retext that he was a magician and used philtres. However, as he
found no proofs on which the man could be condemned, he flogged and
tortured some of his intimates until he forced them to make most
unfounded accusations against him. When no one dared to oppose
Justinian, but silently bewailed the plot against Theodotus, Proclus,
the Quaestor, alone declared that the man was innocent and did not
deserve to die. Theodotus was therefore sentenced by the Emperor to
banishment to Jerusalem. But, learning that certain men had been sent
thither to assassinate him, he took sanctuary in the temple, where he
spent the rest of his life in concealment until he died. Such was the
end of Theodotus.

From this time forth, however, the Blue party behaved with the
greatest moderation; they did not venture to perpetrate such crimes,
although they had it in their power to abuse their authority more
outrageously and with greater impunity than before. Here is a proof of
this; when a few of them afterwards showed the same audacity in
evil-doing, they were not punished in any way; for those who had the
power to punish always gave malefactors an opportunity to escape, and
by this indulgence encouraged them to trample upon the laws.

CHAPTER X

As long as the Empress Euphemia was alive, Justinian could not
contrive to marry Theodora. Though she did not oppose him on any other
point, she obstinately refused her consent to this one thing. She was
altogether free from vice, although she was a homely person and of
barbarian descent, as I have already said. She never cultivated any
active virtues, but remained utterly ignorant of State affairs. She
did not bear her own name, which was a ridiculous one, when she came
to the palace, but was re-named Euphemia. Soon afterwards, however,
she died.

Justin was in his second childhood and so sunk in senility that he was
the laughing-stock of his subjects. All despised him utterly, and
disregarded him because he was incompetent to control State affairs,
but they paid their court to Justinian with awe, for he terrified them
all by his love of disturbance and reckless innovations.

He then resolved to bring about his marriage with Theodora. It was
forbidden by the most ancient laws of the State that anyone of the
senatorial order should marry a courtesan; so he prevailed upon the
Emperor to repeal the existing law and introduce a new one, whereby he
was allowed to live with Theodora as his legiti