[Footnote20:ForthelifeandmannersoftheempressTheodoraseetheAnecdotes；moreespeciallyc。1—5，9，10—15，16，17，withthelearnednotesofAlemannus—areferencewhichisalwaysimplied。]
[Footnote21:ComitowasafterwardsmarriedtoSittas，dukeofArmenia，thefather，perhaps，atleastshemightbethemother，oftheempressSophia。TwonephewsofTheodoramaybethesonsofAnastasia，Aleman。p。30，31。]
[Footnote22:HerstatutewasraisedatConstantinople，onaporphyrycolumn。SeeProcopius，deEdif。l。i。c。11，whogivesherportraitintheAnecdotes，c。10。Aleman。p。47producesonefromaMosaicatRavenna，loadedwithpearlsandjewels，andyethandsome。]
[Footnote23:AfragmentoftheAnecdotes，c。9，somewhattoonaked，wassuppressedbyAlemannus，thoughextantintheVaticanMs。；norhasthedefectbeensuppliedintheParisorVeniceeditions。LaMotheleVayertom。viii。p。155gavethefirsthintofthiscuriousandgenuinepassage，Jortin\'sRemarks，vol。
iv。p。366，whichhehadreceivedfromRome，andithasbeensincepublishedintheMenagianatom。iii。p。254—259withaLatinversion。]
[Footnote24:Afterthementionofanarrowgirdle，asnonecouldappearstarknakedinthetheatre，Procopiusthusproceeds。Ihaveheardthatalearnedprelate，nowdeceased，wasfondofquotingthispassageinconversation。]
[Footnote25:TheodorasurpassedtheCrispaofAusonius，Epigramlxxi。，whoimitatedthecapitalisluxusofthefemalesofNola。
SeeQuintilianInstitut。viii。6，andTorrentiusadHorat。
Sermon。l。i。sat。2，v。101。Atamemorablesupper，thirtyslaveswaitedroundthetabletenyoungmenfeastedwithTheodora。Hercharitywasuniversal。
Etlassataviris，necdumsatiata，recessit。]
[Footnote26:Shewishedforafourthaltar，onwhichshemightpourlibationstothegodoflove。]
[Footnote*:Gibbonshouldhaverememberedtheaxiomwhichhequotesinanotherpiece，sceleraostendioportetdumpunianturabscondiflagitia。—M。]
Inthemostabjectstateofherfortune，andreputation，somevision，eitherofsleeporoffancy，hadwhisperedtoTheodorathepleasingassurancethatshewasdestinedtobecomethespouseofapotentmonarch。Consciousofherapproachinggreatness，shereturnedfromPaphlagoniatoConstantinople；
assumed，likeaskilfulactress，amoredecentcharacter；
relievedherpovertybythelaudableindustryofspinningwool；
andaffectedalifeofchastityandsolitudeinasmallhouse，whichsheafterwardschangedintoamagnificenttemple。^27Herbeauty，assistedbyartoraccident，soonattracted，captivated，andfixed，thepatricianJustinian，whoalreadyreignedwithabsoluteswayunderthenameofhisuncle。Perhapsshecontrivedtoenhancethevalueofagiftwhichshehadsooftenlavishedonthemeanestofmankind；perhapssheinflamed，atfirstbymodestdelays，andatlastbysensualallurements，thedesiresofalover，who，fromnatureordevotion，wasaddictedtolongvigilsandabstemiousdiet。Whenhisfirsttransportshadsubsided，shestillmaintainedthesameascendantoverhismind，bythemoresolidmeritoftemperandunderstanding。Justiniandelightedtoennobleandenrichtheobjectofhisaffection；thetreasuresoftheEastwerepouredatherfeet，andthenephewofJustinwasdetermined，perhapsbyreligiousscruples，tobestowonhisconcubinethesacredandlegalcharacterofawife。ButthelawsofRomeexpresslyprohibitedthemarriageofasenatorwithanyfemalewhohadbeendishonoredbyaservileoriginortheatricalprofession:theempressLupicina，orEuphemia，aBarbarianofrusticmanners，butofirreproachablevirtue，refusedtoacceptaprostituteforherniece；andevenVigilantia，thesuperstitiousmotherofJustinian，thoughsheacknowledgedthewitandbeautyofTheodora，wasseriouslyapprehensive，lestthelevityandarroganceofthatartfulparamourmightcorruptthepietyandhappinessofherson。TheseobstacleswereremovedbytheinflexibleconstancyofJustinian。Hepatientlyexpectedthedeathoftheempress；hedespisedthetearsofhismother，whosoonsunkundertheweightofheraffliction；andalawwaspromulgatedinthenameoftheemperorJustin，whichabolishedtherigidjurisprudenceofantiquity。Agloriousrepentancethewordsoftheedictwasleftopenfortheunhappyfemaleswhohadprostitutedtheirpersonsonthetheatre，andtheywerepermittedtocontractalegalunionwiththemostillustriousoftheRomans。^28ThisindulgencewasspeedilyfollowedbythesolemnnuptialsofJustinianandTheodora；herdignitywasgraduallyexaltedwiththatofherlover，and，assoonasJustinhadinvestedhisnephewwiththepurple，thepatriarchofConstantinopleplacedthediademontheheadsoftheemperorandempressoftheEast。ButtheusualhonorswhichtheseverityofRomanmannershadallowedtothewivesofprinces，couldnotsatisfyeithertheambitionofTheodoraorthefondnessofJustinian。Heseatedheronthethroneasanequalandindependentcolleagueinthesovereigntyoftheempire，andanoathofallegiancewasimposedonthegovernorsoftheprovincesinthejointnamesofJustinianandTheodora。^29TheEasternworldfellprostratebeforethegeniusandfortuneofthedaughterofAcacius。Theprostitutewho，inthepresenceofinnumerablespectators，hadpollutedthetheatreofConstantinople，wasadoredasaqueeninthesamecity，bygravemagistrates，orthodoxbishops，victoriousgenerals，andcaptivemonarchs。^30
[Footnote27:Anonym。deAntiquitat。C。P。l。iii。132，inBanduriImperiumOrient。tom。i。p。48。Ludewigp。154arguessensiblythatTheodorawouldnothaveimmortalizedabrothel:butIapplythisfacttohersecondandchasterresidenceatConstantinople。]
[Footnote28:SeetheoldlawinJustinian\'sCode，l。v。tit。v。
leg。7，tit。xxvii。leg。1，undertheyears336and454。Thenewedictabouttheyear521or522，Aleman。p。38，96veryawkwardlyrepealsnomorethantheclauseofmulieresscenicoe，libertinae，tabernariae。Seethenovels89and117，andaGreekrescriptfromJustiniantothebishops，Aleman。p。41。]
[Footnote29:IswearbytheFather，&c。，bytheVirginMary，bythefourGospels，quaeinmanibusteneo，andbytheHolyArchangelsMichaelandGabriel，puramconscientiamgermanumqueservitiummeservaturum，sacratissimisDDNN。JustinianoetTheodoraeconjugiejus，Novell。viii。tit。3。Wouldtheoathhavebeenbindinginfavorofthewidow?Communestituliettriumphi，&c。，Aleman。p。47，48。]
[Footnote30:\"Letgreatnessownher，andshe\'smeannomore，\"
&c。WithoutWarburton\'scriticaltelescope，Ishouldneverhaveseen，inthisgeneralpictureoftriumphantvice，anypersonalallusiontoTheodora。]
ChapterXL:ReignOfJustinian。
PartII。
Thosewhobelievethatthefemalemindistotallydepravedbythelossofchastity，willeagerlylistentoalltheinvectivesofprivateenvy，orpopularresentmentwhichhavedissembledthevirtuesofTheodora，exaggeratedhervices，andcondemnedwithrigorthevenalorvoluntarysinsoftheyouthfulharlot。Fromamotiveofshame，orcontempt，sheoftendeclinedtheservilehomageofthemultitude，escapedfromtheodiouslightofthecapital，andpassedthegreatestpartoftheyearinthepalacesandgardenswhichwerepleasantlyseatedonthesea—coastofthePropontisandtheBosphorus。Herprivatehoursweredevotedtotheprudentaswellasgratefulcareofherbeauty，theluxuryofthebathandtable，andthelongslumberoftheeveningandthemorning。Hersecretapartmentswereoccupiedbythefavoritewomenandeunuchs，whoseinterestsandpassionssheindulgedattheexpenseofjustice；themostillustriouspersonagesofthestatewerecrowdedintoadarkandsultryantechamber，andwhenatlast，aftertediousattendance，theywereadmittedtokissthefeetofTheodora，theyexperienced，asherhumormightsuggest，thesilentarroganceofanempress，orthecapriciouslevityofacomedian。Herrapaciousavaricetoaccumulateanimmensetreasure，maybeexcusedbytheapprehensionofherhusband\'sdeath，whichcouldleavenoalternativebetweenruinandthethrone；andfearaswellasambitionmightexasperateTheodoraagainsttwogenerals，who，duringthemaladyoftheemperor，hadrashlydeclaredthattheywerenotdisposedtoacquiesceinthechoiceofthecapital。Butthereproachofcruelty，sorepugnanteventohersoftervices，hasleftanindeliblestainonthememoryofTheodora。Hernumerousspiesobserved，andzealouslyreported，everyaction，orword，orlook，injurioustotheirroyalmistress。Whomsoevertheyaccusedwerecastintoherpeculiarprisons，^31inaccessibletotheinquiriesofjustice；anditwasrumored，thatthetortureoftherack，orscourge，hadbeeninflictedinthepresenceofthefemaletyrant，insensibletothevoiceofprayerorofpity。^32
Someoftheseunhappyvictimsperishedindeep，unwholesomedungeons，whileotherswerepermitted，afterthelossoftheirlimbs，theirreason，ortheirfortunes，toappearintheworld，thelivingmonumentsofhervengeance，whichwascommonlyextendedtothechildrenofthosewhomshehadsuspectedorinjured。Thesenatororbishop，whosedeathorexileTheodorahadpronounced，wasdeliveredtoatrustymessenger，andhisdiligencewasquickenedbyamenacefromherownmouth。\"Ifyoufailintheexecutionofmycommands，IswearbyHimwholivethforever，thatyourskinshallbeflayedfromyourbody。\"^33
[Footnote31:Herprisons，alabyrinth，aTartarus，Anecdot。c。
4，wereunderthepalace。Darknessispropitioustocruelty，butitislikewisefavorabletocalumnyandfiction。]
[Footnote32:AmorejocularwhippingwasinflictedonSaturninus，forpresumingtosaythathiswife，afavoriteoftheempress，hadnotbeenfound。Anecdot。c。17。]
[Footnote33:Perviventeminsaeculaexcoriaritefaciam。
AnastasiusdeVitisPont。Roman。inVigilio，p。40。]
IfthecreedofTheodorahadnotbeentaintedwithheresy，herexemplarydevotionmighthaveatoned，intheopinionofhercontemporaries，forpride，avarice，andcruelty。But，ifsheemployedherinfluencetoassuagetheintolerantfuryoftheemperor，thepresentagewillallowsomemerittoherreligion，andmuchindulgencetoherspeculativeerrors。^34ThenameofTheodorawasintroduced，withequalhonor，inallthepiousandcharitablefoundationsofJustinian；andthemostbenevolentinstitutionofhisreignmaybeascribedtothesympathyoftheempressforherlessfortunatesisters，whohadbeenseducedorcompelledtoembracethetradeofprostitution。Apalace，ontheAsiaticsideoftheBosphorus，wasconvertedintoastatelyandspaciousmonastery，andaliberalmaintenancewasassignedtofivehundredwomen，whohadbeencollectedfromthestreetsandbrothelsofConstantinople。Inthissafeandholyretreat，theyweredevotedtoperpetualconfinement；andthedespairofsome，whothrewthemselvesheadlongintothesea，waslostinthegratitudeofthepenitents，whohadbeendeliveredfromsinandmiserybytheirgenerousbenefactress。^35TheprudenceofTheodoraiscelebratedbyJustinianhimself；andhislawsareattributedtothesagecounselsofhismostreverendwifewhomhehadreceivedasthegiftoftheDeity。^36Hercouragewasdisplayedamidstthetumultofthepeopleandtheterrorsofthecourt。Herchastity，fromthemomentofherunionwithJustinian，isfoundedonthesilenceofherimplacableenemies；
andalthoughthedaughterofAcaciusmightbesatiatedwithlove，yetsomeapplauseisduetothefirmnessofamindwhichcouldsacrificepleasureandhabittothestrongersenseeitherofdutyorinterest。ThewishesandprayersofTheodoracouldneverobtaintheblessingofalawfulson，andsheburiedaninfantdaughter，thesoleoffspringofhermarriage。^37Notwithstandingthisdisappointment，herdominionwaspermanentandabsolute；shepreserved，byartormerit，theaffectionsofJustinian；andtheirseemingdissensionswerealwaysfataltothecourtierswhobelievedthemtobesincere。Perhapsherhealthhadbeenimpairedbythelicentiousnessofheryouth；butitwasalwaysdelicate，andshewasdirectedbyherphysicianstousethePythianwarmbaths。Inthisjourney，theempresswasfollowedbythePraetorianpraefect，thegreattreasurer，severalcountsandpatricians，andasplendidtrainoffourthousandattendants:thehighwayswererepairedatherapproach；apalacewaserectedforherreception；andasshepassedthroughBithynia，shedistributedliberalalmstothechurches，themonasteries，andthehospitals，thattheymightimploreHeavenfortherestorationofherhealth。^38Atlength，inthetwenty—fourthyearofhermarriage，andthetwenty—secondofherreign，shewasconsumedbyacancer；^39andtheirreparablelosswasdeploredbyherhusband，who，intheroomofatheatricalprostitute，mighthaveselectedthepurestandmostnoblevirginoftheEast。^40
[Footnote34:Ludewig，p。161—166。Igivehimcreditforthecharitableattempt，althoughhehathnotmuchcharityinhistemper。]
[Footnote35:Comparetheanecdotesc。17withtheEdificesl。
i。c。9—howdifferentlymaythesamefactbestated!JohnMalalatom。ii。p。174，175observes，thatonthis，orasimilaroccasion，shereleasedandclothedthegirlswhomshehadpurchasedfromthestewsatfiveaureiapiece。]
[Footnote36:Novel。viii。1。AnallusiontoTheodora。HerenemiesreadthenameDaemonodora，Aleman。p。66。]
[Footnote37:St。SabasrefusedtoprayforasonofTheodora，lestheshouldproveahereticworsethanAnastasiushimself，CyrilinVit。St。Sabae，apudAleman。p。70，109。]
[Footnote38:SeeJohnMalala，tom。ii。p。174。Theophanes，p。
158。ProcopiusdeEdific。l。v。c。3。]
[Footnote39:TheodoraChalcedonensissynodiinimicacancerisplagatotocorporeperfusavitamprodigiosefinivit，VictorTununensisinChron。Onsuchoccasions，anorthodoxmindissteeledagainstpity。Alemannusp。12，13understandsofTheophanesascivillanguage，whichdoesnotimplyeitherpietyorrepentance；yettwoyearsafterherdeath，St。TheodoraiscelebratedbyPaulSilentiarius，inproem。v。58—62。]
[Footnote40:Asshepersecutedthepopes，andrejectedacouncil，BaroniusexhauststhenamesofEve，Dalila，Herodias，&c。；afterwhichhehasrecoursetohisinfernaldictionary:
civisinferni—alumnadaemonum—satanicoagitataspiritu—
oestropercitadiabolico，&c。，&c。，A。D。548，No。24。]
II。Amaterialdifferencemaybeobservedinthegamesofantiquity:themosteminentoftheGreekswereactors，theRomansweremerelyspectators。TheOlympicstadiumwasopentowealth，merit，andambition；andifthecandidatescoulddependontheirpersonalskillandactivity，theymightpursuethefootstepsofDiomedeandMenelaus，andconducttheirownhorsesintherapidcareer。^41Ten，twenty，fortychariotswereallowedtostartatthesameinstant；acrownofleaveswastherewardofthevictor；
andhisfame，withthatofhisfamilyandcountry，waschantedinlyricstrainsmoredurablethanmonumentsofbrassandmarble。
Butasenator，orevenacitizen，consciousofhisdignity，wouldhaveblushedtoexposehisperson，orhishorses，inthecircusofRome。Thegameswereexhibitedattheexpenseoftherepublic，themagistrates，ortheemperors:butthereinswereabandonedtoservilehands；andiftheprofitsofafavoritecharioteersometimesexceededthoseofanadvocate，theymustbeconsideredastheeffectsofpopularextravagance，andthehighwagesofadisgracefulprofession。Therace，initsfirstinstitution，wasasimplecontestoftwochariots，whosedriversweredistinguishedbywhiteandredliveries:twoadditionalcolors，alightgreen，andacaeruleanblue，wereafterwardsintroduced；andastheraceswererepeatedtwenty—fivetimes，onehundredchariotscontributedinthesamedaytothepompofthecircus。Thefourfactionssoonacquiredalegalestablishment，andamysteriousorigin，andtheirfancifulcolorswerederivedfromthevariousappearancesofnatureinthefourseasonsoftheyear；thereddogstarofsummer，thesnowsofwinter，thedeepshadesofautumn，andthecheerfulverdureofthespring。^42
Anotherinterpretationpreferredtheelementstotheseasons，andthestruggleofthegreenandbluewassupposedtorepresenttheconflictoftheearthandsea。Theirrespectivevictoriesannouncedeitheraplentifulharvestoraprosperousnavigation，andthehostilityofthehusbandmenandmarinerswassomewhatlessabsurdthantheblindardoroftheRomanpeople，whodevotedtheirlivesandfortunestothecolorwhichtheyhadespoused。
Suchfollywasdisdainedandindulgedbythewisestprinces；butthenamesofCaligula，Nero，Vitellius，Verus，Commodus，Caracalla，andElagabalus，wereenrolledintheblueorgreenfactionsofthecircus；theyfrequentedtheirstables，applaudedtheirfavorites，chastisedtheirantagonists，anddeservedtheesteemofthepopulace，bythenaturaloraffectedimitationoftheirmanners。Thebloodyandtumultuouscontestcontinuedtodisturbthepublicfestivity，tillthelastageofthespectaclesofRome；andTheodoric，fromamotiveofjusticeoraffection，interposedhisauthoritytoprotectthegreensagainsttheviolenceofaconsulandapatrician，whowerepassionatelyaddictedtothebluefactionofthecircus。^43
[Footnote41:ReadandfeelthexxiidbookoftheIliad，alivingpictureofmanners，passions，andthewholeformandspiritofthechariotraceWest\'sDissertationontheOlympicGamessect。
xii。—xvii。affordsmuchcuriousandauthenticinformation。]
[Footnote42:Thefourcolors，albati，russati，prasini，veneti，representthefourseasons，accordingtoCassiodorus，Var。iii。
51，wholavishesmuchwitandeloquenceonthistheatricalmystery。Ofthesecolors，thethreefirstmaybefairlytranslatedwhite，red，andgreen。Venetusisexplainedbycoeruleus，awordvariousandvague:itisproperlytheskyreflectedinthesea；butcustomandconveniencemayallowblueasanequivalent，Robert。Stephan。subvoce。Spence\'sPolymetis，p。228。]
[Footnote43:SeeOnuphriusPanviniusdeLudisCircensibus，l。i。
c。10，11；thexviithAnnotationonMascou\'sHistoryoftheGermans；andAlemanadc。vii。]