Chronographia
The lord chamberlain was like an athlete and a combatant, while the emperor basil was the spectator, not so that he might crown the other, but so that
Accustomed to ambushes and pitched battles, but more effective and valiant than him in hand-to-hand actions for indeed he who received a blow from hi
Having driven them from the camp, they killed them all utterly and breaking camp, as if from the same impulse of the soul, they turned themselves to
Of equal measure as if by a ruler in size, armed with a sword in the right hand and being irresistible in their charge, having set these men with him
1.20 from this point, for basil the change was not an end of evils, but a beginning and a starting-point for immediately the emperor, having reviewed
They became fugitives from that man and again departed, having arranged themselves on their own and, as if a broken-off part, allotted to a rank equal
He bared his feet of the purple-dyed sandal, but as if reserving for himself a part of the tyranny he approached the emperor basil, however, seeing h
He would suggest, and his speech held nothing terrible, nor anything elaborate. 1.31 bringing the kingdom down, therefore, from an arrogant and enviou
He considered the unbroken formation, and by this alone he thought the roman phalanxes were invincible. but when the soldiers were burdened by the toi
To have become emperors for from his birth until the twentieth year of his age he reigned as co-emperor in a subordinate position with his father and
From an early age, having done away with the company of tutors, he acquired bedfellows and chamberlains for himself and these were neither of noble n
Becoming benumbed, they indicated the multitude of both their thoughts and their words with certain signs. 2.7 and being large in body, so as to stand
Man) is received into the palace for a marriage alliance with the emperor and the most beautiful of constantine's daughters is both seen by him and l
Was, but a most true understanding, would have been of great benefit <ἂν> to the whole. whence he accomplished nothing more than the attempts, but rat
He might make, or rather if he should multiply the roman army, he would become unbearable to anyone, advancing with so great a multitude both of his o
The emperor. 3.10 so some ran in disorder, while the enemy became mere spectators of the unexpected victory, astounded as if at those who had been tur
The rivers of money were diverted. that this is so, the account will show more clearly. 3.13 this emperor was eager to seem pious and he was indeed t
Unformed, by which another temple is built up within us, well-pleasing and acceptable to the lord? but that man knew how to philosophize in his inquir
Brilliant and truly rosy-cheeked. the brother, since it seemed good to him, brought this man to be seen by the emperor, who was sitting with the empre
And some things he saw with his own eyes, and others he had heard, but he, as if willingly, both closed his eyes again and stopped up the passages of
And sleep, settling on the tips of his eyes, quickly flew away, and all difficult things had befallen him: harshness of character, a disagreeable disp
Having received [the confirmation] of his death through sight. but he, groaning something heavy and deep, looked about here and there, being unable to
They all went away to honour the departed emperor as was fitting and one of those preceding the bier was the new emperor's brother, john the eunuch,
He discerned the manifold nature of providence, and how great a share of the circumstances the cares of state collect for a true king, he was altogeth
Terrifying, he caused distress even by his appearance for most people, shuddering at his appearance, refrained from evil deeds. and so he was truly a
He was unwilling to make them accountable for what they had done, but covering up their unjust deeds, he courted even more freedom for their opinions,
But his mind was restored to him, free. but whenever he went forth on foot or on horseback, a guard was present around him, and turning about, they sa
Let it be left alone for now». but he, seizing upon the remark: 'do not suppose,' he says, 'o emperor, that you have escaped the ears of the multitud
The emperor, i know not whether he immediately repented of what had been done, or was otherwise disposed towards his nephew, neither paid attention to
Secretly forming images, and as if pre-engraving what he had decided to do later, he ran down his whole family, and planned to destroy all those who h
He was planning to be delivered from the pollutions that had been attached to his soul. 4.33 so some of those who are not very well-disposed towards h
At once having changed their habit and way of life, and having been enlisted for god, a band of youths into a register of virtues. 4.37 and he did not
Testifying for himself from his own loins, but having either fashioned or revealed something like a sprout from that root, he cleverly persuades them,
Strengthening, he both mounted the horse and held his seat firmly and skillfully managed it with the bridle, then he followed, joining the sections, a
They are reconciled to each other, and from then on they lived together, and conversed with one another, except that each suspected the other. 4.49 bu
Fleece of christ, and taking the covering from his head, they place upon it the helmet of salvation then indeed, having armed his chest and back with
Of a brother of superior intelligence, that they should think anything noble either about the empire or about the state of public affairs, whence they
He varied, now not waiting for his opinion in imperial affairs, and now doing and saying something else which he knew that man would not tolerate. 5.7
The matter fanned him into hatred and anger. from this a hatred for the whole family smoldered in him but he did not immediately attempt to destroy t
Would supplicate and entreat him, and transfer him more quickly to the imperial courts. and as he withdrew, his own bodyguard followed, and a great mu
Ministered. 5.16 but his plans were thus being brought to completion, and he was winning over the chosen populace of the city and all those who belong
Ours but let this, as it has more objections from either side, be moved to another inquiry. 5.20 the emperor at that time, then, concealing the natur
He personifies the action and introduces a scene, and reveals to the senate, supposedly, the things being planned against him by her, and how he had s
Were seen outside the women's quarters, coming forth in public and shouting and beating their breasts and terribly lamenting over the suffering of the
But now the rebellion became manifest, and the people gathered in companies, and the encampment had become formidable, then indeed he was terribly agi
She did not share power, but she was exceptionally honored, and she partook of the splendor in the palace next after her sister but since kinship is
To the city, immediately every soul which until this point had been fearful and trembling is lifted up and some were offering thanks-offerings to god
5.43 the nobelissimos, then, answered me with such words but the one who had been tyrant, gently shaking his head and with difficulty releasing a tea
They lead them out but they had not yet gone far on the road when those who had been ordered to put out their eyes met them. and having made the sent
Invites him and makes him a partner in the state. and she did so but theodora does not entirely put aside her respect for her sister, nor does she ta
And her hand was most sharply prepared for both equally, i mean for death and for life, and in this respect she resembled the waves of the sea that bo
6.9 to many, therefore, it seems that only now for the first time have the nations around us poured over the roman frontiers, bursting in all at once
Romanus, then, not being very jealous, turned a deaf ear to such a rumor. but michael removed him from the palace and, under the pretext of a more ven
Michael, who indeed after romanos had ascended to power for this reason, even when he became emperor, he did not abandon his jealousy against that ma
Having passed over for reasons i shall state the things done by some, or changing it otherwise, not making a history, but fabricating events as if on
Unconquerable, but the character of each is from the majority, how i should be ashamed to say if anything has not also been done by him justly and fit
Having transferred proud offices this, then, at that time brought forth ceremonies and festivals, and the entire city was in a state of excitement, a
To shape the tongue for seemliness with words, and to purify the mind with philosophy, not having long mastered rhetorical speeches, so as to be able
It only bubbles with the great stream of words, and concerns itself with the composition of the parts of speech, and has put forth certain discourses
Are brought to light together, but for others, not only have other things miscarried, but even the matters of their speech are not well-organized. 6.4
Had preceded, he would have immediately offended them, had it not seemed good even so to his wife, whether because she concealed her jealousy, or beca
6.55 so he would pretend each time that something or other was being built, and would often go away during the month, on the pretext of inspecting som
And as she narrated, indescribable graces surrounded her. at any rate, she captivated me by often asking again and again about greek myths, and she he
Was kindled for her, and of the attendants, one would divide the quantities of spices, another would mix them together, and another did something else
To come, but nevertheless he revelled in his thoughts but this cut off his reflections and her hopes, and a sudden disease took hold, opposed to ever
I now forbear to detail the action, but i have chosen to walk a middle road between those who have written of the antiquities of elder rome's leadersh
And struck from the side. 6.78 but since we had been despoiled of italy and had been deprived of the most august part of the empire, the second michae
6.83 such, then, were the circumstances concerning him but the emperor, when he had learned both of the murder of the ambassador and of the usurper's
Delivered from the wave and having taken a short breath, he sends up voices of thanksgiving to god, and fixes the head high up on the great theatre, s
And he, having survived in his reign for a short time, passed away, and the rule fell to a certain obscure michael, against him they indeed armed thei
From below they tried to bore through but those above were throwing stones and swords and when fire was also hurled upon them, and their eyes were a
That was unshaken, not supported by natural foundations, but by firmness of calculation and better judgment. but this part i have not yet indeed perce
Had contrived exile for him. 6.101 but even when the man had gone abroad, rumor followed him again or rather, most people, having taken this as a pre
To punish for these reasons, before they were caught, they made it their business to anticipate him. 6.104 gathering, therefore, suddenly and unexpec
6.107 this was the state of affairs, and the tyrant, having sped like the wind with his entire army, encamped somewhere before the city, and what was
Insulting and dancing over them. and when he saw some of these things and heard others, and i was standing near him, treating some of the things said
As many as happened to be standing by the emperor for they thought the tyrant would enter immediately and everyone would be destroyed. 6.114 and if a
Were thrown off from their aim within but then those who were pulling back the engine more vigorously, having swung back the sling, hurl one of the l
Placing his trust in the oaths, was not proved false. so, some of them had fled into one of the holy sanctuaries, and drawing their swords they threat
He showed a sun-like and fiery head, but as much as was on his chest and belly down to his feet and the opposite parts, it showed full of whatever mea
6.130 but i, even while writing of this man, am utterly astonished how at that time he endured, though assailed by such great pains for paralysis upo
Was corrupted, and anyone who wishes is made a citizen. indeed, one might find among us more wearers of goatskin who have changed their dress at any
As far as he had advanced, and how the emperor, having been unfortunate, was again fortunate against expectations. the emperor had a spirit cheerful f
Being announced by his finding.” so he went away at once to enjoy the agreed upon pleasures and when his banquets came to an end, he came in the even
For no small portion of flatterers was maintained by him, and one of the leaders with him, having made him entirely his own, happened to be the first
A symposium on these occasions more splendid than usual, and the emperor himself was host and master of the feast, but the chief among the guests was
All of our honorable things and those by which the roman empire was formerly envied. 6.154 and i, both then, was lamenting, seeing everything so consu
Her eyes poured forth with speech. 6.158 and having become the most ambitious of all women, and for this reason corrupting everything along with it, b
To hang from the tongue? 6.162 but i know not how i shall both preserve the truth of the history, and apportion to him the fitting reverence and yet
I will make clear that which lies in the midst of our discussion and is doubtful to both those who praise and those who blame i lift out from the oth
Flew down, some angel or a more divine soul, watching over the good governance of men and visiting the cities. -“but i am he for you,” the emperor had
Stealing the truth. 6.177 i, at any rate, hold to the true story and place these things far from the circle of his good qualities, just as, indeed, th
Makes him an initiator and an initiated, which the discourse as it proceeds will speak of more completely. 6.182 these things, therefore, being disput
Flowing from a center with an abundant stream, it ran over the whole surface without interval and houses around with colonnades on all sides and on b
They might increase, since they are not able to remain still, by the continuity of their movements they slide downhill, this indeed he himself did not
But he was stricken in his soul because he was about to be deprived immediately of such a man. 6.196 at any rate, the event immediately allowed me nei
And having snatched beforehand the better life. but when he had despaired of gentle persuasion, abandoning the fox’s skin he put on the lion’s, and ra
To oppose himself, changing with and revolving with that one, but he is composed truly, not rhetorically, being assimilated to and sympathizing, as it
She entrusted this office, knowing that he would very quickly be overthrown, being set forth as an occasion of envy for his messmates but seeking the
Incorruptible by money but if someone dining with him showed a cheerful face and “stretched forth his hands to the good cheer lying ready,” as the po
If she wanted a secret matter or to do something else of the hidden things, she would share with me the plan and the counsel. 6 τηεοδ.14 and so when i
Ferrying across, but those imitating them in appearance, but acting hypocritically in their opinions i mean the nazirites among us, who, being refash
They take hold of the scepters, and to these they first give both voice and sight who, as soon as they leap upon them and utter buffoonish cries, and
They withdrew. but being men of the east and truly neighbors, they were separated from each other by short distances. for these reasons, after waiting
With nothing new having happened, they neither planned against what had been dared, nor did they move the remaining divisions against their formations
A shout and an attack, but immediately gave way and was scattered, fearing that the victors might turn against them, and strengthening the fugitives t
I submit. -and what is this, he says, that you hold in reverence yourself and yet do not fully trust the embassy? -the man to whom you order me to cro
Us, he dismissed us to the tents, which had been pitched in order very near his own. so as we departed, we marveled at the man, that he did not at onc
Fearsome both in their looks and in their bearing, both groups with grey-blue eyes, but some adulterating the color, and emptying the edges of their e
I praised the reasonable course of advancing to imperial rule, and that such is the order: action, then indeed contemplation, and the practical man fi
You have, instead of these good tidings i shall be torn to pieces by your hands, are you not confirming the tyranny and becoming your own accusers? bu
After many days have passed, i will make this man a partner in the imperial power, having made necessary pretexts for his elevation to this but if i
And shouting aloud, they cursed the emperor and uttered every ill-omened word against him, but they acclaimed isaac as the only one most worthy of the
To their supporters. and so they stand towards one another, the luminary returns, and immediately everything was made manifest. 7.40 at any rate the w
Comnenus, a man vigorous in all things, immediately takes charge of the whole and begins the business of the empire from the very starting line for h
He was known by his words. 7.48 for indeed he was, if anyone else, most concise in speech, neither letting his tongue run on at length, nor inadequate
To remove the superfluities, but to introduce equalities, and to tear down some things, but build up others, to heal the inner parts, and to breathe i
Having brought it into its entrails, he took away what was natural, and deprived it of a civilized and political life, and almost drove it mad and mad
Building up, but the other, so that those who were by nature idle and useless for the order of the state might live in luxury and dishonor the reality
He ran through the whole world, and was crowned with every victory, and none of the emperors of old would have challenged him but his lack of restrai
Daring, and resisting all winds, some of them sank, snatched by the waves, while others were driven more violently away but for him the mixture of hi
Having slightly warmed the cut limbs of the horse, they devour them with the gore, and thus having refreshed themselves, they rush to the nearest huts
For the crane fell, dancing its death-dance, and now showing its front, now its back. 7.73 the emperor, then, delighting in both kinds of hunting, so
To lay a hand on the wrist, the first of the physicians, and there is no need to say his name: but do not even diagnose the artery, he says for th
Then indeed do you not pity us for our desolation? and what sort of soul do you have, that you withdraw yourself from the palace, but leave to me a mo
Saying and preserving what was fitting for him for this man feared not those who hated him, but those who were attached to him, and he blocked every
I might boast so much, but the emperor himself would know, how as a counterweight i was a counterweight, and i was assisting matters as they were carr
7 xonst.5 thus then having sketched him in outline, i shall at once write more broadly and articulate, just as indeed i promised to do for this wonder
As the account has detailed the whole matter in the histories concerning comnenus. 7 xonst.8 the entire multitude, then, had assented to and inclined
Around midnight he rouses himself a little, and realizing in what circumstances he <is>, and despairing of everything, and having seen the reigning em
This brought down the empire of the romans and changed matters for the worse, and yet i myself often tried to remove this malady from this emperor bu
Having gathered them, he sent them against those men, and god works a wonder, not less than the mosaic prodigies for as if seeing a stronger phalanx,
When they conspired against him, that he should not deprive these men of honour and money, but should treat them as purchased slaves instead of free m
She kept her judgment in all respects and i would make this defense for her, that even if she had changed at all, she was not overcome by pleasures n
The mother was sitting by the child's bed arise, she said, my most beautiful of sons and emperor, and receive your stepfather, not as a ruler in p
Guessing reasonably. 7 ευδ,ρομ.13 he had set out, at any rate, against the barbarians with his whole army, knowing neither where he was going nor what
These, as spring was dawning, were plundering the land of the romans and overrunning it in great numbers he therefore went out again, bringing with h
Some wanted the mother to be completely inactive, while others assigned the whole of the rule once again to her. but neither of these pleased me, for
7 eud,rom.29 so they indeed were thus but we with the empress, among whom i also happened to be, being ignorant of the affair, had become all but pet
When he was emperor, confessing thanks to him for his misfortune, bringing many soldiers he approaches this man, and urging him to be of good courage
He was seen with goodwill the second time, as much as the first time with hostility and he stood with andronikos, partly encouraging him, and partly
Was cast down and lamented but not even when the capture of diogenes was announced to the emperor, did he show any leap of joy, or display any other
A change of ideas, innovation, the poetic construction of his speech, and before all these things his love for philosophy, the height of his spiritual
7 μιξη.8 these things, then, are common for him towards all, but his feelings toward the author have no rivalry or comparison with others for he has
7 mixe.13 so they say that heracles saw ajax, son of telamon, while he was still being nursed and wrapped him in the lionskin, but i have often embrac
Becomes for us a source of much reverence, but being moderate everywhere and mixing seriousness with play, in this alone he is not to be restrained, n
And the creators of the whispered rumors, the wicked men who sow tares and who, out of sheer malice, fabricate things that are not, whose irrational o
all of our honorable things and those by which the Roman empire was formerly envied. 6.154 And I, both then, was lamenting, seeing everything so consumed by vanity, and now, being no less pained (for I am, if anyone else is, a lover of Rome and a lover of my country), am still ashamed for my master and emperor. For two or three times a year, her ancestral servants used to come from Alania to this august maiden, to whom the emperor, showing her in public, proclaimed and named her as his consort and empress; and some things he himself gave to them, and other things he urged them to give to his beautiful wife. 6.155 Therefore, that hypocritical man, about whom I briefly paused in speaking, had previously loved her, and succeeded, and because of this had plotted, and not succeeded, and when he had returned from exile, again loved her more intensely. But I, understanding this exactly, thought the emperor was ignorant of it, or rather I was in doubt, but he put a stop to my wandering reasoning. I once accompanied the emperor as he was being escorted to her, and the lover had become part of the retinue; and she at that time happened to be standing in the sanctuary by some railings. And before she embraced the emperor, some thought stopped her, and while he was occupied with this, the lover cast his eyes upon his beloved and, seeing her, smiled gently, and again made some other amorous gesture; and since his face went through many a wandering expression, the emperor, gently nudging my side with his hand, said: "Do you see that utterly wicked man? For he is still in love, and nothing of what has happened before has restrained him." So I, upon hearing this, was immediately filled with blushing, but of the two, one went forward, while the other grew more shameless and looked on more boldly. But everything turned out most imperfectly; for the emperor had died, as the story will later tell, and of them, the augusta has again been counted as a portion for hostage-taking, while the torch of love inflames the other even to the point of apparitions. 6.156 Just as I am accustomed somewhere in this writing, having omitted many things in the midst of this subject, I will go back to that one; and first, having given the account concerning the empress Zoe and having concluded it with her death, I will again take up another subject. For how she was in her youth I do not yet clearly know, except insofar as I have learned by hearsay, I have entrusted this somewhere earlier in the account. 6.157t Concerning the natural characteristics of the empress Zoe. Now, when she grew old, she did not have a very sound mind; I do not speak of her as being mad or out of her senses, but as being completely ignorant of affairs, and utterly corrupted by imperial vulgarity; and if she was ever adorned with any spiritual advantage, her judgment did not preserve even this pure for her, but by displaying that she possessed more than was necessary, she revealed this not as ambition but as vulgarity; But let her reverence for the divine be excepted from this, for here I have no more to blame, and this good quality in her happened to be unsurpassed, for she depended wholly on the divine and drew and believed all things from there; Thus, then, she also received her due praise somewhere earlier in the account; but the rest of her life was in some ways soft and dissolute, and in others excessively harsh and severe, both without any reason, and in a short space of time her characteristics would change to the opposite; If, for example, someone upon seeing her suddenly pretended to fall as if struck by lightning (for this was a game many played on her), he was immediately presented with golden necklaces; but if he used too many words of thanks, he was again bound in iron chains; and since she had known her father to be rather unsparing in the matter of putting out eyes, no sooner had anyone committed the slightest offense than he was led away to such a torture, and if the emperor had not forbidden the deed, many for no reason
ὅλαι τῶν παρ' ἡμῖν τιμίων καὶ οἷς πάλαι τὸ τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἐζηλοῦτο βασίλειον. 6.154 Ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ τότε μὲν ἐθρήνουν ὁρῶν τὰ πάντα
οὕτω διατυφόμενα, καὶ νῦν οὐδὲν ἔλαττον ἀλγυνόμενος (εἰμὶ γὰρ εἴπερ τις ἄλλος φιλορώμαιος καὶ φιλόπατρις), ἔτι ἐπὶ τῷ ἐμῷ
δεσπότῃ καὶ βασιλεῖ ἐπαισχύνομαι. Τοῦ γὰρ ἔτους δίς που καὶ τρὶς ἐξ Ἀλανίας πρὸς τὴν σεβαστὴν ταυτηνὶ μείρακα πατρῷοι ἐφοίτων
θεράποντες, οἷς ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ ταύτην ἐπὶ θεάτρου δεικνὺς ὁμευνέτιν τε καὶ βασιλίδα ἐκήρυττε καὶ ὠνόμαζε· καὶ τὰ μὲν αὐτὸς ἐκείνοις
ἐδίδου, τὰ δὲ τῇ καλῇ γαμετῇ διδόναι παρεκελεύετο. 6.155 Ταύτης τοιγαροῦν ὁ ὑποκριτὴς ἐκεῖνος ἀνὴρ, περὶ οὗ δὴ λέγων βραχύ
τι ἐπεπαύμην, καὶ πρότερον ἤρα, καὶ τυχὼν, καὶ διὰ ταῦτα ἐπιβεβουλευκὼς, καὶ μὴ τυχὼν, ἐπειδὴ τῆς ὑπερορίας ἐπανεληλύθει,
αὖθις ἤρα σφοδρότε ρον. Ἐγὼ δὲ τοῦτο δὴ ἀκριβῶς συνιεὶς ᾤμην ἠγνοηκέναι τὸν αὐτοκράτορα, μᾶλλον δὲ ἀμφίβολος ἦν, ἔστησε δέ
μοι τὸν λογισμὸν ἐκεῖνος πλανώμενον· συνειπόμην δὴ ἅπαξ κομιζομένῳ ἐπ' ἐκείνην τῷ αὐτοκράτορι, μέρος δὲ τῶν ἀκολουθούντων
καὶ ὁ ἐραστὴς ἐγεγόνει· ἡ δὲ τηνικαῦτα ἐτύγχανεν ἐν τοῖς ἀδύτοις παρά τισιν ἑστῶσα κιγκλίσιν. Οὔπω δὲ τὸν βασιλέα κατασπασάμενον,
ἔστησέ τις φροντὶς, καὶ ὁ μὲν ἐπὶ ταύτης ἦν, ὁ δέ γε ἐραστὴς ἐπὶ τὴν ἐρωμένην ἐρρίπτει τὰ ὄμματα καὶ ἰδὼν ἠρέμα προσεμειδίασε,
καὶ αὖθις ἄλλο τι ἐπεποιήκει ἐρωτικόν· ἐπεὶ δὲ πολλὴν πλάνην αὐτῷ ἐπεπορεύθη τὸ πρόσωπον, ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ ἠρέμα μοι τῇ χειρὶ
νύξας τὴν πλευράν· «Ὁρᾷς, ἔφη, παμπόνηρον ἄνθρωπον, ἐρᾷ γὰρ ἔτι, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτὸν τῶν προλαβόντων ἀνέστειλεν.» Ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν
ἀκούσας ἐρυθήματος εὐθὺς ἐπληρώθην, τῶν δὲ ὁ μὲν προῄει, ὁ δὲ ἠναισχύντει μᾶλλον καὶ ἑώρα θαρραλεώτερον. Ἀλλ' ἀτελέστατα ἐγεγόνει
πάντα· ὅ τε γὰρ αὐτοκράτωρ ἐτεθνήκει, ὡς ὕστερον ὁ λόγος ἐρεῖ, ἐκείνων δὲ ἡ μὲν σεβαστὴ εἰς ὁμηρείας αὖθις μερίδα λελόγισται,
τὸν δὲ μέχρι φαντασμάτων ὁ τοῦ ἔρωτος ἀνά πτει πυρσός. 6.156 Ὥσπερ δέ που ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ γραφῇ εἴωθα πολλὰ τῶν ἐν μέσῳ τῆς ὑποθέσεως
τῆσδε παραλελοιπὼς, αὖθις εἰς ἐκεῖνον ἄνειμι· καὶ πρῶτόν γε τὸν περὶ τῆς βασιλίδος Ζωῆς ἀποδοὺς λόγον καὶ τῷ ἐκείνης θανάτῳ
τοῦτον συμπερατώ σας, αὖθις ἑτέρας ἕξομαι ὑποθέσεως. Ἐκείνη γὰρ ὅπως εἶχεν ἐφ' ἥβης οὔπω σαφῶς οἶδα, εἰ μὴ ὅσον ἀκοῇ μεμαθη
κὼς, ἄνω που τοῦ λόγου ταύτην ἐπίστευσα. 6.157τ Περὶ τῶν φυσικῶν ἰδιωμάτων τῆς βασιλίδος Ζωῆς. Ὡς δ' οὖν γηράσασα ἦν οὐ πάνυ
τι εἶχε τοῦ φρονήματος ἐρρωμένως· λέγω δὲ οὐχ ὡς περὶ παραφόρου ταύτης ἢ ἐξεστηκυίας, ἀλλ' ὡς καὶ πραγμάτων μὲν παντά πασιν
ἀδαοῦς, ὑπὸ βασιλικῆς δὲ ἀπειροκαλίας διεφθαρμένης παντάπασιν· εἰ δέ που καὶ ψυχικῷ προτερήματι ἐκεκόσμητο, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ τοῦτο
διέσωσεν αὐτῇ καθαρὸν ἡ γνώμη, ἀλλὰ πλέον ἢ δεῖ ἔχειν ἐπιδεικνυμένη, οὐ φιλότιμον ἀλλ' ἀπειρόκαλον τοῦτο ὑπέφαινεν· ὑπεξῃρήσθω
δὲ ταύτης τὸ περὶ τὸ θεῖον σέβας, οὐδὲ γὰρ ἔχω ἐνταῦθα τὸ πλέον ἐπαιτιᾶσθαι, ἀνυπέρ βλητον δὲ αὐτῇ τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῦτο ἐτύγχανεν
ὂν, ἐξεκρέματο γὰρ ὅλη τοῦ θείου καὶ πάντα ἐκεῖθεν εἷλκέ τε καὶ ἐνόμιζεν· οὕτω μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄνωθί που τοῦ λόγου τῆς προσηκούσης
ἔτυχεν εὐφημίας· ὁ δέ γε λοιπὸς αὐτῇ βίος πῆ μὲν ἁπαλός τε καὶ ἔκλυτος, πῆ δὲ σκληρὸς ἄγαν καὶ σύντονος, ἄμφω σὺν οὐδενὶ λόγῳ
καὶ παρὰ βραχύ τι τοῦ χρόνου ἐπὶ ταὐτοῦ τὰ ἰδιώματα διηλλάττετο· εἰ γοῦν τις αὐτὴν ἀθρόον ἰδὼν ὑπε κρίθη τὸ πεσεῖν ἐξ ἀστραπῆς
ὥσπερ πληγεὶς (τοῦτο γὰρ πολλοῖς ἐπαίζετο κατ' αὐτῆς), χρυσοῖς εὐθὺς ἐδεδώρητο ἀποδέσμοις· εἰ δὲ πλείοσι λόγοις εὐχαριστίας
ἐχρήσατο, σιδηροῖς αὖθις κατεδεῖτο δεσμοῖς· καὶ ἐπειδὴ τὸν πατέρα αὐτῆς ἐγνώκει ἀφειδέστερον περὶ τὴν τῶν ὀμμάτων ἀφαί ρεσιν,
οὐκ ἔφθη τις τὸ βραχύτατον πλημμελήσας καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν τοιαύτην ἀπήγετο βάσανον, καὶ εἰ μὴ ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ οὐ ξυνεχώρει τὸ ἔργον,
πολλοῖς ἂν ἐπ' οὐδενὶ
