The Secret History of the Court of JustinianProcopius
History
The Secret History of the Court of Justinian
Procopius
Byzantine Empire -- History -- Justinian I, 527-565; Justinian I, Emperor of the East, 483?-565
[4: As internal evidence in favour of the identity of the author of
the "Secret History," and the "Wars" and "Buildings," the few
following points, amongst many, may be noticed. The reference in the
preface to the "History of the Wars," that the author was born at
Caesarea, is more closely defined by the statement in the "Secret
History" that he was from Caesarea in Palestine; in both works an
account of the relations of Justinian to the Church is promised, but
the promise is not fulfilled. The "Secret History" refers to the
extravagant "building" mania of the Emperor. In all three works we
meet with a constant recurrence of the same ideas, the same outspoken
language, greatly embittered in the "Secret History," the same
fanatical pragmatism, the same association of luck, destiny, and
divinity, of guilt and expiation, the same superstition in the forms
of demonology, belief in dreams and miracles, and lastly the same
commonplaces, expressions, and isolated words.]
[5: "Decline and Fall," chap. xl.]
[6: The Ædificia, or "Buildings," of Justinian.]
[7: The article on _Procopius_ in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" (9th
edition) by Professor Bryce should also be consulted.]
[8: Spearmen, lancers.]
[9: Shield-bearers.]
[10: Or "Count," Master of the royal stables.]
[11: Pumpkin.]
[12: Private secretaries.]
[13: Syn[=o]n[=e].]
[14: Epibol[=e].]
[15: Diagraph[=e].]
[16: Here the text is corrupt.]
[17: Chancellors, or, Commissioners.]
[18: Shears, scissors.]
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Secret History of the Court of
Justinian, by Procopius
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