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 it. His sister of course arranged the whole matter for him, and she chose happily. The lady's name, Eudocia, is one of the most famous in the annals of the Byzantine empire. She was not of royal or imperial lineage, but was simply the daughter of a Greek philosopher and professor at Athens, Leontius, still a worshipper of the heathen divinities. Her original name was Athenais. She was beautiful, clever, accomplished, and familiar with the whole range of literature and science. It seems that she attended—other ladies, we may presume, did the same—her father's lectures, and she also had the advantage of mingling freely in the best society of Athens, among whom culture was fashionable. There can be hardly a question that she was a woman of real genius. To this her father confidently trusted her future, leaving her without any fortune. But for some reason or other she could not find a husband at Athens. In her twentieth year, as it would seem, she betook herself to Constantinople, and was introduced to Pulcheria, then only about fifteen years of age. Soon she professed herself a Christian, and she so charmed her patroness that she became her constant companion, and perhaps stood to her in the relation of a maid of honour or lady in waiting. So she lived for about seven years. But Pulcheria meanwhile had destined her to great honour. With her brother she could do as she pleased, and she decided to marry him to Athenais. He was himself but twenty years of age. It is said that by his sister's contrivance he saw his bride for the first time from the concealment of a curtain, and that he instantly approved