She proceeded to such extremities of abuse as to make her face become
what most women's private parts are: wherefore her lovers became known
at once by their unnatural tastes, and any respectable man who met her
in the public streets turned away, and made haste to avoid her, lest
his clothes should be soiled by contact with such an abandoned
creature, for she was a bird of ill-omen, especially for those who saw
her early in the day. As for her fellow-actresses, she always abused
them most savagely, for she was exceedingly jealous.

Afterwards she accompanied Hecebolus, who had received the appointment
of Governor of Pentapolis, to that country, to serve his basest
passions, but quarrelled with him, and was straightway sent out of the
country. In consequence of this she fell into want of common
necessaries, with which she hereafter provided herself by
prostitution, as she had been accustomed to do. She first went to
Alexandria, and afterwards wandered all through the East, until she
reached Byzantium, plying her trade in every city on her way--a trade
which, I imagine, Heaven will not pardon a man for calling by its
right name--as if the powers of evil would not allow any place on
earth to be free from the debaucheries of Theodora. Such was the
birth, and such the training of this woman, and her name became better
known than that of any other prostitute of her time.

On her return to Byzantium, Justinian became excessively enamoured of
her. At first he had intercourse with her merely as her lover,
although he raised her to the position of a patrician. By this means
Theodora was straightway enabled to gain very great influence and to
amass considerable sums of money. She charmed Justinian beyond all the
world, and, like most infatuated lovers, he delighted to show her all
the favour and give her all the money that he could. This lavishness