the usual manner, and, with tears in his eyes, thus addressed her:

"O sovereign lady! it is hard for a patrician to be in want of money;
for that which in the case of others excites pity and compassion,
becomes, in the case of a person of rank, a calamity and a disgrace.
When any ordinary individual is in great straits, and informs his
creditors, this immediately affords him relief from his trouble; but a
patrician, when unable to pay his creditors, would, in the first
place, be ashamed to own it; and, if he did so, he would never make
them believe it, since the world is firmly convinced that poverty can
never be associated with our class; even if he _should_ persuade them
to believe it, it would be the greatest blow to his dignity and
reputation that could happen. Well, my lady, I owe money to some,
while others owe money to me. Out of respect for my rank, I cannot
cheat my creditors, who are pressing me sorely, whereas my debtors,
not being patricians, have recourse to cruel subterfuges. Wherefore, I
beg and entreat and implore your majesty to assist me to gain my
rights, and to deliver me from my present misfortunes!"

Such were his words. Theodora then commenced to sing, "O patrician,"
and the eunuchs took up her words and joined in chorus, "you have a
large tumour." When he again entreated her, and added a few words to
the same effect as before, her only answer was the same refrain, which
was taken up by the chorus of eunuchs. At length the unhappy man,
tired of the whole affair, did reverence to the Empress in the usual
manner, and returned home.

During the greater part of the year, Theodora resided in the suburbs
on the coast, chiefly in the Heraeum, where her numerous retinue and
attendants suffered great inconvenience, for they were short of the