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which means I so greatly ingratiated myself with him； that he
introduced me to the emperor's presence； where I prevailed so far
by the same methods； that I was shortly taken from my cell； and
preferred to a place at court。 I was no sooner established in
the favor of Justinian than I prompted him to all kind of
cruelty。 As I was of a sour morose temper； and hated nothing
more than the symptoms of happiness appearing in any countenance；
I represented all kind of diversion and amusement as the most
horrid sins。 I inveighed against cheerfulness as levity； and
encouraged nothing but gravity； or； to confess the truth to you；
hypocrisy。 The unhappy emperor followed my advice； and incensed
the people by such repeated barbarities； that he was at last
deposed by them and banished。
〃I now retired again to my cell （for historians mistake in saying
I was put to death）； where I remained safe from the danger of the
irritated mob； whom I cursed in my own heart as much as they
could curse me。
〃Justinian； after three years of his banishment； returned to
Constantinople in disguise； and paid me a visit。 I at first
affected not to know him； and without the least compunction of
gratitude for his former favors； intended not to receive him；
till a thought immediately suggested itself to me how I might
convert him to my advantage； I pretended to recollect him； and；
blaming the shortness of my memory and badness of my eyes； I
sprung forward and embraced him with great affection。
〃My design was to betray him to Apsimar； who； I doubted not；
would generously reward such a service。 I therefore very
earnestly requested him to spend the whole evening with me； to
which he consented。 I formed an excuse for leaving him a few
minutes； and ran away to the palace to acquaint Apsimar with the
guest whom I had then in my cell。 He presently ordered a guard
to go with me and seize him； but； whether the length of my stay
gave him any suspicion； or whether he changed his purpose after
my departure； I know not； for at my return we found he had given
us the slip； nor could we with the most diligent search discover
him。
〃Apsimar； being disappointed of his prey； now raged at me； at
first denouncing the most dreadful vengeance if I did not produce
the deposed monarch。 However； by soothing his passion when at
the highest； and afterwards by canting and flattery； I made a
shift to escape his fury。
〃When Justinian was restored I very confidently went to wish him
joy of his restoration： but it seems he had unfortunately heard
of my treachery； so that he at first received me coldly； and
afterwards upbraided me openly with what I had done。 I
persevered stoutly in denying it； as I knew no evidence could be
produced against me； till； finding him irreconcilable； I betook
myself to reviling him in my sermons； and on every other
occasion； as an enemy to the church and good men； and as an
infidel； a heretic； an atheist； a heathen； and an Arian。 This I
did immediately on his return； and before he gave those flagrant
proofs of his inhumanity which afterwards sufficiently verified
all I had said。
〃Luckily I died on the same day when a great number of those
forces which Justinian had sent against the Thracian Bosphorus；
and who had executed such unheard…of cruelties there； perished。
As every one of these was cast into the bottomless pit； Minos was
so tired with condemnation； that he proclaimed that all present
who had not been concerned in that bloody expedition might； if
they pleased； return to the other world。 I took him at his word；
and； presently turning about； began my journey。〃
CHAPTER XV
Julian passes into the character of a fiddler。
〃Rome was now the seat of my nativity。 My mother was an African；
a woman of no great beauty； but a favorite； I suppose from her
piety； of pope Gregory II。 Who was my father I know not； but I
believe no very considerable man； for after the death of that
pope； who was； out of his religion； a very good friend of my
mother； we fell into great distress； and were at length reduced
to walk the streets of Rome； nor had either of us any other
support but a fiddle； on which I played with pretty tolerable
skill； for； as my genius turned naturally to music； so I had been
in my youth very early instructed at the expense of the good
pope。 This afforded us but a very poor livelihood： for； though
I had often a numerous crowd of hearers； few ever thought
themselves obliged to contribute the smallest pittance to the
poor starving wretch who had given them pleasure。 Nay； some of
the graver sort； after an hour's attention to my music； have gone
away shaking their heads； and crying it was a shame such
vagabonds were suffered to stay in the city。
〃To say the truth； I am confident the fiddle would not have kept
us alive had we entirely depended on the generosity of my
hearers。 My mother therefore was forced to use her own industry；
and while I was soothing the ears of the crowd； she applied to
their pockets； and that generally with such good success that we
now began to enjoy a very comfortable subsistence； and indeed；
had we had the least prudence or forecast； might have soon
acquired enough to enable us to quit this dangerous and
dishonorable way of life： but I know not what is the reason that
money got with labor and safety is constantly preserved； while
the produce of danger and ease is commonly spent as easily； and
often as wickedly； as acquired。 Thus we proportioned our
expenses rather by what we had than what we wanted or even
desired； and on obtaining a considerable booty we have even
forced nature into the most profligate extravagance； and have
been wicked without inclination。
〃We carried on this method of thievery for a long time without
detection： but； as Fortune generally leaves persons of
extraordinary ingenuity in the lurch at last； so did she us； for
my poor mother was taken in the fact； and； together with myself；
as her accomplice； hurried before a magistrate。
〃Luckily for us； the person who was to be our judge was the
greatest lover of music in the whole city； and had often sent for
me to play to him； for which； as he had given me very small
rewards； perhaps his gratitude now moved him： but； whatever was
his motive； he browbeat the informers against us； and treated
their evidence with so little favor； that their mouths were soon
stopped； and we dismissed with honor； acquitted； I should rather
have it said； for we were not suffered to depart till I had given
the judge several tunes on the fiddle。
〃We escaped the better on this occasion because the person robbed
happened to be a poet； which gave the judge； who was a facetious
person； many opportunities of jesting。 He said poets and
musicians should agree together； seeing they had married sisters；
which he afterwards explained to be the sister arts。 And when
the piece of gold was produced he