and I repulfed the Huns, who were advanced within a few miles of the capital. I laid an ambush for the enemy, and it fucceeded fo weil that I was regarded by the people as a guardian god. The whole city at my return was one wild uproar of joy and exultation, to fuch a degree, that I was much alarmed at the fatal confequences, which I then forefaw but how to appease the violence of the populace? The emperor was old, and age brings infirmities with it. The honours paid me by the multitude, and the excefs of applause that run throughout the city, were understood by Juftinian

rius, clariffimus olim præfectus, etfi præ fenectute in curvitatem jam declinasset, mittitur tamen per Imperatorem in hoftes... Et ipfe quidem de fe, mira animi promp titudine, juvenis munera exequebatur. Id namque ultimum illi in vitâ certamen fuit; nec fane minorem ex eo retulit gloriam, quam ex Vandalis Gotifque devictis. Aga, thias, L. 5. Hift. ad Goth, pertinens,

peuple s'en eft plaint; une longue prifon l'a ému de pitié ; l'indignation a produit la révolte, & l'Empereur, obligé de me livrer au peuple, n'a cru faire, en m'ôtant les moyens de lui nuire, que défarmer fon ennemi. Je ne le fus jamais le Ciel m'en eft témoin; mais le Ciel qui lit dans les coeurs, n'a pas permis aux Souverains d'y lire; & celui que vous accufez eft plus malheureux que coupable, d'en avoir cru des apparences qui vous auroient peut -être abufé comme lui.

as marks of difaffection, plainly indicating that his fubjects were tired of his reign, and wished to fee him abdicate his throne in favour of the general who defended it. Miftrust and jealoufy took poffeffion of him; and without alledging any thing against me, he judged it right to remove fo dangerous a man from his prefence. While I paffed my time in obfcurity, a plot against the crown was discovered; and the confpirators, without detecting their principal, died in the agony of torture. But the filence of those unhappy men was interpreted by my enemies, and Calumny furnished out a copious fupplement. I was ordered into confinement; difcontent spread among all ranks of men, till at length, touched with compaffion for all my fufferings, the people expreffed their feelings without referve. Pity was foon inflamed to indignation, and by a general revolt

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Oui fans doute il eft malheureux, & le plus malheureux des hommes, dit Juftinien, en fe précipitant fur lui, & en le ferrant dans fes bras. Quel eft ce transport de douleur, lui demanda Bélifaire étonné ? C'eft le tourment d'une ame déchirée, lui dit Justinien. O mon cher Belifaire ! ce maître injufle, ee tyran barbare

the emperor was compelled to give me up to the clamours of my country. In depriving me of my eyes, I am perfuaded, he thought he was difarming an enemy. That I was never difaffected to him, heaven can bear me witness: but heaven, that reads the hearts of men, has not given that power to princes. You accufe the emperor of ingratitude and injuftice; but it was his misfortune and not his crime, to

believe appearances, which perhaps would have mifled your judgment in the fame manner.

Yes, he is miferable, the most miferable of men, faid Juftinian, throwing his arms about the hero, and clafping him in his embrace. -What means this burft of anguish ? enquired Belifarius. It is the agony of a heart ready to break, faid Justinian Oh! Belifarius! that unjust mafter, that barbarous tyrant who rent your eyes from their fockets,