CHAPTER III

Arrest of Antonina—­Hesitation of Belisarius—­Photius repairs to Ephesus, and extorts from Calligonus a confession of his mistress’s secrets—­Theodosius, having taken refuge in a temple, is given up by Andreas the Bishop—­Intervention of Theodora—­Photius removes Theodosius, and puts him away in Cilicia—­The latter and Calligonus set free—­The Empress hands over Antonina’s enemies to her—­Her vengeance—­Punishment of the senator Theodosius—­Forced reconciliation between Belisarius and his wife—­Arrest of Photius:  his firmness under torture—­Calligonus restored to Antonina—­Theodosius restored to her arms—­The Empress’s favours—­She promises him a high military command—­His death from dysentery—­Long imprisonment of Photius—­Sacred asylums violated—­Weakness displayed by the priests—­Deliverance of Photius, who enters a convent at Jerusalem—­Perjury of Belisarius—­His punishment—­Failure of the third expedition against Chosroes—­Capture of Callinikus—­Roman prisoners—­Belisarius accused of treachery and cowardice.

CHAPTER IV

Illness of Justinian—­Resolutions of the army consequent upon his supposed death—­Peter and John the Glutton denounce Belisarius and Buzes—­The latter put away and tortured—­Disgrace of Belisarius—­He is superseded by Martin in the command of the army of the East—­His treasures carried away by Theodora—­His friendship for Antonina—­His letter to Belisarius—­Submission of the latter to his wife—­Division of his fortune—­Betrothal of Joannina, his daughter, to Anastasius, grandson of Theodora—­Belisarius appointed Count of the Royal Stable and again commander of the army in Italy—­Comparison of the two expeditions.

CHAPTER V

Conduct of Belisarius in Italy—­His greed—­Defection of Herodianus—­Loss of Spoletum—­Success of Totila and his Goths—­Rupture with John—­Betrothal of the latter to Justina, daughter of Germanus—­Recall of Belisarius—­Perusia taken by the Goths—­The marriage between Joannina and Anastasius consummated by a trick on the part of the dying Empress—­Return of Antonina, who separates the young pair—­Belisarius despised for his weakness—­Sergius causes the loss of the Roman army in Africa—­Murder of Pegasius by Solomon—­The vengeance of Heaven.

CHAPTER VI

History of Justin and his two brothers, poor Illyrian husbandmen—­Their enrolment in the army—­Their admission into the Palace Guards, in the reign of Leo—­Justin condemned to death, during the reign of Anastasius, by the General John Kyrtus, for some breach of discipline—­His escape by divine intervention—­He becomes praefect of the Praetorian guards—­In spite of his ignorance, he is proclaimed Emperor—­The way in which he was assisted to sign imperial documents—­The Empress Lupicina-Euphemia—­Justinian, the nephew of Justin, the real master of the Empire—­His cruelty, his avarice, his inconsistency in regard to the laws—­He oppresses Italy, Africa, and the rest of the Empire—­Amantius condemned, to avenge an outrage upon the bishop John—­Perjury towards Vitalianus.