64. Agathias, 1. vi. [c. 26] p. 136, 137 [p. 264, ed. Bonn].
Although he confesses the prevalence of the tradition, he
asserts that Procopius was the first who had committed it to
writing. Tillemont (Hist. des Empereurs, tom. vi. p. 597)
argues very sensibly on the merits of this fable. His
criticism was not warped by any ecclesiastical authority:
both Procopius and Agathias are half Pagans.