Read the _History_ of Hesychius[293] Illustri(u)s, son of Hesychius
and Sophia, a Milesian by birth. It is a sort of synopsis of the
history of the world, as is shown by the title--_History of Roman and
General History_. It begins with the reign of Belus, king of Assyria,
and goes down to the death of Anastasius, emperor of Rome.
His style is concise and elegant, the language perspicuous if florid,
and the composition elaborate in proportion. He is especially careful
in the choice of words. His mode of expression is distinct and
emphatic, and he charms[294] the reader by his figures of speech,
which, however, do not prevent events from being described as clearly
as if he had made no use of figures, or even more clearly. He also
declares his intention of adhering strictly to truth.
The work is divided into six parts. The first part contains the
narrative of events preceding the Trojan war; the second, events
from the capture of Troy to the foundation of Rome; the third,
events from the foundation of Rome to the time when the appointment
of consuls put an end to the monarchy, in the 68th Olympiad;[295]
the fourth, events from the government of the consuls to the 182nd
Olympiad, when Julius Caesar became sole emperor and the consuls
were abolished;[296] the fifth, events that took place under the
rule of Julius Caesar down to the time when the glory of Byzantium
reached its height, at the beginning of the 277th Olympiad.[297]
The sixth begins with the time when Byzantium to its good fortune
had Constantine for its emperor, and goes down to the death of
Anastasius, whom the author (I do not know why) praises as superior
to many of his predecessors in clemency and mildness. His death took
place in the eleventh indiction,[298] when Magnus was sole consul.
The period of time embraced by the history is 1190 years.
Also read another book by the same author, containing the events
of the reign of the emperor Justin. It relates how, on the death
of Anastasius, Justin was chosen to succeed him, how Justin was
succeeded by Justinian. Various events that occurred during the early
years of the reign of the latter. The author was prevented from
writing more by the death of his son John, which so deeply affected
him that he was unable to devote himself to study or literary work.