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to persuade him to pay attention to him and to consider him among his closest friends. But we, seeing such things especially in the beginning, and thinking that he desired glory and praise, by which those who seem fortunate are especially carried away, and was occupied with such things, did not consider what was being done as a terrible thing; but as time went on, and we saw his zeal in such matters becoming greater than was fitting, it occurred to us to suspect that he was not pursuing these things for the sake of good reputation, but for some other, more secret purpose, and we paid more careful attention to what was happening. But when it was reported to us as we investigated such matters, that the friendships of those who associated with him were not formed simply and without ulterior motive, but by giving strong pledges with oaths and receiving them from him, then we were already in greater suspicion that he was plotting some great evil, and we investigated precisely under what terms the oaths were made. And it was reported by those who were aware of these things, that first the oaths were made for them to be friends to Syrgiannes and he to them, and for both sides to do in every way what was advantageous to each other; then if it should happen that the emperor died in some way, not for each to do on his own whatever he thought advantageous, but after deliberating together, to do what seemed 1.440 profitable to Syrgiannes. And that these things are true, I shall provide witnesses of what is said. You, therefore, O emperor, would know what ought to be declared concerning these matters; but to me it seemed most outrageous for someone who is subject to an emperor and confesses he owes him servitude to undertake such things. And I learned also from my chief advisors that such things, when dared by subjects, would above all accuse them of rebellion and faithlessness. Therefore, I could not bear it in silence, but have made these accusations against him before you, believing that to be aware of evil deeds and not expose them in a formal accusation is no less than to cooperate in them.” While Tzamplakon was recounting such things, Syrgiannes insisted that he was being wronged and slandered, and that Tzamplakon was lying about him, having fabricated slanders out of an old enmity toward him, because when his sons had rebelled against the emperor, he, having been sent out as general against them, had both subdued them and brought them as prisoners to the emperor. But Tzamplakon said that he cared little or not at all for his sons, as they would neither benefit him in any way, should they be better, nor bring any shame upon him, should they prove to be wicked; for it would be the emperor's concern how he would dispose of their affairs, since they were subjects. But as for having accused him out of enmity, he would not deny it. For he could not help but be hostile to one who had become wicked with respect to the emperor. And he begged the emperor not to allow any of them to return home, but to stay with him, 1.441 until, having sent for those who would testify to what had been said, he might refute him plainly, showing that nothing he had accused him of was a fabrication and a slander, but the very things done by him. The emperor both approved Tzamplakon's request as just and ordered him to act so. And when Syrgiannes also requested to summon some who would declare that he was being wronged and slandered, he permitted him also to do everything that might be for the proof of the truth. Therefore, they immediately sent men to bring those who would testify with them at the trial; but they themselves, being with the emperor, prepared as for a trial. 23. When that day had passed, and when it was about midnight, Syrgiannes went to the house of the great domestic and begged him not to overlook one who, because of slander, was expecting to suffer the most terrible extremities, but to extend a saving hand and not, because he had given offense, to be unsparing of one in danger, but to take some thought for him. For he confessed that he had given offense to him, having been persuaded by base and corrupt men who were for the most part liars, and for this reason he both accused himself of great folly and permitted him to take whatever satisfaction he wished from him. But with respect to the emperor, he was conscious of no wrong having been done, but that the slander was unmixed. For which reason indeed he begged him to forgive him for the matter concerning him

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αὑτῷ πεῖσαι προσέχειν καὶ ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα τῶν φίλων ἄγειν. ἡμεῖς δὲ τὰ τοιαῦτα ὁρῶντες μάλιστα ἐν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς, οἰόμενοι αὐτὸν δόξης ἐπιθυμοῦντα καὶ ἐπαίνων, εἰς ἃ μάλιστα ἐπτόηνται οἱ δοκοῦντες εὐτυχεῖν, τοῖς τοιούτοις ἠσχολῆσθαι, ἐποιούμεθα τὰ πραττόμενα οὐκ ἐν δεινῷ· ὡς δὲ τοῦ χρόνου τριβομένου, τὴν ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις σπουδὴν μείζω τοῦ προσήκοντος γινομένην ἑωρῶμεν, ὑποπτεύειν ἐπῄει, μὴ οὐχὶ εὐδοξίας ἕνεκα τὰ τοιαῦτα αὐτὸν ἐπιτηδεύειν, ἀλλά τινος ἑτέρου χάριν ἀποῤῥητοτέρου, καὶ περιεργότερον προσείχομεν τοῖς γινομένοις. ὡς δὲ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐρευνῶσιν ἐμηνύετο, ὡς οὐδὲ ἁπλῶς καὶ ἀπεριέργως αἱ φιλίαι γίνωνται τῶν συνισταμένων πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἀλλ' ὅρκοις διδόντων πίστεις ἰσχυρὰς καὶ λαμβανόντων παρ' αὐτοῦ, τότ' ἤδη ἐν πλείονι ἦμεν ὑποψίᾳ τοῦ μεγάλα τινὰ κακουργεῖν αὐτὸν, καὶ τοὺς ὅρκους ἐφ' ὁποίοις γίνονται ἀκριβῶς διηρευνῶμεν. ἐμηνύετο δ' ὑπ' αὐτῶν τῶν τὰ τοιαῦτα συνειδότων, ὡς πρῶτον μὲν γίνοιντο οἱ ὅρκοι ἐπὶ τῷ αὐτοὺς φίλους εἶναι Συργιάννῃ καὶ αὐτὸν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὰ συνοίσοντα ἀλλήλοις ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου πράττειν ἑκατέρους· ἔπειτα ἂν συμβῇ βασιλέα τρόπῳ δή τινι τελευτῆσαι, μὴ ἕκαστον ἐφ' ἑαυτοῦ ὅ,τι ἂν δοκῇ συνοῖσον πράττειν, ἀλλὰ κοινῇ σκεψαμένους, τὰ δοκοῦντα 1.440 Συργιάννῃ λυσιτελεῖν ποιεῖν. ὅτι δὲ ἀληθῆ, μάρτυρας παρέξομαι τῶν λεγομένων. σὺ μὲν οὖν ἂν εἰδείης, ὦ βασιλεῦ, ὅ,τι χρὴ ἀποφαίνεσθαι περὶ αὐτῶν· ἐμοὶ δὲ ἐδόκει τῶν ἀτοπωτάτων, ὑπὸ βασιλέα τινὰ τελοῦντα καὶ δουλείαν ὁμολογοῦντα ὀφείλειν, τοιούτοις ἐγχειρεῖν. ἐπυθόμην δὲ καὶ τῶν πρώτων τῶν ἐμῶν ἐγὼ, ὡς τὰ τοιαῦτα τολμώμενα παρὰ τῶν ὑπηκόων ἀποστασίαν καὶ ἀπιστίαν πάντων μάλιστα ἂν αὐτῶν κατηγοροίη. διὸ οὐδὲ ἠνεσχόμην σιγῇ φέρειν, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ σοῦ τὰ τοιαῦτα κατηγόρηκα αὐτοῦ, νομίζων οὐκ ἔλαττον εἶναι τοῦ συμπράττειν πρὸς τὰ φαῦλα τὸ συνειδότα μὴ ἐλέγχειν εἰς κατηγορίας λόγον.» Τοιαῦτα Τζαμπλάκωνος διεξιόντος, ἀδικεῖσθαι καὶ συκοφαντεῖσθαι διετείνετο ὁ Συργιάννης καὶ καταψεύδεσθαι Τζαμπλάκωνα αὐτοῦ, πλασάμενον διαβολὰς ἔχθει παλαιῷ τῷ πρὸς αὐτὸν, ὅτι τοὺς υἱοὺς, βασιλέως ἀποστάντας, στρατηγὸς κατ' αὐτῶν ἐκπεμφθεὶς χειρώσαιτό τε καὶ δεσμώτας πρὸς βασιλέα ἀπαγάγοι. Τζαμπλάκων δὲ τῶν μὲν υἱῶν αὐτῷ μέλειν ἔλεγεν ὀλίγα ἢ οὐδὲν, ὡς οὔτε ὀνησόντων οὐδὲν, ἂν βελτίους ὦσιν, οὔτε προστριψομένων τινὰ αἰσχύνην, ἂν φαίνωνται κακοί· βασιλεῖ γὰρ μελήσειν ὅπη ἂν διάθηται τὰ κατ' αὐτοὺς, ὄντας ὑπηκόους. ἔχθει δὲ τῷ πρὸς ἐκεῖνον κατηγορηκέναι, οὐκ ἂν ἔξαρνος γενέσθαι. οὐ γὰρ ἂν δύναιτο κακῷ γενομένῳ περὶ βασιλέα μὴ ἐχθραίνειν. ἐδεῖτό τε βασιλέως μηδένα αὐτῶν ἐᾷν οἴκαδε ἀναχωρεῖν, ἀλλ' αὐτῷ συνδιατρίβειν, 1.441 ἄχρις ἂν μεταπεμψάμενος τοὺς μαρτυρήσοντας τοῖς εἰρημένοις, ἀπελέγξῃ διαῤῥήδην, ὡς οὐδὲν ἂν εἴη ὧν κατηγόρηκε πλάσμα καὶ συκοφαντία, ἀλλ' αὐτὰ τὰ γεγενημένα ὑπ' αὐτοῦ. βασιλεὺς δὲ δίκαιά τε Τζαμπλάκωνα ἐπεψηφίζετο ἀξιοῦν καὶ προσέταττεν οὕτω πράττειν. ἀξιοῦντος δὲ καὶ Συργιάννη προσκαλεῖσθαί τινας, οἳ ἀδικούμενον αὐτὸν καὶ συκοφαντούμενον ἀποφανοῦσιν, ἐπέτρεπε καὶ αὐτῷ πᾶν ὅπερ ἂν ᾖ πρὸς ἀπόδειξιν τῆς ἀληθείας ἐξεῖναι πράττειν. τοὺς μὲν οὖν συμμαρτυρήσοντας αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ τῆς δίκης αὐτίκα ἔπεμψαν τοὺς κομιοῦντας· αὐτοὶ δὲ συνόντες βασιλεῖ, παρεσκευάζοντο ὡς ἐπὶ δίκην. κγʹ. Τῆς ἡμέρας δὲ ἐκείνης παρελθούσης, ἐπεὶ ἐπεγένετο ἡ νὺξ περὶ μέσην, ὁ Συργιάννης εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τὴν μεγάλου δομεστίκου ἀπελθὼν, ἐδεῖτο μὴ περιϊδεῖν ὑπὸ συκοφαντίας τὰ ἔσχατα προσδοκῶντα πείσεσθαι δεινὰ, ἀλλὰ χεῖρα σώζουσαν παρασχεῖν καὶ μὴ διὰ τὸ προσκεκρουκέναι ἀφειδῆσαι κινδυνεύοντος, ἀλλὰ πρόνοιάν τινα ποιήσασθαι αὐτοῦ. αὐτῷ μὲν γὰρ ὁμολογεῖν προσκεκρουκέναι, πεισθέντα φαύλοις ἀνθρώποις καὶ διεφθορόσι καὶ ψευδομένοις ὡς τὰ πολλὰ, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο αὐτόν τε ἑαυτοῦ κατηγορεῖν πολλὴν ἀγνωμοσύνην καὶ αὐτῷ ἐφιέναι ἣν ἂν ἐθέλοι δίκην λαμβάνειν παρ' αὐτοῦ. περὶ βασιλέα δὲ μηδὲν ἑαυτῷ κακῷ γενομένῳ συνειδέναι, ἀλλ' ἄκρατον εἶναι τὴν διαβολήν. οὗ δὴ ἕνεκα αὐτοῦ δεῖσθαι συγγνῶναί τε αὐτῷ τῆς περὶ αὐτὸν