TheirmurmursservedonlytofortifytheresolutionofJustinian；
buttheresentmentofTheodora，disdainedapowerbeforewhicheverykneewasbent，andattemptedtosowtheseedsofdiscordbetweentheemperorandhisbelovedconsort。EvenTheodoraherselfwasconstrainedtodissemble，towaitafavorablemoment，and，byanartfulconspiracy，torenderJohnofCoppadociatheaccompliceofhisowndestruction。^!AtatimewhenBelisarius，unlesshehadbeenahero，musthaveshownhimselfarebel，hiswifeAntonina，whoenjoyedthesecretconfidenceoftheempress，communicatedhisfeigneddiscontenttoEuphemia，thedaughterofthepraefect；thecredulousvirginimpartedtoherfatherthedangerousproject，andJohn，whomighthaveknownthevalueofoathsandpromises，wastemptedtoacceptanocturnal，andalmosttreasonable，interviewwiththewifeofBelisarius。AnambuscadeofguardsandeunuchshadbeenpostedbythecommandofTheodora；
theyrushedwithdrawnswordstoseizeortopunishtheguiltyminister:hewassavedbythefidelityofhisattendants；butinsteadofappealingtoagracioussovereign，whohadprivatelywarnedhimofhisdanger，hepusillanimouslyfledtothesanctuaryofthechurch。ThefavoriteofJustinianwassacrificedtoconjugaltendernessordomestictranquility；theconversionofapraefectintoapriestextinguishedhisambitioushopes:butthefriendshipoftheemperoralleviatedhisdisgrace，andheretainedinthemildexileofCyzicusanampleportionofhisriches。SuchimperfectrevengecouldnotsatisfytheunrelentinghatredofTheodora；themurderofhisoldenemy，thebishopofCyzicus，affordedadecentpretence；andJohnofCappadocia，whoseactionshaddeservedathousanddeaths，wasatlastcondemnedforacrimeofwhichhewasinnocent。Agreatminister，whohadbeeninvestedwiththehonorsofconsulandpatrician，wasignominiouslyscourgedlikethevilestofmalefactors；atatteredcloakwasthesoleremnantofhisfortunes；hewastransportedinabarktotheplaceofhisbanishmentatAntinopolisinUpperEgypt，andthepraefectoftheEastbeggedhisbreadthroughthecitieswhichhadtrembledathisname。Duringanexileofsevenyears，hislifewasprotractedandthreatenedbytheingeniouscrueltyofTheodora；
andwhenherdeathpermittedtheemperortorecallaservantwhomhehadabandonedwithregret，theambitionofJohnofCappadociawasreducedtothehumbledutiesofthesacerdotalprofession。
HissuccessorsconvincedthesubjectsofJustinian，thattheartsofoppressionmightstillbeimprovedbyexperienceandindustry；