Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/35

 was the cause of great losses to the Empire of Rome. The Empress had so great an aversion for Germanus, and dissembled it so little, that no body durst ally themselves with him, though he was the Emperors Brothers Son. In short, he had several Sons, but none of them could marry whilest Theodora was living: He had a Daughter likewise called Justina, which was already eighteen years of age, and unmarried; where­upon Germanus was constrained to propose a match betwixt the said Daughter, and John, whom Bellisarius had sent to Constantinople, though indeed in condition Bellisarius was much inferior to Germanus. The overture being ac­cepted, it was thought necessary by matual and inviolable Oaths, to oblige one another to use all possible means to consummate the match; for they were jealous on both sides, John, because the Lady was above his quality; and Germanus, because if he lost him, he despaired of another. The Empress inraged at this alliance, plaid them a hundred tricks to have broke it off; but find­ing all of them fail, and that her menaces were not able to divert them, she signified to John, that his life was in danger: Whereupon having order to return into Italy, he had no farther communication with Bellisarius, whilest Antinona was with him in Italy, apprehending (with good reason) the designs of that wicked Woman; for it was too probable, and not irrational for him to suspect, that the Empress had given her order to make him away, and it was the more credible considering the nature of Antonina, and the fondness