had to decide any lawsuit of this sort, he thought that righteous
judgment consisted in letting the priest win his cause and leave the
court in triumph with some plunder to which he had no right whatever;
for, to him, justice meant the success of the priest's cause. He
himself, when by malpractices he had obtained possession of the
property of people, alive or dead, would straightway present his
plunder to one of the churches, by which means he would hide his
rapacity under the cloak of piety, and render it impossible for his
victims ever to recover their possessions. Indeed, he committed
numberless murders through his notion of piety; for, in his zeal to
bring all men to agree in one form of Christian doctrine, he
recklessly murdered all who dissented therefrom, under the pretext of
piety, for he did not think that it was murder, if those whom he slew
were not of the same belief as himself. Thus, his thoughts were always
fixed upon slaughter, and, together with his wife, he neglected no
excuse which could bring it about; for both of these beings had for
the most part the same passions, but sometimes they played a part
which was not natural to them; for each of them was thoroughly wicked,
and by their pretended differences of opinion, brought their subjects
to ruin. Justinian's character was weaker than water, and anyone could
lead him whither he would, provided it was not to commit any act of
kindness or incur the loss of money. He especially delighted in
flattery, so that his flatterers could easily make him believe that he
should soar aloft and tread upon the clouds. Once indeed, Tribonianus,
when sitting by him, declared that he was afraid that some day
Justinian would be caught up into heaven because of his righteousness,
and would be lost to men. Such praises, or rather sneers, as these he
constantly bore in mind; yet, if he admired any man for his goodness,
he would shortly afterwards upbraid him for a villain, and after
having railed at one of his subjects without any cause, he would