Arayofhistoriclightseemstobeamfromthedarknessofthetenthcentury。WeopenwithcuriosityandrespecttheroyalvolumesofConstantinePorphyrogenitus，^1whichhecomposedatamatureagefortheinstructionofhisson，andwhichpromisetounfoldthestateoftheeasternempire，bothinpeaceandwar，bothathomeandabroad。InthefirstoftheseworksheminutelydescribesthepompousceremoniesofthechurchandpalaceofConstantinople，accordingtohisownpractice，andthatofhispredecessors。^2Inthesecond，heattemptsanaccuratesurveyoftheprovinces，thethemes，astheywerethendenominated，bothofEuropeandAsia。^3ThesystemofRomantactics，thedisciplineandorderofthetroops，andthemilitaryoperationsbylandandsea，areexplainedinthethirdofthesedidacticcollections，whichmaybeascribedtoConstantineorhisfatherLeo。^4Inthefourth，oftheadministrationoftheempire，herevealsthesecretsoftheByzantinepolicy，infriendlyorhostileintercoursewiththenationsoftheearth。Theliterarylaborsoftheage，thepracticalsystemsoflaw，agriculture，andhistory，mightredoundtothebenefitofthesubjectandthehonoroftheMacedonianprinces。ThesixtybooksoftheBasilics，^5thecodeandpandectsofciviljurisprudence，weregraduallyframedinthethreefirstreignsofthatprosperousdynasty。Theartofagriculturehadamusedtheleisure，andexercisedthepens，ofthebestandwisestoftheancients；andtheirchosenpreceptsarecomprisedinthetwentybooksoftheGeoponics^6ofConstantine。Athiscommand，thehistoricalexamplesofviceandvirtueweremethodizedinfifty—threebooks，^7andeverycitizenmightapply，tohiscontemporariesorhimself，thelessonorthewarningofpasttimes。Fromtheaugustcharacterofalegislator，thesovereignoftheEastdescendstothemorehumbleofficeofateacherandascribe；andifhissuccessorsandsubjectswereregardlessofhispaternalcares，wemayinheritandenjoytheeverlastinglegacy。
[Footnote1:TheepithetofPorphyrogenitus，borninthepurple，iselegantlydefinedbyClaudian:—
ArduaprivatosnescitfortunaPenates；
Etregnumcumlucededit。CognatapotestasExcepitTyriovenerabilepignusinostro。
AndDucange，inhisGreekandLatinGlossaries，producesmanypassagesexpressiveofthesameidea。]