Michaelsoughteverymethodofexpiatinghisguilt。Whilehegroanedandprayedinsackclothandashes，hisbrother，theeunuchJohn，smiledathisremorse，andenjoyedtheharvestofacrimeofwhichhimselfwasthesecretandmostguiltyauthor。Hisadministrationwasonlytheartofsatiatinghisavarice，andZoebecameacaptiveinthepalaceofherfathers，andinthehandsofherslaves。Whenheperceivedtheirretrievabledeclineofhisbrother\'shealth，heintroducedhisnephew，anotherMichael，whoderivedhissurnameofCalaphatesfromhisfather\'soccupationinthecareeningofvessels:atthecommandoftheeunuch，Zoeadoptedforhersonthesonofamechanic；andthisfictitiousheirwasinvestedwiththetitleandpurpleoftheCaesars，inthepresenceofthesenateandclergy。SofeeblewasthecharacterofZoe，thatshewasoppressedbythelibertyandpowerwhichsherecoveredbythedeathofthePaphlagonian；andattheendoffourdays，sheplacedthecrownontheheadofMichaeltheFifth，whohadprotested，withtearsandoaths，thatheshouldeverreignthefirstandmostobedientofhersubjects。
Theonlyactofhisshortreignwashisbaseingratitudetohisbenefactors，theeunuchandtheempress。Thedisgraceoftheformerwaspleasingtothepublic:butthemurmurs，andatlengththeclamors，ofConstantinopledeploredtheexileofZoe，thedaughterofsomanyemperors；herviceswereforgotten，andMichaelwastaught，thatthereisaperiodinwhichthepatienceofthetamestslavesrisesintofuryandrevenge。Thecitizensofeverydegreeassembledinaformidabletumultwhichlastedthreedays；theybesiegedthepalace，forcedthegates，recalledtheirmothers，Zoefromherprison，Theodorafromhermonastery，andcondemnedthesonofCalaphatestothelossofhiseyesorofhislife。ForthefirsttimetheGreeksbeheldwithsurprisethetworoyalsistersseatedonthesamethrone，presidinginthesenate，andgivingaudiencetotheambassadorsofthenations。
Butthesingularunionsubsistednomorethantwomonths；thetwosovereigns，theirtempers，interests，andadherents，weresecretlyhostiletoeachother；andasTheodorawasstillaversetomarriage，theindefatigableZoe，attheageofsixty，consented，forthepublicgood，tosustaintheembracesofathirdhusband，andthecensuresoftheGreekchurch。HisnameandnumberwereConstantinetheTenth，andtheepithetofMonomachus，thesinglecombatant，musthavebeenexpressiveofhisvalorandvictoryinsomepublicorprivatequarrel。Buthishealthwasbrokenbythetorturesofthegout，andhisdissolutereignwasspentinthealternativeofsicknessandpleasure。A
fairandnoblewidowhadaccompaniedConstantineinhisexiletotheIsleofLesbos，andSclerenagloriedintheappellationofhismistress。Afterhismarriageandelevation，shewasinvestedwiththetitleandpompofAugusta，andoccupiedacontiguousapartmentinthepalace。ThelawfulconsortsuchwasthedelicacyorcorruptionofZoeconsentedtothisstrangeandscandalouspartition；andtheemperorappearedinpublicbetweenhiswifeandhisconcubine。Hesurvivedthemboth；butthelastmeasuresofConstantinetochangetheorderofsuccessionwerepreventedbythemorevigilantfriendsofTheodora；andafterhisdecease，sheresumed，withthegeneralconsent，thepossessionofherinheritance。Inhername，andbytheinfluenceoffoureunuchs，theEasternworldwaspeaceablygovernedaboutnineteenmonths；andastheywishedtoprolongtheirdominion，theypersuadedtheagedprincesstonominateforhersuccessorMichaeltheSixth。ThesurnameofStratioticusdeclareshismilitaryprofession；butthecrazyanddecrepitveterancouldonlyseewiththeeyes，andexecutewiththehands，ofhisministers。
Whilstheascendedthethrone，Theodorasunkintothegrave；thelastoftheMacedonianorBasiliandynasty。Ihavehastilyreviewed，andgladlydismiss，thisshamefulanddestructiveperiodoftwenty—eightyears，inwhichtheGreeks，degradedbelowthecommonlevelofservitude，weretransferredlikeaherdofcattlebythechoiceorcapriceoftwoimpotentfemales。