Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/52

 the Palace: And this is the only statue in being, that gives us any remembrance, either of the Visage, or Fortune of Domitian. By observing of this statue, one may see the proportion and features of Justinian: His manners would be troublesome to describe exactly, and I question whether I could do it or no.

He was crafty, and yet easie to be deceived; so that he might be said to be cunning and weak, both together: He never told, nor signi­fied any thing that was true, to any who had business with him; but by the malignity of his nature, he endeavored to circumvent every body, though he himself was continually ex­posed to the fallacies of other people. This was the ridiculous temper of Justinian, in whom I find verified what a Peripatetick Philosopher maintained formerly, That as contrary colours accord well enough when they are mingled in the Paint, so contrary qualities do in the nature of Man. And to speak what I found in him to be true, Justinian dissembled so perfectly well, that there was no man concealed his sentiments so well, conducted a fraud with more dexterity, acted so subtilly in every thing, and put a better coun­tenance upon his anger and indignation: He had no need of the assistance of joy or of grief, to bring the tears into his eyes, having some of them ready in reserve upon every occasion; though he cheated by continued falshoods, yet it was with premeditation. When he had passed his Parole, and set his hand to what he had pro­mised and contracted with his Subjects, he brake