemies to a greater distance from the sources of theirs.  He may even have thought there was a chance of his being unpursued if he retired, since the Romans might not like to venture into the mountain region, and Chosroes might be impatient to make a triumphal entry into his capital.  Accordingly, the use which Bahram made of his victory was quietly to evacuate his camp, to leave the low plain region, rapidly pass the mountains, and take up his quarters in the fertile upland beyond them, the district where the Lesser Zab rises, south of Lake Urumiyeh.

If he had hoped that his enemies would not pursue him, Bahram was disappointed.  Chosroes himself, and the whole of the mixed army which supported his cause, soon followed on his footsteps, and pressing forward to Canzaca, or Shiz, near which he had pitched his camp, offered him battle for the second time.  Bahram declined the offer, and retreated to a position on the Balarathus, where, however, after a short time, he was forced to come to an engagement.  He had received, it would seem, a reinforcement of elephants from the provinces bordering on India, and hoped for some advantage from the employment of this new arm.  He had perhaps augmented his forces, though it must be doubted whether he really on this occasion outnumbered his antagonist.  At any rate, the time seemed to have come when he must abide the issue of his appeal to arms, and secure or lose his crown by a supreme effort.  Once more the armies were drawn up in three distinct bodies; and once more the leaders held the established central position.  The engagement began along the whole line, and continued for a while without marked result.  Bahram then strengthened his left, and, transferring himself to this part of the field, made an impression on the Roman right.  But Narses brought up supports to their aid, and checked the retreat, which had already begun, and which might soon have become general.  Hereupon Bahram suddenly fell upon the Roman centre and endeavored to break it and drive it from the field; but Narses was again a match for him, and met his assault without flinching, after which, charging in his turn, he threw the Persian centre into confusion.  Seeing this, the wings also broke, and a general flight began, whereupon 6000 of Bahram’s troops deserted, and, drawing aside, allowed themselves to be captured.  The retreat then became a rout.  Bahram himself fled