[Footnote!!:TheexpressionofProcopiusdoesnotappeartometomeanthiskindoftorture。Ibid。—M。]
Inthesucceedingcampaign，BelisariuswasagainsentagainstthePersians:hesavedtheEast，butheoffendedTheodora，andperhapstheemperorhimself。ThemaladyofJustinianhadcountenancedtherumorofhisdeath；andtheRomangeneral，onthesuppositionofthatprobableeventspokethefreelanguageofacitizenandasoldier。HiscolleagueBuzes，whoconcurredinthesamesentiments，losthisrank，hisliberty，andhishealth，bythepersecutionoftheempress:butthedisgraceofBelisariuswasalleviatedbythedignityofhisowncharacter，andtheinfluenceofhiswife，whomightwishtohumble，butcouldnotdesiretoruin，thepartnerofherfortunes。Evenhisremovalwascoloredbytheassurance，thatthesinkingstateofItalywouldberetrievedbythesinglepresenceofitsconqueror。
Butnosoonerhadhereturned，aloneanddefenceless，thanahostilecommissionwassenttotheEast，toseizehistreasuresandcriminatehisactions；theguardsandveterans，whofollowedhisprivatebanner，weredistributedamongthechiefsofthearmy，andeventheeunuchspresumedtocastlotsforthepartitionofhismartialdomestics。WhenhepassedwithasmallandsordidretinuethroughthestreetsofConstantinople，hisforlornappearanceexcitedtheamazementandcompassionofthepeople。JustinianandTheodorareceivedhimwithcoldingratitude；theservilecrowd，withinsolenceandcontempt；andintheeveningheretiredwithtremblingstepstohisdesertedpalace。Anindisposition，feignedorreal，hadconfinedAntoninatoherapartment；andshewalkeddisdainfullysilentintheadjacentportico，whileBelisariusthrewhimselfonhisbed，andexpected，inanagonyofgriefandterror，thedeathwhichhehadsooftenbravedunderthewallsofRome。Longaftersunsetamessengerwasannouncedfromtheempress:heopened，withanxiouscuriosity，theletterwhichcontainedthesentenceofhisfate。
\"Youcannotbeignoranthowmuchyouhavedeservedmydispleasure。IamnotinsensibleoftheservicesofAntonina。TohermeritsandintercessionIhavegrantedyourlife，andpermityoutoretainapartofyourtreasures，whichmightbejustlyforfeitedtothestate。Letyourgratitude，whereitisdue，bedisplayed，notinwords，butinyourfuturebehavior。\"Iknownothowtobelieveortorelatethetransportswithwhichtheheroissaidtohavereceivedthisignominiouspardon。Hefellprostratebeforehiswife，hekissedthefeetofhissavior，andhedevoutlypromisedtolivethegratefulandsubmissiveslaveofAntonina。AfineofonehundredandtwentythousandpoundssterlingwasleviedonthefortunesofBelisarius；andwiththeofficeofcount，ormasteroftheroyalstables，heacceptedtheconductoftheItalianwar。AthisdeparturefromConstantinople，hisfriends，andeventhepublic，werepersuadedthatassoonasheregainedhisfreedom，hewouldrenouncehisdissimulation，andthathiswife，Theodora，andperhapstheemperorhimself，wouldbesacrificedtothejustrevengeofavirtuousrebel。Theirhopesweredeceived；andtheunconquerablepatienceandloyaltyofBelisariusappeareitherbeloworabovethecharacterofaman。^117
[Footnote117:ThecontinuatoroftheChronicleofMarcellinusgives，inafewdecentwords，thesubstanceoftheAnecdotes: