Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/18

 ''You may consider, the frailties of a Wife have not so great reflexion upon the Husband, as the Chil­dren, upon whom the ignominy remains as an ill disease, which they had contracted from their Mo­thers. For my own part, I would have you believe I love Antonina excecdingly, and would never be induced to do her any mischeif, if I could but re­venge my self of him, who is the plague of my Family; But I shall never forgive my Wife, whilst Theodosius is living. Photius heard him with great patience, and promised his utmost assist­ance, but his greatest apprehension was, what might befal him, if he should repose any con­fidence in Bellisarius, who was the lightest and most unconstant of his Sex, especially in a busi­ness so contrary to Antonina. Several examples of his levity, gave him reason to fear, but none was so terrible as the misfortune of the Macedo­nian. Hereupon he pressed, and prevailed with Bellisarius, that they might mutually oblige themselves by the ties that are most sacred a­mong Christians, never to betray or desert one another, though their lives or fortunes were in most imminent danger: But for all these precau­tions, Photius believed he could not attempt any thing securely; and therefore he concluded to expect, till Antonina was departed from Con­stantinople, and Theodosius was returning to E­phesus; at which time, he thought he might with more ease, seise upon Theodosius'' and all his vast treasure. In the mean time, Bellisarius with his whole Army invaded Persia, whilest several things hapned at Constantinople, which I have related