chap. XL] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 235 till the last age of the spectacles of Borne ; and Theodoric, from a motive of justice or affection, interposed his authority to protect the greens against the violence of a consul and a patrician, who were passionately addicted to the blue faction of the circus. 43 Constantinople adopted the follies, though not the virtues, They of ancient Rome ; and the same factions which had agitated constanti- the circus raged with redoubled fury in the hippodrome. Under the East the reign of Anastasius, this popular frenzy was inflamed by religious zeal ; and the greens, who had treacherously concealed stones and daggers under baskets of fruit, massacred, at a solemn festival, three thousand of their blue adversaries. 44 From the capital, this pestilence was diffused into the provinces and cities of the East, and the sportive distinction of two colours produced two strong and irreconcileable factions, which shook the founda- tions of a feeble government. 45 The popular dissensions, founded on the most serious interest, or holy pretence, have scarcely equalled the obstinacy of this wanton discord, which invaded the peace of families, divided friends and brothers, and tempted the female sex, though seldom seen in the circus, to espouse the inclinations of their lovers or to contradict the wishes of their husbands. Every law, either human or divine, was trampled under foot, and, as long as the party was successful, its deluded followers appeared careless of private distress or public calamity. The licence, without the freedom, of democracy was revived at Antioch and Constantinople, and the support of a faction became necessary to every candidate for civil or ecclesi- astical honours. A secret attachment to the family or sect of Anastasius was imputed to the greens ; the blues were zealously Justinian devoted to the cause of orthodoxy and Justinian, 46 and their biues* 43 See Onuphrius Pauvinius de Ludis Circensibus, 1. i. c. 10, 11 ; the xviith Annotation on Mascou's History of the Germans ; and Aleman. ad o. vii. [See Appendix 11.] 44 Marcellin. in Chron. p. 47 [a.d. 501]. Instead of the vulgar word veneta, he uses the more exquisite terms of caerulea and cerealis. Baronius (a.d. 501, No. 4, 5, 6) is satisfied that the blues were orthodox ; but Tillemont is angry at the sup- position, and will not allow any martyrs in a playhouse (Hist, des Emp. torn. vi. p. 554). 46 See Procopius, Persic. 1. i. c. 24. In describing the vices of the factions and of the government, the public, is not more favourable than the secret, historian. Aleman. (p. 26) has quoted a fine passage from Gregory Nazianzen, which proves the inveteracy of the evil. 46 The partiality of Justinian for the blues (Anecdot. c. 7) is attested by Evagrius (Hist. Eccles. 1. iv. c. 32) ; John Malala (torn. ii. p. 138, 139 [p. 416, ed. Bonn]), especially for Antioch ; and Theophanes (p. 142). . favours the
