The Blues, the Greens, and Belisarius, by Samuel Goodrich

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Justinian’s chief hope now rested on Belisarius. Assisted by Mundus, the governor of Illyria,* who chanced to be in the capital, he now called upon the guards to rally in defence of the emperor; but these refused to obey him. Meanwhile, by another caprice the party of the Blues, becoming ashamed of their conduct, shrunk one by one away, and left Hypatius to be sustained by the Greens alone.

These were dismayed at seeing Belisarius, issuing with a few troops which he had collected, from the smoking ruins of the palace. Drawing his sword, and commanding his veterans to follow, he fell upon them like a thunderbolt. Mundus, with another division of soldiers, rushed upon them from the opposite direction. The insurgents were panic-struck, and dispersed in every quarter. Hypatius was dragged from the throne which he had ascended a few hours before, and was soon after executed in prison. The Blues now emerged from their concealment, and, falling upon their antagonists, glutted their merciless and ungovernable vengeance. No less than thirty thousand persons were slain in this fearful convulsion.*

by Samuel Goodrich 1793-1860

Original American spelling

‘Famous Men of Ancient Times (1843) by Samuel Goodrich (1793-1860).

* Mundus (?-536) was a Roman general who since 529 had held the post of magister militum in Illyria, a region on the western side of the Balkans (the eastern shore of the Adriatic), centred on what is now Albania.

* This slaughter took place, appropriately enough, in the Hippodrome, the arena where the chariot races were held.

Précis

The man Theodora turned to was Belisarius, a young general with a rising reputation. Aided by Mundus, Governor of Illyria, he bluffed the rebels into thinking he had more men than he did. Hypatius and the Greens hesitated, the fickle Blues swung back behind the Emperor, and at the cost of thirty thousand lives Justinian regained his throne.

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

Why did the Nika Rebellion fail?

Suggestion

Because Belisarius’s daring shattered the rebels’ unity.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Belisarius’s army was small. The rebels did not know this. They were afraid.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IAware. IICourage. IIISuppose.

Précis

Questions for Critics

Sevens

Jigsaws

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