Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/19

 related elswhere, as the loss of John de Cappado­cia, &amp;c. I only omitted on purpose, to say, That Antonina betrayed both the said John and her Daughter, notwithstanding millions of oaths and imprecations to the contrary. After this, she sent Theodosius back again to Ephesus, relying extreamly upon the kindness of the Empress, who without any apprehension, removed into the East. It was not long before Bellisarius had taken the Fort of Sisauranum, and news was brought him, That his wife was at hand; where­upon he caused his Army to retreat, and seemed to prefer his own private interest, before the benefit of the Empire. True it is, There was another reason which moved him to discamp with his Army, and I have mentioned it in my other Books, but the arrival of Antonina con­tributed much: And this was one thing which I durst not communicate in the History which I published, as not thinking my self safe, if I should chance to be discovered.

From that time Bellisarius lost much of his reputation, both with the Emperor and People, for having preferred his own private, to the affairs of the publick: That which did princi­pally induce him, was, That the extravagancies of his wise lying heavy at his heart, he could not without some trouble, resolve to quit the Frontiers of the Roman Empire, as knowing, That the nearer he was, with the more ease he should be able to revenge himself upon Theodo­sius, as soon as his wife was arrived. In order thereunto, he commanded Arethas, with part of his