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not to shrink from the action, since it is easy, as I advise, to accomplish. But if you should shrink from the danger, I for my part will say nothing unpleasant; but it is fitting for you to consider now the fortunes that await you.” With these words, then, he persuaded the patriarch both to pay attention to him and to stir up war against the Grand Domestic. Then going around, he contrived to persuade each of the others who were distinguished from the many by reputation or by birth, 2.111 stringing together falsehoods and slanders. And first, going to Andronikos Asan, who was the father-in-law of the Grand Domestic, he attempted [to persuade him] by means he thought most likely to succeed. For this Asan, having gone to his son-in-law a little before, had begged him not to neglect him, as he considered his life unlivable because his sons John and Manuel, having been confined for six years now by the emperor in prison, were suffering most terribly and were living no better than those in Hades. but as he was departing for the west, since it was necessary to pass through Bera, where they were imprisoned, to lead them out of the prison and to make use of them in the campaign, taking them with him, as they were in no way less valuable for battles and campaigns than any he was leading. But the Grand Domestic said that this plan did not please him. For his sons were not ordinary men, nor had they been condemned for some minor offenses, so that, if they were released by him, they would provide no pretext for disturbance to the empress. But it was necessary first, having prepared her, to have her grant them a pardon, and then to lead them out of the prison. But now if we do this ourselves, without her first permitting it, it is likely that she herself will reckon, and the slanderers will find, no ordinary pretext to slander us, that we have already taken away all her authority and are administering the most important matters by our own power, not even deeming her worthy of any consideration. which 2.112 indeed I think is advantageous neither to me first, nor to them. But it is necessary, in addition to the years they have been confined, to endure for some little time, although they are distressed, until, God willing, I return from the campaign. Then, having myself beseeched the empress on their behalf and, if it be necessary, having also provided guarantees, I will arrange for them to leave the prison and will try to restore them to their former prosperity. But now, with the army already prepared for departure, there is no leisure to spend time on such matters, which require time for their arrangement. But since matters are urgent, now, in passing, just as many times before, having come to them, I will not only console them by my visit and deem them worthy of the necessary care, but I will also fill them with better hopes, by promising firmly their freedom from their chains. And this will make the time in between more bearable for them than a single day's interval was before.” He then was both content with the promises and expressed many thanks on their behalf. 18. But the Parakoimomenos, perceiving what sort of man he was to investigate such matters, and approaching Asan, first confessed an ancient servitude, and sought to persuade and assure him that not even the fortune in which he now stood had made him forget his former lowliness, but that he considered himself as one of his household servants, and that the proper goodwill from a slave to a good master 2.113 was ready to be provided, when the occasion called, and he himself was ready to do all things on behalf of him and his children, even if it were necessary to fall into the most extreme fortunes. and this indeed had now especially prepared him to come to him, at the same time to advise on what he considered advantageous for him and his children, and at the same time to inform him that if he needed anything from him for the task, he would most eagerly contend alongside him both with money and servants and all that he had. For since his sons had been held in prison for a long time now by the emperor with an unjust and envious judgment, he himself was exceedingly grieved for them, not only because they were suffering unjust and violent things, but also because of the ancient goodwill which he owed to them and to you, their father; but having no way to help, he accepted the necessity. but now, seeing that the most opportune moment had come for their freedom from their chains, he had come to advise not to let it go. And yet he had heard, he said, having come from Selymbria,

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μὴ πρὸς τὴν πρᾶξιν ἀναδύεσθαι, ῥᾳδίαν οὖσαν, ὡς ἐγὼ συμβουλεύω, κατασκευασθῆναι. εἰ δ' ἀποκνήσεις πρὸς τὸν κίνδυνον, ἐγὼ μὲν δυσχερὲς οὐδὲν ἐρῶ· σὲ δὲ τὰς ἐκδεξομένας τύχας ἤδη στοχάζεσθαι προσῆκον.» τούτοις μὲν οὖν τὸν πατριάρχην ἔπεισεν αὐτῷ τε προσέχειν καὶ πόλεμον πρὸς τὸν μέγαν δομέστικον κινεῖν. ἔπειθ' ἕκαστον τῶν ἄλλων, δόξῃ διαφερόντων ἢ γένει τῶν πολλῶν, 2.111 περιιὼν ἐμηχανᾶτο πείθειν, ψεύδη συνείρων καὶ συκοφαντίας. καὶ πρῶτα μὲν πρὸς τὸν Ἀσάνην Ἀνδρόνικον ἐλθὼν, ὃς ἦν μεγάλῳ δομεστίκῳ κηδεστὴς, ἐξ ὧν μάλιστα πείσειν ᾤετο, ἐπεχείρει. οὗτος γὰρ δὴ Ἀσάνης πρὸς τὸν γαμβρὸν ὀλίγῳ πρότερον ἐλθὼν, ἐδεῖτο μὴ περιορᾷν αὐτὸν, ἀβίωτον οἰόμενον τὸν βίον διὰ τὸ τοὺς παῖδας Ἰωάννην καὶ Μανουὴλ, ἐπ' ἔτεσιν ἓξ ἤδη ὑπὸ βασιλέως ἐν δεσμωτηρίῳ εἰργομένους, δεινότατα πάσχειν καὶ οὐδὲν ἀμείνω τῶν ἐν ᾅδου διαγόντων. ἀλλ' ἀπιόντα πρὸς τὴν ἑσπέραν, ἐπεὶ διὰ Βήρας ἀνάγκη διιέναι, ἔνθα κατεκλείοντο, τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου ἐξαγαγεῖν καὶ πρὸς τὴν στρατείαν χρῆσθαι ἄγοντα μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ, οὐδενὸς, ὧν ἄγει, πρὸς μάχας καὶ στρατείας ὄντας ἀτιμοτέρους χρῆσθαι. ὁ μέγας δὲ δομέστικος, οὐκ ἀρέσκειν, ἔφασκεν, αὐτῷ ταύτην τὴν βουλήν. οὐ γὰρ τῶν τυχόντων εἶναι τοὺς υἱοὺς, οὐδ' ἐπὶ μικροῖς τισι κατακριθέντας, ὥστ', εἰ ἀφεθεῖεν παρ' αὐτοῦ, μηδεμίαν ταραχῆς πρόφασιν παρέχειν βασιλίδι. ἀλλ' ἔδει πρότερον ἐκείνην παρασκευάσαντας συγγνώμην ἐκείνοις παρασχέσθαι, οὕτως ἐξάγειν τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου. νῦν δ' εἰ τοῦτο πράξομεν αὐτοὶ, μὴ πρότερον ἐκείνης ἐπιτρεπούσης, εἰκὸς αὐτήν τε λογίσασθαι καὶ τοὺς συκοφάντας προφάσεως οὐ τῆς τυχούσης εὐπορῆσαι, ὡς ἤδη πᾶσαν αὐτῆς παρειλόμεθα διαβάλλειν τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ κατ' ἐξουσίαν καὶ τὰ μέγιστα διοικοῦμεν, μηδὲ λόγου γοῦν αὐτήν τινος ἀξιοῦντες. ἃ 2.112 δὴ οὔτ' ἐμοὶ πρῶτον, οὔτ' ἐκείνοις οἴομαι λυσιτελεῖν. ἀλλὰ δέον πρὸς τοῖς ἔτεσιν, οἷς εἴργονται, καὶ ὀλίγον τινὰ χρόνον διακαρτερῆσαι, καίπερ ἀνιωμένους, ἄχρις ἂν θεοῦ διδόντος ἐπανήξω τῆς στρατείας. τότε δὲ τῆς βασιλίδος δεηθεὶς αὐτὸς ὑπὲρ ἐκείνων καὶ, εἰ δέοι, καὶ ἐγγύας παρασχὼν, τοῦ τε δεσμωτηρίου παρασκευάσω ἐξελθεῖν καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἀρχαίαν εὐδαιμονίαν πειράσομαι ἐπανάγειν. νυνὶ δὲ τῆς στρατιᾶς ἤδη παρεσκευασμένης οὔσης πρὸς τὴν ἔξοδον, οὐ σχολὴ περὶ τοιαῦτα διατρίβειν, χρόνου δεόμενα πρὸς τὴν κατασκευήν. ἀλλ' ἐπειγόντων τῶν πραγμάτων, νῦν μὲν κατὰ πάροδον, ὥσπερ καὶ πρότερον πολλάκις, πρὸς αὐτοὺς παραγενόμενος, οὐ παραμυθήσομαι μόνον διὰ τὴν ἐπιδημίαν καὶ προνοίας ἀξιώσω τῆς δεούσης, ἀλλὰ καὶ χρηστοτέρων ἐμπλήσω τῶν ἐλπίδων, τὴν ἐλευθερίαν τῶν δεσμῶν ἐπαγγειλάμενος βεβαίως. ὃ καὶ τὸν μεταξὺ χρόνον αὐτοῖς ἀνεκτότερον, ἢ πρότερον ἡμέρας ποιήσει διάστημα μιᾶς.» ὁ μὲν οὖν ἠγάπα τὲ ταῖς ἐπαγγελίαις καὶ χάριτας ᾔδει πολλὰς ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν. ιηʹ. Παρακοιμώμενος δὲ αἰσθόμενος, οἷος ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐρευνᾷν, καὶ προσελθὼν Ἀσάνῃ, πρῶτα μὲν δουλείαν ἀρχαίαν ὡμολόγει, καὶ μηδὲ τὴν τύχην, ἐν ᾗ καθέστηκε νυνὶ, τῆς πρὶν εὐτελείας ἐπιλελῆσθαι πεῖσαι διεβεβαιοῦτο, ἀλλ' οὕτως οἴεσθαι αὐτὸν οἷα δὴ ἕνα τῶν ἐκείνου οἰκετῶν, καὶ τὴν προσήκουσαν εὔνοιαν ἀγαθῷ δεσπότῃ παρὰ δούλῳ 2.113 ἕτοιμον εἶναι, καιροῦ καλοῦντος, παρασχέσθαι καὶ αὐτὸν καὶ πάντα πράττειν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ τε καὶ τῶν παίδων, εἰ δέοι καὶ ταῖς ἐσχάταις τύχαις περιπίπτειν. ὃ καὶ νυνὶ παρεσκευακέναι μάλιστα ἥκειν παρ' αὐτὸν, ἅμα μὲν ἃ λυσιτελεῖν αὐτῷ τε καὶ παισὶ νομίζει παραινέσοντα, ἅμα δ', εἴ τι δέοιτο πρὸς τὸ ἔργον καὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι προθυμότατα συναγωνιεῖται καὶ χρήμασι καὶ οἰκέταις καὶ πᾶσιν οἷς ἔχει, ἐκδιδάξοντα. τῶν γὰρ αὐτοῦ παίδων ὑπὸ βασιλέως ἀδίκῳ γνώμῃ καὶ φθονερᾷ πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον ἐν φρουρᾷ κατεχομένων, πάνυ μὲν καὶ αὐτὸν ὑπεραλγεῖν αὐτῶν οὐ μόνον ἄδικα καὶ βίαια πασχόντων, ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τὴν ἀρχαίαν εὔνοιαν, ἣν ἐκείνοις ὀφείλειν καὶ σοὶ τῷ πατρί· μηδὲν δὲ βοηθεῖν ἔχοντα, στέργειν τὴν ἀνάγκην. νυνὶ δὲ ὁρῶν τὸν ἐπιτηδειότατον ἥκοντα καιρὸν τῆς ἐκείνων ἐκ τῶν δεσμῶν ἐλευθερίας, μὴ προΐεσθαι ἥκειν παραινέσοντα. καίτοι γε ἀκηκοέναι, ἔφασκεν, ἐκ Σηλυβρίας ἥκων,