known, he should himself receive some harm and at the
same time prevent the success of the enterprise, he
devised the following scheme. His hair, which
was famous among all men as being so fair as to resemble
pure gold, he anointed with some kind of dye, which
was especially invented for this purpose, and so succeeded
completely in changing it for the time to a dark hue.
And when he came before Gizeric, the barbarian attempted
in many ways to terrify him, and in particular, while
treating him with engaging attention, as if a friend,
he brought him into the house where all his weapons
were stored, a numerous and exceedingly noteworthy
array. Thereupon they say that the weapons shook
of their own accord and gave forth a sound of no ordinary
or casual sort, and then it seemed to Gizeric that
there had been an earthquake, but when he got outside
and made enquiries concerning the earthquake, since
no one else agreed with him, a great wonder, they say,
came over him, but he was not able to comprehend the
meaning of what had happened. So Majorinus, having
accomplished the very things he wished, returned to
Liguria, and leading his army on foot, came to the
Pillars of Heracles, purposing to cross over the strait
at that point, and then to march by land from there
against Carthage. And when Gizeric became aware
of this, and perceived that he had been tricked by
Majorinus in the matter of the embassy, he became
alarmed and made his preparations for war. And
the Romans, basing their confidence on the valour
of Majorinus, already began to have fair hopes of
recovering Libya for the empire. [461 A.D.] But meantime
Majorinus was attacked by the disease of dysentery
and died, a man who had shewn himself moderate toward
his subjects, and an object of fear to his enemies.
[July 24, 474 A.D.] And another emperor, Nepos, upon
taking over the empire, and living to enjoy it only
a few days, died of disease, and Glycerius after him
entered into this office and suffered a similar fate.
[474-475 A.D.] And after him Augustus assumed the
imperial power. There were, moreover, still other
emperors in the West before this time, but though
I know their names well, I shall make no mention of
them whatever. For it so fell out that they lived
only a short time after attaining the office, and as
a result of this accomplished nothing worthy of mention.
Such was the course of events in the West.
But in Byzantium Basiliscus, being no longer able to master his passion for royal power, made an attempt to usurp the throne, and succeeded without difficulty, since Zeno, together with his wife, sought refuge in Isauria, which was his native home. [471 A.D.] And while he was maintaining his tyranny for a year and eight months he was detested by practically everyone and in particular by the soldiers of the court on account of the greatness of his avarice. And Zeno, perceiving this, collected an army and came against him. And Basiliscus sent an army under the general Harmatus in order to array himself against Zeno.