515.) It had strangely puzzled the civilians of the middle age.] [Footnote 18: Procopius, Goth.l.iv.c.

25.] [Footnote 19: An inroad of the Huns is connected, by Procopius, with a comet perhaps that of 531, (Persic.l.ii.c.

4.) Agathias (l.v.

p.
154, 155) borrows from his predecessors some early facts.] [Footnote 20: The cruelties of the Sclavonians are related or magnified by Procopius, (Goth.l.iii.c.29, 38.) For their mild and liberal behavior to their prisoners, we may appeal to the authority, somewhat more recent of the emperor Maurice, (Stratagem.l.ii.c.

5.)] [Footnote 21: Topirus was situate near Philippi in Thrace, or Macedonia, opposite to the Isle of Thasos, twelve days' journey from Constantinople (Cellarius, tom.i.p.676, 846.)] [Footnote 22: According to the malevolent testimony of the Anecdotes, (c.