Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 5 (1897).djvu/236

214 THE DECLINE AND FALL bear-skin on the ground^ he was roused by their noisy intrusion, and thirty daggers glittered before his eyes. It is doubtful whether Zimisoes imbrued his hands in the blood of his sove- reign ; but he enjoyed the inhuman spectacle of revenge. The murder was protracted by insult and cruelty ; and, as soon as the head of Nicephorus was shewn from the window, the tu- mult was hushed and the Armenian was emperor of the East. On the day of his coronation, he was stopped on the threshold of St. Sophia, by the intrepid patriarch ; who charged his con- science with the deed of treason and blood, and required, as a sign of repentance, that he should separate himself from his more criminal associate. This sally of apostolic zeal Avas not offensive to the prince, since he could neither love nor trust a woman who had repeatedly violated the most sacred obliga- tions ; and Theophano, instead of sharing his Imperial fortune, was dismissed with ignominy from his bed and palace.^ In their last interview, she displayed a frantic and impotent rage ; accused the ingratitude of her lover ; assaulted with words and blows her son Basil, as he stood silent and submissive in the presence of a superior colleague ; and avowed her OAvn prosti- tution, in proclaiming the illegitimacy of his birth. The public indignation was appeased by her exile and the piniishuK-nt of the meaner accomplices ; the death of an unpopular prince was forgiven ; and the guilt of Zimisces Avas forgotten in the splendour of his virtues.^* Perhaps his jjrofusion was less useful to the state than the avarice of Nicephorus ; but his gentle and generous behaviour delighted all who approached his person ; and it was only in the paths of victory that he trod in the footsteps of his predecessor. The greatest part of his reign was employed in the camp and the field ; his personal valour and activity was signalised on the Danube and the Tigris, [AD. 970 1 the ancient boundaries of the Roman world ; and by his double triumph over the Russians and the Saracens he deserved the 5- [The dismissal of Theophano was demanded by morahty and religion, but it was the least important part of the bargain between the Emperor and the Patriarch Polyeuctus. The price that Tzimisces really paid for his coronation was the abrogation of the Novel of Nicephorus Pliocas, which ordained that no ecclesi- astical decision, no promotion or nomination, could be made by the bishops with- out the Imperial consent. In his description of the last interview, Gibbon wrongly makes Theophano assault her son ; it was the chamberlain Basil (cp. below, n. 56) whom she assaulted. ] ■■^[The position of Nicephorus and Tzimisces reminds us of the Merovingian majordomate. Finlay observes that they were both "men of nobler minds than the nobles around them, for both respected the rights and persons of their wards and legitimate princes, Basil and Constantine, and contented themselves with the post of prime minister and the rank of emperor . Romanus I. , who held a siniilar position, had attempted to play the part of Pippin and failed.] and 9V2-C]