ps had nothing to subsist
upon except the benevolence of the charitable.

There was a certain body of soldiers, about 3,500 in number, called
"Scholares," who had been originally appointed as an imperial
palace-guard, and received a larger pay from the imperial treasury
than the rest of the army. They were first chosen according to merit
from the Armenians; but, from the reign of Zeno, anyone, however
cowardly and unwarlike, was allowed to enter this body. In course of
time, even slaves, on payment of a sum of money, were admitted to
their ranks. When Justin succeeded to the throne, Justinian enrolled a
large number on payment of considerable sums of money. When the list
was filled up, he added about 2,000 more who were called
"Supernumeraries," but disbanded them, when he himself came to the
throne, without any reimbursement. In regard to these "Scholares," he
invented the following plan: Whenever it was probable that an
expedition would be despatched to Italy, Libya, or Persia, he ordered
them to make ready to take part in the campaign, although he knew that
they were utterly unfit for war; and they, being afraid of this,
surrendered their salaries to the Emperor. This was a frequent
occurrence. When Peter was "Master of Offices," he daily harassed them
with monstrous thefts. This man, although he was of a mild and by no
means overbearing disposition, was the greatest thief in the world and
an absolute slave to sordid avarice. He it was who (as I have related)
contrived the murder of Amalasunta, the daughter of Theodoric.

There are in the imperial household other officers of much higher
rank, who, having purchased their positions for a larger sum, receive
better pay in proportion. These are called "Domestics" and
"Protectors." They have always been exempt from military service, and
are only reckoned members of the palace on account of their dignity
and rank. Some of them are constantly in Byzantium, while others have
long been established in Galatia or other provinces. Justinian
frightened these in the same manner into abandoning their salaries to
him. In conclusion, it was the custom that, every five years, the
Emperor should present each of the soldiers with a fixed sum in gold.
Accordingly, every five years, commissioners were despatched to all
parts of the Empire, to bestow five staters of gold upon every soldier
as a gift from the Emperor. This had long been an established and
inviolable practice. But, from th