d all other persons were continually in the palace. The reason was,
that formerly the magistrates freely administered justice and laws
independently, and executed the customary sentences at their own
residences, and the subjects, seeing and hearing that no injustice
would be done to them, had little reason to trouble the Emperor. But
this pair, taking control of all business to themselves in order that
they might ruin their subjects, forced them to humiliate themselves
before them in a most servile manner. Thus the courts of justice were
empty nearly every day, and hardly a person was to be seen in them,
while in the palace there were crowds of men pushing and abusing one
another, all endeavouring to be foremost in showing their servility.
Those who were on the most intimate terms with the Imperial pair
remained the whole day and a great part of the night, without food or
sleep, until they were worn out, and this apparent good fortune was
their only reward. Others, who were free from all these cares and
anxieties, were puzzled to think what had become of the wealth and
treasures of the Empire. Some declared that it had all fallen into the
hands of the barbarians, while others asserted that the Emperor kept
it locked up in secret hiding-places of his own. When
Justinian--whether he be man or devil--shall have departed this life,
those who are then living will be able to learn the truth.

NOTES

[1: By Mr. Hodgkin, "Italy and her Invaders," vol. iii., p. 638.]

[2: The best modern authorities are agreed that he was really the
author.]

[3: Or, rather, three, the fourth being only a kind of supplement.]

[4: As internal evidence in favour of the identity of the author of
the "Secret History," and the "Wars" and "Buildings," the few
following points, amongst many, may be noticed. The reference in the
preface to the "History of the Wars," that the author was born at
Caesarea, is more closely defined by the statement in the "Secret
History" that he was from Caesarea in Palestine; in both works an
account of the relations of Justinian to the Church is promised, but
the promise is not fulfilled. The "Secret History" refers to the
extravagant "building" mania of the Emperor. In all three works we
meet with a constant recurrence of the same ideas, the same outspoken
language, greatly embittered in the "Secret History," the same
fanatical pragmatism, the same association of luck, destiny, and
divinity, of guilt and expiati