IV。ThesubjectsofJustinianweredissatisfiedwiththetimes，andwiththegovernment。EuropewasoverrunbytheBarbarians，andAsiabythemonks:thepovertyoftheWestdiscouragedthetradeandmanufacturesoftheEast:theproduceoflaborwasconsumedbytheunprofitableservantsofthechurch，thestate，andthearmy；andarapiddecreasewasfeltinthefixedandcirculatingcapitalswhichconstitutethenationalwealth。ThepublicdistresshadbeenalleviatedbytheeconomyofAnastasius，andthatprudentemperoraccumulatedanimmensetreasure，whilehedeliveredhispeoplefromthemostodiousoroppressivetaxes。Theirgratitudeuniversallyapplaudedtheabolitionofthegoldofaffliction，apersonaltributeontheindustryofthepoor，^78butmoreintolerable，asitshouldseem，intheformthaninthesubstance，sincetheflourishingcityofEdessapaidonlyonehundredandfortypoundsofgold，whichwascollectedinfouryearsfromtenthousandartificers。
^79Yetsuchwastheparsimonywhichsupportedthisliberaldisposition，that，inareignoftwenty—sevenyears，Anastasiussaved，fromhisannualrevenue，theenormoussumofthirteenmillionssterling，orthreehundredandtwentythousandpoundsofgold。^80Hisexamplewasneglected，andhistreasurewasabused，bythenephewofJustin。TherichesofJustinianwerespeedilyexhaustedbyalmsandbuildings，byambitiouswars，andignominioustreaties。Hisrevenueswerefoundinadequatetohisexpenses。EveryartwastriedtoextortfromthepeoplethegoldandsilverwhichhescatteredwithalavishhandfromPersiatoFrance:^81hisreignwasmarkedbythevicissitudesorratherbythecombat，ofrapaciousnessandavarice，ofsplendorandpoverty；helivedwiththereputationofhiddentreasures，^82
andbequeathedtohissuccessorthepaymentofhisdebts。^83
Suchacharacterhasbeenjustlyaccusedbythevoiceofthepeopleandofposterity:butpublicdiscontentiscredulous；
privatemaliceisbold；andaloveroftruthwillperusewithasuspiciouseyetheinstructiveanecdotesofProcopius。ThesecrethistorianrepresentsonlythevicesofJustinian，andthosevicesaredarkenedbyhismalevolentpencil。Ambiguousactionsareimputedtotheworstmotives；errorisconfoundedwithguilt，accidentwithdesign，andlawswithabuses；thepartialinjusticeofamomentisdexterouslyappliedasthegeneralmaximofareignofthirty—twoyears；theemperoraloneismaderesponsibleforthefaultsofhisofficers，thedisordersofthetimes，andthecorruptionofhissubjects；andeventhecalamitiesofnature，plagues，earthquakes，andinundations，areimputedtotheprinceofthedaemons，whohadmischievouslyassumedtheformofJustinian。^84
[Footnote*:SeethecharacterofAnastasiusinJoannesLydusdeMagistratibus，iii。c。45，46，p。230—232。Hiseconomyistheresaidtohavedegeneratedintoparsimony。Heisaccusedofhavingtakenawaythelevyingoftaxesandpaymentofthetroopsfromthemunicipalauthorities，thedecurionateintheEasterncities，andintrustedittoanextortionateofficernamedMannus。
Butheadmitsthattheimperialrevenuewasenormouslyincreasedbythismeasure。AstatueofironhadbeenerectedtoAnastasiusintheHippodrome，onwhichappearedonemorningthispasquinade。
ThisepigramisalsofoundintheAnthology。Jacobs，vol。
iv。p。114withsomebetterreadings。
ThisironstatuemeetlydoweplaceTothee，world—wastingking，thanbrassmorebase；Forallthedeath，thepenury，famine，woe，Thatfromthywide—destroyingavariceflow，ThisfellCharybdis，Scylla，neartothee，ThisfiercedevouringAnastasius，see；Andtremble，Scylla!onthee，too，hisgreed，Coiningthybrazendeity，mayfeed。
ButLydus，withnouncommoninconsistencyinsuchwriters，proceedstopaintthecharacterofAnastasiusasendowedwithalmosteveryvirtue，notexceptingtheutmostliberality。Hewasonlypreventedbydeathfromrelievinghissubjectsaltogetherfromthecapitationtax，whichhegreatlydiminished。—M。]
[Footnote78:Evagriusl。ii。c。39，40isminuteandgrateful，butangrywithZosimusforcalumniatingthegreatConstantine。
Incollectingallthebondsandrecordsofthetax，thehumanityofAnastasiuswasdiligentandartful:fathersweresometimescompelledtoprostitutetheirdaughters，Zosim。Hist。l。ii。c。
38，p。165，166，Lipsiae，1784。TimotheusofGazachosesuchaneventforthesubjectofatragedy，Suidas，tom。iii。p。475，
whichcontributedtotheabolitionofthetax，Cedrenus，p。35，
—ahappyinstanceifitbetrueoftheuseofthetheatre。]
[Footnote79:SeeJosuaStylites，intheBibliothecaOrientalisofAsseman，tom。p。268。ThiscapitationtaxisslightlymentionedintheChronicleofEdessa。]
[Footnote80:ProcopiusAnecdot。c。19fixesthissumfromthereportofthetreasurersthemselves。Tiberiashadviciestermillies；butfardifferentwashisempirefromthatofAnastasius。]
[Footnote81:Evagrius，l。iv。c。30，inthenextgeneration，wasmoderateandwellinformed；andZonaras，l。xiv。c。61，inthexiithcentury，hadreadwithcare，andthoughtwithoutprejudice；yettheircolorsarealmostasblackasthoseoftheanecdotes。]
[Footnote82:ProcopiusAnecdot。c。30relatestheidleconjecturesofthetimes。ThedeathofJustinian，saysthesecrethistorian，willexposehiswealthorpoverty。]
[Footnote83:SeeCorippusdeLaudibusJustiniAug。l。ii。260，&c。，384，&c\"Plurimasuntvivonimiumneglectaparenti，Undetotexhaustuscontraxitdebitafiscus。\"
CentenariesofgoldwerebroughtbystrongmenintotheHippodrome，\"Debitapersolvit，genitoriscautarecepit。\"]
[Footnote84:TheAnecdotesc。11—14，18，20—30supplymanyfactsandmorecomplaints。
Note:TheworkofLydusdeMagistratibuspublishedbyHaseatParis，1812，andreprintedintheneweditionoftheByzantineHistorians，waswrittenduringthereignofJustinian。ThisworkofLydusthrowsnogreatlightontheearlierhistoryoftheRomanmagistracy，butgivessomecuriousdetailsofthechangesandretrenchmentsintheofficesofstate，whichtookplaceatthistime。Thepersonalhistoryoftheauthor，withtheaccountofhisearlyandrapidadvancement，andtheemolumentsofthepostswhichhesuccessivelyheld，withthebitterdisappointmentwhichheexpresses，atfindinghimself，attheheightofhisambition，inanunpaidplace，isanexcellentillustrationofthisstatement。Gibbonhasbefore，c。iv。n。45，andc。xvii。n。
112，tracedtheprogressofaRomancitizentothehighesthonorsofthestateundertheempire；thestepsbywhichLydusreachedhishumblereminencemaylikewisethrowlightonthecivilserviceatthisperiod。HewasfirstreceivedintotheofficeofthePraetorianpraefect；becameanotaryinthatoffice，andmadeinoneyear1000goldensolidi，andthatwithoutextortion。Hisplaceandtheinfluenceofhisrelativesobtainedhimawifewith400poundsofgoldforherdowry。Hebecamechiefchartularius，withanannualstipendoftwenty—foursolidi，andconsiderableemolumentsforallthevariousserviceswhichheperformed。HerosetoanAugustalis，andfinallytothedignityofCorniculus，thehighest，andatonetimethemostlucrativeofficeinthedepartment。ButthePraetorianpraefecthadgraduallybeendeprivedofhispowersandhishonors。Helostthesuperintendenceofthesupplyandmanufactureofarms；theuncontrolledchargeofthepublicposts；thelevyingofthetroops；thecommandofthearmyinwarwhentheemperorsceasednominallytocommandinperson，butreallythroughthePraetorianpraefect；thatofthehouseholdtroops，whichfelltothemagisteraulae。Atlengththeofficewassocompletelystrippedofitspower，astobevirtuallyabolished，seedeMagist。l。
iii。c。40，p。220，&c。Thisdiminutionoftheofficeofthepraefectdestroyedtheemolumentsofhissubordinateofficers，andLydusnotonlydrewnorevenuefromhisdignity，butexpendeduponitallthegainsofhisformerservices。
Lydusgravelyrefersthiscalamitous，and，asheconsidersit，fataldegradationofthePraetorianofficetothealterationinthestyleoftheofficialdocumentsfromLatintoGreek；andreferstoaprophecyofacertainFonteius，whichconnectedtheruinoftheRomanempirewithitsabandonmentofitslanguage。
LyduschieflyowedhispromotiontohisknowledgeofLatin!—M。]
Afterthisprecaution，Ishallbrieflyrelatetheanecdotesofavariceandrapineunderthefollowingheads:I。Justinianwassoprofusethathecouldnotbeliberal。Thecivilandmilitaryofficers，whentheywereadmittedintotheserviceofthepalace，obtainedanhumblerankandamoderatestipend；theyascendedbysenioritytoastationofaffluenceandrepose；theannualpensions，ofwhichthemosthonorableclasswasabolishedbyJustinian，amountedtofourhundredthousandpounds；andthisdomesticeconomywasdeploredbythevenalorindigentcourtiersasthelastoutrageonthemajestyoftheempire。Theposts，thesalariesofphysicians，andthenocturnalilluminations，wereobjectsofmoregeneralconcern；andthecitiesmightjustlycomplain，thatheusurpedthemunicipalrevenueswhichhadbeenappropriatedtotheseusefulinstitutions。Eventhesoldierswereinjured；andsuchwasthedecayofmilitaryspirit，thattheywereinjuredwithimpunity。Theemperorrefused，atthereturnofeachfifthyear，thecustomarydonativeoffivepiecesofgold，reducedhisveteranstobegtheirbread，andsufferedunpaidarmiestomeltawayinthewarsofItalyandPersia。II。
Thehumanityofhispredecessorshadalwaysremitted，insomeauspiciouscircumstanceoftheirreign，thearrearsofthepublictribute，andtheydexterouslyassumedthemeritofresigningthoseclaimswhichitwasimpracticabletoenforce。\"Justinian，inthespaceofthirty—twoyears，hasnevergrantedasimilarindulgence；andmanyofhissubjectshaverenouncedthepossessionofthoselandswhosevalueisinsufficienttosatisfythedemandsofthetreasury。TothecitieswhichhadsufferedbyhostileinroadsAnastasiuspromisedageneralexemptionofsevenyears:theprovincesofJustinianhavebeenravagedbythePersiansandArabs，theHunsandSclavonians；buthisvainandridiculousdispensationofasingleyearhasbeenconfinedtothoseplaceswhichwereactuallytakenbytheenemy。\"Suchisthelanguageofthesecrethistorian，whoexpresslydeniesthatanyindulgencewasgrantedtoPalestineaftertherevoltoftheSamaritans；afalseandodiouscharge，confutedbytheauthenticrecordwhichattestsareliefofthirteencentenariesofgoldfifty—twothousandpoundsobtainedforthatdesolateprovincebytheintercessionofSt。Sabas。^85III。Procopiushasnotcondescendedtoexplainthesystemoftaxation，whichfelllikeahail—stormupontheland，likeadevouringpestilenceonitsinhabitants:butweshouldbecometheaccomplicesofhismalignity，ifweimputedtoJustinianalonetheancientthoughrigorousprinciple，thatawholedistrictshouldbecondemnedtosustainthepartiallossofthepersonsorpropertyofindividuals。TheAnnona，orsupplyofcornfortheuseofthearmyandcapital，wasagrievousandarbitraryexaction，whichexceeded，perhapsinatenfoldproportion，theabilityofthefarmer；andhisdistresswasaggravatedbythepartialinjusticeofweightsandmeasures，andtheexpenseandlaborofdistantcarriage。Inatimeofscarcity，anextraordinaryrequisitionwasmadetotheadjacentprovincesofThrace，Bithynia，andPhrygia:buttheproprietors，afterawearisomejourneyandperilousnavigation，receivedsoinadequateacompensation，thattheywouldhavechosenthealternativeofdeliveringboththecornandpriceatthedoorsoftheirgranaries。Theseprecautionsmightindicateatendersolicitudeforthewelfareofthecapital；yetConstantinopledidnotescapetherapaciousdespotismofJustinian。Tillhisreign，theStraitsoftheBosphorusandHellespontwereopentothefreedomoftrade，andnothingwasprohibitedexcepttheexportationofarmsfortheserviceoftheBarbarians。Ateachofthesegatesofthecity，apraetorwasstationed，theministerofImperialavarice；heavycustomswereimposedonthevesselsandtheirmerchandise；theoppressionwasretaliatedonthehelplessconsumer；thepoorwereafflictedbytheartificialscarcity，andexorbitantpriceofthemarket；andapeople，accustomedtodependontheliberalityoftheirprince，mightsometimescomplainofthedeficiencyofwaterandbread。^86Theaerialtribute，withoutaname，alaw，oradefiniteobject，wasanannualgiftofonehundredandtwentythousandpounds，whichtheemperoracceptedfromhisPraetorianpraefect；andthemeansofpaymentwereabandonedtothediscretionofthatpowerfulmagistrate。IV。Evensuchataxwaslessintolerablethantheprivilegeofmonopolies，whichcheckedthefaircompetitionofindustry，and，forthesakeofasmallanddishonestgain，imposedanarbitraryburdenonthewantsandluxuryofthesubject。\"Assoon\"ItranscribetheAnecdotes\"astheexclusivesaleofsilkwasusurpedbytheImperialtreasurer，awholepeople，themanufacturersofTyreandBerytus，wasreducedtoextrememisery，andeitherperishedwithhunger，orfledtothehostiledominionsofPersia。\"Aprovincemightsufferbythedecayofitsmanufactures，butinthisexampleofsilk，ProcopiushaspartiallyoverlookedtheinestimableandlastingbenefitwhichtheempirereceivedfromthecuriosityofJustinian。Hisadditionofoneseventhtotheordinarypriceofcoppermoneymaybeinterpretedwiththesamecandor；andthealteration，whichmightbewise，appearstohavebeeninnocent；sinceheneitheralloyedthepurity，norenhancedthevalue，ofthegoldcoin，^87thelegalmeasureofpublicandprivatepayments。V。Theamplejurisdictionrequiredbythefarmersoftherevenuetoaccomplishtheirengagementsmightbeplacedinanodiouslight，asiftheyhadpurchasedfromtheemperorthelivesandfortunesoftheirfellow—citizens。Andamoredirectsaleofhonorsandofficeswastransactedinthepalace，withthepermission，oratleastwiththeconnivance，ofJustinianandTheodora。Theclaimsofmerit，eventhoseoffavor，weredisregarded，anditwasalmostreasonabletoexpect，thattheboldadventurer，whohadundertakenthetradeofamagistrate，shouldfindarichcompensationforinfamy，labor，danger，thedebtswhichhehadcontracted，andtheheavyinterestwhichhepaid。Asenseofthedisgraceandmischiefofthisvenalpractice，atlengthawakenedtheslumberingvirtueofJustinian；andheattempted，bythesanctionofoaths^88andpenalties，toguardtheintegrityofhisgovernment:butattheendofayearofperjury，hisrigorousedictwassuspended，andcorruptionlicentiouslyabusedhertriumphovertheimpotenceofthelaws。VI。ThetestamentofEulalius，countofthedomestics，declaredtheemperorhissoleheir，oncondition，however，thatheshoulddischargehisdebtsandlegacies，allowtohisthreedaughtersadecentmaintenance，andbestoweachoftheminmarriage，withaportionoftenpoundsofgold。ButthesplendidfortuneofEulaliushadbeenconsumedbyfire，andtheinventoryofhisgoodsdidnotexceedthetriflingsumoffivehundredandsixty—fourpiecesofgold。Asimilarinstance，inGrecianhistory，admonishedtheemperorofthehonorablepartprescribedforhisimitation。Hecheckedtheselfishmurmursofthetreasury，applaudedtheconfidenceofhisfriend，dischargedthelegaciesanddebts，educatedthethreevirginsundertheeyeoftheempressTheodora，anddoubledthemarriageportionwhichhadsatisfiedthetendernessoftheirfather。^89Thehumanityofaprinceforprincescannotbegenerousisentitledtosomepraise；yeteveninthisactofvirtuewemaydiscovertheinveteratecustomofsupplantingthelegalornaturalheirs，whichProcopiusimputestothereignofJustinian。Hischargeissupportedbyeminentnamesandscandalousexamples；neitherwidowsnororphanswerespared；andtheartofsoliciting，orextorting，orsupposingtestaments，wasbeneficiallypractisedbytheagentsofthepalace。Thisbaseandmischievoustyrannyinvadesthesecurityofprivatelife；andthemonarchwhohasindulgedanappetiteforgain，willsoonbetemptedtoanticipatethemomentofsuccession，tointerpretwealthasanevidenceofguilt，andtoproceed，fromtheclaimofinheritance，tothepowerofconfiscation。VII。Amongtheformsofrapine，aphilosophermaybepermittedtonametheconversionofPaganorhereticalrichestotheuseofthefaithful；butinthetimeofJustinianthisholyplunderwascondemnedbythesectariesalone，whobecamethevictimsofhisorthodoxavarice。^90
[Footnote85:OnetoScythopolis，capitalofthesecondPalestine，andtwelvefortherestoftheprovince。Aleman。p。
59honestlyproducesthisfactfromaMs。lifeofSt。Sabas，byhisdiscipleCyril，intheVaticanLibrary，andsincepublishedbyCotelerius。]
[Footnote86:JohnMalalatom。ii。p。232mentionsthewantofbread，andZonarasl。xiv。p。63theleadenpipes，whichJustinian，orhisservants，stolefromtheaqueducts。]
[Footnote*:HullmanGeschichtedesByzantinischenHandels。p。
15showsthatthedespotismofthegovernmentwasaggravatedbytheuncheckedrapenityoftheofficers。Thisstatemonopoly，evenofcorn，wine，andoil，wastoforceatthetimeofthefirstcrusade。—M。]
[Footnote87:Foranaureus，onesixthofanounceofgold，insteadof210，hegavenomorethan180folles，orouncesofcopper。Adisproportionofthemint，belowthemarketprice，musthavesoonproducedascarcityofsmallmoney。InEnglandtwelvepenceincopperwouldsellfornomorethansevenpence，Smith\'sInquiryintotheWealthofNations，vol。i。p。49。ForJustinian\'sgoldcoin，seeEvagrius，l。iv。c。30。]
[Footnote88:Theoathisconceivedinthemostformidablewords，Novell。viii。tit。3。Thedefaultersimprecateonthemselves，quicquidhaben:telorumarmamentariacoeli:thepartofJudas，theleprosyofGieza，thetremorofCain，&c。，besidesalltemporalpains。]
[Footnote89:AsimilarormoregenerousactoffriendshipisrelatedbyLucianofEudamidasofCorinth，inToxare，c。22，23，tom。ii。p。530，andthestoryhasproducedaningenious，thoughfeeble，comedyofFontenelle。]
[Footnote90:JohnMalala，tom。ii。p。101，102，103。]
ChapterXL:ReignOfJustinian。
PartIV。
DishonormightbeultimatelyreflectedonthecharacterofJustinian；butmuchoftheguilt，andstillmoreoftheprofit，wasinterceptedbytheministers，whowereseldompromotedfortheirvirtues，andnotalwaysselectedfortheirtalents。^91ThemeritsofTribonianthequaestorwillhereafterbeweighedinthereformationoftheRomanlaw；buttheeconomyoftheEastwassubordinatetothePraetorianpraefect，andProcopiushasjustifiedhisanecdotesbytheportraitwhichheexposesinhispublichistory，ofthenotoriousvicesofJohnofCappadocia。^92
Hisknowledgewasnotborrowedfromtheschools，^93andhisstylewasscarcelylegible；butheexcelledinthepowersofnativegenius，tosuggestthewisestcounsels，andtofindexpedientsinthemostdesperatesituations。Thecorruptionofhisheartwasequaltothevigorofhisunderstanding。AlthoughhewassuspectedofmagicandPagansuperstition，heappearedinsensibletothefearofGodorthereproachesofman；andhisaspiringfortunewasraisedonthedeathofthousands，thepovertyofmillions，theruinsofcities，andthedesolationofprovinces。Fromthedawnoflighttothemomentofdinner，heassiduouslylaboredtoenrichhismasterandhimselfattheexpenseoftheRomanworld；theremainderofthedaywasspentinsensualandobscenepleasures，andthesilenthoursofthenightwereinterruptedbytheperpetualdreadofthejusticeofanassassin。Hisabilities，perhapshisvices，recommendedhimtothelastingfriendshipofJustinian:theemperoryieldedwithreluctancetothefuryofthepeople；hisvictorywasdisplayedbytheimmediaterestorationoftheirenemy；andtheyfeltabovetenyears，underhisoppressiveadministration，thathewasstimulatedbyrevenge，ratherthaninstructedbymisfortune。