CHAPTER III

INSURRECTION OF BASILISCUS. FLIGHT OF ZENO

BUT on the insurrection of Basiliscus, the brother of Verina—for the disposition of his nearest connexions was hostile, from the universal disgust at his most disgraceful life—he was utterly wanting in courage: for vice is craven and desponding, sufficiently indicating its unmanly spirit by submission to pleasures. Zeno fled with precipitation, and surrendered so great a sovereignty to Basiliscus without a struggle. He was also blockaded in his native district, Isauria, having with him his wife Ariadne, who had subsequently fled from her mother, and those parties who still continued loyal to him. Basiliscus, having thus acquired the Roman diadem, and bestowed on his son Marcus the title of Cæsar, adopted measures opposed to those of Zeno and his predecessors.