The source of this idle fable may be derived from a miscellaneous work of the 12th century, the Chiliads of John Tzetzes, a monk (Basil. 1546, ad calcem Lycophront. Colon. Allobrog. 1614, in Corp. Poet. Graec.). He relates the blindness and beggary of Belisarius in ten vulgar or political verses (Chiliad iii. No. 88, 339 - 348, in Corp. Poet. Graec. tom. ii. p. 311.).
This moral or romantic tale was imported into Italy with the language and manuscripts of Greece; repeated before the end of the 15th century by Crinitus, Pontanus, and Volaterranus, attacked by Alciat, for the honor of the law; and defended by Baronius, (A.D. 561, No. 2, etc.,) for the honor of the church. Yet Tzetzes himself had read in other chronicles, that Belisarius did not lose his sight, and that he recovered his fame and fortunes.