tered the emperor's
council-chambers, with undaunted heart and voice related the whole
transaction; and this confident behaviour of his shut the mouths of the
flatterers, and delivered both the prefect and himself from serious
danger.

8. It was at this time also that an event took place in Aquitania which
was more extensively talked about. A certain cunning person being
invited to a splendid and sumptuous banquet, which are frequent in that
province, having seen a pair of coverlets, with two purple borders of
such width, that by the skill of those who waited they seemed to be but
one; and beholding the table also covered with a similar cloth, he took
up one in each hand, and arranged them so as to resemble the front of a
cloak, representing them as having formed the ornament of the imperial
robe; and then searching over the whole house in order to find the robe
which he affirmed must be hidden there, he thus caused the ruin of a
wealthy estate.

9. With similar malignity, a certain secretary in Spain, who was
likewise invited to a supper, hearing the servants, while bringing in
the evening candles, cry "let us conquer," affixing a malignant
interpretation to that common exclamation, in like manner ruined a noble
family.

10. These and other evils increasing more and more, because Constantius,
being a man of a very timorous disposition, was always thinking that
blows were being aimed at him, like the celebrated tyrant of Sicily,
Dionysius, who, because of this vice of his, taught his daughters to
shave him, in order that he might not have to put his face in a
stranger's power; and surrounded the small chamber in which he was
accustomed to sleep with a deep ditch, so placed that it could only be
entered by a drawbridge; the loose beams and axles of which when he went
to bed he removed into his own chamber, replacing them when about to go
forth at daybreak.

11. Moreover, those who had influence in the court promoted the spread
of these evils, with the hope of joining to their own estates the
forfeited possessions of those who should be condemned; and thus
becoming rich by the ruin of their neighbours.

12. For, as clear evidence has shown, if Constantine was the first to
excite the appetites of his followers, Constantius was the prince who
fattened them on the marrow of the provinces.

13. For under him the principal persons of every rank burnt with an
insatiable desire of riches, without any regard for justice o