YetifConstantinoplehadbeenfirmandfaithful，themurderermighthavespenthisfuryagainstthewalls；andtherebelarmywouldhavebeengraduallyconsumedorreconciledbytheprudenceoftheemperor。InthegamesoftheCircus，whichherepeatedwithunusualpomp，Mauricedisguised，withsmilesofconfidence，theanxietyofhisheart，condescendedtosolicittheapplauseofthefactions，andflatteredtheirpridebyacceptingfromtheirrespectivetribunesalistofninehundredbluesandfifteenhundredgreens，whomheaffectedtoesteemasthesolidpillarsofhisthroneTheirtreacherousorlanguidsupportbetrayedhisweaknessandhastenedhisfall:thegreenfactionwerethesecretaccomplicesoftherebels，andthebluesrecommendedlenityandmoderationinacontestwiththeirRomanbrethrenTherigidandparsimoniousvirtuesofMauricehadlongsincealienatedtheheartsofhissubjects:ashewalkedbarefootinareligiousprocession，hewasrudelyassaultedwithstones，andhisguardswerecompelledtopresenttheirironmacesinthedefenceofhisperson。Afanaticmonkranthroughthestreetswithadrawnsword，denouncingagainsthimthewrathandthesentenceofGod；andavileplebeian，whorepresentedhiscountenanceandapparel，wasseatedonanass，andpursuedbytheimprecationsofthemultitude。^43TheemperorsuspectedthepopularityofGermanuswiththesoldiersandcitizens:hefeared，hethreatened，buthedelayedtostrike；thepatricianfledtothesanctuaryofthechurch；thepeopleroseinhisdefence，thewallsweredesertedbytheguards，andthelawlesscitywasabandonedtotheflamesandrapineofanocturnaltumult。Inasmallbark，theunfortunateMaurice，withhiswifeandninechildren，escapedtotheAsiaticshore；buttheviolenceofthewindcompelledhimtolandatthechurchofSt。Autonomus，^44
nearChalcedon，fromwhencehedespatchedTheodosius，heeldestson，toimplorethegratitudeandfriendshipofthePersianmonarch。Forhimself，herefusedtofly:hisbodywastorturedwithsciaticpains，^45hismindwasenfeebledbysuperstition；
hepatientlyawaitedtheeventoftherevolution，andaddressedaferventandpublicprayertotheAlmighty，thatthepunishmentofhissinsmightbeinflictedinthisworldratherthaninafuturelife。AftertheabdicationofMaurice，thetwofactionsdisputedthechoiceofanemperor；butthefavoriteoftheblueswasrejectedbythejealousyoftheirantagonists，andGermanushimselfwashurriedalongbythecrowdswhorushedtothepalaceofHebdomon，sevenmilesfromthecity，toadorethemajestyofPhocasthecenturion。AmodestwishofresigningthepurpletotherankandmeritofGermanuswasopposedbyhisresolution，moreobstinateandequallysincere；thesenateandclergyobeyedhissummons；and，assoonasthepatriarchwasassuredofhisorthodoxbelief，heconsecratedthesuccessfulusurperinthechurchofSt。JohntheBaptist。Onthethirdday，amidsttheacclamationsofathoughtlesspeople，Phocasmadehispublicentryinachariotdrawnbyfourwhitehorses:therevoltofthetroopswasrewardedbyalavishdonative；andthenewsovereign，aftervisitingthepalace，beheldfromhisthronethegamesofthehippodrome。Inadisputeofprecedencybetweenthetwofactions，hispartialjudgmentinclinedinfavorofthegreens。
\"RememberthatMauriceisstillalive，\"resoundedfromtheoppositeside；andtheindiscreetclamorofthebluesadmonishedandstimulatedthecrueltyofthetyrant。TheministersofdeathweredespatchedtoChalcedon:theydraggedtheemperorfromhissanctuary；andthefivesonsofMauriceweresuccessivelymurderedbeforetheeyesoftheiragonizingparent。Ateachstroke，whichhefeltinhisheart，hefoundstrengthtorehearseapiousejaculation:\"Thouartjust，OLord!andthyjudgmentsarerighteous。\"Andsuch，inthelastmoments，washisrigidattachmenttotruthandjustice，thatherevealedtothesoldiersthepiousfalsehoodofanursewhopresentedherownchildintheplaceofaroyalinfant。^46Thetragicscenewasfinallyclosedbytheexecutionoftheemperorhimself，inthetwentiethyearofhisreign，andthesixty—thirdofhisage。Thebodiesofthefatherandhisfivesonswerecastintothesea；theirheadswereexposedatConstantinopletotheinsultsorpityofthemultitude；anditwasnottillsomesignsofputrefactionhadappeared，thatPhocasconnivedattheprivateburialofthesevenerableremains。Inthatgrave，thefaultsanderrorsofMauricewerekindlyinterred。Hisfatealonewasremembered；andattheendoftwentyyears，intherecitalofthehistoryofTheophylact，themournfultalewasinterruptedbythetearsoftheaudience。^47
[Footnote43:IntheirclamorsagainstMaurice，thepeopleofConstantinoplebrandedhimwiththenameofMarcioniteorMarcionist；aheresysaysTheophylact，l。viii。c。9。Didtheyonlycastoutavaguereproach—orhadtheemperorreallylistenedtosomeobscureteacherofthoseancientGnostics?]