InthetimeofConstantinePorphyrogenitus，theyhadacquiredthenameofMainotes，underwhichtheydishonortheclaimoflibertybytheinhumanpillageofallthatisshipwreckedontheirrockyshores。Theirterritory，barrenofcorn，butfruitfulofolives，extendedtotheCapeofMalea:theyacceptedachieforprincefromtheByzantinepraetor，andalighttributeoffourhundredpiecesofgoldwasthebadgeoftheirimmunity，ratherthanoftheirdependence。ThefreemenofLaconiaassumedthecharacterofRomans，andlongadheredtothereligionoftheGreeks。BythezealoftheemperorBasil，theywerebaptizedinthefaithofChrist:butthealtarsofVenusandNeptunehadbeencrownedbytheserusticvotariesfivehundredyearsaftertheywereproscribedintheRomanworld。InthethemeofPeloponnesus，^17
fortycitieswerestillnumbered，andthedecliningstateofSparta，Argos，andCorinth，maybesuspendedinthetenthcentury，atanequaldistance，perhaps，betweentheirantiquesplendorandtheirpresentdesolation。Thedutyofmilitaryservice，eitherinpersonorbysubstitute，wasimposedonthelandsorbeneficesoftheprovince；asumoffivepiecesofgoldwasassessedoneachofthesubstantialtenants；andthesamecapitationwassharedamongseveralheadsofinferiorvalue。OntheproclamationofanItalianwar，thePeloponnesiansexcusedthemselvesbyavoluntaryoblationofonehundredpoundsofgold，fourthousandpoundssterling，andathousandhorseswiththeirarmsandtrappings。Thechurchesandmonasteriesfurnishedtheircontingent；asacrilegiousprofitwasextortedfromthesaleofecclesiasticalhonors；andtheindigentbishopofLeucadia^18
wasmaderesponsibleforapensionofonehundredpiecesofgold。
^19
[Footnote15:SaysConstantine，Thematibus，l。ii。c。vi。p。
25，inastyleasbarbarousastheidea，whichheconfirms，asusual，byafoolishepigram。TheepitomizerofStrabolikewiseobserves，l。vii。p。98，edit。Hudson。edit。Casaub。1251；apassagewhichleadsDodwellawearydanceGeograph，Minor。tom。
ii。dissert。vi。p。170—191toenumeratetheinroadsoftheSclavi，andtofixthedateA。D。980ofthispettygeographer。]
[Footnote16:Strabon。Geograph。l。viii。p。562。Pausanius，Graec。Descriptio，l。c21，p。264，265。Pliny，Hist。Natur。l。
iv。c。8。]
[Footnote17:Constantin。deAdministrandoImperio，l。ii。c。50，51，52。]
[Footnote18:TherockofLeucatewasthesouthernpromontoryofhisislandanddiocese。HadhebeentheexclusiveguardianoftheLover\'sLeapsowellknowntothereadersofOvidEpist。
SapphoandtheSpectator，hemighthavebeentherichestprelateoftheGreekchurch。]
[Footnote19:Leucatensismihijuravitepiscopus，quotannisecclesiamsuamdebereNicephoroaureoscentumpersolvere，similiteretceterasplusminusvesecundumviressuos，LiutprandinLegat。p。489。]
Butthewealthoftheprovince，andthetrustoftherevenue，werefoundedonthefairandplentifulproduceoftradeandmanufacturers；andsomesymptomsofliberalpolicymaybetracedinalawwhichexemptsfromallpersonaltaxesthemarinersofPeloponnesus，andtheworkmeninparchmentandpurple。Thisdenominationmaybefairlyappliedorextendedtothemanufacturersoflinen，woollen，andmoreespeciallyofsilk:
thetwoformerofwhichhadflourishedinGreecesincethedaysofHomer；andthelastwasintroducedperhapsasearlyasthereignofJustinian。Thesearts，whichwereexercisedatCorinth，Thebes，andArgos，affordedfoodandoccupationtoanumerouspeople:themen，women，andchildrenweredistributedaccordingtotheirageandstrength；and，ifmanyoftheseweredomesticslaves，theirmasters，whodirectedtheworkandenjoyedtheprofit，wereofafreeandhonorablecondition。ThegiftswhicharichandgenerousmatronofPeloponnesuspresentedtotheemperorBasil，heradoptedson，weredoubtlessfabricatedintheGrecianlooms。Danielisbestowedacarpetoffinewool，ofapatternwhichimitatedthespotsofapeacock\'stail，ofamagnitudetooverspreadthefloorofanewchurch，erectedinthetriplenameofChrist，ofMichaelthearchangel，andoftheprophetElijah。Shegavesixhundredpiecesofsilkandlinen，ofvarioususeanddenomination:thesilkwaspaintedwiththeTyriandye，andadornedbythelaborsoftheneedle；andthelinenwassoexquisitelyfine，thatanentirepiecemightberolledinthehollowofacane。^20InhisdescriptionoftheGreekmanufactures，anhistorianofSicilydiscriminatestheirprice，accordingtotheweightandqualityofthesilk，theclosenessofthetexture，thebeautyofthecolors，andthetasteandmaterialsoftheembroidery。Asingle，orevenadoubleortreblethreadwasthoughtsufficientforordinarysale；buttheunionofsixthreadscomposedapieceofstrongerandmorecostlyworkmanship。Amongthecolors，hecelebrates，withaffectationofeloquence，thefieryblazeofthescarlet，andthesofterlustreofthegreen。Theembroiderywasraisedeitherinsilkorgold:themoresimpleornamentofstripesorcircleswassurpassedbythenicerimitationofflowers:thevestmentsthatwerefabricatedforthepalaceorthealtaroftenglitteredwithpreciousstones；andthefiguresweredelineatedinstringsofOrientalpearls。^21Tillthetwelfthcentury，Greecealone，ofallthecountriesofChristendom，waspossessedoftheinsectwhoistaughtbynature，andoftheworkmenwhoareinstructedbyart，topreparethiselegantluxury。ButthesecrethadbeenstolenbythedexterityanddiligenceoftheArabs:thecaliphsoftheEastandWestscornedtoborrowfromtheunbelieverstheirfurnitureandapparel；andtwocitiesofSpain，AlmeriaandLisbon，werefamousforthemanufacture，theuse，and，perhaps，theexportation，ofsilk。ItwasfirstintroducedintoSicilybytheNormans；andthisemigrationoftradedistinguishesthevictoryofRogerfromtheuniformandfruitlesshostilitiesofeveryage。AfterthesackofCorinth，Athens，andThebes，hislieutenantembarkedwithacaptivetrainofweaversandartificersofbothsexes，atrophyglorioustotheirmaster，anddisgracefultotheGreekemperor。^22ThekingofSicilywasnotinsensibleofthevalueofthepresent；and，intherestitutionoftheprisoners，heexceptedonlythemaleandfemalemanufacturersofThebesandCorinth，wholabor，saystheByzantinehistorian，underabarbarouslord，liketheoldEretriansintheserviceofDarius。^23Astatelyedifice，inthepalaceofPalermo，waserectedfortheuseofthisindustriouscolony；^24andtheartwaspropagatedbytheirchildrenanddisciplestosatisfytheincreasingdemandofthewesternworld。
ThedecayoftheloomsofSicilymaybeascribedtothetroublesoftheisland，andthecompetitionoftheItaliancities。Intheyearthirteenhundredandfourteen，Luccaalone，amonghersisterrepublics，enjoyedthelucrativemonopoly。^25AdomesticrevolutiondispersedthemanufacturerstoFlorence，Bologna，Venice，Milan，andeventhecountriesbeyondtheAlps；andthirteenyearsafterthiseventthestatutesofModenaenjointheplantingofmulberry—trees，andregulatethedutiesonrawsilk。
^26Thenorthernclimatesarelesspropitioustotheeducationofthesilkworm；buttheindustryofFranceandEngland^27issuppliedandenrichedbytheproductionsofItalyandChina。
[Footnote20:SeeConstantine，inVit。Basil。c。74，75，76，p。
195，197，inScript。postTheophanem，whoallowshimselftousemanytechnicalorbarbarouswords:barbarous，sayshe。Ducangelaborsonsome:buthewasnotaweaver。]
[Footnote21:ThemanufacturesofPalermo，astheyaredescribedbyHugoFalcandus，Hist。Siculainproem。inMuratoriScript。
RerumItalicarum，tom。v。p。256，isacopyofthoseofGreece。
Withouttranscribinghisdeclamatorysentences，whichIhavesoftenedinthetext，Ishallobserve，thatinthispassagethestrangewordexarentasmataisveryproperlychangedforexanthematabyCarisius，thefirsteditorFalcanduslivedabouttheyear1190。]
[Footnote22:IndeadinterioraGraeciaeprogressi，Corinthum，Thebas，Athenas，antiquanobilitatecelebres，expugnant；et，maximaibidempraedadirepta，opificesetiam，quisericospannostexeresolent，obignominiamImperatorisillius，suiqueprincipisgloriam，captivosdeducunt。QuosRogerius，inPalermoSiciliae，metropolicollocans，artemtexendisuosedocerepraecepit；etexhincpraedictaarsilla，priusaGraecistantuminterChristianoshabita，Romanispaterecoepitingeniis，OthoFrisingen。deGestisFredericiI。l。i。c。33，inMuratoriScript。Ital。tom。vi。p。668。ThisexceptionallowsthebishoptocelebrateLisbonandAlmeriainsericorumpannorumopificiopraenobilissimae，inChron。apudMuratori，Annalid\'Italia，tom。
ix。p。415。]
[Footnote23:NicetasinManuel，l。ii。c。8。p。65。HedescribestheseGreeksasskilled。]
[Footnote24:HugoFalcandusstylesthemnobilesofficinas。TheArabshadnotintroducedsilk，thoughtheyhadplantedcanesandmadesugarintheplainofPalermo。]
[Footnote25:SeetheLifeofCastruccioCasticani，notbyMachiavel，butbyhismoreauthenticbiographerNicholasTegrimi。
Muratori，whohasinserteditinthexithvolumeofhisScriptores，quotesthiscuriouspassageinhisItalianAntiquities，tom。i。dissert。xxv。p。378。]
[Footnote26:FromtheMs。statutes，astheyarequotedbyMuratoriinhisItalianAntiquities，tom。ii。dissert。xxv。p。
46—48。]
[Footnote27:ThebroadsilkmanufacturewasestablishedinEnglandintheyear1620，Anderson\'sChronologicalDeduction，vol。ii。p。4:butitistotherevocationoftheedictofNantesthatweowetheSpitalfieldscolony。]
ChapterLIII:FateOfTheEasternEmpire。
PartII。
Imustrepeatthecomplaintthatthevagueandscantymemorialsofthetimeswillnotaffordanyjustestimateofthetaxes，therevenue，andtheresourcesoftheGreekempire。FromeveryprovinceofEuropeandAsiatherivuletsofgoldandsilverdischargedintotheImperialreservoiracopiousandperennialstream。TheseparationofthebranchesfromthetrunkincreasedtherelativemagnitudeofConstantinople；andthemaximsofdespotismcontractedthestatetothecapital，thecapitaltothepalace，andthepalacetotheroyalperson。AJewishtraveller，whovisitedtheEastinthetwelfthcentury，islostinhisadmirationoftheByzantineriches。\"Itishere，\"saysBenjaminofTudela，\"inthequeenofcities，thatthetributesoftheGreekempireareannuallydepositedandtheloftytowersarefilledwithpreciousmagazinesofsilk，purple，andgold。Itissaid，thatConstantinoplepayseachdaytohersovereigntwentythousandpiecesofgold；whichareleviedontheshops，taverns，andmarkets，onthemerchantsofPersiaandEgypt，ofRussiaandHungary，ofItalyandSpain，whofrequentthecapitalbyseaandland。\"^28Inallpecuniarymatters，theauthorityofaJewisdoubtlessrespectable；butasthethreehundredandsixty—fivedayswouldproduceayearlyincomeexceedingsevenmillionssterling，IamtemptedtoretrenchatleastthenumerousfestivalsoftheGreekcalendar。ThemassoftreasurethatwassavedbyTheodoraandBasiltheSecondwillsuggestasplendid，thoughindefinite，ideaoftheirsuppliesandresources。ThemotherofMichael，beforesheretiredtoacloister，attemptedtocheckorexposetheprodigalityofherungratefulson，byafreeandfaithfulaccountofthewealthwhichheinherited；onehundredandninethousandpoundsofgold，andthreehundredthousandofsilver，thefruitsofherowneconomyandthatofherdeceasedhusband。^29TheavariceofBasilisnotlessrenownedthanhisvalorandfortune:hisvictoriousarmieswerepaidandrewardedwithoutbreakingintothemassoftwohundredthousandpoundsofgold，abouteightmillionssterling，whichhehadburiedinthesubterraneousvaultsofthepalace。^30Suchaccumulationoftreasureisrejectedbythetheoryandpracticeofmodernpolicy；andwearemoreapttocomputethenationalrichesbytheuseandabuseofthepubliccredit。Yetthemaximsofantiquityarestillembracedbyamonarchformidabletohisenemies；byarepublicrespectabletoherallies；andbothhaveattainedtheirrespectiveendsofmilitarypoweranddomestictranquillity。
[Footnote28:VoyagedeBenjamindeTudele，tom。i。c。5，p。44—
52。TheHebrewtexthasbeentranslatedintoFrenchbythatmarvellouschildBaratier，whohasaddedavolumeofcrudelearning。TheerrorsandfictionsoftheJewishrabbiarenotasufficientgroundtodenytherealityofhistravels。
Note:Iaminclined，withBuegnotLesJuifsd\'Occident，partiii。p。101etseqq。andJostGeschichtederIsraeliter，vol。vi。anhang。p。376toconsiderthisworkamerecompilation，andtodoubttherealityofthetravels。—M。]
[Footnote29:SeethecontinuatorofTheophanes，l。iv。p。107，
Cedremis，p。544，andZonaras，tom。ii。l。xvi。p。157。]
[Footnote30:Zonaras，tom。ii。l。xvii。p。225，insteadofpounds，usesthemoreclassicappellationoftalents，which，inaliteralsenseandstrictcomputation，wouldmultiplysixtyfoldthetreasureofBasil。]
Whatevermightbeconsumedforthepresentwants，orreservedforthefutureuse，ofthestate，thefirstandmostsacreddemandwasforthepompandpleasureoftheemperor，andhisdiscretiononlycoulddefinethemeasureofhisprivateexpense。TheprincesofConstantinoplewerefarremovedfromthesimplicityofnature；yet，withtherevolvingseasons，theywereledbytasteorfashiontowithdrawtoapurerair，fromthesmokeandtumultofthecapital。Theyenjoyed，oraffectedtoenjoy，therusticfestivalofthevintage:theirleisurewasamusedbytheexerciseofthechaseandthecalmeroccupationoffishing，andinthesummerheats，theywereshadedfromthesun，andrefreshedbythecoolingbreezesfromthesea。ThecoastsandislandsofAsiaandEuropewerecoveredwiththeirmagnificentvillas；but，insteadofthemodestartwhichsecretlystrivestohideitselfandtodecoratethesceneryofnature，themarblestructureoftheirgardensservedonlytoexposetherichesofthelord，andthelaborsofthearchitect。Thesuccessivecasualtiesofinheritanceandforfeiturehadrenderedthesovereignproprietorofmanystatelyhousesinthecityandsuburbs，ofwhichtwelvewereappropriatedtotheministersofstate；butthegreatpalace，^31thecentreoftheImperialresidence，wasfixedduringelevencenturiestothesameposition，betweenthehippodrome，thecathedralofSt。Sophia，andthegardens，whichdescendedbymanyaterracetotheshoresofthePropontis。TheprimitiveedificeofthefirstConstantinewasacopy，orrival，ofancientRome；thegradualimprovementsofhissuccessorsaspiredtoemulatethewondersoftheoldworld，^32andinthetenthcentury，theByzantinepalaceexcitedtheadmiration，atleastoftheLatins，byanunquestionablepreeminenceofstrength，size，andmagnificence。^33Butthetoilandtreasureofsomanyageshadproducedavastandirregularpile:eachseparatebuildingwasmarkedwiththecharacterofthetimesandofthefounder；andthewantofspacemightexcusethereigningmonarch，whodemolished，perhapswithsecretsatisfaction，theworksofhispredecessors。TheeconomyoftheemperorTheophilusallowedamorefreeandamplescopeforhisdomesticluxuryandsplendor。Afavoriteambassador，whohadastonishedtheAbbassidesthemselvesbyhisprideandliberality，presentedonhisreturnthemodelofapalace，whichthecaliphofBagdadhadrecentlyconstructedonthebanksoftheTigris。
Themodelwasinstantlycopiedandsurpassed:thenewbuildingsofTheophilus^34wereaccompaniedwithgardens，andwithfivechurches，oneofwhichwasconspicuousforsizeandbeauty:itwascrownedwiththreedomes，theroofofgiltbrassreposedoncolumnsofItalianmarble，andthewallswereincrustedwithmarblesofvariouscolors。Inthefaceofthechurch，asemicircularportico，ofthefigureandnameoftheGreeksigma，wassupportedbyfifteencolumnsofPhrygianmarble，andthesubterraneousvaultswereofasimilarconstruction。Thesquarebeforethesigmawasdecoratedwithafountain，andthemarginofthebasinwaslinedandencompassedwithplatesofsilver。Inthebeginningofeachseason，thebasin，insteadofwater，wasreplenishedwiththemostexquisitefruits，whichwereabandonedtothepopulacefortheentertainmentoftheprince。Heenjoyedthistumultuousspectaclefromathroneresplendentwithgoldandgems，whichwasraisedbyamarblestaircasetotheheightofaloftyterrace。Belowthethronewereseatedtheofficersofhisguards，themagistrates，thechiefsofthefactionsofthecircus；theinferiorstepswereoccupiedbythepeople，andtheplacebelowwascoveredwithtroopsofdancers，singers，andpantomimes。Thesquarewassurroundedbythehallofjustice，thearsenal，andthevariousofficesofbusinessandpleasure；
andthepurplechamberwasnamedfromtheannualdistributionofrobesofscarletandpurplebythehandoftheempressherself。
Thelongseriesoftheapartmentswasadaptedtotheseasons，anddecoratedwithmarbleandporphyry，withpainting，sculpture，andmosaics，withaprofusionofgold，silver，andpreciousstones。
Hisfancifulmagnificenceemployedtheskillandpatienceofsuchartistsasthetimescouldafford:butthetasteofAthenswouldhavedespisedtheirfrivolousandcostlylabors；agoldentree，withitsleavesandbranches，whichshelteredamultitudeofbirdswarblingtheirartificialnotes，andtwolionsofmassygold，andofnaturalsize，wholookedandroaredliketheirbrethrenoftheforest。ThesuccessorsofTheophilus，oftheBasilianandComneniandynasties，werenotlessambitiousofleavingsomememorialoftheirresidence；andtheportionofthepalacemostsplendidandaugustwasdignifiedwiththetitleofthegoldentriclinium。^35Withbecomingmodesty，therichandnobleGreeksaspiredtoimitatetheirsovereign，andwhentheypassedthroughthestreetsonhorseback，intheirrobesofsilkandembroidery，theyweremistakenbythechildrenforkings。^36
AmatronofPeloponnesus，^37whohadcherishedtheinfantfortunesofBasiltheMacedonian，wasexcitedbytendernessorvanitytovisitthegreatnessofheradoptedson。InajourneyoffivehundredmilesfromPatrastoConstantinople，herageorindolencedeclinedthefatigueofahorseorcarriage:thesoftlitterorbedofDanieliswastransportedontheshouldersoftenrobustslaves；andastheywererelievedateasydistances，abandofthreehundredwereselectedfortheperformanceofthisservice。ShewasentertainedintheByzantinepalacewithfilialreverence，andthehonorsofaqueen；andwhatevermightbetheoriginofherwealth，hergiftswerenotunworthyoftheregaldignity。IhavealreadydescribedthefineandcuriousmanufacturesofPeloponnesus，oflinen，silk，andwoollen；butthemostacceptableofherpresentsconsistedinthreehundredbeautifulyouths，ofwhomonehundredwereeunuchs；^38\"forshewasnotignorant，\"saysthehistorian，\"thattheairofthepalaceismorecongenialtosuchinsects，thanashepherd\'sdairytothefliesofthesummer。\"Duringherlifetime，shebestowedthegreaterpartofherestatesinPeloponnesus，andhertestamentinstitutedLeo，thesonofBasil，heruniversalheir。
Afterthepaymentofthelegacies，fourscorevillasorfarmswereaddedtotheImperialdomain；andthreethousandslavesofDanieliswereenfranchisedbytheirnewlord，andtransplantedasacolonytotheItaliancoast。Fromthisexampleofaprivatematron，wemayestimatethewealthandmagnificenceoftheemperors。Yetourenjoymentsareconfinedbyanarrowcircle；
and，whatsoevermaybeitsvalue，theluxuryoflifeispossessedwithmoreinnocenceandsafetybythemasterofhisown，thanbythestewardofthepublic，fortune。
[Footnote31:ForacopiousandminutedescriptionoftheImperialpalace，seetheConstantinop。Christianal。ii。c。4，p。113—123ofDucange，theTillemontofthemiddleages。
NeverhaslaboriousGermanyproducedtwoantiquariansmorelaboriousandaccuratethanthesetwonativesoflivelyFrance。]
[Footnote32:TheByzantinepalacesurpassestheCapitol，thepalaceofPergamus，theRufinianwood，thetempleofAdrianatCyzicus，thepyramids，thePharus，&c。，accordingtoanepigramAntholog。Graec。l。iv。p。488，489。Brodaei，apudWechel
ascribedtoJulian，ex—praefectofEgypt。Seventy—oneofhisepigrams，somelively，arecollectedinBrunck，Analect。Graec。