Procopius declares his own and his friends' belief in these diabolical stories, (c.

12.)] [Footnote 19: Montesquieu (Considerations sur la Grandeur et la Decadence des Romains, c.

xx.) gives credit to these anecdotes, as connected, 1.

with the weakness of the empire, and, 2.

with the instability of Justinian's laws.] [Footnote 1911: The Anecdota of Procopius, compared with the former works of the same author, appear to me the basest and most disgraceful work in literature.