s might attract the flattery of an African exile.]

[Footnote 26: Evagrius (l. v. c. 13) has added the reproach to his
ministers He applies this speech to the ceremony when Tiberius was
invested with the rank of Caesar. The loose expression, rather than
the positive error, of Theophanes, &c., has delayed it to his Augustan
investitura immediately before the death of Justin.]

[Footnote 27: Theophylact Simocatta (l. iii. c. 11) declares that he
shall give to posterity the speech of Justin as it was pronounced,
without attempting to correct the imperfections of language or rhetoric.
Perhaps the vain sophist would have been incapable of producing such
sentiments.]

Among the virtues of Tiberius, [28] his beauty (he was one of the
tallest and most comely of the Romans) might introduce him to the
favor of Sophia; and the widow of Justin was persuaded, that she should
preserve her station and influence under the reign of a second and more
youthful husband. But, if the ambitious candidate had been tempted
to flatter and dissemble, it was no longer in his power to fulfil
her expectations, or his own promise. The factions of the hippodrome
demanded, with some impatience, the name of their new empress: both the
people and Sophia were astonished by the proclamation of Anastasia,
the secret, though lawful, wife of the emperor Tiberius. Whatever could
alleviate the disappointment of Sophia, Imperial honors, a stately
palace, a numerous household, was liberally bestowed by the piety of her
adopted son; on solemn occasions he attended and consulted the widow
of his benefactor; but her ambition disdained the vain semblance of
royalty, and the respectful appellation of mother served to exasperate,
rather than appease, the rage of an injured woman. While she accepted,
and repaid with a courtly smile, the fair expressions of regard and
confidence, a secret alliance was concluded between the dowager empress
and her ancient enemies; and Justinian, the son of Germanus, was
employed as the instrument of her revenge. The pride of the reigning
house supported, with reluctance, the dominion of a stranger: the youth
was deservedly popular; his name, after the death of Justin, had been
mentioned by a tumultuous faction; and his own submissive offer of his
head with a treasure of sixty thousand pounds, might be interpreted as
an evidence of guilt, or at least of fear. Justinian received a free
pardon, and the command of the eastern army. The Pers