TheirmurmursservedonlytofortifytheresolutionofJustinian；
buttheresentmentofTheodora，disdainedapowerbeforewhicheverykneewasbent，andattemptedtosowtheseedsofdiscordbetweentheemperorandhisbelovedconsort。EvenTheodoraherselfwasconstrainedtodissemble，towaitafavorablemoment，and，byanartfulconspiracy，torenderJohnofCoppadociatheaccompliceofhisowndestruction。^!AtatimewhenBelisarius，unlesshehadbeenahero，musthaveshownhimselfarebel，hiswifeAntonina，whoenjoyedthesecretconfidenceoftheempress，communicatedhisfeigneddiscontenttoEuphemia，thedaughterofthepraefect；thecredulousvirginimpartedtoherfatherthedangerousproject，andJohn，whomighthaveknownthevalueofoathsandpromises，wastemptedtoacceptanocturnal，andalmosttreasonable，interviewwiththewifeofBelisarius。AnambuscadeofguardsandeunuchshadbeenpostedbythecommandofTheodora；
theyrushedwithdrawnswordstoseizeortopunishtheguiltyminister:hewassavedbythefidelityofhisattendants；butinsteadofappealingtoagracioussovereign，whohadprivatelywarnedhimofhisdanger，hepusillanimouslyfledtothesanctuaryofthechurch。ThefavoriteofJustinianwassacrificedtoconjugaltendernessordomestictranquility；theconversionofapraefectintoapriestextinguishedhisambitioushopes:butthefriendshipoftheemperoralleviatedhisdisgrace，andheretainedinthemildexileofCyzicusanampleportionofhisriches。SuchimperfectrevengecouldnotsatisfytheunrelentinghatredofTheodora；themurderofhisoldenemy，thebishopofCyzicus，affordedadecentpretence；andJohnofCappadocia，whoseactionshaddeservedathousanddeaths，wasatlastcondemnedforacrimeofwhichhewasinnocent。Agreatminister，whohadbeeninvestedwiththehonorsofconsulandpatrician，wasignominiouslyscourgedlikethevilestofmalefactors；atatteredcloakwasthesoleremnantofhisfortunes；hewastransportedinabarktotheplaceofhisbanishmentatAntinopolisinUpperEgypt，andthepraefectoftheEastbeggedhisbreadthroughthecitieswhichhadtrembledathisname。Duringanexileofsevenyears，hislifewasprotractedandthreatenedbytheingeniouscrueltyofTheodora；
andwhenherdeathpermittedtheemperortorecallaservantwhomhehadabandonedwithregret，theambitionofJohnofCappadociawasreducedtothehumbledutiesofthesacerdotalprofession。
HissuccessorsconvincedthesubjectsofJustinian，thattheartsofoppressionmightstillbeimprovedbyexperienceandindustry；
thefraudsofaSyrianbankerwereintroducedintotheadministrationofthefinances；andtheexampleofthepraefectwasdiligentlycopiedbythequaestor，thepublicandprivatetreasurer，thegovernorsofprovinces，andtheprincipalmagistratesoftheEasternempire。^94
[Footnote91:Oneofthese，Anatolius，perishedinanearthquake—doubtlessajudgment!ThecomplaintsandclamorsofthepeopleinAgathiasl。v。p。146，147arealmostanechooftheanecdote。ThealienapecuniareddendaofCorippusl。ii。381，&c。，isnotveryhonorabletoJustinian\'smemory。]
[Footnote92:SeethehistoryandcharacterofJohnofCappadociainProcopius。Persic，l。i。c。35，25，l。ii。c。30。Vandal。
l。i。c。13。Anecdot。c。2，17，22。Theagreementofthehistoryandanecdotesisamortalwoundtothereputationofthepraefct。]
[Footnote*:Thisview，particularlyofthecrueltyofJohnofCappadocia，isconfirmedbythetestimonyofJoannesLydus，whowasintheofficeofthepraefect，andeye—witnessofthetorturesinflictedbyhiscommandonthemiserabledebtors，orsupposeddebtors，ofthestate。Hementionsonehorribleinstanceofarespectableoldman，withwhomhewaspersonallyacquainted，who，beingsuspectedofpossessingmoney，washungupbythehandstillhewasdead。LydusdeMagist。lib。iii。c。57，p。254。—M。]
[Footnote93:Aforcibleexpression。]
[Footnote*:JoannesLydusisdiffuseonthissubject，lib。iii。
c。65，p。268。ButtheindignantvirtueofLydusseemsgreatlystimulatedbythelossofhisofficialfees，whichheascribestotheinnovationsoftheminister。—M。]
[Footnote!:AccordingtoLydus，TheodoradisclosedthecrimesandunpopularityoftheministertoJustinian，buttheemperorhadnotthecouragetoremove，andwasunabletoreplace，aservant，underwhomhisfinancesseemedtoprosper。HeattributestheseditionandconflagrationtothepopularresentmentagainstthetyrannyofJohn，lib。iii。c70，p。278。
Unfortunatelythereisalargegapinhisworkjustatthisperiod。—M。]
[Footnote94:ThechronologyofProcopiusislooseandobscure；
butwiththeaidofPagiIcandiscernthatJohnwasappointedPraetorianpraefectoftheEastintheyear530—thathewasremovedinJanuary，532—restoredbeforeJune，533—banishedin541—andrecalledbetweenJune，548，andApril1，549。Aleman。
p。96，97givesthelistofhistensuccessors—arapidseriesinapartofasinglereign。
Note:LydusgivesahighcharacterofPhocas，hissuccessortom。iii。c。78p。288。—M。]
V。TheedificesofJustinianwerecementedwiththebloodandtreasureofhispeople；butthosestatelystructuresappearedtoannouncetheprosperityoftheempire，andactuallydisplayedtheskilloftheirarchitects。Boththetheoryandpracticeoftheartswhichdependonmathematicalscienceandmechanicalpower，werecultivatedunderthepatronageoftheemperors；thefameofArchimedeswasrivalledbyProclusandAnthemius；andiftheirmiracleshadbeenrelatedbyintelligentspectators，theymightnowenlargethespeculations，insteadofexcitingthedistrust，ofphilosophers。Atraditionhasprevailed，thattheRomanfleetwasreducedtoashesintheportofSyracuse，bytheburning—glassesofArchimedes；^95anditisasserted，thatasimilarexpedientwasemployedbyProclustodestroytheGothicvesselsintheharborofConstantinople，andtoprotecthisbenefactorAnastasiusagainsttheboldenterpriseofVitalian。
^96Amachinewasfixedonthewallsofthecity，consistingofahexagonmirrorofpolishedbrass，withmanysmallerandmovablepolygonstoreceiveandreflecttheraysofthemeridiansun；andaconsumingflamewasdarted，tothedistance，perhapsoftwohundredfeet。^97Thetruthofthesetwoextraordinaryfactsisinvalidatedbythesilenceofthemostauthentichistorians；andtheuseofburning—glasseswasneveradoptedintheattackordefenceofplaces。^98YettheadmirableexperimentsofaFrenchphilosopher^99havedemonstratedthepossibilityofsuchamirror；and，sinceitispossible，Iammoredisposedtoattributethearttothegreatestmathematiciansofantiquity，thantogivethemeritofthefictiontotheidlefancyofamonkorasophist。Accordingtoanotherstory，ProclusappliedsulphurtothedestructionoftheGothicfleet；^100inamodernimagination，thenameofsulphurisinstantlyconnectedwiththesuspicionofgunpowder，andthatsuspicionispropagatedbythesecretartsofhisdiscipleAnthemius。^101AcitizenofTrallesinAsiahadfivesons，whowerealldistinguishedintheirrespectiveprofessionsbymeritandsuccess。OlympiusexcelledintheknowledgeandpracticeoftheRomanjurisprudence。DioscorusandAlexanderbecamelearnedphysicians；buttheskilloftheformerwasexercisedforthebenefitofhisfellow—citizens，whilehismoreambitiousbrotheracquiredwealthandreputationatRome。ThefameofMetrodorusthegrammarian，andofAnthemiusthemathematicianandarchitect，reachedtheearsoftheemperorJustinian，whoinvitedthemtoConstantinople；andwhiletheoneinstructedtherisinggenerationintheschoolsofeloquence，theotherfilledthecapitalandprovinceswithmorelastingmonumentsofhisart。Inatriflingdisputerelativetothewallsorwindowsoftheircontiguoushouses，hehadbeenvanquishedbytheeloquenceofhisneighborZeno；buttheoratorwasdefeatedinhisturnbythemasterofmechanics，whosemalicious，thoughharmless，stratagemsaredarklyrepresentedbytheignoranceofAgathias。Inalowerroom，Anthemiusarrangedseveralvesselsorcaldronsofwater，eachofthemcoveredbythewidebottomofaleatherntube，whichrosetoanarrowtop，andwasartificiallyconveyedamongthejoistsandraftersoftheadjacentbuilding。Afirewaskindledbeneaththecaldron；thesteamoftheboilingwaterascendedthroughthetubes；thehousewasshakenbytheeffortsofimprisonedair，anditstremblinginhabitantsmightwonderthatthecitywasunconsciousoftheearthquakewhichtheyhadfelt。Atanothertime，thefriendsofZeno，astheysatattable，weredazzledbytheintolerablelightwhichflashedintheireyesfromthereflectingmirrorsofAnthemius；theywereastonishedbythenoisewhichheproducedfromthecollisionofcertainminuteandsonorousparticles；andtheoratordeclaredintragicstyletothesenate，thatameremortalmustyieldtothepowerofanantagonist，whoshooktheearthwiththetridentofNeptune，andimitatedthethunderandlightningofJovehimself。ThegeniusofAnthemius，andhiscolleagueIsidoretheMilesian，wasexcitedandemployedbyaprince，whosetasteforarchitecturehaddegeneratedintoamischievousandcostlypassion。HisfavoritearchitectssubmittedtheirdesignsanddifficultiestoJustinian，anddiscreetlyconfessedhowmuchtheirlaboriousmeditationsweresurpassedbytheintuitiveknowledgeofcelestialinspirationofanemperor，whoseviewswerealwaysdirectedtothebenefitofhispeople，thegloryofhisreign，andthesalvationofhissoul。^102
[Footnote95:ThisconflagrationishintedbyLucianinHippia，c。2andGalen，l。iii。deTemperamentis，tom。i。p。81，edit。
Basil。inthesecondcentury。Athousandyearsafterwards，itispositivelyaffirmedbyZonaras，l。ix。p。424，onthefaithofDionCassius，Tzetzes，Chiliadii。119，&c。，Eustathius，adIliad。E。p。338，andthescholiastofLucian。SeeFabricius，Bibliot。Graec。l。iii。c。22，tom。ii。p。551，552，towhomI
ammoreorlessindebtedforseveralofthesequotations。]
[Footnote96:Zonarasl。xi。c。p。55affirmsthefact，withoutquotinganyevidence。]
[Footnote97:Tzetzesdescribestheartificeoftheseburning—glasses，whichhehadread，perhaps，withnolearnedeyes，inamathematicaltreatiseofAnthemius。Thattreatisehasbeenlatelypublished，translated，andillustrated，byM。Dupuys，ascholarandamathematician，Memoiresdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tomxliip。392—451。]
[Footnote98:InthesiegeofSyracuse，bythesilenceofPolybius，Plutarch，Livy；inthesiegeofConstantinople，bythatofMarcellinusandallthecontemporariesofthevithcentury。]
[Footnote99:WithoutanypreviousknowledgeofTzetzesorAnthemius，theimmortalBuffonimaginedandexecutedasetofburning—glasses，withwhichhecouldinflameplanksatthedistanceof200feet，Supplemental\'Hist。Naturelle，tom。i。
399—483，quartoedition。Whatmiracleswouldnothisgeniushaveperformedforthepublicservice，withroyalexpense，andinthestrongsunofConstantinopleorSyracuse?]
[Footnote100:JohnMalalatom。ii。p。120—124relatesthefact；butheseemstoconfoundthenamesorpersonsofProclusandMarinus。]
[Footnote101:Agathias，l。v。p。149—152。ThemeritofAnthemiusasanarchitectisloudlypraisedbyProcopiusdeEdif。l。i。c。1andPaulusSilentiarius，parti。134，&c。]
[Footnote102:SeeProcopius，deEdificiis，l。i。c。1，2，l。
ii。c。3。Herelatesacoincidenceofdreams，whichsupposessomefraudinJustinianorhisarchitect。Theybothsaw，inavision，thesameplanforstoppinganinundationatDara。A
stonequarrynearJerusalemwasrevealedtotheemperor，l。v。
c。6:anangelwastrickedintotheperpetualcustodyofSt。
Sophia，Anonym。deAntiq。C。P。l。iv。p。70。]
Theprincipalchurch，whichwasdedicatedbythefounderofConstantinopletoSt。Sophia，ortheeternalwisdom，hadbeentwicedestroyedbyfire；aftertheexileofJohnChrysostom，andduringtheNikaoftheblueandgreenfactions。Nosoonerdidthetumultsubside，thantheChristianpopulacedeploredtheirsacrilegiousrashness；buttheymighthaverejoicedinthecalamity，hadtheyforeseenthegloryofthenewtemple，whichattheendoffortydayswasstrenuouslyundertakenbythepietyofJustinian。^103Theruinswereclearedaway，amorespaciousplanwasdescribed，andasitrequiredtheconsentofsomeproprietorsofground，theyobtainedthemostexorbitanttermsfromtheeagerdesiresandtimorousconscienceofthemonarch。Anthemiusformedthedesign，andhisgeniusdirectedthehandsoftenthousandworkmen，whosepaymentinpiecesoffinesilverwasneverdelayedbeyondtheevening。Theemperorhimself，cladinalinentunic，surveyedeachdaytheirrapidprogress，andencouragedtheirdiligencebyhisfamiliarity，hiszeal，andhisrewards。ThenewCathedralofSt。Sophiawasconsecratedbythepatriarch，fiveyears，elevenmonths，andtendaysfromthefirstfoundation；andinthemidstofthesolemnfestivalJustinianexclaimedwithdevoutvanity，\"GlorybetoGod，whohaththoughtmeworthytoaccomplishsogreatawork；Ihavevanquishedthee，OSolomon!\"
^104ButtheprideoftheRomanSolomon，beforetwentyyearshadelapsed，washumbledbyanearthquake，whichoverthrewtheeasternpartofthedome。Itssplendorwasagainrestoredbytheperseveranceofthesameprince；andinthethirty—sixthyearofhisreign，Justiniancelebratedtheseconddedicationofatemplewhichremains，aftertwelvecenturies，astatelymonumentofhisfame。ThearchitectureofSt。Sophia，whichisnowconvertedintotheprincipalmosch，hasbeenimitatedbytheTurkishsultans，andthatvenerablepilecontinuestoexcitethefondadmirationoftheGreeks，andthemorerationalcuriosityofEuropeantravellers。Theeyeofthespectatorisdisappointedbyanirregularprospectofhalf—domesandshelvingroofs:thewesternfront，theprincipalapproach，isdestituteofsimplicityandmagnificence；andthescaleofdimensionshasbeenmuchsurpassedbyseveraloftheLatincathedrals。Butthearchitectwhofirsterectedandaerialcupola，isentitledtothepraiseofbolddesignandskilfulexecution。ThedomeofSt。Sophia，illuminatedbyfour—and—twentywindows，isformedwithsosmallacurve，thatthedepthisequalonlytoonesixthofitsdiameter；
themeasureofthatdiameterisonehundredandfifteenfeet，andtheloftycentre，whereacrescenthassupplantedthecross，risestotheperpendicularheightofonehundredandeightyfeetabovethepavement。Thecirclewhichencompassesthedome，lightlyreposesonfourstrongarches，andtheirweightisfirmlysupportedbyfourmassypiles，whosestrengthisassisted，onthenorthernandsouthernsides，byfourcolumnsofEgyptiangranite。
AGreekcross，inscribedinaquadrangle，representstheformoftheedifice；theexactbreadthistwohundredandforty—threefeet，andtwohundredandsixty—ninemaybeassignedfortheextremelengthfromthesanctuaryintheeast，totheninewesterndoors，whichopenintothevestibule，andfromthenceintothenarthexorexteriorportico。Thatporticowasthehumblestationofthepenitents。Thenaveorbodyofthechurchwasfilledbythecongregationofthefaithful；butthetwosexeswereprudentlydistinguished，andtheupperandlowergallerieswereallottedforthemoreprivatedevotionofthewomen。Beyondthenorthernandsouthernpiles，abalustrade，terminatedoneithersidebythethronesoftheemperorandthepatriarch，dividedthenavefromthechoir；andthespace，asfarasthestepsofthealtar，wasoccupiedbytheclergyandsingers。Thealtaritself，anamewhichinsensiblybecamefamiliartoChristianears，wasplacedintheeasternrecess，artificiallybuiltintheformofademi—cylinder；andthissanctuarycommunicatedbyseveraldoorswiththesacristy，thevestry，thebaptistery，andthecontiguousbuildings，subservienteithertothepompofworship，ortheprivateuseoftheecclesiasticalministers。ThememoryofpastcalamitiesinspiredJustinianwithawiseresolution，thatnowood，exceptforthedoors，shouldbeadmittedintothenewedifice；andthechoiceofthematerialswasappliedtothestrength，thelightness，orthesplendoroftherespectiveparts。Thesolidpileswhichcontainedthecupolawerecomposedofhugeblocksoffreestone，hewnintosquaresandtriangles，fortifiedbycirclesofiron，andfirmlycementedbytheinfusionofleadandquicklime:buttheweightofthecupolawasdiminishedbythelevityofitssubstance，whichconsistseitherofpumice—stonethatfloatsinthewater，orofbricksfromtheIsleofRhodes，fivetimeslessponderousthantheordinarysort。Thewholeframeoftheedificewasconstructedofbrick；butthosebasematerialswereconcealedbyacrustofmarble；andtheinsideofSt。Sophia，thecupola，thetwolarger，andthesixsmaller，semi—domes，thewalls，thehundredcolumns，andthepavement，delighteventheeyesofBarbarians，witharichandvariegatedpicture。Apoet，^105whobeheldtheprimitivelustreofSt。Sophia，enumeratesthecolors，theshades，andthespotsoftenortwelvemarbles，jaspers，andporphyries，whichnaturehadprofuselydiversified，andwhichwereblendedandcontrastedasitwerebyaskilfulpainter。ThetriumphofChristwasadornedwiththelastspoilsofPaganism，butthegreaterpartofthesecostlystoneswasextractedfromthequarriesofAsiaMinor，theislesandcontinentofGreece，Egypt，Africa，andGaul。Eightcolumnsofporphyry，whichAurelianhadplacedinthetempleofthesun，wereofferedbythepietyofaRomanmatron；eightothersofgreenmarblewerepresentedbytheambitiouszealofthemagistratesofEphesus:
bothareadmirablebytheirsizeandbeauty，buteveryorderofarchitecturedisclaimstheirfantasticcapital。Avarietyofornamentsandfigureswascuriouslyexpressedinmosaic；andtheimagesofChrist，oftheVirgin，ofsaints，andofangels，whichhavebeendefacedbyTurkishfanaticism，weredangerouslyexposedtothesuperstitionoftheGreeks。Accordingtothesanctityofeachobject，thepreciousmetalsweredistributedinthinleavesorinsolidmasses。Thebalustradeofthechoir，thecapitalsofthepillars，theornamentsofthedoorsandgalleries，wereofgiltbronze；thespectatorwasdazzledbytheglitteringaspectofthecupola；thesanctuarycontainedfortythousandpoundsweightofsilver；andtheholyvasesandvestmentsofthealtarwereofthepurestgold，enrichedwithinestimablegems。Beforethestructureofthechurchhadarisentwocubitsabovetheground，forty—fivethousandtwohundredpoundswerealreadyconsumed；andthewholeexpenseamountedtothreehundredandtwentythousand:eachreader，accordingtothemeasureofhisbelief，mayestimatetheirvalueeitheringoldorsilver；butthesumofonemillionsterlingistheresultofthelowestcomputation。Amagnificenttempleisalaudablemonumentofnationaltasteandreligion；andtheenthusiastwhoenteredthedomeofSt。Sophiamightbetemptedtosupposethatitwastheresidence，oreventheworkmanship，oftheDeity。Yethowdullistheartifice，howinsignificantisthelabor，ifitbecomparedwiththeformationofthevilestinsectthatcrawlsuponthesurfaceofthetemple!