andthestonesweredugfromtheAnatolianquarries。Eachofthethousandmasonswasassistedbytwoworkmen；andameasureoftwocubitswasmarkedfortheirdailytask。Thefortress^16wasbuiltinatriangularform；eachanglewasflankedbyastrongandmassytower；oneonthedeclivityofthehill，twoalongthesea—shore:athicknessoftwenty—twofeetwasassignedforthewalls，thirtyforthetowers；andthewholebuildingwascoveredwithasolidplatformoflead。Mahomethimselfpressedanddirectedtheworkwithindefatigableardor:histhreeviziersclaimedthehonoroffinishingtheirrespectivetowers；thezealofthecadhisemulatedthatoftheJanizaries；themeanestlaborwasennobledbytheserviceofGodandthesultan；andthediligenceofthemultitudewasquickenedbytheeyeofadespot，whosesmilewasthehopeoffortune，andwhosefrownwasthemessengerofdeath。TheGreekemperorbeheldwithterrortheirresistibleprogressofthework；andvainlystrove，byflatteryandgifts，toassuageanimplacablefoe，whosought，andsecretlyfomented，theslightestoccasionofaquarrel。Suchoccasionsmustsoonandinevitablybefound。Theruinsofstatelychurches，andeventhemarblecolumnswhichhadbeenconsecratedtoSaintMichaelthearchangel，wereemployedwithoutscruplebytheprofaneandrapaciousMoslems；andsomeChristians，whopresumedtoopposetheremoval，receivedfromtheirhandsthecrownofmartyrdom。ConstantinehadsolicitedaTurkishguardtoprotectthefieldsandharvestsofhissubjects:theguardwasfixed；buttheirfirstorderwastoallowfreepasturetothemulesandhorsesofthecamp，andtodefendtheirbrethreniftheyshouldbemolestedbythenatives。TheretinueofanOttomanchiefhadlefttheirhorsestopassthenightamongtheripecorn；thedamagewasfelt；theinsultwasresented；andseveralofbothnationswereslaininatumultuousconflict。Mahometlistenedwithjoytothecomplaint；andadetachmentwascommandedtoexterminatetheguiltyvillage:theguiltyhadfled；
butfortyinnocentandunsuspectingreapersweremassacredbythesoldiers。Tillthisprovocation，Constantinoplehadbeenopenedtothevisitsofcommerceandcuriosity:onthefirstalarm，thegateswereshut；buttheemperor，stillanxiousforpeace，releasedonthethirddayhisTurkishcaptives；^17andexpressed，inalastmessage，thefirmresignationofaChristianandasoldier。\"Sinceneitheroaths，nortreaty，norsubmission，cansecurepeace，pursue，\"saidhetoMahomet，\"yourimpiouswarfare。MytrustisinGodalone；ifitshouldpleasehimtomollifyyourheart，Ishallrejoiceinthehappychange；ifhedeliversthecityintoyourhands，Isubmitwithoutamurmurtohisholywill。ButuntiltheJudgeoftheearthshallpronouncebetweenus，itismydutytoliveanddieinthedefenceofmypeople。\"Thesultan\'sanswerwashostileanddecisive:hisfortificationswerecompleted；andbeforehisdepartureforAdrianople，hestationedavigilantAgaandfourhundredJanizaries，tolevyatributeontheshipsofeverynationthatshouldpasswithinthereachoftheircannon。AVenetianvessel，refusingobediencetothenewlordsoftheBosphorus，wassunkwithasinglebullet。Themasterandthirtysailorsescapedintheboat；buttheyweredraggedinchainstothePorte:thechiefwasimpaled；hiscompanionswerebeheaded；andthehistorianDucas^18beheld，atDemotica，theirbodiesexposedtothewildbeasts。ThesiegeofConstantinoplewasdeferredtilltheensuingspring；butanOttomanarmymarchedintotheMoreatodiverttheforceofthebrothersofConstantine。Atthisaeraofcalamity，oneoftheseprinces，thedespotThomas，wasblessedorafflictedwiththebirthofason；\"thelastheir，\"saystheplaintivePhranza，\"ofthelastsparkoftheRomanempire。\"^19
[Footnote15:Insteadofthisclearandconsistentaccount，theTurkishAnnalsCantemir，p。97revivedthefoolishtaleoftheox\'shide，andDido\'sstratageminthefoundationofCarthage。
Theseannalsunlessweareswayedbyananti—ChristianprejudicearefarlessvaluablethantheGreekhistorians。]
[Footnote16:Inthedimensionsofthisfortress，theoldcastleofEurope，PhranzadoesnotexactlyagreewithChalcondyles，whosedescriptionhasbeenverifiedonthespotbyhiseditorLeunclavius。]
[Footnote17:AmongtheseweresomepagesofMahomet，soconsciousofhisinexorablerigor，thattheybeggedtolosetheirheadsinthecityunlesstheycouldreturnbeforesunset。]
[Footnote*:ThiswasfromamodelcannoncastbyUrbantheHungarian。Seep。291。VonHammer。p。510。—M。]
[Footnote18:Ducas，c。35。Phranza，l。iii。c。3，whohadsailedinhisvessel，commemoratestheVenetianpilotasamartyr。]
[Footnote19:AuctumestPalaeologorumgenus，etImperiisuccessor，parvaequeRomanorumscintillaehaeresnatus，Andreas，&c。，Phranza，l。iii。c。7。Thestrongexpressionwasinspiredbyhisfeelings。]
TheGreeksandtheTurkspassedananxiousandsleeplesswinter:theformerwerekeptawakebytheirfears，thelatterbytheirhopes；bothbythepreparationsofdefenceandattack；andthetwoemperors，whohadthemosttoloseortogain，werethemostdeeplyaffectedbythenationalsentiment。InMahomet，thatsentimentwasinflamedbytheardorofhisyouthandtemper:heamusedhisleisurewithbuildingatAdrianople^20theloftypalaceofJehanNuma，thewatchtoweroftheworld；buthisseriousthoughtswereirrevocablybentontheconquestofthecityofCaesar。Atthedeadofnight，aboutthesecondwatch，hestartedfromhisbed，andcommandedtheinstantattendanceofhisprimevizier。Themessage，thehour，theprince，andhisownsituation，alarmedtheguiltyconscienceofCalilBasha；whohadpossessedtheconfidence，andadvisedtherestoration，ofAmurath。Ontheaccessionoftheson，thevizierwasconfirmedinhisofficeandtheappearancesoffavor；buttheveteranstatesmanwasnotinsensiblethathetrodonathinandslipperyice，whichmightbreakunderhisfootsteps，andplungehimintheabyss。HisfriendshipfortheChristians，whichmightbeinnocentunderthelatereign，hadstigmatizedhimwiththenameofGabourOrtachi，orfoster—brotheroftheinfidels；^21andhisavariceentertainedavenalandtreasonablecorrespondence，whichwasdetectedandpunishedaftertheconclusionofthewar。Onreceivingtheroyalmandate，heembraced，perhapsforthelasttime，hiswifeandchildren；filledacupwithpiecesofgold，hastenedtothepalace，adoredthesultan，andoffered，accordingtotheOrientalcustom，theslighttributeofhisdutyandgratitude。^22\"Itisnotmywish，\"saidMahomet，\"toresumemygifts，butrathertoheapandmultiplythemonthyhead。Inmyturn，Iaskapresentfarmorevaluableandimportant；—
Constantinople。\"Assoonasthevizierhadrecoveredfromhissurprise，\"ThesameGod，\"saidhe，\"whohasalreadygiventheesolargeaportionoftheRomanempire，willnotdenytheremnant，andthecapital。Hisprovidence，andthypower，assurethysuccess；andmyself，withtherestofthyfaithfulslaves，willsacrificeourlivesandfortunes。\"—\"Lala，\"^23orpreceptor，
continuedthesultan，\"doyouseethispillow?Allthenight，inmyagitation，Ihavepulleditononesideandtheother；Ihaverisenfrommybed，againhaveIlaindown；yetsleephasnotvisitedthesewearyeyes。BewareofthegoldandsilveroftheRomans:inarmswearesuperior；andwiththeaidofGod，andtheprayersoftheprophet，weshallspeedilybecomemastersofConstantinople。\"Tosoundthedispositionofhissoldiers，heoftenwanderedthroughthestreetsalone，andindisguise；anditwasfataltodiscoverthesultan，whenhewishedtoescapefromthevulgareye。Hishourswerespentindelineatingtheplanofthehostilecity；indebatingwithhisgeneralsandengineers，onwhatspotheshoulderecthisbatteries；onwhichsideheshouldassaultthewalls；whereheshouldspringhismines；towhatplaceheshouldapplyhisscaling—ladders:andtheexercisesofthedayrepeatedandprovedthelucubrationsofthenight。
[Footnote20:Cantemir，p。97，98。Thesultanwaseitherdoubtfulofhisconquest，orignorantofthesuperiormeritsofConstantinople。AcityorakingdommaysometimesberuinedbytheImperialfortuneoftheirsovereign。]
[Footnote21:It，bythepresidentCousin，istranslatedperenourricier，mostcorrectlyindeedfromtheLatinversion；butinhishastehehasoverlookedthenotebywhichIshmaelBoillaudadDucam，c。35acknowledgesandrectifieshisownerror。]
[Footnote22:TheOrientalcustomofneverappearingwithoutgiftsbeforeasovereignorasuperiorisofhighantiquity，andseemsanalogouswiththeideaofsacrifice，stillmoreancientanduniversal。SeetheexamplesofsuchPersiangifts，Aelian，Hist。Var。l。i。c。31，32，33。]
[Footnote23:TheLalaoftheTurksCantemir，p。34andtheTataoftheGreeksDucas，c。35arederivedfromthenaturallanguageofchildren；anditmaybeobserved，thatallsuchprimitivewordswhichdenotetheirparents，arethesimplerepetitionofonesyllable，composedofalabialoradentalconsonantandanopenvowel，DesBrosses，MechanismedesLangues，tom。i。p。231—247。]
ChapterLXVIII:ReignOfMahometTheSecond，ExtinctionOfEasternEmpirePartII。
Amongtheimplementsofdestruction，hestudiedwithpeculiarcaretherecentandtremendousdiscoveryoftheLatins；
andhisartillerysurpassedwhateverhadyetappearedintheworld。Afounderofcannon，aDaneorHungarian，whohadbeenalmoststarvedintheGreekservice，desertedtotheMoslems，andwasliberallyentertainedbytheTurkishsultan。Mahometwassatisfiedwiththeanswertohisfirstquestion，whichheeagerlypressedontheartist。\"AmIabletocastacannoncapableofthrowingaballorstoneofsufficientsizetobatterthewallsofConstantinople?Iamnotignorantoftheirstrength；butweretheymoresolidthanthoseofBabylon，Icouldopposeanengineofsuperiorpower:thepositionandmanagementofthatenginemustbelefttoyourengineers。\"Onthisassurance，afoundrywasestablishedatAdrianople:themetalwasprepared；andattheendofthreemonths，Urbanproducedapieceofbrassordnanceofstupendous，andalmostincrediblemagnitude；ameasureoftwelvepalmsisassignedtothebore；andthestonebulletweighedabovesixhundredpounds。^24Avacantplacebeforethenewpalacewaschosenforthefirstexperiment；buttopreventthesuddenandmischievouseffectsofastonishmentandfear，aproclamationwasissued，thatthecannonwouldbedischargedtheensuingday。
Theexplosionwasfeltorheardinacircuitofahundredfurlongs:theball，bytheforceofgunpowder，wasdrivenaboveamile；andonthespotwhereitfell，itburieditselfafathomdeepintheground。Fortheconveyanceofthisdestructiveengine，aframeorcarriageofthirtywagonswaslinkedtogetheranddrawnalongbyateamofsixtyoxen:twohundredmenonbothsideswerestationed，topoiseandsupporttherollingweight；
twohundredandfiftyworkmenmarchedbeforetosmooththewayandrepairthebridges；andneartwomonthswereemployedinalaboriousjourneyofonehundredandfiftymiles。Alivelyphilosopher^25deridesonthisoccasionthecredulityoftheGreeks，andobserves，withmuchreason，thatweshouldalwaysdistrusttheexaggerationsofavanquishedpeople。Hecalculates，thataball，evenotwohundredpounds，wouldrequireachargeofonehundredandfiftypoundsofpowder；andthatthestrokewouldbefeebleandimpotent，sincenotafifteenthpartofthemasscouldbeinflamedatthesamemoment。AstrangerasIamtotheartofdestruction，Icandiscernthatthemodernimprovementsofartillerypreferthenumberofpiecestotheweightofmetal；thequicknessofthefiretothesound，oreventheconsequence，ofasingleexplosion。YetIdarenotrejectthepositiveandunanimousevidenceofcontemporarywriters；norcanitseemimprobable，thatthefirstartists，intheirrudeandambitiousefforts，shouldhavetransgressedthestandardofmoderation。ATurkishcannon，moreenormousthanthatofMahomet，stillguardstheentranceoftheDardanelles；andiftheusebeinconvenient，ithasbeenfoundonalatetrialthattheeffectwasfarfromcontemptible。Astonebulletofelevenhundredpounds\'weightwasoncedischargedwiththreehundredandthirtypoundsofpowder:atthedistanceofsixhundredyardsitshiveredintothreerockyfragments；traversedthestrait；andleavingthewatersinafoam，againroseandboundedagainsttheoppositehill。^26
[Footnote*:GibbonhaswrittenDanebymistakeforDace，orDacian。Chalcondyles，VonHammer，p。510。—M。]
[Footnote24:TheAttictalentweighedaboutsixtyminae，oravoirdupoispoundsseeHooperonAncientWeights，Measures，&c。；butamongthemodernGreeks，thatclassicappellationwasextendedtoaweightofonehundred，oronehundredandtwenty—fivepounds，Ducange。LeonardusChiensismeasuredtheballorstoneofthesecondcannonLapidem，quipalmisundecimexmeisambibatingyro。]
[Footnote*:1200，accordingtoLeonardusChiensis。VonHammerstatesthathehadhimselfseenthegreatcannonoftheDardanelles，inwhichatailorwhohadrunawayfromhiscreditors，hadconcealedhimselfseveraldaysVonHammerhadmeasuredballstwelvespansround。Note。p。666。—M。]
[Footnote25:SeeVoltaire，Hist。Generale，c。xci。p。294，295。Hewasambitiousofuniversalmonarchy；andthepoetfrequentlyaspirestothenameandstyleofanastronomer，achemist，&c。]
[Footnote26:TheBarondeTott，tom。iii。p。85—89，whofortifiedtheDardanellesagainsttheRussians，describesinalively，andevencomic，strainhisownprowess，andtheconsternationoftheTurks。Butthatadventuroustravellerdoesnotpossesstheartofgainingourconfidence。]
WhileMahometthreatenedthecapitaloftheEast，theGreekemperorimploredwithferventprayerstheassistanceofearthandheaven。Buttheinvisiblepowersweredeaftohissupplications；
andChristendombeheldwithindifferencethefallofConstantinople，whileshederivedatleastsomepromiseofsupplyfromthejealousandtemporalpolicyofthesultanofEgypt。Somestatesweretooweak，andotherstooremote；bysomethedangerwasconsideredasimaginarybyothersasinevitable:theWesternprinceswereinvolvedintheirendlessanddomesticquarrels；andtheRomanpontiffwasexasperatedbythefalsehoodorobstinacyoftheGreeks。InsteadofemployingintheirfavorthearmsandtreasuresofItaly，NicholastheFifthhadforetoldtheirapproachingruin；andhishonorwasengagedintheaccomplishmentofhisprophecy。Perhapshewassoftenedbythelastextremityotheirdistress；buthiscompassionwastardy；hiseffortswerefaintandunavailing；andConstantinoplehadfallen，beforethesquadronsofGenoaandVenicecouldsailfromtheirharbors。^27
EventheprincesoftheMoreaandoftheGreekislandsaffectedacoldneutrality:theGenoesecolonyofGalatanegotiatedaprivatetreaty；andthesultanindulgedtheminthedelusivehope，thatbyhisclemencytheymightsurvivetheruinoftheempire。Aplebeiancrowd，andsomeByzantinenoblesbaselywithdrewfromthedangeroftheircountry；andtheavariceoftherichdeniedtheemperor，andreservedfortheTurks，thesecrettreasureswhichmighthaveraisedintheirdefencewholearmiesofmercenaries。^28Theindigentandsolitaryprinceprepared，however，tosustainhisformidableadversary；butifhiscouragewereequaltotheperil，hisstrengthwasinadequatetothecontest。Inthebeginningofthespring，theTurkishvanguardsweptthetownsandvillagesasfarasthegatesofConstantinople:submissionwassparedandprotected；whateverpresumedtoresistwasexterminatedwithfireandsword。TheGreekplacesontheBlackSea，Mesembria，Acheloum，andBizon，surrenderedonthefirstsummons；Selybriaalonedeservedthehonorsofasiegeorblockade；andtheboldinhabitants，whiletheywereinvestedbyland，launchedtheirboats，pillagedtheoppositecoastofCyzicus，andsoldtheircaptivesinthepublicmarket。ButontheapproachofMahomethimselfallwassilentandprostrate:hefirsthaltedatthedistanceoffivemiles；andfromthenceadvancinginbattlearray，plantedbeforethegatesofSt。RomanustheImperialstandard；andonthesixthdayofAprilformedthememorablesiegeofConstantinople。
[Footnote*:SeethecuriousChristianandMahometanpredictionsofthefallofConstantinople，VonHammer，p。518。—M。]
[Footnote27:Nonaudivit，indignumducens，saysthehonestAntoninus；butastheRomancourtwasafterwardsgrievedandashamed，wefindthemorecourtlyexpressionofPlatina，inanimofuissepontificijuvareGraecos，andthepositiveassertionofAeneasSylvius，structamclassem&c。Spond。A。D。1453，No。3。]
[Footnote28:Antonin。inProem。—Epist。Cardinal。Isidor。apudSpondanumandDr。Johnson，inthetragedyofIrene，hashappilyseizedthischaracteristiccircumstance:—
ThegroaningGreeksdigupthegoldencaverns。Theaccumulatedwealthofhoardingages；Thatwealthwhich，grantedtotheirweepingprince，Hadrangedembattlednationsattheirgates。]
ThetroopsofAsiaandEuropeextendedontherightandleftfromthePropontistotheharbor；theJanizariesinthefrontwerestationedbeforethesultan\'stent；theOttomanlinewascoveredbyadeepintrenchment；andasubordinatearmyenclosedthesuburbofGalata，andwatchedthedoubtfulfaithoftheGenoese。TheinquisitivePhilelphus，whoresidedinGreeceaboutthirtyyearsbeforethesiege，isconfident，thatalltheTurkishforcesofanynameorvaluecouldnotexceedthenumberofsixtythousandhorseandtwentythousandfoot；andheupbraidsthepusillanimityofthenations，whohadtamelyyieldedtoahandfulofBarbarians。SuchindeedmightbetheregularestablishmentoftheCapiculi，^29thetroopsofthePortewhomarchedwiththeprince，andwerepaidfromhisroyaltreasury。Butthebashaws，intheirrespectivegovernments，maintainedorleviedaprovincialmilitia；manylandswereheldbyamilitarytenure；
manyvolunteerswereattractedbythehopeofspoilandthesoundoftheholytrumpetinvitedaswarmofhungryandfearlessfanatics，whomightcontributeatleasttomultiplytheterrors，andinafirstattacktoblunttheswords，oftheChristians。
ThewholemassoftheTurkishpowersismagnifiedbyDucas，Chalcondyles，andLeonardofChios，totheamountofthreeorfourhundredthousandmen；butPhranzawasalessremoteandmoreaccuratejudge；andhisprecisedefinitionoftwohundredandfifty—eightthousanddoesnotexceedthemeasureofexperienceandprobability。^30Thenavyofthebesiegerswaslessformidable:thePropontiswasoverspreadwiththreehundredandtwentysail；butofthesenomorethaneighteencouldberatedasgalleysofwar；andthefargreaterpartmustbedegradedtotheconditionofstore—shipsandtransports，whichpouredintothecampfreshsuppliesofmen，ammunition，andprovisions。Inherlastdecay，Constantinoplewasstillpeopledwithmorethanahundredthousandinhabitants；butthesenumbersarefoundintheaccounts，notofwar，butofcaptivity；andtheymostlyconsistedofmechanics，ofpriests，ofwomen，andofmendevoidofthatspiritwhichevenwomenhavesometimesexertedforthecommonsafety。Icansuppose，Icouldalmostexcuse，thereluctanceofsubjectstoserveonadistantfrontier，atthewillofatyrant；
butthemanwhodaresnotexposehislifeinthedefenceofhischildrenandhisproperty，haslostinsocietythefirstandmostactiveenergiesofnature。Bytheemperor\'scommand，aparticularinquiryhadbeenmadethroughthestreetsandhouses，howmanyofthecitizens，orevenofthemonks，wereableandwillingtobeararmsfortheircountry。ThelistswereintrustedtoPhranza；^31and，afteradiligentaddition，heinformedhismaster，withgriefandsurprise，thatthenationaldefencewasreducedtofourthousandninehundredandseventyRomans。