But if anyone addressed either Justinian or Theodora without the addition of the title Sovereign Lord or Sovereign Lady, or without calling himself their slave, he was looked upon as ignorant and insolent in his language, and, as if he had committed a very grave offence and insulted those whom it least became him, he was dismissed.  Formerly, only a few were granted admission to the palace, and that with difficulty; but, from the time of the accession of Justinian and Theodora, the magistrates and all other persons were continually in the palace.  The reason was, that formerly the magistrates freely administered justice and laws independently, and executed the customary sentences at their own residences, and the subjects, seeing and hearing that no injustice would be done to them, had little reason to trouble the Emperor.  But this pair, taking control of all business to themselves in order that they might ruin their subjects, forced them to humiliate themselves before them in a most servile manner.  Thus the courts of justice were empty nearly every day, and hardly a person was to be seen in them, while in the palace there were crowds of men pushing and abusing one another, all endeavouring to be foremost in showing their servility.  Those who were on the most intimate terms with the Imperial pair remained the whole day and a great part of the night, without food or sleep, until they were worn out, and this apparent good fortune was their only reward.  Others, who were free from all these cares and anxieties, were puzzled to think what had become of the wealth and treasures of the Empire.  Some declared that it had all fallen into the hands of the barbarians, while others asserted that the Emperor kept it locked up in secret hiding-places of his own.  When Justinian—­whether he be man or devil—­shall have departed this life, those who are then living will be able to learn the truth.

NOTES

[1:  By Mr. Hodgkin, “Italy and her Invaders,” vol. iii., p. 638.]

[2:  The best modern authorities are agreed that he was really the author.]

[3:  Or, rather, three, the fourth being only a kind of supplement.]

[4:  As internal evidence in favour of the identity of the author of the “Secret History,” and the “Wars” and “Buildings,” the few following points, amongst many, may be noticed.  The reference in the preface to the “History of the Wars,” that the author was born at Caesarea, is more closely defined by the statement in the “Secret History” that he was from Caesarea in Palestine; in both works an account of the relations of Justinian to the Church is promised, but the promise is not fulfilled.  The “Secret History” refers to the extravagant “building” mania of the Emperor.  In all three works we meet with a constant recurrence of the same ideas, the same outspoken language, greatly embittered in the “Secret History,” the same fanatical pragmatism, the same association of luck, destiny, and divinity, of guilt and expiation, the same superstition in the forms of demonology, belief in dreams and miracles, and lastly the same commonplaces, expressions, and isolated words.]