Michael Psellos visited Michael V at Stoudios church

Summary:
Michael Psellos claimed to have come to the holy altar of the Church of Stoudios and seen Michael V and Konstantinos the nobelissimos, both clutching the holy table and in monastic dress, surrounded by the furious populace and terrified. He was, he says, deeply moved. The two suppliants noticed his emotion, and converged on him. He asked Konstantinos why he had shared in the ill-treatment of Zoe, and Michael what he had suffered from her to justify his actions. Konstantinos denied involvement, saying that Michael was beyond restraint, complaining of his violent persecution of the rest of the family and claiming that he too would have suffered if he had tried to stop him. Michael wept and accepted the divine justice of his punishment 
Dates:
1042 
Konstantinos, brother of Michael IV (Konstantinos 64)
  • Changing his manner a little, Michael 61 first of all quietly accused him among other things in particular because he had chosen to share in the ill-treatment of Zoe 1 (:) ὅτι συγκοινωνεῖν τῷ βασιλεῖ εἵλετο ἐπὶ τῇ τῆς βασιλίδος κακώσει Psellos: Chronographia V 41.7-10
  • When he had replied to Michael 61, Michael 5 slowly shook his head and let fall a tear saying, "God is not unjust, and justice is paying me back for what I have done"; saying this he again took hold of the Holy Table (:) ὁ μὲν οὖν νωβελλίισιμος τοιούτῳ με λόγῳ ἠμείψατο Psellos: Chronographia V 43.1-6
  • When Michael 61 came to the holy altar of the Stoudios church, Michael 5 was standing there clutching the Holy Table of the Word with him at his right side, both changed in attire as well as spirit, utterly shamed (:) τὸν δέ γε νωβελλίσιμον ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ἑστηκότα μέρους Psellos: Chronographia V 40.3-8
  • Michael 61 stood lamenting at the right-hand lattice of the altar; Konstantinos and Michael 5 came to him, seeing that Michael 61 was deeply moved and not entirely hostile but showing some moderation in attitude (:) περιπαθῶς ἔχοντα καὶ οὐ πάντη ἐκπεπολεμωμένον ἐκείνοις, ἀλλὰ δεικνύντα τι τοῦ ἐπιεικοῦς σχήματος Psellos: Chronographia V 41.3-7
  • Turning to Michael 5, he said that he was quite unrestrainable in his wishes and activities: if he had been able to check Michael's enterprise, his whole family would not have been mutilated, victim to fire and the sword (:) οὐκ ἂν δή μοι τὸ γένος ξύμπαν ἐκεκοπτο καὶ πυρὸς καὶ σιδήρου ἔργον ἐγένετο Psellos: Chronographia V 41.16-20
  • He replied to Michael 61 that he had neither participated in Michael 5's plot against Zoe 1 nor encouraged him in other respects, but that had he wished to check Michael he would have recieved some ill in return (:) ἐπισχεῖν δὲ, φησὶν εἴ γε βουληθείην, κακοῦ τινος παραπολελαύκειν Psellos: Chronographia V 41.12-16
Emperor Michael V Kalaphates (Michael 5)
  • Michael 61 stood lamenting at the right-hand lattice of the altar; the emperor saw that Michael 61 was deeply moved and not entirely hostile but showing some moderation in attitude, he came to him: in association with Konstantinos 64 (:) περιπαθῶς ἔχοντα καὶ οὐ πάντη ἐκπεπολεμωμένον ἐκείνοις, ἀλλὰ δεικνύντα τι τοῦ ἐπιεικοῦς σχήματος Psellos: Chronographia V 41.3-7
  • When Konstantinos 64 had replied to Michael 61 he slowly shook his head and just letting fall a tear said, "God is not unjust, and justice is paying me back for what I have done"; saying this he again took hold of the Holy Table (:) μόγις που καὶ δάκρυον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἐπαφεὶς Psellos: Chronographia V 43.1-6
  • Michael 61 asked him whatever it was he had suffered from Zoe 1 that he had added such suffering to her tragedy (:) ἠρώτησα ὅ τι δήποτε πεπονθὼς ... τοιοῦτον ἐκείνῃ πάθος ἐπετραγῴδησε Psellos: Chronographia V 41.10-12
  • He conceded that even his change of dress had come upon him justly; he had performed the mystery of change (to monastic) dress; he was crushed, terrified and afraid of the people's onslaught: in association with Konstantinos 64 (:) ἤστην ὁμοῦ συντετριμμένω καὶ δειλιῶντε καὶ τὴν τοῦ δήμου πεφοβημένω φοράν Psellos: Chronographia V 43.6-10
  • When Michael 61 came to the holy altar of the Stoudios church, the emperor was standing there clutching the Holy Table of the Word with Konstantinos 64 at his right side, both changed in attire as well as spirit, utterly shamed (:) τὸν μὲν βασιλεύσαντα αὐτῆς ἐπειλημμένον τῆς ἱερᾶς τοῦ Λόγου τραπέζης Psellos: Chronographia V 40.3-8
  • Turning to Michael, Konstantinos 64 said that he was quite beyond restraint in his wishes and activities: had he been able to check his enterprise, Konstantinos 64's whole family would not have been mutilated, victim to fire and the sword (:) οὕτω γὰρ ἦν ἀκατάσχετος οὗτος ... πρὸς ὃ βουληθείη καὶ ἐφ’ ὅπερ ὁρμήσειεν Psellos: Chronographia V 41.16-20
  • The mob which had entered (the Stoudios church) stood around him in a circle wishing to devour him like wild beasts: in association with Konstantinos 64 (:) ὥσπερ δή τινες θῆρες καταδαίσασθαι τούτους ἐβούλοντο Psellos: Chronographia V 41.1-3
  • Konstantinos 64 told Michael 61 that Konstantinos 64 had neither participated in his plot against Zoe 1 nor encouraged him in other respects, but that had Konstantinos 64 wished to check him he would have enjoyed in return some ill (:) οὔτε τῆς ἐπὶ ταύτῃ βουλῆς τῷ ἀνεψιῷ ἐκοινώνησεν οὔτ’ ἄλλως προὐτρέψατο Psellos: Chronographia V 41.12-16
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • Konstantinos 64 replied to him that he had neither participated in Michael 5's plot against Zoe 1 nor encouraged him in other respects, but that had he wished to check Michael he would have enjoyed some ill in return (:) καὶ ἄμφω δή μοι ἀπεκρινάσθην Psellos: Chronographia V 41.12-16
  • He stood lamenting at the right-hand lattice of the altar; when Michael 5 and Konstantinos 64 saw that he was deeply moved and not entirely hostile to them but showing some moderation in attitude, both came to him (:) περιπαθῶς ἔχοντα καὶ οὐ πάντη ἐκπεπολεμωμένον ἐκείνοις, ἀλλὰ δεικνύντα τι τοῦ ἐπιεικοῦς σχήματος Psellos: Chronographia V 41.3-7
  • Changing his manner a little, he first of all quietly accused Konstantinos 64 among other things in particular because he had chosen to share in the ill-treatment of Zoe 1 (:) ὅτι συγκοινωνεῖν τῷ βασιλεῖ εἵλετο ἐπὶ τῇ τῆς βασιλίδος κακώσει Psellos: Chronographia V 41.7-10
  • When he came to the holy altar (of the Stoudios church) where Michael 5 and Konstantinos 64 stood and saw them with changed attire and spirit, utterly shamed, no trace of anger remained in his heart (:) θυμοῦ δὲ οὐδ’ ὁτιοῦν ἴχνος ἐφύλαξα τῇ ψυχῇ Psellos: Chronographia V 40.3-9
  • He thought that the disturbance would stop at this point, he was amazed at the scene (of Michael 5 and Konstantinos 64 at the altar) and awestruck at the chorus of ills; but it was in fact a brief prelude to worse tragedies (:) ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ᾤμην ἄχρι τούτου τὰ ταραχώδη προβήσεσθαι Psellos: Chronographia V 43.10-13
  • He was amazed at the scene (of Michael 5 and Konstantinos 64 at the altar) and awestruck at the chorus of ills; but it was in fact a brief prelude to worse tragedies: these he will tell in turn τήν γε σκηνὴν ἀπεθαύμαζον, καὶ τὴν τῶν παθημάτων χορείαν ἐξεπληττόμην· τὸ δὲ ἦν ἄρα βραχύ τι προοίμιον χειρόνων τραγῳδιῶν· εἰρήσεται δὲ κατὰ μέρος ταῦτα Psellos: Chronographia V 43.11-14
  • He asked Michael 5 whatever it was he had suffered from Zoe 1 that he had added such suffering to her tragedy (:) ἠρώτησα ὅ τι δήποτε πεπονθὼς ... τοιοῦτον ἐκείνῃ πάθος ἐπετραγῴδησε Psellos: Chronographia V 41.10-12
  • As if struck by a whirlwind he stood dumb and open-mouthed, transformed by the strangeness of the thing (on seeing Michael 5 at the altar) (:) πρὸς τὴν καινοτομίαν μεταβεβλημένος τοῦ πράγματος Psellos: Chronographia V 40.9-11
  • When Konstantinos 64 had replied to Psellos, Michael 5 slowly shook his head and with difficulty let fall a tear saying, "God is not unjust, and justice is paying me back for what I have done"; saying this he again took hold of the Holy Table (:) ὁ μὲν οὖν νωβελλίσιμος τοιούτῳ με λόγῳ ἠμείψατο Psellos: Chronographia V 43.1-6
Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)
  • Michael 61 asked Michael 5 whatever it was he had suffered from her that he had added such suffering to her tragedy (:) ἠρώτησα ὅ τι δήποτε πεπονθὼς ... τοιοῦτον ἐκείνῃ πάθος ἐπετραγῴδησε Psellos: Chronographia V 41.10-12
  • Konstantinos 64 told Michael 61 that he had neither participated in Michael 5's plot against her nor encouraged him in other respects, but that had Konstantinos 64 wished to check him he would have enjoyed in return some ill (:) οὔτε τῆς ἐπὶ ταύτῃ βουλῆς τῷ ἀνεψιῷ ἐκοινώνησεν οὔτ’ ἄλλως προὐτρέψατο Psellos: Chronographia V 41.12-16
  • Changing his manner a little, Michael 61 first of all quietly accused Konstantinos 64 among other things in particular because he had chosen to share in Zoe's ill-treatment (:) ὅτι συγκοινωνεῖν τῇ βασιλεῖ εἵλετο ἐπὶ τῇ τῆς βασιλίδος κακώσει Psellos: Chronographia V 41.7-10