46. And that first act of his self-will and madness, his assuming the diadem and decorating himself with the supreme title----the which, not being the rapine of chance, but the price of merit, either regular succession confers, or else the revolution of the sovereign; or else the decision of the Senate, as in the olden time: a title which does not render him that is master of the power, master likewise of the honour in its full extent. In the next place, since he knew that he had made desperate measures a matter of necessity to him in consequence of what he had already dared, what does he plan, and to what extent of impiety and audacity does he proceed? O the mad soul! He marches against the emperor, and moves forth out of the West, under the pretence of excusing his conduct in assuming the diadem, for he still thought of cloaking his desperate intention, but in reality with the view of transferring the empire to himself, and getting himself admired for his want of sense----and truly he was not disappointed in his hopes.

Μ#2ʹ. Καὶ τὸ μὲν πρῶτον αὐτῷ τῆς αὐθαδείας καὶ ἀπονοίας ἑαυτὸν ἀναδῆσαι, καὶ τῇ μεγάλῃ προσηγορίᾳ τιμῆσαι (ἣν οὐχ ἅρπαγμα τύχης, ἀλλ' ἀρετῆς ἆθλον ἢ χρόνος ἢ ψῆφος βασιλέως χαρίζεται, ἢ τῆς συγκλήτου βουλῆς, ὡς τὸ παλαιὸν, κρίσις), καὶ οὐ ποιεῖται τοῦ μέτρου τῆς τιμῆς κύριον τὸν τῆς βασιλείας: δεύτερον δὲ (καὶ γὰρ ἀναγκαίαν ἑαυτῷ τὴν ἀπόνοιαν ἐκ τῶν ἤδη τετολμημένων ᾔδει πεποιηκὼς), τί διανοεῖται; καὶ ποῖ πρόεισιν ἀσεβείας τε καὶ θρασύτητος; Ὢ τῆς μανιώδους ἐκείνης ψυχῆς! Ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἐκστρατεύει, καὶ τῆς δύσεως ἀπανίσταται: προφάσει μὲν, ὡς ἀπολογησόμενος ὑπὲρ τοῦ διαδήματος: ἔτι γὰρ ἐδόκει κρύπτειν ἑαυτοῦ τὴν ἀπόνοιαν: τὸ δὲ ἀληθὲς, ὡς μεταστήσων εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἅπαν τὸ κράτος, καὶ διὰ τῆς ἀγνωμοσύνης θαυμασθησόμενος: καὶ οὐκ ἐψεύσθη γε τῆς ἐλπίδος.