Theswellingdomesandloftyspiresoffivehundredpalacesandchurchesweregildedbythesunandreflectedinthewaters:thewallswerecrowdedwithsoldiersandspectators，whosenumberstheybeheld，ofwhosetempertheywereignorant；andeachheartwaschilledbythereflection，that，sincethebeginningoftheworld，suchanenterprisehadneverbeenundertakenbysuchahandfulofwarriors。Butthemomentaryapprehensionwasdispelledbyhopeandvalor；andeveryman，saysthemarshalofChampagne，glancedhiseyeontheswordorlancewhichhemustspeedilyuseinthegloriousconflict。^57TheLatinscastanchorbeforeChalcedon；themarinersonlywereleftinthevessels:thesoldiers，horses，andarms，weresafelylanded；and，intheluxuryofanImperialpalace，thebaronstastedthefirstfruitsoftheirsuccess。Onthethirdday，thefleetandarmymovedtowardsScutari，theAsiaticsuburbofConstantinople:adetachmentoffivehundredGreekhorsewassurprisedanddefeatedbyfourscoreFrenchknights；andinahaltofninedays，thecampwasplentifullysuppliedwithforageandprovisions。
[Footnote54:ThebirthanddignityofAndrewDandologavehimthemotiveandthemeansofsearchinginthearchivesofVenicethememorablestoryofhisancestor。HisbrevityseemstoaccusethecopiousandmorerecentnarrativesofSanudo，inMuratori，Script。RerumItalicarum，tom。xxii。，Blondus，Sabellicus，andRhamnusius。]
[Footnote*:ThisdescriptionratherbelongstothefirstsettingsailoftheexpeditionfromVenice，beforethesiegeofZara。
ThearmamentdidnotreturntoVenice。—M。]
[Footnote55:Villehardouin，No。62。Hisfeelingsandexpressionsareoriginal:heoftenweeps，butherejoicesinthegloriesandperilsofwarwithaspiritunknowntoasedentarywriter。]
[Footnote56:Inthisvoyage，almostallthegeographicalnamesarecorruptedbytheLatins。ThemodernappellationofChalcis，andallEuboea，isderivedfromitsEuripus，Euripo，Negri—po，Negropont，whichdishonorsourmaps，D\'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。i。p。263。]
[Footnote57:Etsachiezqueilniotsihardicuilecuernefremist，c。66。……Chascunsregardoitsesarmes……quepartemsenaronsmestier，c。67。Suchisthehonestyofcourage。]
Inrelatingtheinvasionofagreatempire，itmayseemstrangethatIhavenotdescribedtheobstacleswhichshouldhavecheckedtheprogressofthestrangers。TheGreeks，intruth，wereanunwarlikepeople；buttheywererich，industrious，andsubjecttothewillofasingleman:hadthatmanbeencapableoffear，whenhisenemieswereatadistance，orofcourage，whentheyapproachedhisperson。Thefirstrumorofhisnephew\'salliancewiththeFrenchandVenetianswasdespisedbytheusurperAlexius:hisflattererspersuadedhim，thatinthiscontempthewasboldandsincere；andeachevening，inthecloseofthebanquet，hethricediscomfitedtheBarbariansoftheWest。
TheseBarbarianshadbeenjustlyterrifiedbythereportofhisnavalpower；andthesixteenhundredfishingboatsofConstantinople^58couldhavemannedafleet，tosinkthemintheAdriatic，orstoptheirentranceinthemouthoftheHellespont。
Butallforcemaybeannihilatedbythenegligenceoftheprinceandthevenalityofhisministers。Thegreatduke，oradmiral，madeascandalous，almostapublic，auctionofthesails，themasts，andtherigging:theroyalforestswerereservedforthemoreimportantpurposeofthechase；andthetrees，saysNicetas，wereguardedbytheeunuchs，likethegrovesofreligiousworship。^59Fromhisdreamofpride，AlexiuswasawakenedbythesiegeofZara，andtherapidadvancesoftheLatins；assoonashesawthedangerwasreal，hethoughtitinevitable，andhisvainpresumptionwaslostinabjectdespondencyanddespair。HesufferedthesecontemptibleBarbarianstopitchtheircampinthesightofthepalace；andhisapprehensionswerethinlydisguisedbythepompandmenaceofasuppliantembassy。ThesovereignoftheRomanswasastonishedhisambassadorswereinstructedtosayatthehostileappearanceofthestrangers。IfthesepilgrimsweresincereintheirvowforthedeliveranceofJerusalem，hisvoicemustapplaud，andhistreasuresshouldassist，theirpiousdesignbutshouldtheydaretoinvadethesanctuaryofempire，theirnumbers，weretheytentimesmoreconsiderable，shouldnotprotectthemfromhisjustresentment。
Theanswerofthedogeandbaronswassimpleandmagnanimous。
\"Inthecauseofhonorandjustice，\"theysaid，\"wedespisetheusurperofGreece，histhreats，andhisoffers。Ourfriendshipandhisallegianceareduetothelawfulheir，totheyoungprince，whoisseatedamongus，andtohisfather，theemperorIsaac，whohasbeendeprivedofhissceptre，hisfreedom，andhiseyes，bythecrimeofanungratefulbrother。Letthatbrotherconfesshisguilt，andimploreforgiveness，andweourselveswillintercede，thathemaybepermittedtoliveinaffluenceandsecurity。Butlethimnotinsultusbyasecondmessage；ourreplywillbemadeinarms，inthepalaceofConstantinople。\"
[Footnote58:Eandemurbemplusinsolisnavibuspiscatorumabundare，quamillosintotonavigio。Habebatenimmilleetsexcentaspiscatoriasnaves……Bellicasautemsivemercatoriashabebantinfinitaemultitudinisetportumtutissimum。Gunther，Hist。C。P。c。8，p。10。]
[Footnote59:NicetasinAlex。Comneno，l。iii。c。9，p。348。]
OnthetenthdayoftheirencampmentatScutari，thecrusaderspreparedthemselves，assoldiersandasCatholics，forthepassageoftheBosphorus。Perilousindeedwastheadventure；
thestreamwasbroadandrapid:inacalmthecurrentoftheEuxinemightdrivedowntheliquidandunextinguishablefiresoftheGreeks；andtheoppositeshoresofEuropeweredefendedbyseventythousandhorseandfootinformidablearray。Onthismemorableday，whichhappenedtobebrightandpleasant，theLatinsweredistributedinsixbattlesordivisions；thefirst，orvanguard，wasledbythecountofFlanders，oneofthemostpowerfuloftheChristianprincesintheskillandnumberofhiscrossbows。ThefoursuccessivebattlesoftheFrenchwerecommandedbyhisbrotherHenry，thecountsofSt。PolandBlois，andMatthewofMontmorency；thelastofwhomwashonoredbythevoluntaryserviceofthemarshalandnoblesofChampagne。Thesixthdivision，therear—guardandreserveofthearmy，wasconductedbythemarquisofMontferrat，attheheadoftheGermansandLombards。Thechargers，saddled，withtheirlongcomparisonsdraggingontheground，wereembarkedintheflatpalanders；^60andtheknightsstoodbythesideoftheirhorses，incompletearmor，theirhelmetslaced，andtheirlancesintheirhands。Thenumeroustrainofsergeants^61andarchersoccupiedthetransports；andeachtransportwastowedbythestrengthandswiftnessofagalley。ThesixdivisionstraversedtheBosphorus，withoutencounteringanenemyoranobstacle:tolandtheforemostwasthewish，toconquerordiewastheresolution，ofeverydivisionandofeverysoldier。Jealousofthepreeminenceofdanger，theknightsintheirheavyarmorleapedintothesea，whenitroseashighastheirgirdle；thesergeantsandarcherswereanimatedbytheirvalor；andthesquires，lettingdownthedraw—bridgesofthepalanders，ledthehorsestotheshore。Beforetheirsquadronscouldmount，andform，andcouchtheirLances，theseventythousandGreekshadvanishedfromtheirsight:thetimidAlexiusgavetheexampletohistroops；
anditwasonlybytheplunderofhisrichpavilionsthattheLatinswereinformedthattheyhadfoughtagainstanemperor。Inthefirstconsternationoftheflyingenemy，theyresolved，byadoubleattack，toopentheentranceoftheharbor。ThetowerofGalata，^62inthesuburbofPera，wasattackedandstormedbytheFrench，whiletheVenetiansassumedthemoredifficulttaskofforcingtheboomorchainthatwasstretchedfromthattowertotheByzantineshore。Aftersomefruitlessattempts，theirintrepidperseveranceprevailed:twentyshipsofwar，therelicsoftheGreciannavy，wereeithersunkortaken:theenormousandmassylinksofironwerecutasunderbytheshears，orbrokenbytheweight，ofthegalleys；^63andtheVenetianfleet，safeandtriumphant，rodeatanchorintheportofConstantinople。Bythesedaringachievements，aremnantoftwentythousandLatinssolicitedthelicenseofbesiegingacapitalwhichcontainedabovefourhundredthousandinhabitants，^64able，thoughnotwilling，tobeararmsindefenceoftheircountry。Suchanaccountwouldindeedsupposeapopulationofneartwomillions；
butwhateverabatementmayberequiredinthenumbersoftheGreeks，thebeliefofthosenumberswillequallyexaltthefearlessspiritoftheirassailants。
[Footnote60:FromtheversionofVignereIadoptthewell—soundingwordpalander，whichisstillused，Ibelieve，intheMediterranean。ButhadIwritteninFrench，Ishouldhavepreservedtheoriginalandexpressivedenominationofvessiersorhuissiers，fromthehuisordoorwhichwasletdownasadraw—bridge；butwhich，atsea，wasclosedintothesideoftheship，seeDucangeauVillehardouin，No。14，andJoinville。p。
27，28，edit。duLouvre。]
[Footnote61:Toavoidthevagueexpressionsoffollowers，&c。，I
use，afterVillehardouin，thewordsergeantsforallhorsemenwhowerenotknights。Thereweresergeantsatarms，andsergeantsatlaw；andifwevisittheparadeandWestminsterHall，wemayobservethestrangeresultofthedistinction，Ducange，Glossar。
Latin，Servientes，&c。，tom。vi。p。226—231。]
[Footnote62:Itisneedlesstoobserve，thatonthesubjectofGalata，thechain，&c。，Ducangeisaccurateandfull。ConsultlikewisetheproperchaptersoftheC。P。Christianaofthesameauthor。TheinhabitantsofGalataweresovainandignorant，thattheyappliedtothemselvesSt。Paul\'sEpistletotheGalatians。]
[Footnote63:ThevesselthatbrokethechainwasnamedtheEagle，Aquila，Dandolo，Chronicon，p。322，whichBlondusdeGestisVenet。haschangedintoAquilo，thenorthwind。DucangeObservations，No。83maintainsthelatterreading；buthehadnotseentherespectabletextofDandolo，nordidheenoughconsiderthetopographyoftheharbor。Thesouth—eastwouldhavebeenamoreeffectualwind。NotetoWilken，vol。v。p。215。]
[Footnote64:Quatrecensmilhomesouplus，Villehardouin，No。
134，mustbeunderstoodofmenofamilitaryage。LeBeauHist。du。BasEmpire，tom。xx。p。417allowsConstantinopleamillionofinhabitants，ofwhom60，000horse，andaninfinitenumberoffoot—soldiers。Initspresentdecay，thecapitaloftheOttomanempiremaycontain400，000souls，Bell\'sTravels，vol。ii。p。401，402；butastheTurkskeepnoregisters，andascircumstancesarefallacious，itisimpossibletoascertainNiebuhr，VoyageenArabie，tom。i。p。18，19therealpopulousnessoftheircities。]
Inthechoiceoftheattack，theFrenchandVenetiansweredividedbytheirhabitsoflifeandwarfare。Theformeraffirmedwithtruth，thatConstantinoplewasmostaccessibleonthesideoftheseaandtheharbor。Thelattermightassertwithhonor，thattheyhadlongenoughtrustedtheirlivesandfortunestoafrailbarkandaprecariouselement，andloudlydemandedatrialofknighthood，afirmground，andacloseonset，eitheronfootoronhorseback。Afteraprudentcompromise，ofemployingthetwonationsbyseaandland，intheservicebestsuitedtotheircharacter，thefleetcoveringthearmy，theybothproceededfromtheentrancetotheextremityoftheharbor:thestonebridgeoftheriverwashastilyrepaired；andthesixbattlesoftheFrenchformedtheirencampmentagainstthefrontofthecapital，thebasisofthetrianglewhichrunsaboutfourmilesfromtheporttothePropontis。^65Ontheedgeofabroadditch，atthefootofaloftyrampart，theyhadleisuretocontemplatethedifficultiesoftheirenterprise。Thegatestotherightandleftoftheirnarrowcamppouredforthfrequentsalliesofcavalryandlight—infantry，whichcutofftheirstragglers，sweptthecountryofprovisions，soundedthealarmfiveorsixtimesinthecourseofeachday，andcompelledthemtoplantapalisade，andsinkanintrenchment，fortheirimmediatesafety。InthesuppliesandconvoystheVenetianshadbeentoosparing，ortheFrankstoovoracious:theusualcomplaintsofhungerandscarcitywereheard，andperhapsfelttheirstockofflourwouldbeexhaustedinthreeweeks；andtheirdisgustofsaltmeattemptedthemtotastethefleshoftheirhorses。ThetremblingusurperwassupportedbyTheodoreLascaris，hisson—in—law，avaliantyouth，whoaspiredtosaveandtorulehiscountry；theGreeks，regardlessofthatcountry，wereawakenedtothedefenceoftheirreligion；buttheirfirmesthopewasinthestrengthandspiritoftheVarangianguards，oftheDanesandEnglish，astheyarenamedinthewritersofthetimes。^66Aftertendays\'incessantlabor，thegroundwaslevelled，theditchfilled，theapproachesofthebesiegerswereregularlymade，andtwohundredandfiftyenginesofassaultexercisedtheirvariouspowerstocleartherampart，tobatterthewalls，andtosapthefoundations。Onthefirstappearanceofabreach，thescaling—ladderswereapplied:
thenumbersthatdefendedthevantagegroundrepulsedandoppressedtheadventurousLatins；buttheyadmiredtheresolutionoffifteenknightsandsergeants，whohadgainedtheascent，andmaintainedtheirperilousstationtilltheywereprecipitatedormadeprisonersbytheImperialguards。OnthesideoftheharborthenavalattackwasmoresuccessfullyconductedbytheVenetians；andthatindustriouspeopleemployedeveryresourcethatwasknownandpracticedbeforetheinventionofgunpowder。
Adoubleline，threebow—shotsinfront，wasformedbythegalleysandships；andtheswiftmotionoftheformerwassupportedbytheweightandloftinessofthelatter，whosedecks，andpoops，andturret，weretheplatformsofmilitaryengines，thatdischargedtheirshotovertheheadsofthefirstline。Thesoldiers，wholeapedfromthegalleysonshore，immediatelyplantedandascendedtheirscaling—ladders，whilethelargeships，advancingmoreslowlyintotheintervals，andloweringadraw—bridge，openedawaythroughtheairfromtheirmaststotherampart。Inthemidstoftheconflict，thedoge，avenerableandconspicuousform，stoodaloftincompletearmorontheprowofhisgalley。ThegreatstandardofSt。Markwasdisplayedbeforehim；histhreats，promises，andexhortations，urgedthediligenceoftherowers；hisvesselwasthefirstthatstruck；andDandolowasthefirstwarriorontheshore。Thenationsadmiredthemagnanimityoftheblindoldman，withoutreflectingthathisageandinfirmitiesdiminishedthepriceoflife，andenhancedthevalueofimmortalglory。Onasudden，byaninvisiblehand，forthestandard—bearerwasprobablyslain，thebanneroftherepublicwasfixedontherampart:twenty—fivetowerswererapidlyoccupied；and，bythecruelexpedientoffire，theGreeksweredrivenfromtheadjacentquarter。Thedogehaddespatchedtheintelligenceofhissuccess，whenhewascheckedbythedangerofhisconfederates。Noblydeclaringthathewouldratherdiewiththepilgrimsthangainavictorybytheirdestruction，Dandolorelinquishedhisadvantage，recalledhistroops，andhastenedtothesceneofaction。HefoundthesixwearydiminutivebattlesoftheFrenchencompassedbysixtysquadronsoftheGreekcavalry，theleastofwhichwasmorenumerousthanthelargestoftheirdivisions。ShameanddespairhadprovokedAlexiustothelasteffortofageneralsally；buthewasawedbythefirmorderandmanlyaspectoftheLatins；and，afterskirmishingatadistance，withdrewhistroopsinthecloseoftheevening。Thesilenceortumultofthenightexasperatedhisfears；andthetimidusurper，collectingatreasureoftenthousandpoundsofgold，baselydesertedhiswife，hispeople，andhisfortune；threwhimselfintoabark；stolethroughtheBosphorus；andlandedinshamefulsafetyinanobscureharborofThrace。Assoonastheywereapprisedofhisflight，theGreeknoblessoughtpardonandpeaceinthedungeonwheretheblindIsaacexpectedeachhourthevisitoftheexecutioner。Againsavedandexaltedbythevicissitudesoffortune，thecaptiveinhisImperialrobeswasreplaceonthethrone，andsurroundedwithprostrateslaves，whoserealterrorandaffectedjoyhewasincapableofdiscerning。Atthedawnofday，hostilitiesweresuspended，andtheLatinchiefsweresurprisedbyamessagefromthelawfulandreigningemperor，whowasimpatienttoembracehisson，andtorewardhisgenerousdeliverers。^67
[Footnote65:OnthemostcorrectplansofConstantinople，Iknownothowtomeasuremorethan4000paces。YetVillehardouincomputesthespaceatthreeleagues，No。86。Ifhiseyewerenotdeceived，hemustreckonbytheoldGallicleagueof1500
paces，whichmightstillbeusedinChampagne。]
[Footnote66:Theguards，theVarangi，arestyledbyVillehardouin，No。89，95EngloisetDanoisavecleurshaches。
Whateverhadbeentheirorigin，aFrenchpilgrimcouldnotbemistakeninthenationsofwhichtheywereatthattimecomposed。]
[Footnote67:ForthefirstsiegeandconquestofConstantinople，wemayreadtheoriginalletterofthecrusaderstoInnocentIII。，Gesta，c。91，p。533，534。Villehardouin，No。75—99。
Nicetas，inAlexioComnen。l。iii。c。10，p。349—352。Dandolo，inChron。p。322。Gunther，andhisabbotMartin，werenotyetreturnedfromtheirobstinatepilgrimagetoJerusalem，orSt。
Johnd\'Acre，wherethegreatestpartofthecompanyhaddiedoftheplague。]
ChapterLX:TheFourthCrusade。
PartIII。
Butthesegenerousdelivererswereunwillingtoreleasetheirhostage，tilltheyhadobtainedfromhisfatherthepayment，oratleastthepromise，oftheirrecompense。Theychosefourambassadors，MatthewofMontmorency，ourhistorianthemarshalofChampagne，andtwoVenetians，tocongratulatetheemperor。Thegateswerethrownopenontheirapproach，thestreetsonbothsideswerelinedwiththebattleaxesoftheDanishandEnglishguard:thepresence—chamberglitteredwithgoldandjewels，thefalsesubstituteofvirtueandpower:bythesideoftheblindIsaachiswifewasseated，thesisterofthekingofHungary:andbyherappearance，thenoblematronsofGreeceweredrawnfromtheirdomesticretirement，andmingledwiththecircleofsenatorsandsoldiers。TheLatins，bythemouthofthemarshal，spokelikemenconsciousoftheirmerits，butwhorespectedtheworkoftheirownhands；andtheemperorclearlyunderstood，thathisson\'sengagementswithVeniceandthepilgrimsmustberatifiedwithouthesitationordelay。
Withdrawingintoaprivatechamberwiththeempress，achamberlain，aninterpreter，andthefourambassadors，thefatherofyoungAlexiusinquiredwithsomeanxietyintothenatureofhisstipulations。ThesubmissionoftheEasternempiretothepope，thesuccoroftheHolyLand，andapresentcontributionoftwohundredthousandmarksofsilver。—\"Theseconditionsareweighty，\"washisprudentreply:\"theyarehardtoaccept，anddifficulttoperform。Butnoconditionscanexceedthemeasureofyourservicesanddeserts。\"Afterthissatisfactoryassurance，thebaronsmountedonhorseback，andintroducedtheheirofConstantinopletothecityandpalace:hisyouthandmarvellousadventuresengagedeveryheartinhisfavor，andAlexiuswassolemnlycrownedwithhisfatherinthedomeofSt。Sophia。Inthefirstdaysofhisreign，thepeople，alreadyblessedwiththerestorationofplentyandpeace，wasdelightedbythejoyfulcatastropheofthetragedy；andthediscontentofthenobles，theirregret，andtheirfears，werecoveredbythepolishedsurfaceofpleasureandloyaltyThemixtureoftwodiscordantnationsinthesamecapitalmighthavebeenpregnantwithmischiefanddanger；andthesuburbofGalata，orPera，wasassignedforthequartersoftheFrenchandVenetians。Butthelibertyoftradeandfamiliarintercoursewasallowedbetweenthefriendlynations:andeachdaythepilgrimsweretemptedbydevotionorcuriositytovisitthechurchesandpalacesofConstantinople。Theirrudeminds，insensibleperhapsofthefinerarts，wereastonishedbythemagnificentscenery:andthepovertyoftheirnativetownsenhancedthepopulousnessandrichesofthefirstmetropolisofChristendom。^68Descendingfromhisstate，youngAlexiuswaspromptedbyinterestandgratitudetorepeathisfrequentandfamiliarvisitstohisLatinallies；andinthefreedomofthetable，thegaypetulanceoftheFrenchsometimesforgottheemperoroftheEast。^69Intheirmostseriousconferences，itwasagreed，thatthereunionofthetwochurchesmustbetheresultofpatienceandtime；butavaricewaslesstractablethanzeal；andalargersumwasinstantlydisbursedtoappeasethewants，andsilencetheimportunity，ofthecrusaders。^70Alexiuswasalarmedbytheapproachinghouroftheirdeparture:theirabsencemighthaverelievedhimfromtheengagementwhichhewasyetincapableofperforming；buthisfriendswouldhavelefthim，nakedandalone，tothecapriceandprejudiceofaperfidiousnation。Hewishedtobribetheirstay，thedelayofayear，byundertakingtodefraytheirexpense，andtosatisfy，intheirname，thefreightoftheVenetianvessels。
Theofferwasagitatedinthecouncilofthebarons；and，afterarepetitionoftheirdebatesandscruples，amajorityofvotesagainacquiescedintheadviceofthedogeandtheprayeroftheyoungemperor。Atthepriceofsixteenhundredpoundsofgold，heprevailedonthemarquisofMontferrattoleadhimwithanarmyroundtheprovincesofEurope；toestablishhisauthority，andpursuehisuncle，whileConstantinoplewasawedbythepresenceofBaldwinandhisconfederatesofFranceandFlanders。