sent to Byzantium by those who dwelt with him in the desert, to beg
that favour might be shown to their neighbours, who had been wronged
and outraged beyond endurance. When he arrived at Byzantium, he
straightway obtained an audience of the Emperor; but just as he was
about to enter his apartment, he started back, and, turning round,
suddenly withdrew. The eunuch, who was escorting him, and also the
bystanders, besought him earnestly to go forward, but he made no
answer, but like one who has had a stroke of the palsy, made his way
back to his lodging. When those who had come with him asked why he
acted thus, they say that he distinctly stated that he saw the chief
of the devils sitting on his throne in the midst of the palace, and he
would not meet him or ask anything of him. How can one believe this
man to have been anything but an evil demon, who never took his fill
of drink, food, or sleep, but snatched at the meals which were set
before him anyhow, and roamed about the palace at untimely hours of
the night, and yet was so passionately addicted to venery.

Some of Theodora's lovers, when she was still on the stage, declare
that a demon had fallen upon them and driven them out of her
bedchamber that it might pass the night with her. There was a dancer
named Macedonia, who belonged to the Blue faction at Antioch, and had
very great influence with Justinian. This woman used to write letters
to him while Justin was still on the throne, and thus easily made away
with any great man in the East whom she chose, and caused their
property to be confiscated for the public use. They say that this
Macedonia once greeted Theodora, when she saw her very much troubled
and cast down at the ill-treatment which she had received at the hands
of Hecebolius, and at the loss of her money on her journey, and
encouraged and cheered her, bidding her remember the fickleness of
fortune, which might again grant her great possessions. They say that