| | The 6th-century Roman Historian Procopius of Caesarea reports a tale of the Emperor Honorius being told of news by a eunuch, a keeper of poultry that Rome had been sacked by the Visigoths, but he thought that the messenger was referring to his pet chicken who was also named Rome: | | The 6th-century Roman Historian Procopius of Caesarea reports a tale of the Emperor Honorius being told of news by a eunuch, a keeper of poultry that Rome had been sacked by the Visigoths, but he thought that the messenger was referring to his pet chicken who was also named Rome: |
| − | {{cquote|At that time they say that the Emperor Honorius in Ravenna received the message from one of the eunuchs, evidently a keeper of the poultry, that Rome had perished. And he cried out and said, "And yet it has just eaten from my hands!" For he had a very large cock, Rome by name; and the eunuch comprehending his words said that it was the city of Rome which had perished at the hands of Alaric, and the emperor with a sigh of relief answered quickly: "But I, my good fellow, thought that my fowl Rome had perished." So great, they say, was the folly with which this emperor was possessed.''<ref>Procopius of Caesarea, ''The History of the Wars (III.2.25–26)''</ref>}} | + | {{cquote|At that time they say that the Emperor Honorius in Ravenna received the message from one of the eunuchs, evidently a keeper of the poultry, that Rome had perished. And he cried out and said, "And yet it has just eaten from my hands!" For he had a very large cock, Rome by name; and the eunuch comprehending his words said that it was the city of Rome which had perished at the hands of Alaric, and the emperor with a sigh of relief answered quickly: "But I, my good fellow, thought that my fowl Rome had perished." So great, they say, was the folly with which this emperor was possessed.<ref>Procopius of Caesarea, ''The History of the Wars (III.2.25–26)''</ref>}} |