OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

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replied Pliranza, “ are irresistible; but deign,“ great sir,” be added, with a serious smile, “ to“ consider, that if I am thus perpetually absent“ from my family, my wife may be tempted either“ to seek another husband, or to throw herself“ into a monastery.” After laughing at bis ap-prehensions, the emperor more gravely consoledhim, by the pleasing assurance that this shouldbe his last service abroad, and that he destinedfor his son a wealthy and noble heiress; for him-self, the important office of great logothete, orprincipal minister of state. The marriage wasimmediately stipulated; but the office, howeverincompatible with his own, had been usurped bythe ambition of the admiral. Some delay wasrequisite to negociate a consent and an equiva-lent; and the nomination of Phranza was halfdeclared, and half suppressed, lest it might bedispleasing to an insolent and powerful favour-ite. The winter was spent in the preparationsof his embassy; and Phranza had resolved thatthe youth his son should embrace this opportu-nity of foreign travel, and be left, on the appear-ance of danger, with his maternal kindred of theMorea. Such were the private and public de-signs, which were interrupted by a Turkish w’ar,and finally buried in the ruins of the empire.

VOL. XII, N

CHAP.LX VII.