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 chap, xliii] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 457 vain question, whether their sovereign had shewn more wisdom or weakness, amused the idleness of the city. 102 About two vears after the last victory of Belisarius, themsdia- . . ("Tiii- grace and emperor returned from a Thracian journey or health, or business, death. or devotion. Justinian was afflicted by a pain in his head ; and his private entry countenanced the rumour of his death. Before the third hour of the day, the bakers' shops were plundered of their bread, the houses were shut, and every citizen, with hope or terror, prepared for the impending tumult. The senators themselves, fearful and suspicious, were convened at the ninth hour ; and the prsefect received their commands to visit every quarter of the city, and proclaim a general illumination for the recovery of the emperor's health. The ferment subsided ; but every accident betrayed the impotence of the government and the factious temper of the people ; the guards were disposed to mutiny as often as their quarters were changed or their pay was with- held; the frequent calamities of fires and earthquakes afforded the opportunities of disorder ; the disputes of the blues and greens, of the orthodox and heretics, degenerated into bloody battles ; and in the presence of the Persian ambassador Justinian blushed for himself and for his subjects. Capricious pardon and arbitrary punishment embittered the irksomeness and discontent of a long reign ; a conspiracy was formed in the palace ; and, unless we are deceived by the names of Marcellus and Sergius, 103 the most virtuous and the most profligate of the courtiers were associated in the same designs. They had fixed the time of the execution ; their rank gave them access to the royal banquet ; and their black slaves 104 were stationed in the vestibule and porticos, to announce the death of the tyrant and to excite a sedition in the capital. But the indiscretion of an accomplice saved the poor remnant of the days of Justinian. The conspirators were detected and seized, with daggers hidden under their garments : Marcellus died 102 The Bulgarian war and the last victory of Belisarius are imperfectly repre- sented in the prolix declamation of Agathias (1. v. p. 154-174 [c. 11-25]) and the dry Chronicle of Theophanes (p. 197, 198 [a.m. 6051]). 103 [This Sergius must be distinguished from the magiBter militum whom the Cotrigurs captured.] 104 'IvBovs. They could scarcely be real Indians ; and the ^Ethiopians, some- times known by that name, were never used by the ancients as guards or followers ; they were the trifling, though costly, objects of female and royal luxury (Terent. Eunuch, act i. scene ii. Sueton. in August, c. 83, with a good note of Casaubon, in Caligula, c. 57).