Their life, both in public and private, became sad and dejected and utterly joyless, as if some misfortune had fallen upon them from Heaven.

Nothing was spoken of in conversation at home, in the streets, or in the churches, except misfortune and suffering.

Such was the state of the cities.
I have still something important to mention.

Every year two consuls were appointed--one at Rome, the other at Byzantium.

Whoever was advanced to that dignity was expected to expend more than twenty centenars of gold upon the public.