The second supposition is that of Mr. Finlay (_History of the Byzantine Empire_), who suggests that the story took its rise from the fate of Symbatius and Peganes, who, having formed a conspiracy against Michael III., in the 9th century, were deprived of their sight and exposed as common beggars in Constantinople. It is not likely, however, that the fate of men in the ninth century should have been confused with that of individuals in the sixth. It is right to add, that Lord Mahon, in his _Life of Belisarius_, argues in favour of the tragic fate of Justinian’s celebrated general. “But,” observes Dean Milman, “it is impossible to obtain any satisfactory result without contemporary evidence, which is entirely wanting in the present instance.” These words from the learned Milman lead us to suppose that he rejects the authority of Procopius, who accompanied Belisarius as counsellor and secretary in his Eastern wars, in Africa, and in Italy, as he himself informs us; and who, in his _Anecdota_,[12] devotes five chapters to the life and misfortunes of Belisarius, without saying one word either of his blindness or of his abject poverty. Ernest Renan, in his _Essais de morale et de critique_, has also examined into the trustworthiness of the _Secret History_ of Procopius, and he arrives at the opinion, that this author had only exaggerated the crimes of the wicked century in which Justinian lived. He would then have been the last to soften the disgrace incurred by Belisarius. At the time of the fall of Napoleon I., a popular song written by Népomucène Lemercier on Belisarius, became more than ever in vogue, as it contained allusions to the misfortunes of the companions in arms and soldiers, attached to the emperor. At all the Bonapartist reunions they sang: “_Un jeune enfant, un casque en main, Allait quêtant pour l’indigence, D’un vieillard aveugle et sans pain, Fameux dans Rome et dans Byzance; Il disait à chaque passant Touché de sa noble misère, Donnez une obole à l’enfant Qui sert le pauvre Bélisaire!_” In France this ballad contributed greatly to keep up a belief in the fabulous story which we have here examined. THE ALEXANDRIAN LIBRARY. A. D. 640. Ptolemy-Soter, chief of the dynasty of the Lagides, laid the foundation of the Alexandrian library. It was afterwards enlarged by his son Ptolemy Philadelphus and his successors; and from this celebrated repository the city of Alexandria derived the title of “_Mother of Books_.” There is much difference of opinion as to the number of works contained in this library. Instead of 54,800 volumes as asserted by St. Epiphanes, or 200,000 according to Josephus, Eusebius tells us, that at the death of Ptolemy Philadelphus, 100,000 volumes were collected in it.