[216] Jn. Lydus, loc. cit., ii, 21.
[217] Ibid., iii, 64; but according to Procopius (loc. cit.) he spent the early part of the day in pillaging the citizens, and then flung himself into dissipation. Different periods of his career may be indicated. At first he would be more brisk in making his public appearances.
[218] Both Procopius and Lydus notice this addiction to surfeiting.
[219] Jn. Lydus, loc. cit., 62.
[220] Procopius, De Bel. Pers., i, 25.
[221] Jn. Lydus, loc. cit., 70.
[222] See p. 160.
[223] Jn. Lydus, loc. cit., 69.
[224] Ibid., 61; Procopius, Anecd., 30. According to the latter the direct route to Persia was not tampered with. The celerity of some of the couriers by these posts was remarkable. Of one Palladius Theodosius II used to say that the area of the Empire seemed to be contracted to a small space, he came and went so rapidly between distant frontiers. His time from CP. to the Persian border was three days, about 230 miles a day; Socrates, vii, 19.
[225] Jn. Lydus, loc. cit., 70.