a, and afterwards wandered all through the East, until she
reached Byzantium, plying her trade in every city on her way--a trade
which, I imagine, Heaven will not pardon a man for calling by its
right name--as if the powers of evil would not allow any place on
earth to be free from the debaucheries of Theodora. Such was the
birth, and such the training of this woman, and her name became better
known than that of any other prostitute of her time.

On her return to Byzantium, Justinian became excessively enamoured of
her. At first he had intercourse with her merely as her lover,
although he raised her to the position of a patrician. By this means
Theodora was straightway enabled to gain very great influence and to
amass considerable sums of money. She charmed Justinian beyond all the
world, and, like most infatuated lovers, he delighted to show her all
the favour and give her all the money that he could. This lavishness
added fuel to the flame of passion. In concert with her he plundered
the people more than ever, not only in the capital, but throughout the
Roman Empire; for, as both of them had for a long time been members of
the Blue faction, they had placed unlimited power in its hands,
although the evil was subsequently somewhat checked, in the manner
which I will now relate.

Justinian had for some time suffered from a dangerous illness; in
fact, it was even reported that he was dead. The Blue faction were
committing the crimes of which I have spoken, and slew Hypatius, a
person of consequence, in the Church of St. Sophia, in broad daylight.
When the murderer had accomplished his work, clamour was raised which
reached the Emperor's ears, and all his courtiers seized upon the
opportunity of pointing out the outrageous character of the offence
which, owing to Justinian's absence from public affairs, the murderer
had been enabled to perpetrate, and enumerated all the crimes that had
been committed from the outset. Hereupon the Emperor gave orders to
the prefect of the city to punish these crimes. This man was named
Theodotus, nick-named Colocynthius.[11] He instituted an inquiry into
the whole matter, and had the courage to seize and put to death,
according to the law, many of the malefactors, several of whom,
however, hid themselves and so escaped, being destined to perish
afterwards together with the Roman Empire. Justinian, who miraculously
recovered, straightway began to plan the destruction of Theodotus, on
the p