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but for them I was preparing to make war on their behalf, suspecting no danger from my own household. From all of which one might especially understand how without deceit and purely I governed on behalf of the emperor's children. For if I were planning such things as my accusers slander me with, if nothing else, I should at least have gathered the wealth scattered throughout the entire Roman empire, which is not even easily countable, as you yourselves also know it to be, and which would have been most useful to me for the war. But now it is possible to see not only a multitude of cattle and produce, which one might perhaps think would present some difficulty and suspicion when gathered, but also much gold and silver scattered everywhere. And yet I have passed over the more wondrous thing, as if speaking of something wondrous. For not only did I not gather my scattered wealth, but of that which was at hand, I spent part of it unsparingly on common needs, and part of it I willingly left behind in Byzantium, though I had it in my hands. For at any rate, a few days earlier, when a need arose in the palace, more than two hundred silver vessels were brought from my house, worth no small amount; which, after the need was met, when those appointed for their custody asked to re 2.149 ceive them back, I did not think it necessary, saying that it would make no difference whether they were kept in the imperial treasuries or in my own house. Furthermore, of the many islands and cities, both greater and lesser, held by me, some of which I myself built at my own expense, and others I received as a gift from the emperor, I held not one with a garrison, nor did I deem any worthy of such forethought as to hold it securely. And I could not be convicted by anyone of having done or having intended to do anything of all that would have been advantageous for my design. For surely they will not also make this accusation, that through inaction and inexperience in war I have made no progress in necessary matters. But I shall try to make a clear demonstration of the truth, not only from what I myself have done, but also from all the Romans, not only from you who are now with me, but also from those in Byzantium and those living elsewhere on earth. For though there are many people, both greater and lesser, and all alike are very friendly towards me, some being related by blood, and others joined to me for many years by the unbreakable bonds of friendship and have given much proof on many occasions of their affection for me, no one, neither of you present, nor anyone who might live elsewhere, would be able to convict me of the charges, as being privy to anything. And yet anyone, even one with little sense, would say that I would not be able to attempt such things alone. But there would also have been need of an ar 2.150 my, supporting the undertaking, and especially of the most genuine friends and much preparation, from which it would have been impossible, if not for the many, then at least for the most suitable people, not to guess the intention of what was happening. But if anyone has anything of this sort to prove, let him come forward and show it. But he would not have anything. For I would yield to many, both of the past and of the present, in courage and understanding and experience in wars, but in uprightness of character and truthfulness, to no one; trusting especially in these now, I speak such things freely. If, then, both from what I myself have done, and from you who have been with me the whole time, I appear neither to have been suspected of nor to have done any of the things of which I am accused, no one could justly bring blame against me, for being improperly driven to anger by what is happening. For the empress ought, since she was conscious of both my character from the beginning as being uncorrupted, and that unparalleled and most wondrous friendship between me and the emperor, and my great zeal and eagerness on behalf of his children and herself after his death, not to have been persuaded by slanderous and corrupt men, but to have paid attention to me, who was governing correctly and justly on her behalf. But since some envious demon, of those skilled in destruction, did not allow her to be persuaded of the true and just things concerning me, but has persuaded her that I am an enemy instead of a friend, and a foe instead of an ally, and a dis 2.151 loyal man instead of a most faithful one

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τοῖς δὲ παρεσκευαζόμην πολεμεῖν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν, μηδένα κίνδυνον ἐκ τῶν οἰκείων ὑφορώμενος. ἐξ ὧν ἁπάντων ἄν τις μάλιστα συνίδοι, ὡς ἀδόλως καὶ καθαρῶς ὑπὲρ τῶν βασιλέως ἐπολιτευόμην παίδων ἐγώ. εἰ γὰρ οἷα διαβάλλουσιν οἱ κατηγοροῦντες διενοούμην, εἰ μή τι ἄλλο, τὸν γοῦν διεσκεδασμένον κατὰ πᾶσαν τὴν Ῥωμαίων ἀρχὴν πλοῦτον συνάγειν ἔδει, οὐδὲ ῥᾳδίως ἀριθμητὸν, ὥσπερ ἴστε ὄντα καὶ αὐτοὶ, καὶ μάλιστα χρησιμώτατον ἐσόμενον εἰς τὸν πόλεμον ἐμοί. νυνὶ δὲ ἔξεστιν ὁρᾷν οὐ βοσκημάτων μόνον πλῆθος καὶ καρπῶν, ἅπερ ἄν τις ἴσως οἰήσαιτο δυσκολίαν τινὰ παρέχειν καὶ ὑποψίαν ἀθροιζόμενα, ἀλλὰ καὶ χρυσὸν πολὺν καὶ ἄργυρον διεσκεδασμένον πανταχοῦ. καίτοι τὸ θαυμαστότερον παρῆλθον, ὡς δή τι θαυμαστὸν λέγων. οὐ μόνον γὰρ τὸν διεσκεδασμένον οὐ συνῆγον πλοῦτον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν ὄντα τὸν μὲν ἐδαπάνων ἀφειδῶς ἐν ταῖς χρείαις ταῖς κοιναῖς, τὸν δ' ἑκὼν εἶναι κατελίμπανον αὐτὸς ἐν Βυζαντίῳ ἔχων ἐν χερσίν. ὀλίγαις γοῦν ἡμέραις πρότερον ἐν βασιλείοις χρείας γενομένης, ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας τῆς ἐμῆς σκεύη ἀργυρᾶ ὑπὲρ διακόσια ἠνέχθη οὐκ ὀλίγου ἄξιά τινος· ἃ μετὰ τὴν χρείαν τῶν ἐπὶ τὴν φυλακὴν ἐκείνων τεταγμένων ἀπο 2.149 λαμβάνειν δεομένων, οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον ἡγησάμην, οὐδὲν διοίσειν φάμενος ἐν τοῖς βασιλικοῖς τηρεῖσθαι ταμιείοις, ἢ ἐν οἴκοις τοῖς ἐμοῖς. ἔτι γε μὴν οὐδὲ νήσων πολλῶν καὶ πόλεων, καὶ μειζόνων καὶ ἐλαττόνων, ἐχομένων ὑπ' ἐμοῦ, ὧν τὰς μὲν ἐκ τῶν οἰκείων δαπανῶν ᾠκοδόμησα αὐτὸς, τὰς δ' ἐκ βασιλέως ἔσχον δωρεὰν, οὐδεμίαν οὔτε φρουρᾷ κατέσχον, οὔτε τινὸς ἠξίωσα προνοίας, ὥστε ἀσφαλῶς κατέχειν. οὐδέ τι τῶν ὅσα λυσιτελήσειν ἔμελλε πρὸς τὴν διάνοιαν ἐμοὶ, οὔτε εἰργασμένος, οὔτε μελλήσας ὑπ' οὐδενὸς ἐξελεγχθείην ἄν. οὐ γὰρ δήπου γε καὶ τοῦτο κατηγορήσουσιν, ὡς ἀπραγμοσύνῃ καὶ πολέμων ἀπειρίᾳ εἰς οὐδὲν προῆγμαι τῶν δεόντων. ἐγὼ δὲ οὐκ ἐξ ὧν αὐτὸς ἐπραγματευόμην μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ παρὰ πάντων Ῥωμαίων, οὐ τῶν νῦν ἐμοὶ συνόντων ὑμῶν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῶν ἐν Βυζαντίῳ καὶ τῶν ἄλλοθί που γῆς διατριβόντων, ἀπόδειξιν τῆς ἀληθείας ἐναργῆ πειράσομαι ποιεῖσθαι. πολλῶν γὰρ ὄντων, καὶ μειζόνων καὶ ἐλαττόνων, πάνυ τε φιλίως ἐμοὶ διακειμένων ὁμοίως πάντων, καὶ τῶν μὲν ἐξ αἵματος προσηκόντων, τῶν δὲ φιλίας δεσμοῖς ἀλύτοις συνημμένων ἐκ πολλῶν ἐτῶν ἐμοὶ καὶ πολλὴν παρεσχημένων πεῖραν ἐν πολλοῖς τῆς εἰς ἐμὲ στοργῆς, οὐδεὶς οὔτε τῶν παρόντων ὑμῶν, οὔτ' εἴ τις ἄλλοθί που διατρίβοι, δυναιτ' ἂν ἐμοὶ τῶν κατηγορημένων ὥς τι σύνοιδεν ἐλέγχειν. καίτοι γε πᾶς τις ἂν φαίη καὶ ὀλίγα μετασχὼν φρενῶν, ὡς οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην τοιούτοις μόνος ἐπιχειρεῖν. ἀλλὰ καὶ στρα 2.150 τιᾶς ἐδέησεν ἂν, πρὸς τὴν ἐπιχείρησιν συναιρομένης, καὶ φίλων τῶν γνησιωτάτων μάλιστα καὶ πολλῆς παρασκευῆς, ἐξ ἧς οὐκ ἐνῆν, εἰ μὴ τοὺς πολλοὺς, ἀλλὰ τούς γε ἐπιτηδειοτάτους, μὴ τὴν διάνοιαν καταστοχάζεσθαι τῶν γιγνομένων. εἰ δέ τίς τι τοιοῦτον ἐξελέγχειν ἔχει, παρίτω καὶ δεικνύτω. ἀλλ' οὐκ ἂν ἔχοι. ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀνδρίας μὲν καὶ συνέσεως καὶ ἐμπειρίας τῆς πρὸς τοὺς πολέμους πολλοῖς ἂν παραχωρήσαιμι καὶ τῶν πάλαι καὶ τῶν νῦν, τρόπων δὲ εὐθύτητος καὶ ἀληθείας οὐδενί· οἷς μάλιστα νυνὶ θαῤῥήσας παῤῥησιάζομαι τοιαῦτα. εἰ δὴ ἔκ τε ὧν ἐπραγματευόμην αὐτὸς, ἔκ τε τῶν τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον συνόντων ὑμῶν ἐμοὶ, μήθ' ὑποπτευθεὶς, μήτε εἰργασμένος φαίνομαι ὧν κατηγόρημαι μηδὲν, οὐκ ἄν τις ἂν ἐμοὶ δικαίως ἐπενέγκοι μέμψιν, ὡς οὐ προσηκόντως πρὸς τὰ πραττόμενα ἐξαγομένῳ πρὸς ὀργήν. ἔδει γὰρ βασιλίδα, τόν τε τρόπον ἐμοὶ τὸν ἐξαρχῆς ὡς οὐ διεφθαρμένος συνειδυῖαν καὶ τὴν ἐμοῦ καὶ βασιλέως ἀπαράμιλλον ἐκείνην καὶ θαυμασιωτάτην φιλίαν καὶ τὴν μετὰ τὴν ἐκείνου τελευτὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐκείνου παίδων καὶ αὐτῆς πολλὴν σπουδὴν καὶ προθυμίαν, μὴ συκοφάνταις ἀνθρώποις καὶ διεφθορόσι πείθεσθαι, ἀλλ' ἐμοὶ προσέχειν ὀρθῶς καὶ δικαίως ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς πολιτευομένῳ. ἐπεὶ δὲ βάσκανός τις δαίμων τῶν ἐξητασμένων ἐπὶ φθορᾷ, τὰ μὲν ἀληθῆ καὶ δίκαια περὶ ἐμοῦ πεπεῖσθαι οὐκ ἀφῆκεν, ἐχθρὸν δὲ ἀντὶ φίλου καὶ πολέμιον ἀντὶ συμμάχου καὶ δύσ 2.151 νουν ἀντὶ πιστοτάτου πέπεικεν