Buthisjealousywasexasperatedbyenvyanddisease；hefearedthedangerousvirtueswhichmighteithersupportoroppresstheirinfancyandweakness；andthedyingemperordemandedtheheadofthePersianprince。Withsavagedelightherecognizedthefamiliarfeaturesofhisbrother:\"ThouartnolongerTheophobus，\"hesaid；and，sinkingonhiscouch，headded，withafalteringvoice，\"Soon，toosoon，IshallbenomoreTheophilus!\"
ChapterXLVIII:SuccessionAndCharactersOfTheGreekEmperors。
PartIII。
TheRussians，whohaveborrowedfromtheGreeksthegreatestpartoftheircivilandecclesiasticalpolicy，preserved，tillthelastcentury，asingularinstitutioninthemarriageoftheCzar。Theycollected，notthevirginsofeveryrankandofeveryprovince，avainandromanticidea，butthedaughtersoftheprincipalnobles，whoawaitedinthepalacethechoiceoftheirsovereign。Itisaffirmed，thatasimilarmethodwasadoptedinthenuptialsofTheophilus。Withagoldenappleinhishand，heslowlywalkedbetweentwolinesofcontendingbeauties:hiseyewasdetainedbythecharmsofIcasia，andintheawkwardnessofafirstdeclaration，theprincecouldonlyobserve，that，inthisworld，womenhadbeenthecauseofmuchevil；\"Andsurely，sir，\"
shepertlyreplied，\"theyhavelikewisebeentheoccasionofmuchgood。\"ThisaffectationofunseasonablewitdispleasedtheImperiallover:heturnedasideindisgust；Icasiaconcealedhermortificationinaconvent；andthemodestsilenceofTheodorawasrewardedwiththegoldenapple。Shedeservedthelove，butdidnotescapetheseverity，ofherlord。Fromthepalacegardenhebeheldavesseldeeplyladen，andsteeringintotheport:onthediscoverythatthepreciouscargoofSyrianluxurywasthepropertyofhiswife，hecondemnedtheshiptotheflames，withasharpreproach，thatheravaricehaddegradedthecharacterofanempressintothatofamerchant。YethislastchoiceintrustedherwiththeguardianshipoftheempireandhersonMichael，whowasleftanorphaninthefifthyearofhisage。Therestorationofimages，andthefinalextirpationoftheIconoclasts，hasendearedhernametothedevotionoftheGreeks；butinthefervorofreligiouszeal，Theodoraentertainedagratefulregardforthememoryandsalvationofherhusband。Afterthirteenyearsofaprudentandfrugaladministration，sheperceivedthedeclineofherinfluence；butthesecondIreneimitatedonlythevirtuesofherpredecessor。Insteadofconspiringagainstthelifeorgovernmentofherson，sheretired，withoutastruggle，thoughnotwithoutamurmur，tothesolitudeofprivatelife，deploringtheingratitude，thevices，andtheinevitableruin，oftheworthlessyouth。
AmongthesuccessorsofNeroandElagabalus，wehavenothithertofoundtheimitationoftheirvices，thecharacterofaRomanprincewhoconsideredpleasureastheobjectoflife，andvirtueastheenemyofpleasure。WhatevermighthavebeenthematernalcareofTheodoraintheeducationofMichaeltheThird，herunfortunatesonwasakingbeforehewasaman。Iftheambitiousmotherlaboredtochecktheprogressofreason，shecouldnotcooltheebullitionofpassion；andherselfishpolicywasjustlyrepaidbythecontemptandingratitudeoftheheadstrongyouth。Attheageofeighteen，herejectedherauthority，withoutfeelinghisownincapacitytogoverntheempireandhimself。WithTheodora，allgravityandwisdomretiredfromthecourt；theirplacewassuppliedbythealternatedominionofviceandfolly；anditwasimpossible，withoutforfeitingthepublicesteem，toacquireorpreservethefavoroftheemperor。Themillionsofgoldandsilverwhichhadbeenaccumulatedfortheserviceofthestate，werelavishedonthevilestofmen，whoflatteredhispassionsandsharedhispleasures；andinareignofthirteenyears，therichestofsovereignswascompelledtostripthepalaceandthechurchesoftheirpreciousfurniture。LikeNero，hedelightedintheamusementsofthetheatre，andsighedtobesurpassedintheaccomplishmentsinwhichheshouldhaveblushedtoexcel。YetthestudiesofNeroinmusicandpoetrybetrayedsomesymptomsofaliberaltaste；themoreignobleartsofthesonofTheophiluswereconfinedtothechariot—raceofthehippodrome。Thefourfactionswhichhadagitatedthepeace，stillamusedtheidleness，ofthecapital:forhimself，theemperorassumedthebluelivery；
thethreerivalcolorsweredistributedtohisfavorites，andinthevilethougheagercontentionheforgotthedignityofhispersonandthesafetyofhisdominions。Hesilencedthemessengerofaninvasion，whopresumedtodiverthisattentioninthemostcriticalmomentoftherace；andbyhiscommand，theimportunatebeaconswereextinguished，thattoofrequentlyspreadthealarmfromTarsustoConstantinople。Themostskilfulcharioteersobtainedthefirstplaceinhisconfidenceandesteem；theirmeritwasprofuselyrewardedtheemperorfeastedintheirhouses，andpresentedtheirchildrenatthebaptismalfont；
andwhileheapplaudedhisownpopularity，heaffectedtoblamethecoldandstatelyreserveofhispredecessors。TheunnaturallustswhichhaddegradedeventhemanhoodofNero，werebanishedfromtheworld；yetthestrengthofMichaelwasconsumedbytheindulgenceofloveandintemperance。Inhismidnightrevels，whenhispassionswereinflamedbywine，hewasprovokedtoissuethemostsanguinarycommands；andifanyfeelingsofhumanitywereleft，hewasreduced，withthereturnofsense，toapprovethesalutarydisobedienceofhisservants。ButthemostextraordinaryfeatureinthecharacterofMichael，istheprofanemockeryofthereligionofhiscountry。ThesuperstitionoftheGreeksmightindeedexcitethesmileofaphilosopher；buthissmilewouldhavebeenrationalandtemperate，andhemusthavecondemnedtheignorantfollyofayouthwhoinsultedtheobjectsofpublicveneration。Abuffoonofthecourtwasinvestedintherobesofthepatriarch:histwelvemetropolitans，amongwhomtheemperorwasranked，assumedtheirecclesiasticalgarments:theyusedorabusedthesacredvesselsofthealtar；andintheirbacchanalianfeasts，theholycommunionwasadministeredinanauseouscompoundofvinegarandmustard。Norweretheseimpiousspectaclesconcealedfromtheeyesofthecity。Onthedayofasolemnfestival，theemperor，withhisbishopsorbuffoons，rodeonassesthroughthestreets，encounteredthetruepatriarchattheheadofhisclergy；andbytheirlicentiousshoutsandobscenegestures，disorderedthegravityoftheChristianprocession。ThedevotionofMichaelappearedonlyinsomeoffencetoreasonorpiety:hereceivedhistheatricalcrownsfromthestatueoftheVirgin；andanImperialtombwasviolatedforthesakeofburningthebonesofConstantinetheIconoclast。
Bythisextravagantconduct，thesonofTheophilusbecameascontemptibleashewasodious:everycitizenwasimpatientforthedeliveranceofhiscountry；andeventhefavoritesofthemomentwereapprehensivethatacapricemightsnatchawaywhatacapricehadbestowed。Inthethirtiethyearofhisage，andinthehourofintoxicationandsleep，MichaeltheThirdwasmurderedinhischamberbythefounderofanewdynasty，whomtheemperorhadraisedtoanequalityofrankandpower。
[Footnote*:InacampaignagainsttheSaracens，hebetrayedbothimbecilityandcowardice。Genesius，c。iv。p。94。—M。]
ThegenealogyofBasiltheMacedonianifitbenotthespuriousoffspringofprideandflatteryexhibitsagenuinepictureoftherevolutionofthemostillustriousfamilies。TheArsacides，therivalsofRome，possessedthesceptreoftheEastnearfourhundredyears:ayoungerbranchoftheseParthiankingscontinuedtoreigninArmenia；andtheirroyaldescendantssurvivedthepartitionandservitudeofthatancientmonarchy。
Twoofthese，ArtabanusandChlienes，escapedorretiredtothecourtofLeotheFirst:hisbountyseatedtheminasafeandhospitableexile，intheprovinceofMacedonia:Adrianoplewastheirfinalsettlement。Duringseveralgenerationstheymaintainedthedignityoftheirbirth；andtheirRomanpatriotismrejectedthetemptingoffersofthePersianandArabianpowers，whorecalledthemtotheirnativecountry。Buttheirsplendorwasinsensiblycloudedbytimeandpoverty；andthefatherofBasilwasreducedtoasmallfarm，whichhecultivatedwithhisownhands:yethescornedtodisgracethebloodoftheArsacidesbyaplebeianalliance:hiswife，awidowofAdrianople，waspleasedtocountamongherancestorsthegreatConstantine；andtheirroyalinfantwasconnectedbysomedarkaffinityoflineageorcountrywiththeMacedonianAlexander。Nosoonerwasheborn，thanthecradleofBasil，hisfamily，andhiscity，weresweptawaybyaninundationoftheBulgarians:hewaseducatedaslaveinaforeignland；andinthisseverediscipline，heacquiredthehardinessofbodyandflexibilityofmindwhichpromotedhisfutureelevation。IntheageofyouthormanhoodhesharedthedeliveranceoftheRomancaptives，whogenerouslybroketheirfetters，marchedthroughBulgariatotheshoresoftheEuxine，defeatedtwoarmiesofBarbarians，embarkedintheshipswhichhadbeenstationedfortheirreception，andreturnedtoConstantinople，fromwhencetheyweredistributedtotheirrespectivehomes。ButthefreedomofBasilwasnakedanddestitute:hisfarmwasruinedbythecalamitiesofwar:afterhisfather\'sdeath，hismanuallabor，orservice，couldnolongersupportafamilyoforphansandheresolvedtoseekamoreconspicuoustheatre，inwhicheveryvirtueandeveryvicemayleadtothepathsofgreatness。ThefirstnightofhisarrivalatConstantinople，withoutfriendsormoney，thewearypilgrimsleptonthestepsofthechurchofSt。Diomede:hewasfedbythecasualhospitalityofamonk；andwasintroducedtotheserviceofacousinandnamesakeoftheemperorTheophilus；who，thoughhimselfofadiminutiveperson，wasalwaysfollowedbyatrainoftallandhandsomedomestics。BasilattendedhispatrontothegovernmentofPeloponnesus；eclipsed，byhispersonalmeritthebirthanddignityofTheophilus，andformedausefulconnectionwithawealthyandcharitablematronofPatras。Herspiritualorcarnalloveembracedtheyoungadventurer，whomsheadoptedasherson。Danielispresentedhimwiththirtyslaves；
andtheproduceofherbountywasexpendedinthesupportofhisbrothers，andthepurchaseofsomelargeestatesinMacedonia。
HisgratitudeorambitionstillattachedhimtotheserviceofTheophilus；andaluckyaccidentrecommendedhimtothenoticeofthecourt。Afamouswrestler，inthetrainoftheBulgarianambassadors，haddefied，attheroyalbanquet，theboldestandmostrobustoftheGreeks。ThestrengthofBasilwaspraised；heacceptedthechallenge；andtheBarbarianchampionwasoverthrownatthefirstonset。Abeautifulbutvicioushorsewascondemnedtobehamstrung:itwassubduedbythedexterityandcourageoftheservantofTheophilus；andhisconquerorwaspromotedtoanhonorablerankintheImperialstables。ButitwasimpossibletoobtaintheconfidenceofMichael，withoutcomplyingwithhisvices；andhisnewfavorite，thegreatchamberlainofthepalace，wasraisedandsupportedbyadisgracefulmarriagewitharoyalconcubine，andthedishonorofhissister，whosucceededtoherplace。ThepublicadministrationhadbeenabandonedtotheCaesarBardas，thebrotherandenemyofTheodora；buttheartsoffemaleinfluencepersuadedMichaeltohateandtofearhisuncle:
hewasdrawnfromConstantinople，underthepretenceofaCretanexpedition，andstabbedinthetentofaudience，bytheswordofthechamberlain，andinthepresenceoftheemperor。Aboutamonthafterthisexecution，BasilwasinvestedwiththetitleofAugustusandthegovernmentoftheempire。Hesupportedthisunequalassociationtillhisinfluencewasfortifiedbypopularesteem。Hislifewasendangeredbythecapriceoftheemperor；
andhisdignitywasprofanedbyasecondcolleague，whohadrowedinthegalleys。Yetthemurderofhisbenefactormustbecondemnedasanactofingratitudeandtreason；andthechurcheswhichhededicatedtothenameofSt。Michaelwereapoorandpuerileexpiationofhisguilt。
ThedifferentagesofBasiltheFirstmaybecomparedwiththoseofAugustus。ThesituationoftheGreekdidnotallowhiminhisearliestyouthtoleadanarmyagainsthiscountry；ortoproscribethenoblesofhersons；buthisaspiringgeniusstoopedtotheartsofaslave；hedissembledhisambitionandevenhisvirtues，andgrasped，withthebloodyhandofanassassin，theempirewhichheruledwiththewisdomandtendernessofaparent。
Aprivatecitizenmayfeelhisinterestrepugnanttohisduty；
butitmustbefromadeficiencyofsenseorcourage，thatanabsolutemonarchcanseparatehishappinessfromhisglory，orhisgloryfromthepublicwelfare。ThelifeorpanegyricofBasilhasindeedbeencomposedandpublishedunderthelongreignofhisdescendants；buteventheirstabilityonthethronemaybejustlyascribedtothesuperiormeritoftheirancestor。Inhischaracter，hisgrandsonConstantinehasattemptedtodelineateaperfectimageofroyalty:butthatfeebleprince，unlesshehadcopiedarealmodel，couldnoteasilyhavesoaredsohighabovethelevelofhisownconductorconceptions。ButthemostsolidpraiseofBasilisdrawnfromthecomparisonofaruinedandaflourishingmonarchy，thatwhichhewrestedfromthedissoluteMichael，andthatwhichhebequeathedtotheMecedoniandynasty。
Theevilswhichhadbeensanctifiedbytimeandexample，werecorrectedbyhismaster—hand；andherevived，ifnotthenationalspirit，atleasttheorderandmajestyoftheRomanempire。Hisapplicationwasindefatigable，histempercool，hisunderstandingvigorousanddecisive；andinhispracticeheobservedthatrareandsalutarymoderation，whichpursueseachvirtue，atanequaldistancebetweentheoppositevices。Hismilitaryservicehadbeenconfinedtothepalace:norwastheemperorendowedwiththespiritorthetalentsofawarrior。YetunderhisreigntheRomanarmswereagainformidabletotheBarbarians。Assoonashehadformedanewarmybydisciplineandexercise，heappearedinpersononthebanksoftheEuphrates，curbedtheprideoftheSaracens，andsuppressedthedangerousthoughjustrevoltoftheManichaeans。Hisindignationagainstarebelwhohadlongeludedhispursuit，provokedhimtowishandtopray，that，bythegraceofGod，hemightdrivethreearrowsintotheheadofChrysochir。
Thatodioushead，whichhadbeenobtainedbytreasonratherthanbyvalor，wassuspendedfromatree，andthriceexposedtothedexterityoftheImperialarcher；abaserevengeagainstthedead，moreworthyofthetimesthanofthecharacterofBasil。
Buthisprincipalmeritwasintheciviladministrationofthefinancesandofthelaws。Toreplenishandexhaustedtreasury，itwasproposedtoresumethelavishandill—placedgiftsofhispredecessor:hisprudenceabatedonemoietyoftherestitution；
andasumoftwelvehundredthousandpoundswasinstantlyprocuredtoanswerthemostpressingdemands，andtoallowsomespaceforthematureoperationsofeconomy。Amongthevariousschemesfortheimprovementoftherevenue，anewmodewassuggestedofcapitation，ortribute，whichwouldhavetoomuchdependedonthearbitrarydiscretionoftheassessors。A
sufficientlistofhonestandableagentswasinstantlyproducedbytheminister；butonthemorecarefulscrutinyofBasilhimself，onlytwocouldbefound，whomightbesafelyintrustedwithsuchdangerouspowers；buttheyjustifiedhisesteembydeclininghisconfidence。Buttheseriousandsuccessfuldiligenceoftheemperorestablishedbydegreestheequitablebalanceofpropertyandpayment，ofreceiptandexpenditure；apeculiarfundwasappropriatedtoeachservice；andapublicmethodsecuredtheinterestoftheprinceandthepropertyofthepeople。Afterreformingtheluxury，heassignedtwopatrimonialestatestosupplythedecentplenty，oftheImperialtable:thecontributionsofthesubjectwerereservedforhisdefence；andtheresiduewasemployedintheembellishmentofthecapitalandprovinces。Atasteforbuilding，howevercostly，maydeservesomepraiseandmuchexcuse:fromthenceindustryisfed，artisencouraged，andsomeobjectisattainedofpublicemolumentorpleasure:theuseofaroad，anaqueduct，orahospital，isobviousandsolid；andthehundredchurchesthatarosebythecommandofBasilwereconsecratedtothedevotionoftheage。Inthecharacterofajudgehewasassiduousandimpartial；desiroustosave，butnotafraidtostrike:theoppressorsofthepeoplewereseverelychastised；buthispersonalfoes，whomitmightbeunsafetopardon，werecondemned，afterthelossoftheireyes，toalifeofsolitudeandrepentance。ThechangeoflanguageandmannersdemandedarevisionoftheobsoletejurisprudenceofJustinian:thevoluminousbodyofhisInstitutes，Pandects，Code，andNovels，wasdigestedunderfortytitles，intheGreekidiom；
andtheBasilics，whichwereimprovedandcompletedbyhissonandgrandson，mustbereferredtotheoriginalgeniusofthefounderoftheirrace。Thisgloriousreignwasterminatedbyanaccidentinthechase。AfuriousstagentangledhishornsinthebeltofBasil，andraisedhimfromhishorse:hewasrescuedbyanattendant，whocutthebeltandslewtheanimal；butthefall，orthefever，exhaustedthestrengthoftheagedmonarch，andheexpiredinthepalaceamidstthetearsofhisfamilyandpeople。
Ifhestruckofftheheadofthefaithfulservantforpresumingtodrawhisswordagainsthissovereign，theprideofdespotism，whichhadlaindormantinhislife，revivedinthelastmomentsofdespair，whenhenolongerwantedorvaluedtheopinionofmankind。
Ofthefoursonsoftheemperor，Constantinediedbeforehisfather，whosegriefandcredulitywereamusedbyaflatteringimpostorandavainapparition。Stephen，theyoungest，wascontentwiththehonorsofapatriarchandasaint；bothLeoandAlexanderwerealikeinvestedwiththepurple，butthepowersofgovernmentweresolelyexercisedbytheelderbrother。ThenameofLeotheSixthhasbeendignifiedwiththetitleofphilosopher；andtheunionoftheprinceandthesage，oftheactiveandspeculativevirtues，wouldindeedconstitutetheperfectionofhumannature。ButtheclaimsofLeoarefarshortofthisidealexcellence。Didhereducehispassionsandappetitesunderthedominionofreason?Hislifewasspentinthepompofthepalace，inthesocietyofhiswivesandconcubines；andeventheclemencywhichheshowed，andthepeacewhichhestrovetopreserve，mustbeimputedtothesoftnessandindolenceofhischaracter。Didhesubduehisprejudices，andthoseofhissubjects?Hismindwastingedwiththemostpuerilesuperstition；theinfluenceoftheclergy，andtheerrorsofthepeople，wereconsecratedbyhislaws；andtheoraclesofLeo，whichreveal，inpropheticstyle，thefatesoftheempire，arefoundedontheartsofastrologyanddivination。Ifwestillinquirethereasonofhissageappellation，itcanonlybereplied，thatthesonofBasilwaslessignorantthanthegreaterpartofhiscontemporariesinchurchandstate；thathiseducationhadbeendirectedbythelearnedPhotius；andthatseveralbooksofprofaneandecclesiasticalsciencewerecomposedbythepen，orinthename，oftheImperialphilosopher。Butthereputationofhisphilosophyandreligionwasoverthrownbyadomesticvice，therepetitionofhisnuptials。TheprimitiveideasofthemeritandholinessofcelibacywerepreachedbythemonksandentertainedbytheGreeks。Marriagewasallowedasanecessarymeansforthepropagationofmankind；afterthedeathofeitherparty，thesurvivormightsatisfy，byasecondunion，theweaknessorthestrengthoftheflesh:butathirdmarriagewascensuredasastateoflegalfornication；andafourthwasasinorscandalasyetunknowntotheChristiansoftheEast。Inthebeginningofhisreign，Leohimselfhadabolishedthestateofconcubines，andcondemned，withoutannulling，thirdmarriages:
buthispatriotismandlovesooncompelledhimtoviolatehisownlaws，andtoincurthepenance，whichinasimilarcasehehadimposedonhissubjects。Inhisthreefirstalliances，hisnuptialbedwasunfruitful；theemperorrequiredafemalecompanion，andtheempirealegitimateheir。ThebeautifulZoewasintroducedintothepalaceasaconcubine；andafteratrialofherfecundity，andthebirthofConstantine，herloverdeclaredhisintentionoflegitimatingthemotherandthechild，bythecelebrationofhisfourthnuptials。ButthepatriarchNicholasrefusedhisblessing:theImperialbaptismoftheyoungprincewasobtainedbyapromiseofseparation；andthecontumacioushusbandofZoewasexcludedfromthecommunionofthefaithful。Neitherthefearofexile，northedesertionofhisbrethren，northeauthorityoftheLatinchurch，northedangeroffailureordoubtinthesuccessiontotheempire，couldbendthespiritoftheinflexiblemonk。AfterthedeathofLeo，hewasrecalledfromexiletothecivilandecclesiasticaladministration；andtheedictofunionwhichwaspromulgatedinthenameofConstantine，condemnedthefuturescandaloffourthmarriages，andleftatacitimputationonhisownbirth。
IntheGreeklanguage，purpleandporphyryarethesameword:andasthecolorsofnatureareinvariable，wemaylearn，thatadarkdeepredwastheTyriandyewhichstainedthepurpleoftheancients。AnapartmentoftheByzantinepalacewaslinedwithporphyry:itwasreservedfortheuseofthepregnantempresses；andtheroyalbirthoftheirchildrenwasexpressedbytheappellationofporphyrogenite，orborninthepurple。