While still on the stage, she became with child by one of her friends, but did not perceive her misfortune until it was too late.  She tried all the means she had formerly employed to procure abortion, but she was unable prematurely to destroy the living creature by any means whatsoever, since it had nearly assumed the form of a human being.  Therefore, finding her remedies unsuccessful, she abandoned the attempt, and was obliged to bring forth the child.  Its father, seeing that Theodora was at a loss what to do, and was indignant because, now that she had become a mother, she was no longer able to traffic with her person as before, and being with good reason in fear for the child’s life, took it up, named it John, and carried it away with him to Arabia, whither he had resolved to retire.  The father, just before his death, gave John, who was now grown up, full information concerning his mother.

John, having performed the last offices for his dead father, some time afterwards repaired to Byzantium, and explained the state of affairs to those who were charged with the duty of arranging admission to an audience with the Empress.  They, not suspecting that she would conceive any inhuman designs against him, announced to the mother the arrival of her son.  She, fearing that the report might reach the ears of the Emperor, ordered her son to be brought to her.  When she saw him approaching, she went to meet him and handed him over to one of her confidants, whom she always intrusted with commissions of this kind.  In what manner the unfortunate youth disappeared I cannot say.  He has never been seen to this day—­not even after his mother’s death.

At that time the morals of women were almost without exception corrupt.  They were faithless to their husbands with absolute licence, since the crime of adultery brought neither danger nor harm upon them.  When convicted of the offence, they escaped punishment, thanks to the Empress, to whom they immediately applied.  Then, getting the verdict quashed on the ground that the charges were not proved, they in turn accused their husbands, who, although not convicted, were condemned to refund twice the amount of the dower, and, for the most part, were flogged and led away to prison, where they were permitted to look upon their adulterous wives again, decked out in fine garments and in the act of committing adultery without the slightest shame with their lovers, many of whom, by way of recompense, received offices and rewards.  This was the reason why most husbands afterwards put up with unholy outrages on the part of their wives, and gladly endured them in silence in order to escape the lash.  They even afforded them every opportunity to avoid being surprised.

Theodora claimed complete control of the State at her sole discretion.  She appointed magistrates and ecclesiastical dignitaries.  Her only care and anxiety was—­and as to this she made the most careful investigation—­to prevent any office being given to a good and honourable man, who might be prevented by his conscience from assisting her in her nefarious designs.