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tan Chap, xl] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 251 universally applauded the abolition of the gold of affliction, acohrysar- personal tribute on the industry of the poor, 79 but more intoler- able, as it should seem, in the form than in the substance, since the flourishing city of Edessa paid only one hundred and forty pounds of gold, which was collected in four years from ten thousand artificers. 80 Yet such was the parsimony which supported this liberal disposition that, in a reign of twenty- seven years, Anastasius saved, from his annual revenue, the enormous sum of thirteen millions sterling, or three hundred and twenty thousand pounds of gold. 81 His example was neglected, and his treasure was abused, by the nephew of Justin. The riches of Justinian were speedily exhausted by alms and buildings, by ambitious wars, and ignominious treaties. His revenues were found inadequate to his expenses. Every art was tried to extort from the people the gold and silver which Avarice and he scattered with a lavish hand from Persia to France ; 82 his of Justin reign was marked by the vicissitudes, or rather by the combat, of rapaciousness and avarice, of splendour and poverty ; he lived with the reputation of hidden treasures, 83 and bequeathed to his successor the payment of his debts. 84 Such a character has been justly accused by the voice of the people and of posterity ; but public discontent is credulous ; private malice is bold ; and 79 Evagrius (1. iii. c. 39, 40) is minute and grateful, but angry with Zosimus for calumniating the great Constantine. In collecting all the bonds and records of the tax, the humanity of Anastasius was diligent and artful ; fathers were sometimes compelled to prostitute their daughters (ZosLm. Hist. 1. ii. c. 38, p. 165, 166. Lipsiffl, 1784). Timotheus of Gaza chose such an event for the subject of a tragedy (Suidas, torn. iii. p. 475), which contributed to the abolition of the tax (Cedrenus, p. 35), — an happy instance (if it be true) of the use of the theatre. [On the finance of Anastasius cp. John Lydus, De Mag., iii. 45, 46.] 80 See Josua Stylites, in the Bibliotheca Orientalis of Asseman (torn. i. p. 268 [c. 31, p. 22, ed. Wright]). This capitation tax is slightly mentioned in the Chronicle of Edessa. 81 Procopius (Anecdot. c. 19) fixes this sum from the report of the treasurers themselves. Tiberius had vicies ter millies ; but far different was his empire from that of Anastasius. 83 Evagrius (1. iv. c. 30), in the next generation, was moderate and well-informed ; and Zonaras (1. xiv. p. 61 [c. 6]), in the xiith century, had read with care, and thought without prejudice ; yet their colours are almost as black as those of the Anecdotes. 83 Procopius (Anecdot. c. 30) relates the idle conjectures of the times. The death of Justinian, says the secret historian, will expose his wealth or poverty. 84 See Corippus, de Laudibus Justini Aug. 1. ii. 260, &c. 384, &o. " Plurima sunt vivo nimium neglecta parenti, Unde tot exhaustus contraxit debita fiscus ". Centenaries of gold were brought by strong arms into the hippodrome : " Debita genitoris persolvit, cauta recepit ".