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urging. As he was entering from the right of the courtyard, the Comneni came out and met him on foot; and he blamed them for many things. As he entered, staring and seeing Nicephorus Palaeologus entering again from the left, he says, “what business have you here? and what do you want, coming here, brother-in-law?” And he said, “I will accomplish nothing, as it seems; but I have come again to bring the same messages from the emperor to the Comneni as before. For the emperor insists on keeping his promises and to treat Alexius as a son, on condition that he assume the imperial power and administer the affairs of the empire according to his will, while he himself should share only in the name of emperor, the red sandals, and the common purple, and rest in the palace, being now an old man and in need of ease.” And immediately, looking at him grimly and knitting his brows, he says to him, “Go and report to the emperor that these terms would have been most advantageous before the city was taken; but from this point on, the terms of the embassy have no place at all. Since you are now an old man, step down from the throne and see to your own safety.” 2.12.4 But so much for the Caesar. But Borilus, having learned of their entry and how the army under them, scattered everywhere, was occupied with plunder and wholly engaged in collecting spoils (for they had been left with their relatives by blood and marriage and a few foreigners), decided to oppose them, since they were very vulnerable due to the dispersal of the army. Therefore, having gathered all those who brandished swords on their shoulders, and as many as had set out from the Choma, from the Forum of Constantine up to the so-called Milion and beyond, he drew them up in ranks with the greatest good order. And they, with shields locked, stood prepared for battle and remained still for the time being. 2.12.5 Since the one who was then patriarch, a man truly venerable, possessing nothing, and having passed through every form of asceticism, just as the ancient fathers who dwelt in deserts and mountains, had been deemed worthy of a prophetic and divine gift, and having many times foretold many things and never been proven false, and having been a rule and model of virtue for those after him, he appeared not to be at all ignorant of the things that had befallen Botaneiates. But whether from divine inspiration or at the suggestion of the Caesar (for this was also said), who had long been on friendly terms with him because of the height of his virtue, he advised the emperor to step down from the imperial throne, saying “do not proceed to civil wars, nor oppose the command of God. Do not wish the city to be stained with the blood of Christians, but yielding to the will of God, withdraw from the scene.” 2.12.6 The emperor is persuaded by the words of the high priest. But fearing the recklessness of the army, he girds himself and goes down, having resolved to go to the great church of God. But being full of confusion, he was unaware that he was still clad in the robe befitting emperors. But Borilus, turning and touching the pearl-adorned robes fastened around his arm, then strips him of his garment, saying with a certain sneer and mocking manner, “Such a thing as this is in truth fitting for us now.” And he, entering into the great temple of God, of the Wisdom of God, remained patiently therein for the time being.

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κατεπείγων. Ὡς δὲ δεξιόθεν τῆς αὐλίδος εἰσῄει, ἐξελθόντες οἱ Κομνηνοὶ συναντῶσι πεζεύοντι αὐτῷ· ὁ δὲ πολλὰ τούτους ἐμέμφετο. Ἀτενίσας δ' ἐν τῷ εἰσιέναι καὶ τὸν Παλαιολόγον Νικηφόρον θεασά μενος ἀπὸ τῆς λαιᾶς αὖθις εἰσερχόμενον «τί πρὸς τὰ ἐνταῦθα;» φησὶ «καὶ τί βουλόμενος ἥκεις, συμπέν θερε;» Ὁ δέ «τελέσω μέν, ὡς ἔοικεν, οὐδέν· τὰς δὲ αὐτὰς ταῖς πρῴην καὶ αὖθις ἥκω τοῖς Κομνηνοῖς κομίσων παρὰ τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος ἀγγελίας. ∆ιενίσταται γὰρ ὁ βασιλεὺς φυλάξαι τὰ ὑπεσχημένα καὶ ὡς υἱῷ μὲν χρήσα σθαι τῷ Ἀλεξίῳ ἐφ' ᾧ τὴν αὐτοκράτορος ἀρχὴν αὐτὸν ἀναδήσασθαι καὶ τὰ τῆς βασιλείας κατὰ τὸ αὐτῷ διοικεῖν βουλητόν, ἐκεῖνον δὲ μόνου τοῦ τῆς βασιλείας μετέχειν ὀνόματος καὶ τῶν ἐρυθρῶν πεδίλων καὶ τῆς κοινῆς ἁλουρ γίδος καὶ τοῦ περὶ τὰ βασίλεια διαναπαύεσθαι γέροντά τε ἤδη ὄντα καὶ ῥᾳστώνης δεόμενον.» Εὐθὺς δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν δριμὺ ἐνατενίσας καὶ τὰς ὀφρῦς ἐπισυνάξας αὐτῷ φησιν «Ἀπελθὼν ἀπάγγειλον τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὡς ταῦτα ἦσαν ἂν συμ φορώτατα πρὸ τοῦ τὴν πόλιν ἁλῶναι· τὸ δ' ἐντεῦθεν χώραν ὅλως οὐκ ἔχει τὰ τῆς πρεσβείας. Γέρων δὲ ἤδη ὢν ὑπεξίστασο τοῦ θρόνου καὶ τῆς σαυτοῦ φρόντισον σωτηρίας.» 2.12.4 Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν ὁ καῖσαρ. Ὁ δέ γε Βορῖλος τὴν τούτων μεμαθηκὼς εἰσέλευσιν καὶ ὡς ὁ ὑπ' αὐτοὺς στρατὸς ἁπανταχοῦ σκεδασθεὶς περὶ τὴν λείαν ἐνασχο λεῖται καὶ τῆς τῶν λαφύρων συλλογῆς ὅλος γεγένηται (οὖτοι δὲ μετὰ τῶν ἐξ αἵματος καὶ ἐξ ἀγχιστείας προση κόντων αὐτοῖς καὶ μετρίων ὀθνείων κατελείφθησαν), ἀντικαταστῆναι διέγνω τούτοις λίαν εὐχειρώτοις οὖσι διὰ τὸν τοῦ στρατοῦ σκεδασμόν. Τοίνυν καὶ συναγαγὼν τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων τὰ ξίφη κραδαίνοντας ἅπαντας, καὶ ὁπόσοι ἐκ τοῦ Χώματος ὥρμηντο, ἀπὸ τοῦ Κωνσταντινίου φόρου μέχρι καὶ τοῦ λεγομένου Μιλίου καὶ ἄνωθεν μετ' εὐταξίας ὅτι πολλῆς στοιχηδὸν αὐτοὺς συνέταξεν. Οἱ δὲ συνησπι κότες ἵσταντο πρὸς μάχην παρεσκευασμένοι καὶ ἀτρε μοῦντες τέως. 2.12.5 Ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ τηνικαῦτα πατριάρχης χρηματίζων ἱεροπρεπὴς τῷ ὄντι ἀκτήμων καὶ πᾶν εἶδος ἀσκήσεως, ᾗπερ οἱ ἐν ἐρημίαις καὶ ὄρεσιν ἐνδιαιτώμενοι τῶν πάλαι πατέρων, διεληλυθὼς κατηξίωτο προορατικοῦ καὶ θείου χαρίσματος πολλά τε πολλάκις προειπὼν καὶ μηδέποτε διαψευσάμενος καὶ κανὼν καὶ τύπος ἀρετῆς τοῖς μετ' αὐτὸν χρηματίσας οὐδὲ τὰ τῷ Βοτανειάτῃ συμ πεσόντα παντάπασιν ἀγνοήσας ἐφαίνετο. Ἀλλ' εἴτε ἐκ θείας ἐπιπνοίας εἴτε καὶ τοῦ καίσαρος ὑποθεμένου (ἐλέ γετο γὰρ καὶ τοῦτο) καὶ πάλαι φιλίως πρὸς αὐτὸν διακει μένου διὰ τὸ ὕψος τῆς αὐτοῦ ἀρετῆς, ξυνεβούλευε τῷ βασιλεῖ ὑπεκστῆναι τοῦ βασιλείου θρόνου «μὴ χώρει» λέγων «πρὸς ἐμφυλίους πολέμους μήτ' ἀντίβαινε Θεοῦ προστάξει. Αἵμασι Χριστιανῶν μὴ θέλε μιανθῆναι τὴν πόλιν, ἀλλ' εἴξας Θεοῦ βουλήσει ὑπέκστηθι τοῦ μέσου.» 2.12.6 Πείθεται τοῖς τοῦ ἀρχιερέως λόγοις ὁ βασιλεύς. ∆εδιὼς δὲ τὸ τοῦ στρατοῦ ἀτάσθαλον περιζώννυται καὶ κάτεισιν ὡς πρὸς τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ μεγάλην ἐκκλησίαν ἀπονε νευκώς. Πλήρης δὲ συγχύσεως ὢν λέληθεν ἠμφιεσμένος ἔτι τὴν τοῖς βασιλεῦσι πρέπουσαν στολήν. Ὁ δὲ Βορῖλος ἐπιστραφεὶς καὶ ἁψάμενος τῶν περὶ τὸν βραχίονα κεκολ λημένων διὰ μαργάρων πέπλων παραλύει τηνικαῦτα τῆς ἐσθῆτος φάμενος μετά τινος μυκτῆρος καὶ σεσηρότος ἤθους ὡς «τοιοῦτον ἡμῖν ἐπ' ἀληθείας προσήκει νῦν». Ὁ δὲ εἰς τὸν μέγαν τοῦ Θεοῦ νεὼν τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ σοφίας εἰσελθὼν ἐγκαρτερῶν τέως ἦν ἐν αὐτῷ.

3.t.1 ΑΛΕΞΙΑΣ Γʹ