andwherevertheoriginalcouldnotberemoved，afaithfulcopywastranscribedandtransmittedforhisuse。TheVatican，theoldrepositoryforbullsandlegends，forsuperstitionandforgery，wasdailyreplenishedwithmorepreciousfurniture；andsuchwastheindustryofNicholas，thatinareignofeightyearsheformedalibraryoffivethousandvolumes。TohismunificencetheLatinworldwasindebtedfortheversionsofXenophon，Diodorus，Polybius，Thucydides，Herodotus，andAppian；ofStrabo\'sGeography，oftheIliad，ofthemostvaluableworksofPlatoandAristotle，ofPtolemyandTheophrastus，andofthefathersoftheGreekchurch。TheexampleoftheRomanpontiffwasprecededorimitatedbyaFlorentinemerchant，whogovernedtherepublicwithoutarmsandwithoutatitle。CosmoofMedicis^112wasthefatherofalineofprinces，whosenameandagearealmostsynonymouswiththerestorationoflearning:hiscreditwasennobledintofame；hisricheswerededicatedtotheserviceofmankind；hecorrespondedatoncewithCairoandLondon:andacargoofIndianspicesandGreekbookswasoftenimportedinthesamevessel。ThegeniusandeducationofhisgrandsonLorenzorenderedhimnotonlyapatron，butajudgeandcandidate，intheliteraryrace。Inhispallace，distresswasentitledtorelief，andmerittoreward:
hisleisurehoursweredelightfullyspentinthePlatonicacademy；heencouragedtheemulationofDemetriusChalcocondylesandAngeloPolitian；andhisactivemissionaryJanusLascarisreturnedfromtheEastwithatreasureoftwohundredmanuscripts，fourscoreofwhichwereasyetunknowninthelibrariesofEurope。^113TherestofItalywasanimatedbyasimilarspirit，andtheprogressofthenationrepaidtheliberalityoftheirprinces。TheLatinsheldtheexclusivepropertyoftheirownliterature；andthesedisciplesofGreeceweresooncapableoftransmittingandimprovingthelessonswhichtheyhadimbibed。Afterashortsuccessionofforeignteachers，thetideofemigrationsubsided；butthelanguageofConstantinoplewasspreadbeyondtheAlpsandthenativesofFrance，Germany，andEngland，^114impartedtotheircountrythesacredfirewhichtheyhadkindledintheschoolsofFlorenceandRome。^115Intheproductionsofthemind，asinthoseofthesoil，thegiftsofnatureareexcelledbyindustryandskill:theGreekauthors，forgottenonthebanksoftheIlissus，havebeenillustratedonthoseoftheElbeandtheThames:andBessarionorGazamighthaveenviedthesuperiorscienceoftheBarbarians；
theaccuracyofBudaeus，thetasteofErasmus，thecopiousnessofStephens，theeruditionofScaliger，thediscernmentofReiske，orofBentley。OnthesideoftheLatins，thediscoveryofprintingwasacasualadvantage:butthisusefularthasbeenappliedbyAldus，andhisinnumerablesuccessors，toperpetuateandmultiplytheworksofantiquity。^116AsinglemanuscriptimportedfromGreeceisrevivedintenthousandcopies；andeachcopyisfairerthantheoriginal。Inthisform，HomerandPlatowouldperusewithmoresatisfactiontheirownwritings；andtheirscholiastsmustresigntheprizetothelaborsofourWesterneditors。
[Footnote110:SeetheLifeofNicholasV。bytwocontemporaryauthors，JanottusManettus，tom。iii。P。ii。p。905—962，andVespasianofFlorence，tom。xxv。p。267—290，inthecollectionofMuratori；andconsultTiraboschi，tom。vi。P。i。
p。46—52，109，andHodyinthearticlesofTheodoreGaza，GeorgeofTrebizond，&c。]
[Footnote111:LordBolingbrokeobserves，withtruthandspirit，thatthepopesinthisinstance，wereworsepoliticiansthanthemuftis，andthatthecharmwhichhadboundmankindforsomanyageswasbrokenbythemagiciansthemselves，LettersontheStudyofHistory，l。vi。p。165，166，octavoedition，1779。]
[Footnote112:SeetheliteraryhistoryofCosmoandLorenzoofMedicis，inTiraboschi，tom。vi。P。i。l。i。c。2，whobestowsaduemeasureofpraiseonAlphonsoofArragon，kingofNaples，thedukesofMilan，FerraraUrbino，&c。TherepublicofVenicehasdeservedtheleastfromthegratitudeofscholars。]
[Footnote113:Tiraboschi，tom。vi。P。i。p。104，fromtheprefaceofJanusLascaristotheGreekAnthology，printedatFlorence，1494。LatebantsaysAldusinhisprefacetotheGreekorators，apudHodium，p。249inAthoThraciaemonte。EasLarcaris……inItaliamreportavit。MiseratenimipsumLaurentiusilleMedicesinGraeciamadinquirendossimul，etquantovisemendospretiobonoslibros。Itisremarkableenough，thattheresearchwasfacilitatedbySultanBajazetII。]
[Footnote114:TheGreeklanguagewasintroducedintotheuniversityofOxfordinthelastyearsofthexvthcentury，byGrocyn，Linacer，andLatimer，whohadallstudiedatFlorenceunderDemetriusChalcocondyles。SeeDr。Knight\'scuriousLifeofErasmus。Althoughastoutacademicalpatriot，heisforcedtoacknowledgethatErasmuslearnedGreekatOxford，andtaughtitatCambridge。]
[Footnote115:ThejealousItaliansweredesirousofkeepingamonopolyofGreeklearning。WhenAlduswasabouttopublishtheGreekscholiastsonSophoclesandEuripides，Cave，saidthey，
cavehocfacias，neBarbariistisadjutidomimaneant，etpaucioresinItaliamventitent，Dr。Knight，inhisLifeofErasmus，p。365，fromBeatusRhemanus。]
[Footnote116:ThepressofAldusManutius，aRoman，wasestablishedatVeniceabouttheyear1494:heprintedabovesixtyconsiderableworksofGreekliterature，almostallforthefirsttime；severalcontainingdifferenttreatisesandauthors，andofseveralauthors，two，three，orfoureditions，Fabric。Bibliot。
Graec。tom。xiii。p。605，&c。Yethisglorymustnottemptustoforget，thatthefirstGreekbook，theGrammarofConstantineLascaris，wasprintedatMilanin1476；andthattheFlorenceHomerof1488displaysalltheluxuryofthetypographicalart。
SeetheAnnalesTypographicalofMattaire，andtheBibliographieInstructiveofDeBure，aknowingbooksellerofParis。]
Beforetherevivalofclassicliterature，theBarbariansinEuropewereimmersedinignorance；andtheirvulgartonguesweremarkedwiththerudenessandpovertyoftheirmanners。ThestudentsofthemoreperfectidiomsofRomeandGreecewereintroducedtoanewworldoflightandscience；tothesocietyofthefreeandpolishednationsofantiquity；andtoafamiliarconversewiththoseimmortalmenwhospokethesublimelanguageofeloquenceandreason。Suchanintercoursemusttendtorefinethetaste，andtoelevatethegenius，ofthemoderns；andyet，fromthefirstexperiments，itmightappearthatthestudyoftheancientshadgivenfetters，ratherthanwings，tothehumanmind。
Howeverlaudable，thespiritofimitationisofaservilecast；
andthefirstdisciplesoftheGreeksandRomanswereacolonyofstrangersinthemidstoftheirageandcountry。Theminuteandlaboriousdiligencewhichexploredtheantiquitiesofremotetimesmighthaveimprovedoradornedthepresentstateofsociety，thecriticandmetaphysicianweretheslavesofAristotle；thepoets，historians，andorators，wereproudtorepeatthethoughtsandwordsoftheAugustanage:theworksofnaturewereobservedwiththeeyesofPlinyandTheophrastus；andsomePaganvotariesprofessedasecretdevotiontothegodsofHomerandPlato。^117TheItalianswereoppressedbythestrengthandnumberoftheirancientauxiliaries:thecenturyafterthedeathsofPetrarchandBoccacewasfilledwithacrowdofLatinimitators，whodecentlyreposeonourshelves；butinthataeraoflearningitwillnotbeeasytodiscernarealdiscoveryofscience，aworkofinventionoreloquence，inthepopularlanguageofthecountry。^118Butassoonasithadbeendeeplysaturatedwiththecelestialdew，thesoilwasquickenedintovegetationandlife；themodernidiomswererefined；theclassicsofAthensandRomeinspiredapuretasteandagenerousemulation；andinItaly，asafterwardsinFranceandEngland，thepleasingreignofpoetryandfictionwassucceededbythelightofspeculativeandexperimentalphilosophy。Geniusmayanticipatetheseasonofmaturity；butintheeducationofapeople，asinthatofanindividual，memorymustbeexercised，beforethepowersofreasonandfancycanbeexpanded:normaytheartisthopetoequalorsurpass，tillhehaslearnedtoimitate，theworksofhispredecessors。
[Footnote117:Iwillselectthreesingularexamplesofthisclassicenthusiasm。I。AtthesynodofFlorence，GemistusPlethosaid，infamiliarconversationtoGeorgeofTrebizond，thatinashorttimemankindwouldunanimouslyrenouncetheGospelandtheKoran，forareligionsimilartothatoftheGentiles，LeoAllatius，apudFabricium，tom。x。p。751。2。PaulII。persecutedtheRomanacademy，whichhadbeenfoundedbyPomponiusLaetus；andtheprincipalmemberswereaccusedofheresy，impiety，andpaganism，Tiraboschi，tom。vi。P。i。p。81，82。3。Inthenextcentury，somescholarsandpoetsinFrancecelebratedthesuccessofJodelle\'stragedyofCleopatra，byafestivalofBacchus，and，asitissaid，bythesacrificeofagoat，Bayle，Dictionnaire，Jodelle。Fontenelle，tom。iii。p。56
—61。Yetthespiritofbigotrymightoftendiscernaseriousimpietyinthesportiveplayoffancyandlearning。]
[Footnote118:ThesurvivorBoccacediedintheyear1375；andwecannotplacebefore1480thecompositionoftheMorganteMaggioreofPuloandtheOrlandoInnamoratoofBoyardo，Tiraboschi，tom。
vi。P。ii。p。174—177。]
ChapterLXVII:SchismOfTheGreeksAndLatins。
PartI。
SchismOfTheGreeksAndLatins。—ReignAndCharacterOfAmurathTheSecond。—CrusadeOfLadislaus，KingOfHungary。—
HisDefeatAndDeath。—JohnHuniades。—Scanderbeg。—
ConstantinePalaeologus，LastEmperorOfTheEast。
TherespectivemeritsofRomeandConstantinoplearecomparedandcelebratedbyaneloquentGreek，thefatheroftheItalianschools。^1Theviewoftheancientcapital，theseatofhisancestors，surpassedthemostsanguineexpectationsofEmanuelChrysoloras；andhenolongerblamedtheexclamationofanoldsophist，thatRomewasthehabitation，notofmen，butofgods。Thosegods，andthosemen，hadlongsincevanished；buttotheeyeofliberalenthusiasm，themajestyofruinrestoredtheimageofherancientprosperity。ThemonumentsoftheconsulsandCaesars，ofthemartyrsandapostles，engagedonallsidesthecuriosityofthephilosopherandtheChristian；andheconfessedthatineveryagethearmsandthereligionofRomeweredestinedtoreignovertheearth。WhileChrysolorasadmiredthevenerablebeautiesofthemother，hewasnotforgetfulofhisnativecountry，herfairestdaughter，herImperialcolony；andtheByzantinepatriotexpatiateswithzealandtruthontheeternaladvantagesofnature，andthemoretransitorygloriesofartanddominion，whichadorned，orhadadorned，thecityofConstantine。Yettheperfectionofthecopystillredoundsashemodestlyobservestothehonoroftheoriginal，andparentsaredelightedtoberenewed，andevenexcelled，bythesuperiormeritoftheirchildren。\"Constantinople，\"saystheorator，\"issituateonacommandingpoint，betweenEuropeandAsia，betweentheArchipelagoandtheEuxine。Byherinterposition，thetwoseas，andthetwocontinents，areunitedforthecommonbenefitofnations；andthegatesofcommercemaybeshutoropenedathercommand。Theharbor，encompassedonallsidesbythesea，andthecontinent，isthemostsecureandcapaciousintheworld。
ThewallsandgatesofConstantinoplemaybecomparedwiththoseofBabylon:thetowersmany；eachtowerisasolidandloftystructure；andthesecondwall，theouterfortification，wouldbesufficientforthedefenceanddignityofanordinarycapital。A
broadandrapidstreammaybeintroducedintotheditchesandtheartificialislandmaybeencompassed，likeAthens，bylandorwater。\"TwostrongandnaturalcausesareallegedfortheperfectionofthemodelofnewRome。Theroyalfounderreignedoverthemostillustriousnationsoftheglobe；andintheaccomplishmentofhisdesigns，thepoweroftheRomanswascombinedwiththeartandscienceoftheGreeks。Othercitieshavebeenrearedtomaturitybyaccidentandtime:theirbeautiesaremingledwithdisorderanddeformity；andtheinhabitants，unwillingtoremovefromtheirnatalspot，areincapableofcorrectingtheerrorsoftheirancestors，andtheoriginalvicesofsituationorclimate。ButthefreeideaofConstantinoplewasformedandexecutedbyasinglemind；andtheprimitivemodelwasimprovedbytheobedientzealofthesubjectsandsuccessorsofthefirstmonarch。Theadjacentisleswerestoredwithaninexhaustiblesupplyofmarble；butthevariousmaterialsweretransportedfromthemostremoteshoresofEuropeandAsia；andthepublicandprivatebuildings，thepalaces，churches，aqueducts，cisterns，porticos，columns，baths，andhippodromes，wereadaptedtothegreatnessofthecapitaloftheEast。ThesuperfluityofwealthwasspreadalongtheshoresofEuropeandAsia；andtheByzantineterritory，asfarastheEuxine，theHellespont，andthelongwall，mightbeconsideredasapopuloussuburbandaperpetualgarden。Inthisflatteringpicture，thepastandthepresent，thetimesofprosperityanddecay，areartfullyconfounded；butasighandaconfessionescape，fromtheorator，thathiswretchedcountrywastheshadowandsepulchreofitsformerself。TheworksofancientsculpturehadbeendefacedbyChristianzealorBarbaricviolence；thefaireststructuresweredemolished；andthemarblesofParosorNumidiawereburntforlime，orappliedtothemeanestuses。Ofmanyastatue，theplacewasmarkedbyanemptypedestal；ofmanyacolumn，thesizewasdeterminedbyabrokencapital；thetombsoftheemperorswerescatteredontheground；thestrokeoftimewasacceleratedbystormsandearthquakes；andthevacantspacewasadorned，byvulgartradition，withfabulousmonumentsofgoldandsilver。
Fromthesewonders，whichlivedonlyinmemoryorbelief，hedistinguishes，however，theporphyrypillar，thecolumnandcolossusofJustinian，^3andthechurch，moreespeciallythedome，ofSt。Sophia；thebestconclusion，sinceitcouldnotbedescribedaccordingtoitsmerits，andafteritnootherobjectcoulddeservetobementioned。Butheforgetsthat，acenturybefore，thetremblingfabricsofthecolossusandthechurchhadbeensavedandsupportedbythetimelycareofAndronicustheElder。ThirtyyearsaftertheemperorhadfortifiedSt。Sophiawithtwonewbuttressesorpyramids，theeasternhemispheresuddenlygaveway:andtheimages，thealtars，andthesanctuary，werecrushedbythefallingruin。Themischiefindeedwasspeedilyrepaired；therubbishwasclearedbytheincessantlaborofeveryrankandage；andthepoorremainsofrichesandindustrywereconsecratedbytheGreekstothemoststatelyandvenerabletempleoftheEast。^4
[Footnote1:TheepistleofEmanuelChrysolorastotheemperorJohnPalaeologuswillnotoffendtheeyeorearofaclassicalstudent，adcalcemCodinideAntiquitatibusC。P。p。107—126。
Thesuperscriptionsuggestsachronologicalremark，thatJohnPalaeologusII。wasassociatedintheempirebeforetheyear1414，thedateofChrysoloras\'sdeath。Astillearlierdate，atleast1408，isdeducedfromtheageofhisyoungestsons，DemetriusandThomas，whowerebothPorphyrogenitiDucange，Fam。
Byzant。p。244，247。]
[Footnote2:SomebodyobservedthatthecityofAthensmightbecircumnavigated。ButwhatmaybetrueinarhetoricalsenseofConstantinople，cannotbeappliedtothesituationofAthens，fivemilesfromthesea，andnotintersectedorsurroundedbyanynavigablestreams。]
[Footnote3:NicephorusGregorashasdescribedtheColossusofJustinian，l。vii。12:buthismeasuresarefalseandinconsistent。TheeditorBoivinconsultedhisfriendGirardon；
andthesculptorgavehimthetrueproportionsofanequestrianstatue。ThatofJustinianwasstillvisibletoPeterGyllius，notonthecolumn，butintheoutwardcourtoftheseraglio；andhewasatConstantinoplewhenitwasmelteddown，andcastintoabrasscannon，deTopograph。C。P。l。ii。c。17。]
[Footnote4:SeethedecayandrepairsofSt。Sophia，inNicephorusGregorasl。vii。12，l。xv。2。ThebuildingwasproppedbyAndronicusin1317，theeasternhemispherefellin1345。TheGreeks，intheirpompousrhetoric，exaltthebeautyandholinessofthechurch，anearthlyheaventheabodeofangels，andofGodhimself，&c。]
Thelasthopeofthefallingcityandempirewasplacedintheharmonyofthemotheranddaughter，inthematernaltendernessofRome，andthefilialobedienceofConstantinople。
InthesynodofFlorence，theGreeksandLatinshadembraced，andsubscribed，andpromised；butthesesignsoffriendshipwereperfidiousorfruitless；^5andthebaselessfabricoftheunionvanishedlikeadream。^6TheemperorandhisprelatesreturnedhomeintheVenetiangalleys；butastheytouchedattheMoreaandtheIslesofCorfuandLesbos，thesubjectsoftheLatinscomplainedthatthepretendedunionwouldbeaninstrumentofoppression。NosoonerdidtheylandontheByzantineshore，thantheyweresaluted，orratherassailed，withageneralmurmurofzealanddiscontent。Duringtheirabsence，abovetwoyears，thecapitalhadbeendeprivedofitscivilandecclesiasticalrulers；
fanaticismfermentedinanarchy；themostfuriousmonksreignedovertheconscienceofwomenandbigots；andthehatredoftheLatinnamewasthefirstprincipleofnatureandreligion。
BeforehisdepartureforItaly，theemperorhadflatteredthecitywiththeassuranceofapromptreliefandapowerfulsuccor；
andtheclergy，confidentintheirorthodoxyandscience，hadpromisedthemselvesandtheirflocksaneasyvictoryovertheblindshepherdsoftheWest。ThedoubledisappointmentexasperatedtheGreeks；theconscienceofthesubscribingprelateswasawakened；thehouroftemptationwaspast；andtheyhadmoretodreadfromthepublicresentment，thantheycouldhopefromthefavoroftheemperororthepope。Insteadofjustifyingtheirconduct，theydeploredtheirweakness，professedtheircontrition，andcastthemselvesonthemercyofGodandoftheirbrethren。Tothereproachfulquestion，whathadbeentheeventortheuseoftheirItaliansynod?theyansweredwithsighsandtears，\"Alas!wehavemadeanewfaith；wehaveexchangedpietyforimpiety；wehavebetrayedtheimmaculatesacrifice；andwearebecomeAzymites。\"TheAzymiteswerethosewhocelebratedthecommunionwithunleavenedbread；andImustretractorqualifythepraisewhichIhavebestowedonthegrowingphilosophyofthetimes。\"Alas!wehavebeenseducedbydistress，byfraud，andbythehopesandfearsofatransitorylife。Thehandthathassignedtheunionshouldbecutoff；andthetonguethathaspronouncedtheLatincreeddeservestobetornfromtheroot。\"Thebestproofoftheirrepentancewasanincreaseofzealforthemosttrivialritesandthemostincomprehensibledoctrines；andanabsoluteseparationfromall，withoutexceptingtheirprince，whopreservedsomeregardforhonorandconsistency。AfterthedeceaseofthepatriarchJoseph，thearchbishopsofHeracleaandTrebizondhadcouragetorefusethevacantoffice；andCardinalBessarionpreferredthewarmandcomfortableshelteroftheVatican。ThechoiceoftheemperorandhisclergywasconfinedtoMetrophanesofCyzicus:hewasconsecratedinSt。Sophia，butthetemplewasvacant。Thecross—bearersabdicatedtheirservice；theinfectionspreadfromthecitytothevillages；andMetrophanesdischarged，withouteffect，someecclesiasticalthundersagainstanationofschismatics。TheeyesoftheGreeksweredirectedtoMarkofEphesus，thechampionofhiscountry；andthesufferingsoftheholyconfessorwererepaidwithatributeofadmirationandapplause。Hisexampleandwritingspropagatedtheflameofreligiousdiscord；ageandinfirmitysoonremovedhimfromtheworld；butthegospelofMarkwasnotalawofforgiveness；andherequestedwithhisdyingbreath，thatnoneoftheadherentsofRomemightattendhisobsequiesorprayforhissoul。