time, the Saracens also made perpetual inroads upon the Eastern
Romans, from Egypt to the Persian frontiers, and harassed them so
persistently, that those districts gradually became depopulated. I
believe it would be impossible for anyone to estimate correctly the
number of men who perished there.

The Persians under Chosroes thrice invaded the rest of the Roman
territory, destroyed the cities, slew or carried off those whom they
found in the captured towns in each district, and depopulated the
country wherever they attacked it. From the time they entered Colchis,
the losses were divided between themselves, the Lazes, and the Romans,
as up to the present day.

However, neither Persians, Saracens, Huns, Slavs, nor any other
barbarians were themselves able to evacuate Roman territory without
considerable loss, for, in their inroads, and still more in their
sieges and engagements, they often met with numerous reverses which
inflicted equal disasters upon them. Thus not only the Romans, but
almost all the barbarians, felt the bloodthirstiness of Justinian.
Chosroes (as I have stated in the proper place) was certainly a man of
depraved character, but it was Justinian who always took the
initiative in bringing about war with this prince, for he took no care
to adapt his policy to circumstances, but did everything at the wrong
moment. In time of peace or truce, his thoughts were ever craftily
engaged in endeavouring to find pretexts for war against his
neighbours. In war, he lost heart without reason, and, owing to his
meanness, he never made his preparations in good time; and, instead of
devoting his earnest attention to such matters, he busied himself with
the investigation of heavenly phenomena and with curious researches
into the nature of God. Nevertheless, he would not abandon war, being