Constantinopleadoptedthefollies，thoughnotthevirtues，ofancientRome；andthesamefactionswhichhadagitatedthecircus，ragedwithredoubledfuryinthehippodrome。UnderthereignofAnastasius，thispopularfrenzywasinflamedbyreligiouszeal；andthegreens，whohadtreacherouslyconcealedstonesanddaggersunderbasketsoffruit，massacred，atasolemnfestival，threethousandoftheirblueadversaries。^44Fromthiscapital，thepestilencewasdiffusedintotheprovincesandcitiesoftheEast，andthesportivedistinctionoftwocolorsproducedtwostrongandirreconcilablefactions，whichshookthefoundationsofafeeblegovernment。^45Thepopulardissensions，foundedonthemostseriousinterest，orholypretence，havescarcelyequalledtheobstinacyofthiswantondiscord，whichinvadedthepeaceoffamilies，dividedfriendsandbrothers，andtemptedthefemalesex，thoughseldomseeninthecircus，toespousetheinclinationsoftheirlovers，ortocontradictthewishesoftheirhusbands。Everylaw，eitherhumanordivine，wastrampledunderfoot，andaslongasthepartywassuccessful，itsdeludedfollowersappearedcarelessofprivatedistressorpubliccalamity。Thelicense，withoutthefreedom，ofdemocracy，wasrevivedatAntiochandConstantinople，andthesupportofafactionbecamenecessarytoeverycandidateforcivilorecclesiasticalhonors。AsecretattachmenttothefamilyorsectofAnastasiuswasimputedtothegreens；theblueswerezealouslydevotedtothecauseoforthodoxyandJustinian，^46andtheirgratefulpatronprotected，abovefiveyears，thedisordersofafaction，whoseseasonabletumultsoverawedthepalace，thesenate，andthecapitalsoftheEast。Insolentwithroyalfavor，thebluesaffectedtostriketerrorbyapeculiarandBarbaricdress，thelonghairoftheHuns，theirclosesleevesandamplegarments，aloftystep，andasonorousvoice。Inthedaytheyconcealedtheirtwo—edgedponiards，butinthenighttheyboldlyassembledinarms，andinnumerousbands，preparedforeveryactofviolenceandrapine。Theiradversariesofthegreenfaction，oreveninoffensivecitizens，werestrippedandoftenmurderedbythesenocturnalrobbers，anditbecamedangeroustowearanygoldbuttonsorgirdles，ortoappearatalatehourinthestreetsofapeacefulcapital。Adaringspirit，risingwithimpunity，proceededtoviolatethesafeguardofprivatehouses；andfirewasemployedtofacilitatetheattack，ortoconcealthecrimesofthesefactiousrioters。Noplacewassafeorsacredfromtheirdepredations；togratifyeitheravariceorrevenge，theyprofuselyspiltthebloodoftheinnocent；churchesandaltarswerepollutedbyatrociousmurders；anditwastheboastoftheassassins，thattheirdexteritycouldalwaysinflictamortalwoundwithasinglestrokeoftheirdagger。ThedissoluteyouthofConstantinopleadoptedtheblueliveryofdisorder；thelawsweresilent，andthebondsofsocietywererelaxed:creditorswerecompelledtoresigntheirobligations；judgestoreversetheirsentence；masterstoenfranchisetheirslaves；fatherstosupplytheextravaganceoftheirchildren；noblematronswereprostitutedtothelustoftheirservants；beautifulboysweretornfromthearmsoftheirparents；andwives，unlesstheypreferredavoluntarydeath，wereravishedinthepresenceoftheirhusbands。^47Thedespairofthegreens，whowerepersecutedbytheirenemies，anddesertedbythemagistrates，assumedtheprivilegeofdefence，perhapsofretaliation；butthosewhosurvivedthecombatweredraggedtoexecution，andtheunhappyfugitives，escapingtowoodsandcaverns，preyedwithoutmercyonthesocietyfromwhencetheywereexpelled。Thoseministersofjusticewhohadcouragetopunishthecrimes，andtobravetheresentment，oftheblues，becamethevictimsoftheirindiscreetzeal；apraefectofConstantinoplefledforrefugetotheholysepulchre，acountoftheEastwasignominiouslywhipped，andagovernorofCiliciawashanged，bytheorderofTheodora，onthetomboftwoassassinswhomhehadcondemnedforthemurderofhisgroom，andadaringattackuponhisownlife。
^48Anaspiringcandidatemaybetemptedtobuildhisgreatnessonthepublicconfusion，butitistheinterestaswellasdutyofasovereigntomaintaintheauthorityofthelaws。ThefirstedictofJustinian，whichwasoftenrepeated，andsometimesexecuted，announcedhisfirmresolutiontosupporttheinnocent，andtochastisetheguilty，ofeverydenominationandcolor。Yetthebalanceofjusticewasstillinclinedinfavorofthebluefaction，bythesecretaffection，thehabits，andthefearsoftheemperor；hisequity，afteranapparentstruggle，submitted，withoutreluctance，totheimplacablepassionsofTheodora，andtheempressneverforgot，orforgave，theinjuriesofthecomedian。AttheaccessionoftheyoungerJustin，theproclamationofequalandrigorousjusticeindirectlycondemnedthepartialityoftheformerreign。\"Yeblues，Justinianisnomore!yegreens，heisstillalive!\"^49
[Footnote44:Marcellin。inChron。p。47。Insteadofthevulgarwordvenataheusesthemoreexquisitetermsofcoeruleaandcoerealis。BaroniusA。D。501，No。4，5，6issatisfiedthattheblueswereorthodox；butTillemontisangryatthesupposition，andwillnotallowanymartyrsinaplayhouse，Hist。desEmp。tom。vi。p。554。]
[Footnote45:SeeProcopius，Persic。l。i。c。24。Indescribingthevicesofthefactionsandofthegovernment，thepublic，isnotmorefavorablethanthesecret，historian。Aleman。p。26
hasquotedafinepassagefromGregoryNazianzen，whichprovestheinveteracyoftheevil。]