carried it away with him
to Arabia, whither he had resolved to retire. The father, just before
his death, gave John, who was now grown up, full information
concerning his mother.

John, having performed the last offices for his dead father, some time
afterwards repaired to Byzantium, and explained the state of affairs
to those who were charged with the duty of arranging admission to an
audience with the Empress. They, not suspecting that she would
conceive any inhuman designs against him, announced to the mother the
arrival of her son. She, fearing that the report might reach the ears
of the Emperor, ordered her son to be brought to her. When she saw him
approaching, she went to meet him and handed him over to one of her
confidants, whom she always intrusted with commissions of this kind.
In what manner the unfortunate youth disappeared I cannot say. He has
never been seen to this day--not even after his mother's death.

At that time the morals of women were almost without exception
corrupt. They were faithless to their husbands with absolute licence,
since the crime of adultery brought neither danger nor harm upon them.
When convicted of the offence, they escaped punishment, thanks to the
Empress, to whom they immediately applied. Then, getting the verdict
quashed on the ground that the charges were not proved, they in turn
accused their husbands, who, although not convicted, were condemned to
refund twice the amount of the dower, and, for the most part, were
flogged and led away to prison, where they were permitted to look upon
their adulterous wives again, decked out in fine garments and in the
act of committing adultery without the slightest shame with their
lovers, many of whom, by way of recompense, received offices and
rewards. This was the reason why most husbands afterwards put up with
unholy outrages on the part of their wives, and gladly endured them
in silence in order to escape the lash. They even afforded them every
opportunity to avoid being surprised.

Theodora claimed complete control of the State at her sole discretion.
She appointed magistrates and ecclesiastical dignitaries. Her only
care and anxiety was--and as to this she made the most careful
investigation--to prevent any office being given to a good and
honourable man, who might be prevented by his conscience from
assisting her in her nefarious designs.

She ordered all marriages as it were by a kind of divine authority;
men never made a vo