Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 5 (1897).djvu/225

OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 203 tality of a monk ; and was introduced to the service of a cousin and namesake of the emperor Theophilus ; who, though himself of a diminutive person, was always followed by a train of tall and handsome domestics. Basil attended his patron to the government of Peloponnesus ; eclipsed, by his personal merit, the birth and dignity of Theophilus, and formed an useful con- nexion with a wealthy and charitable matron of Patras. Her spiritual or carnal love embraced the young adventurer, whom she adopted as her son. Danielis presented him with thirty slaves ; and the produce of her bounty was expended in the support of his brothers and the purchase of some large estates in Macedonia. His gratitude or ambition still attached him to tlie service of Theophilus ; and a lucky accident recommended him to the notice of the court. A famous wrestler, in the train of the Bulgarian ambassadors, had defied, at the royal banquet, the boldest and most robust of the Greeks. The strength of Basil was praised ; he accepted the challenge ; and the bar- barian champion was overthrown at the first onset. A beautiful but vicious horse was condemned to be hamstrung ; it was sub- dued by the dexterity and courage of the servant of Theophilus ; and his conqueror was promoted to an honourable rank in the Imperial stables. But it was impossible to obtain the confidence of Michael, without complying with his vices ; and his new favourite, the great chamberlain of the palace, was raised and supported by a disgraceful marriage with a royal concubine, and the dishonour of his sister, who succeeded to her place.*^" The public administration had been abandoned to the Caesar Bardas,-^' the brother and enemy of Theodora ; but the arts of female influence persuaded Michael to hate and to fear his uncle ; he was drawn from Constantinople, under the pretext of a Cretan expedition, and stabbed in the tent of audience, by the sword of the chamberlain, and in the presence of the emperor. About a month after this execution, Basil was invested with the title fad. see, of Augustus and the government of the empire. He supported this unequal association till his influence was fortified by popular esteem. His life was endangered by the caprice of the emperor; and liis dignity was j)rofancd by a second colleague, who had rowed in the galleys. Yet the murder of his benefactor must ■"' [The concubine's name was Eudocia Ingerina, mother of Leo VI. The chronicles do not say that Basil's sister became Michael's concubine, but that Michael's sister Thecla became Basil's concubine. Cp. George Mon. , p. 828, ed. Bonn.] •* [For Bardas, a man of great talent and no principle, see below, chap, liii.]