Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/16

 unattempted, that might bring Theodosius back again to his wife. Having tried several ways without effect, he came at length to the Em­peror and Empress, and obtained of them; by extraordinary importunity to have him recalled, as a person absolutely necessary; as well for his future, as his present affairs: But Theodosius ex­cused himself, pretending a resolution to con­tinue where he was; the institutions of that Convent agreeing so exactly with his humor: Nevertheless this was but a copy of his counte­nance, and a design, that he might come to her afterwards, with more privacy when Bellisarius was gone.

The Emperor in the mean time, sent Belli­sarius and Photius against Cosroes, King of the Persians, and Antonina continued at Constanti­nople, contrary to her custom; for till then, she had always accompanied her Husband in all his expeditions, how tedious, and how dangerous soever, fearing perhaps, least when he was a­lone, he should return to himself, and take up some resolution that might prove to her ruine, when freed from her inveiglements and charms: However, that she might not be wanting in any thing that might contribute to the recovering of Theodosius, she undertook to rid her self of Pho­tius; to which purpose, she suborned several persons about Bellisarius, and perswaded them not to let a day pass without affronting Photius, and if possible, provoking him to mutiny: On the other side, Letters passed from her continu­ally, by which, she incensed all people against her