by one; but when this broke
out, as I have described in my former works, they then sequestrated
nearly all the property of the Senate. They laid their hands upon all
movables and the finest parts of the estates, but set apart such lands
as were burdened with grievous imposts, and, under pretence of
kindness, restored them to their former possessors. So these people,
oppressed by the tax-gatherers, and tormented by the never-ceasing
interest to be paid upon their debts, became weary of their lives.

For the reasons which I have stated, I, and many of my position, never
believed that they were really two human beings, but evil demons, and
what the poets call scourges of mankind, who laid their heads together
to see how they could fastest and most easily destroy the race and the
works of man, but who had assumed human forms, and become something
between men and demons, and thus convulsed the whole world. One can
find proofs of this theory more particularly in the superhuman power
with which they acted.

There is a wide distinction between the human and the supernatural.
Many men have been born in every age who, either by circumstances or
their own character, have shown themselves terrible beings, who became
the ruin of cities, countries, and whatever else fell into their
hands; but to destroy all men and to ruin the whole earth has been
granted to none save these two, who have been helped by Fortune in
their schemes to destroy the whole human race. For, about this time,
much ruin was caused by earthquakes, pestilences and inundations of
rivers, as I shall immediately tell you. Thus it was not by mere human
power, but by something greater, that they were enabled to work their
evil will.

It is said that Justinian's mother told some of her intimates that
Justinian was not the son of Sabbatius, her husband, or of any human
being; but that, at the time when she became pregnant, an unseen demon
companied with her, whom she only felt as when a man has connection
with a woman, and who then vanished away as in a dream.

Some who have been in Justinian's company in the palace very late at
night, men with a clear conscience, have thought that in his place
they have beheld a strange and devilish form. One of them said that
Justinian suddenly arose from his royal throne and walked about
(although, indeed, he never could sit still for long), and that at
that moment his head disappeared, while the rest of his body still
seemed to