CHAPTER IV

About this time Belisarius underwent another disgrace.  The people of Byzantium were ravaged by the pestilence of which I have already spoken.  The Emperor Justinian was attacked by it so severely that it was reported that he had died.  Rumour spread these tidings abroad till they reached the Roman camp, whereupon some of the chief officers said that, if the Romans set up any other emperor in Byzantium, they would not acknowledge him.  Shortly after this, the Emperor recovered from his malady, whereupon the chiefs of the army accused one another of having used this language.  The General Peter, and John, surnamed “The Glutton,” declared that Belisarius and Buzes had used the words which I have just quoted.  The Empress Theodora, thinking that these words applied to herself, was greatly enraged.  She straightway summoned all the commanders to Byzantium to make an inquiry into the matter, and suddenly sent for Buzes to come into her private apartments, on the pretext of discussing important matters of business with him.  There was in the palace an underground building, which was securely fastened, and as complicated as a labyrinth, and which might be compared to the nether world, wherein she kept imprisoned most of those who had offended her.  Into this pit she cast Buzes; and although he was of a consular family, nothing was known for certain concerning him; as he sat in the darkness, he could not tell day from night; nor could he ask, for he who flung him his daily food never spoke, but acted like one dumb beast with another.  All thought him dead, but none dared to mention him or allude to him.  Two years and four months afterwards, Theodora relented and released him, and he appeared in the world like one raised from the dead; but ever afterwards he was short-sighted and diseased in body.  Such was the fate of Buzes.

Belisarius, although none of the charges brought against him could be proved, was removed by the Emperor, at the instance of Theodora, from the command of the army in the East, which was given to Martinus.  The command of the Doryphori[8] and Hypaspitae[9] of Belisarius, and of those of his servants who had distinguished themselves in war, was by his orders divided amongst the generals and certain of the palace eunuchs.  They cast lots for these soldiers, together with their arms, and divided them amongst themselves as the lot fell.  As for his friends and the many people who had before served under him, Justinian forbade them to visit him.  Thus was seen in the city a piteous spectacle which men could scarce believe to be real, that of Belisarius simply a private individual, almost alone, gloomy and thoughtful, ever dreading to be set upon and assassinated.