f their guardians; the childless ambition of those guardians
had no temptation to violate their right of succession: their patrimony
was ably and faithfully administered; and the premature death of
Zimisces was a loss, rather than a benefit, to the sons of Romanus.
Their want of experience detained them twelve years longer the obscure
and voluntary pupils of a minister, who extended his reign by persuading
them to indulge the pleasures of youth, and to disdain the labors of
government. In this silken web, the weakness of Constantine was forever
entangled; but his elder brother felt the impulse of genius and the
desire of action; he frowned, and the minister was no more. Basil
was the acknowledged sovereign of Constantinople and the provinces
of Europe; but Asia was oppressed by two veteran generals, Phocas and
Sclerus, who, alternately friends and enemies, subjects and rebels,
maintained their independence, and labored to emulate the example of
successful usurpation. Against these domestic enemies the son of Romanus
first drew his sword, and they trembled in the presence of a lawful and
high-spirited prince. The first, in the front of battle, was thrown from
his horse, by the stroke of poison, or an arrow; the second, who had
been twice loaded with chains, [1017] and twice invested with the
purple, was desirous of ending in peace the small remainder of his days.
As the aged suppliant approached the throne, with dim eyes and faltering
steps, leaning on his two attendants, the emperor exclaimed, in the
insolence of youth and power, "And is this the man who has so long been
the object of our terror?" After he had confirmed his own authority, and
the peace of the empire, the trophies of Nicephorus and Zimisces would
not suffer their royal pupil to sleep in the palace. His long and
frequent expeditions against the Saracens were rather glorious than
useful to the empire; but the final destruction of the kingdom of
Bulgaria appears, since the time of Belisarius, the most important
triumph of the Roman arms. Yet, instead of applauding their victorious
prince, his subjects detested the rapacious and rigid avarice of Basil;
and in the imperfect narrative of his exploits, we can only discern the
courage, patience, and ferociousness of a soldier. A vicious education,
which could not subdue his spirit, had clouded his mind; he was
ignorant of every science; and the remembrance of his learned and feeble
grandsire might encourage his re