De cerimoniis aulae Byzantinae (lib. 1.842.-56)
until he reaches the grade. But it is necessary to know that for the empress’s portion, four silentiarii of good repute and of attested respectable li
and to send [someone] also to meet them, and to lead each one into his own lodging, and bedding and expenses are prepared beforehand for them. And the
They are adored by the domestics and protectors, and the Persikē meets them, and all things are done according to custom. When he wishes to dismiss th
to Nicomedia, if he wishes, he should cross over by dromons, and if he is vexed, it is in any case necessary to prepare both horses and animals, so th
armed *candidati* and comely *pueri* following them. And the emperor comes out of the *cubiculum*, escorted by the *patricius*, and sits in the great
of a silentiary to him, so that he may come forth, and a silence is made, and the chariot is held, and the labarum-bearers stand, and when he comes fo
fellow-soldier, from whom, while still campaigning with you, I learned to endure. It was shouted by all: Good fortune! The army hails you as emperor
pounds of silver, and when he receives it, he presents them with the document in return, and thus he enters, escorted by all, and the prefects 416 and
a Roman and full of every imperial virtue, so as not to be subject to the love of money, nor to any other human passion, at least as far as is possibl
where it is the custom in the Hippodrome for the senators to do obeisance, he put on a tunic of purple silk with gold stripes, a belt, leggings, and i
palace. So Celer the magister arrived, and Justin of the divine inheritance, being at that time count of the excubitors. And immediately the magister
The Emperor Caesar Augustus: that through our own philanthropy he might strengthen us to accomplish all things beneficial to you and to the state. F
When Romanos the younger emperor died, son of Constantine the great and porphyrogennetos emperor of the Romans, the Macedonian, on the 15th of the mon
they killed. They destroyed the houses of those who were arrayed against the ruler down to the foundations, having plundered all their possessions and
*** CH. 97. On the promotion of a president of the whole senate.
444 Plan of the imperial campaigns and a memorandum on the military camps. These are the military camps: the first camp at Malagina, the second at Dor
for a set time to count the baggage animals, how many pack-animals there are, and to report this number. And having received the number of the pack-an
the armies in one straight line. And in the middle were the tagmata, and of these the most honored in the central position, and on either side of the
of these things a written account will be made, revealing Roman majesty. Wherefore, after investigating much concerning these things and finding no me
Thus: the Strategos of the Anatolikon, 3 mules the Strategos of the Armeniakon, 3 mules the Strategos of the Thrakesion, 3 mules the Strategos of t
curacies. And while the imperial service is being supplied, wherever he finds good wine and oil and legumes, so that he may put it in his vessels, and
of noble refugees. Thick and winged felted double-thick cloths for the emperor's use for the low couches two saddles for the procession, saddles for
two all-gold items, two all-gold standing-cups. It is to be known, that these must be used when foreigners are dining with the emperor. For this reaso
the count and the chartoularios. And the count of the stable also provides for the transportations, for every ten pack-horses, a syntrophos of the Mal
it is an imperial [regulation], that no one should receive as a gift, neither a mule, nor a pack-horse, bearing the imperial brand, so that the imperi
Caesarea, or in another theme towards the place, in which he is about to encamp, it being suitable and when he comes nearest to the camp at a distanc
has been said before, and the imperial table becomes a low stool. The imperial cooks prepare the appetizers in the evening. The eighty optimates lead
It is to be known that, when the emperor is in Syria, the *magistroi* and the *patrikioi* and the official *protospatharioi* receive a *maioumas* the
for one ox-skin, and two Apisian waterskins each, in order to cross easily the deep and difficult rivers and they are to have their tools without fai
magistrianoi, fabricenses, the bureau of the prefects and of the prefect, silversmiths and all merchants, and every corporation, and simply from the C
at the Philadelphion and the Taurus, at the Artopoulion and at the Forum. And upon arriving at the Forum they dismounted from their horses, and entere
of their golden ones, placing on his head both a helmet with a golden crest, girding on also a short sword, and he himself mounted a likewise white ho
to be observed on the second day of the first week, when the emperor delivers a speech at the silentium of the Magnaura. 11. What must be observed whe
Greetings of ambassadors of various nations coming to the emperor. 48. The acts of the inscriptions made for the nations. 49. These are the things set
They open the gate leading out from the Horologion into the Lausiakos. Then, with the maglabites and the weekly officials of the Hetaireia, they open
for some pagans to see the emperor, if he does not wish to be crowned, he puts on his head the crown called the kaisarikion and the sagion woven entir
to summon to the hall, and immediately the drungarius draws his sword, and the papias also comes out, shaking the keys in his hand, and immediately th
receiving it, he prostrates himself on the ground, and kisses the feet of the emperor and his knees, likewise also of the junior emperor and after th
The annual commemoration of Constantine the Great and the dedication of the erected precious crosses in the new palace of Bonus.
the patriarch, arriving with the procession, stands inside the church of the Holy Apostles outside the railings of the sanctuary, and when the time co
of the imperial clergy and of the protopapas of the Daphne [church] of Saint Stephen and of the diaetarii of Saint Stephen and of the palace, all carr
of him, and having stood there, the officers of the kouboukleion stand on this side and that. And the spatharokoubikoularioi stand behind them. And th
at a nod from the praepositus, all the people say, Many years! And after all have fallen silent, the emperor begins to deliver his speech. It is to
being escorted by the aforementioned, and it is deposited in the palace of Daphne in the church of the holy protomartyr Stephen. And on the Monday of
of the kouboukleion, and they themselves praying toward the single door leading further in, and outside the single door stand the praepositi, they als
riding on horseback, go before the masters. The *maglabitai* and all the imperial men with *skaramangia* and swords, each goes before in his own rank.
the lords into the narthex, and putting on the gold-bordered cloaks, they light candles at the royal gates. And immediately they enter and pass throug
all the rulers of the church and presbyters and other priests. And the emperor comes out from the scaramangion, wearing also the gold-bordered sagion,
holding a staff, and brings in the foreigner, who is clearly held by the katepano of the imperial men, or by the count of the stable, or by the protos
from large purple skaramangia and from various imperial silver works, and there were hung in it 5 small chains and 5 silver polycandela from the New C
specia and golden torques but those who did not have specia wore skaramangia and rose-colored sagia. The chartoularioi and notarioi of the sekreta wo
and from there the sons of archons and the saponistai of the vestiarion and those of the trapeza, the sons of archons wearing their own skaramangia an
of the Great Martyr Demetrios and from those stored in the treasury. And on the wooden racks from the Pentapyrgion bound to the walls were fastened to
before the friends went out, through the [official] of the table they were given, in golden, jeweled bowls, to the two friends five hundred miliaresia
a faction of three men each. And in the White faction and in the Red faction were hung the pointed veils of the Golden Triclinium, the gryponagroi an
That on the 30th of the month of August, on a Sunday, upon the arrival of Delemikes the Emir of Edessa and apokrisiarios of Abochabdas, a reception wa
of maidservants, she entered through the Justinianos and the Lausiakos and the Tripeton into the Kainourgion, and rested then, the emperor having sat
of a peeping-curtain hanging in the middle of the canopy, in which place it is customary for the emperors to be seated on a throne, a reception being
and they perform the *saximon*, as the regulation provides. But if any of them are seated in the reception hall, rising up they complete the *saximon*
and to the patricians 144 miliaresia each, and one Saracen loros inner-garment each, or one of pure silk to the protospatharioi 120 miliaresia each a
these things are arranged. And immediately the psalmist comes forth and says a prokeimenon: What god is great as our God? You are the God who does wo
the taxeotai place the arms upon leather skins and goat-hair cloths so that they are not soiled, either by dust, or by mud. The demesmen of the two fa
the small cradle, and both the Augusta and the child are covered with gold-embroidered coverlets. Then, through the trapeza of the Augusta, the praepo
being seized by the sponsors are distributed. 622 But in the time of Basil, the emperor of blessed memory, the tonsuring of Leo, the Christ-loving mas
a *paragaudion* to the gates of the bema, that is, to the holy doors, and then the *praepositus* comes out, and leads in from the Pantheon, or from th
And the patrician Niketas and the patrician John and the patrician who was over Jesdes and the patrician Dometios and the magister Eustathios wore tog
When the emperor had ordered the fulfillment of the four petitions to take place, he entered into the triconch, and changed as was customary, and bein
being. And it is clear from the assurance of the emperor Heraclius, which he made to Sergius the patriarch, containing in these very words: The praep
15 silver-embroidered short-sleeved tunics of true purple. 29 colored short-sleeved tunics with points. 18 colored short-sleeved tunics of true purple
are of his sarcophagus. Another sarcophagus of Proconnesian stone, in which lies Irene, the wife of Constantine Caballinus. Another green Thessalian s
on the east, in the left part of the same oratory stands a sarcophagus in relief, in which lies Anastasia the daughter of Basil the Christ-loving mast
Total in all: 23 thousands and two. Through the theme of the Cibyrrhaeots. 15 dromons, having, each, 230 rowers and 70 warriors total 4 thousands and
he should accept. It should be known that the archon Chrepou in the theme of Hellas undertook to make 2,000 arrows and 3,000 javelins. Likewise also t
Atenulf, his brother, and Goimar and Goifer, his brother, and all the apostate Lombards from the theme of Lombardy, and that he hand over the forts to
each with 150 men and 6 ousiaka chelandia each with 108 men. And there were sent with the protospatharios John and asekretis to Africa 3 chelandia and
of Thrace, for both salaries and bonuses of the army, in place of the garments, 171 pounds and 29 of gold, 9 scaramangia. for the 4 tagmata of Macedon
and for the great crossbows, iron parts according to type. pitch, 10,000 litrai. liquid pitch, 3 round Magarika. cedar oil, 50 Magarika. flax, 8,000 l
muscles of bow-strings, 4,000. The things given from the sekreton of the vestiarium to the droungarios of the fleet in surplus for the expedition to C
of Rome? The greeting to the emperor of the ambassadors coming from Bulgaria. How is the God-crowned emperor, the spiritual grandfather of the ruler f
Mercy, gladness and glory from God to the high and great emperor of the Romans, a good life and health to you and a long life from the Lord, O peace-m
in God himself, emperors of the Romans, to so-and-so the most holy pope of Rome and our spiritual father. to the king of Saxony to the king of Bavar
offices, or not. But if from these one also wishes to be set up among the salaried imperials, he provides 4 pounds in addition to the price of the dig
are made destitute and given over to the *apelatai*, from whom also *Tzekones* are assigned to the forts. But the properties of such soldiers remain i
the hippodrome, and there he is venerated by the domestics and protectors as soon as he enters the gate, and being escorted in procession he comes out
being made known and at the same time being done, we shall set them down line by line in the order of a list. And we do this, not as overturning the w
These into six parts, namely, into generals, into domestics, into judges, into secretaries, into democrats, into private offices. 708 Volume I. Concer
to the chamberlains, 3 pounds, to the cubiculum with the praepositi alone, 3 pounds of gold, and her sticharion to the praepositus. To the one in char
of the Opsikion the strategos of the Boukellarioi the strategos of Cappadocia the strategos of Charsianon the strategos of Koloneia the strategos
centarchs, bandon-bearers, laburisioi, standard-bearers, duciniatores, mandators. And under the Drungarius of the Fleet are subordinated 7 kinds of of
2, to the primicerius 4. The fourth dignity is that of the ostiarii, whose insignia, a golden rod having a headpiece of precious stones, is bestowed b
them from the bearded maioumas for the games. The papias is also to receive wood weekly, one pitch, and the secundus one pitch. And all these things a
patrician and logothete of the herds the proconsul patrician and domestic of the Hikanatoi the proconsul patrician and domestic of the Noumeroi the
protospatharios and over the petitions the protospatharios and orphanotrophos the protospatharioi and kleisourarchs the protospatharios and demarch
chartoularios of the theme of the Anatolics the spatharios and chartoularios of the tagma of the Scholae the spatharios and actuarius the spathario
should some of the aforesaid hold ranks granted by award, let each of them be preferred in grade according to the rank of one of equal status. 739 But
as he goes up with them to the three-couched imperial banquet, and stations them around the venerable table so that those friends whom the emperor dee
of the Excubitors, and to lead them in at the summons according to the previously shown manner. And in the couches 746 of each of the parts, one must
the polytrikhon, and to prepare for a feast for friends, at the imperial table eight magistroi, anthypatoi, patrikioi, and strategoi, and two Bulgaria
a pre-feast illumination and the presentation of the mangers, to lead them all out according to the rule prescribed for all. On the tenth day, for the
of all the orphans, and to arrange him on the left, facing the position of the akoubita and to bring them both in on either side with the blessing of
and to lead them out with their own vestments, except for their cloaks, according to the dignity of rank belonging to each. On the Sunday of Meatfare.
the four domestics of the tagmata are brought in with the two demarchs and the chartoularios of the imperial sakelle, and with them also all the gerok
they hold, and offering the divine liturgy to God after the partaking of the holy mysteries, they openly receive the chief men of the senate for a sol
of ceremonial garments inside the palace, and a banquet is held in the Gold Triclinium according to the form of the first day. And we must prepare for
chartoularioi of the sacristy of Hagia Sophia, 773 receiving the same blessing. And on New Sunday, the after-feast of Pascha, a procession in bright r
according to the capacity of the table. On the 20th of the month of July, the commemoration of the prophet Elijah is celebrated by a processional lita
of a banquet in the lower triclinium which is at the sea palaces, and the emperor presides with the patriarch with his own divetesion. And it is neces
as we said, the order of the summoners. Therefore, having clearly set these forth for a reminder of the things accomplished among us, we bring a reque
From this same amount, to the *protovestiarios*... according to the quantity of pounds, 1 pound, to the one of the *katastasis* κʹ and to the *ostiar
of this tactical ordinance as from a canon, or, to be more truthful, as from the imperial decree, to act without dispute. We ought to have attached th
of Helenopontus, the one of Euchaïta 29, of the province of the Cyclades Islands, the one of Carpathus 30, of the province of Rhodope, the one of Ae
metropolis of Marcian, has under it cities, that is, 5 bishops, the one of Rhodostolos, the one of Tramariscae, the one of Novae, the one of Zekedespa
of Saint Mokios αʹ, the church of Saint Pancharios αʹ. And in total through gold κθʹ, and through miliaresia εʹ, mil. βʹ. And in total the sum
of Pharos εʹ, the subdeacons of Hagia Sophia 6 miliaresia, the deans of the patriarch 4 miliaresia, the dipotatai 3 miliaresia, those of the spoude 8
the hippodrome, and there he is venerated by the domestics and protectors as soon as he enters the gate, and being escorted in procession he comes out of the hippodrome, with the horses being led before him, and he mounts the vehicle. And each of the officials in order kisses his knees, and after all of them the praetorian prefect, as the one who ought to sit with him, and the emperor permits, if he wishes, the officials to mount their horses, and they mount. The prefect kisses the emperor's feet, and mounts the carriage from the left side, and stands, and when he permits him to sit, he again kisses his knees and sits. And the mule-driver stands, and when he is ordered, he also kisses his feet below, and sits. And in front the kouropalates and the decurion carry the golden rods. And on either side the counts of the scholai, whom he may order, walk alongside holding the knobs of the carriage. And when they arrive at the granaries, first the prefects dismount, and then the master. And as he enters the granaries, a 701 the count of the granaries meets him wearing a small white cloak, and with him the numerarius, and he gives him the account of the stored grain, and he goes around, and sees everything. And an architect must also follow the emperor, so that, if he should wish to be assured whether so much grain is truly stored, the architect may measure the places which the emperor indicates, and tell him the truth. And departing he gives to the count of the granaries a tetragonion of ten pounds, and an all-silk sticharion, and to the numerarius the same things. And having departed from there he mounts the vehicle, and again the prefects sit with him doing the same things, whether it seems good to him to return through the Decimus, or through the Balnearia. The counts and the tribunes listen outside the great triclinium: loxo, but the other officials enter. And the prefect of the city or the prefects are arranged there. And the patricians enter together, and everything happens according to custom, and missa of the silentium are given. 702 CHAPTER 52. PRECISE ACCOUNT OF THE ORDER OF THE IMPERIAL INVITATIONS, AND THE SUMMONS AND HONOR OF EACH OF THE DIGNITIES, COMPILED FROM ANCIENT KLETOROLOGIA IN THE REIGN OF LEO, OUR CHRIST-LOVING AND MOST WISE EMPEROR, IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, INDICTION 3, IN THE YEAR 6408 FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, BY PHILOTHEOS, IMPERIAL PROTOSPATHARIOS AND ATRIKLINES. Since you have urged us, O best of friends, to delve into the writings of the ancients, and from there to set forth precisely with a clear account the subject at hand, the order of dignities, come then, drawn by our affection for you, let us, as far as is possible, appropriately fulfill the desires of your love. For since many and great are the dignities left behind by the ancients, much and great and hard to grasp is the clarity about them. For the many titles of dignities obscured by time, and indeed also all the different dignities devised after them, introduce a certain confusion to their precise comprehension. And since you have requested 703 our ignorance to write a precise comprehension of these things, as much as we have been able to grasp dimly in our mind from what was formerly established and what is now practiced, we set forth manifestly for your friendship. For we wish you to know, O friends, that every science of the arts is established for some useful end of things in life. But the science of the atriklines shows its usefulness in nothing other than in distinguishing the different dignities with order, system, and precise arrangement. For every eminence of life or glorious worth of dignities is indicated to observers in nothing other than in the call to precedence at the splendid table and much-desired banquet of our most wise emperors. But if some dangerous confusion should arise in the imperial invitations from our inattention, it not only casts down the virtues of the imperial dignities, but also renders us ourselves ridiculous and useless for the ministry. Therefore, beloved, it is necessary for us, having been allotted such a ministry, with attentive study and science to describe the proper titles of the dignities in our own mind, and then thus to proclaim and set forth 704 their divisions and subdivisions and precise arrangements. But since we have willingly passed over the expositions of the ancients, not all of them, but as many as time has caused to be obscured, come then, those in the time of our emperors, Leo and Alexander,
ἱππόδρομον, καὶ ἐκεῖ προσκυνεῖται ὑπὸ τῶν δομεστίκων καὶ προτηκτόρων ἅμα εἰσέλθῃ τὴν θύραν, καὶ δηριγευόμενος ἐξέρχεται ἔξω
τοῦ ἱπποδρόμου, τῶν ἵππων ἑλκομένων ἐμπρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνέρχεται εἰς τὸ ὄχημα. καὶ ἕκαστος τῶν ἀρχόντων κατὰ τάξιν φιλεῖ τὰ
γόνατα αὐτοῦ, καὶ μετὰ πάντας ὁ ἔπαρχος τῶν πραιτωρίων, ὡς ὀφείλων συγκαθίσαι αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐπιτρέπει ὁ βασιλεὺς, εἰ βούλεται,
τοῖς ἄρχουσιν καθίσαι εἰς τοὺς ἵππους αὐτῶν, καὶ κάθηνται. ὁ δὲ ἔπαρχος φιλεῖ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἀνέρχεται εἰς τὴν
καρούχαν ἐκ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ μέρους, καὶ ἵσταται, καὶ ἐπὰν ἐπιτρέψῃ αὐτῷ καθίσαι, πάλιν φιλεῖ τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ καὶ κάθηται. καὶ
ὁ μουλίων ἵσταται, καὶ ἐπὰν κελευθῇ, καὶ αὐτὸς φιλεῖ κάτω τοὺς πόδας, καὶ κάθηται. ἔμπροσθεν δὲ βαστάζουσιν ὁ κουροπαλάτης
καὶ ὁ δηκουρίων τὰ χρυσᾶ ῥαβδία. ἑκατέρωθεν δὲ κόμητες σχολῶν, οὓς ἂν κελεύσει, παραβαδίζουσιν κρατοῦντες τὰ μῆλα τῆς καρούχας.
καὶ ἐπὰν φθάσουσιν εἰς τὰ ὀῤῥία, πρῶτον οἱ ἔπαρχοι κατέρχονται, καὶ τότε ὁ δεσπότης. ὡς δὲ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς τὰ ὀῤῥία, ἀ 701 παντᾷ
αὐτῷ φορῶν λευκὸν χλανίδιον ὁ κόμης τῶν ὀῤῥίων καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ ὁ νουμεράριος, καὶ ἐπιδίδωσιν αὐτῷ τὴν γνῶσιν τοῦ ἀποκειμένου
σίτου, καὶ περιέρχεται, καὶ ὁρᾷ πάντα. δεῖ δὲ παρακολουθεῖν τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ ἀρχιτέκτωνα, ἵνα, ἐὰν θελήσῃ πληροφορηθῆναι, εἰ
ταῖς ἀληθείαις τοσοῦτος σίτος ἀπόκειται, μετρήσῃ ὁ ἀρχιτέκτων τοὺς τόπους, οὓς ἂν συνίδῃ ὁ βασιλεὺς, καὶ εἴπῃ αὐτῷ τὸ ἀληθές.
καὶ ἐξερχόμενος δίδωσι τῷ κόμητι τῶν ὀῤῥίων τετραγόνιον λιτρῶν δέκα, καὶ ὁλοσήρικον στιχάριον, καὶ τῷ νουμεραρίῳ τὰ αὐτά.
καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ἐξελθὼν ἀνέρχεται εἰς τὸ ὄχημα, καὶ πάλιν οἱ ἔπαρχοι συγκάθηνται τὰ ὅμοια ποιοῦντες, εἴτε δὲ δόξῃ αὐτῷ διὰ τοῦ
δεκίμου ὑποστρέψαι, εἴτε διὰ τῆς βαλνιαρίας. οἱ μὲν κόμητες καὶ οἱ τριβοῦνοι ἔξω τοῦ μεγάλου τρικλίνου ἀκούουσιν: λοξο, οἱ
δὲ ἄλλοι ἄρχοντες εἰσέρχονται. καὶ ὁ ἔπαρχος τῆς πόλεως ἢ οἱ ἔπαρχοι συντάττονται ἐκεῖ. οἱ δὲ πατρίκιοι συνεισέρχονται, καὶ
πάντα κατὰ ἔθος γίνεται, καὶ δίδονται μίσσαι τοῦ σιλεντίου. 702 ΚΕΦ. νβʹ. ΑΚΡΙΒΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΤΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΩΝ ΚΛΗΤΩΡΙΩΝ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΕΩΣ,
ΚΑΙ ΕΚΑΣΤΟΥ ΤΩΝ ΑΞΙΩΜΑΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΣΚΛΗΣΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΙΜΗ, ΣΥΝΤΑΘΧΕΙΣΑ ΕΞ ΑΡΧΑΙΩΝ ΚΛΗΤΩΡΟΛΟΓΙΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΛΕΟΝΤΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΣΟΦΩΤΑΤΟΥ
ΗΜΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, ΜΗΝΙ ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΩι, ΙΝ∆ΙΚΤ. Γʹ, ΕΤΟΥΣ ΑΠΟ ΚΤΗΣΕΩΣ ΚΟΣΜΟΥ ϛΥΗʹ, ΥΠΟ ΦΙΛΟΘΕΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΟΥ ΠΡΩΤΟΣΠΑΘΑΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΑΤΡΙΚΛΙΝΟΥ.
Ἐπειδήπερ ἡμᾶς προετρέψασθε, ὦ φίλων ἄριστοι, εἰς τὰς τῶν ἀρχαίων ἐπικύμψαι συγγράμματα, κἀκεῖθεν τὸν προκείμενον νοῦν τῆς
τῶν ἀξιωμάτων τάξεως σαφῆ τῷ λόγῳ ἀκριβῶς παραστήσασθαι, φέρε δὴ τῷ περὶ ὑμᾶς ἑλκόμενοι πόθῳ, καθ' ὅσον ἐφικτὸν, τὰ ἐφετὰ
τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀγάπης σχετικῶς ἐκπληρώσωμεν. πολλῶν γὰρ ὄντων καὶ μεγάλων τῶν παρὰ τοῖς ἀρχαίοις καταλειφθέντων ἀξιωμάτων, πολλή
τε καὶ μεγάλη καὶ δύσληπτος ἡ περὶ αὐτῶν ὑπάρχει σαφήνεια. καὶ γὰρ αἱ πολλαὶ τῶν ἀξιωμάτων ἀμαυρωθεῖσαι τῷ χρόνῳ προσκλήσεις,
ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ μετ' ἐκείνας ἐφευρεθεῖσαι ἀξιωμάτων διαφοραὶ σύγχυσίν τινα παρεισάγουσιν τῆς ἀκριβοῦς αὐτῶν καταλήψεως.
καὶ ἐπειδὴ τὴν ἡμε 703 τέραν ἀμάθειαν τῆς ἀκριβοῦς τούτων καταλήψεως τὴν συγγραφὴν ἐξῃτήσασθε, ὅσον τῷ νῷ ἀμυδρῶς ἐκ τῶν πρώην
ἐγκειμένων καὶ νῦν πραττομένων περιλαβεῖν ἠδυνήθημεν, τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ φιλίᾳ περιφανῶς ἐκτιθέμεθα. εἰδέναι γὰρ ὑμᾶς βουλόμεθα, ὦ
φίλοι, ὅτι πᾶσα μὲν τεχνῶν ἐπιστήμη πρός τι εὔχρηστον τέλος τῶν ἐν τῷ βίῳ συνέστηκεν. ἡ δὲ τῶν ἀρτικλινῶν ἐπιστήμη ἐν οὐδενὶ
ἄλλῳ τὸ εὔχρηστον δείκνυσιν, ἀλλ' ἢ ἐν τῷ τάξει καὶ συστάσει καὶ ἀκριβεῖ διαθέσει τὰς τῶν ἀξιωμάτων διαφορὰς διαστέλλειν.
καὶ γὰρ πᾶσα περιφάνεια βίου ἢ ἔνδοξος ἀξιωμάτων ἀξία ἐν οὐδενὶ ἄλλῳ τοῖς ὁρῶσιν ἐνδείκνυται, ἀλλ' ἢ ἐν τῇ κλήσει τῆς προκαθεδρίας
τῆς ἐν τῇ λαμπρᾷ τραπέζῃ καὶ περιποθήτῳ συνεστιάσει τῶν σοφωτάτων ἡμῶν βασιλέων. εἰ δέ τις ἐκ τῆς ἡμῶν ἀπροσεξίας ἐπισφαλὴς
προσγένηται σύγχυσις τοῖς βασιλικοῖς κλητωρίοις, οὐ μόνον τὰς τῶν βασιλικῶν ἀξιωμάτων ἀρετὰς καταριπτεῖ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς
καταγελάστους καὶ ἀχρείους τῆς διακονίας παρίστησιν. διὸ οὖν, ἀγαπητοὶ, δεῖ ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ τοιαύτῃ λαχόντας διακονίας προσοχῇ
μελέτης καὶ ἐπιστήμης τὰς τῶν ἀξιωμάτων κυριοκλησίας ἐν τῷ οἰκείῳ νωῒ περιγράφειν, καὶ εἶθ' οὕτως τὰς αὐτῶν διαιρέσεις καὶ
ὑποδιαιρέσεις καὶ ἀκριβεῖς συστάσεις ἐκφωνεῖν καὶ ἐκτί 704 θεσθαι. ἀλλ' ἐπείπερ τὰς τῶν ἀρχαίων ἐκθέσεις οὐχὶ πάσας, ἀλλ'
ὅσας ὁ χρόνος ἀμαυρωθῆναι ἐποίησεν, ἑκόντι παρεδράμομεν, φέρε δὴ τὰς ἐπὶ τῶν βασιλέων ἡμῶν, Λέοντος καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου,
