buttheTurks，inadistantandcloserattack，weretwicerepulsedwithconsiderableloss。Mahomethimselfsatonhorsebackonthebeachtoencouragetheirvalorbyhisvoiceandpresence，bythepromiseofreward，andbyfearmorepotentthanthefearoftheenemy。Thepassionsofhissoul，andeventhegesturesofhisbody，^45seemedtoimitatetheactionsofthecombatants；and，asifhehadbeenthelordofnature，hespurredhishorsewithafearlessandimpotenteffortintothesea。Hisloudreproaches，andtheclamorsofthecamp，urgedtheOttomanstoathirdattack，morefatalandbloodythanthetwoformer；andImustrepeat，thoughIcannotcredit，theevidenceofPhranza，whoaffirms，fromtheirownmouth，thattheylostabovetwelvethousandmenintheslaughteroftheday。TheyfledindisordertotheshoresofEuropeandAsia，whiletheChristiansquadron，triumphantandunhurt，steeredalongtheBosphorus，andsecurelyanchoredwithinthechainoftheharbor。Intheconfidenceofvictory，theyboastedthatthewholeTurkishpowermusthaveyieldedtotheirarms；buttheadmiral，orcaptainbashaw，foundsomeconsolationforapainfulwoundinhiseye，byrepresentingthataccidentasthecauseofhisdefeat。BalthiOgliwasarenegadeoftheraceoftheBulgarianprinces:hismilitarycharacterwastaintedwiththeunpopularviceofavarice；andunderthedespotismoftheprinceorpeople，misfortuneisasufficientevidenceofguilt。HisrankandserviceswereannihilatedbythedispleasureofMahomet。Intheroyalpresence，thecaptainbashawwasextendedonthegroundbyfourslaves，andreceivedonehundredstrokeswithagoldenrod:
^46hisdeathhadbeenpronounced；andheadoredtheclemencyofthesultan，whowassatisfiedwiththemilderpunishmentofconfiscationandexile。TheintroductionofthissupplyrevivedthehopesoftheGreeks，andaccusedthesupinenessoftheirWesternallies。AmidstthedesertsofAnatoliaandtherocksofPalestine，themillionsofthecrusadeshadburiedthemselvesinavoluntaryandinevitablegrave；butthesituationoftheImperialcitywasstrongagainstherenemies，andaccessibletoherfriends；andarationalandmoderatearmamentofthemarinestatesmighthavesavedtherelicsoftheRomanname，andmaintainedaChristianfortressintheheartoftheOttomanempire。YetthiswasthesoleandfeebleattemptforthedeliveranceofConstantinople:themoredistantpowerswereinsensibleofitsdanger；andtheambassadorofHungary，oratleastofHuniades，residedintheTurkishcamp，toremovethefears，andtodirecttheoperations，ofthesultan。^47
[Footnote42:ItissingularthattheGreeksshouldnotagreeinthenumberoftheseillustriousvessels；thefiveofDucas，thefourofPhranzaandLeonardus，andthetwoofChalcondyles，mustbeextendedtothesmaller，orconfinedtothelarger，size。
Voltaire，ingivingoneoftheseshipstoFredericIII。，confoundstheemperorsoftheEastandWest。]
[Footnote43:Inbolddefiance，orratheringrossignorance，oflanguageandgeography，thepresidentCousindetainstheminChioswithasouth，andwaftsthemtoConstantinoplewithanorth，wind。]
[Footnote44:TheperpetualdecayandweaknessoftheTurkishnavymaybeobservedinRicaut，StateoftheOttomanEmpire，p。
372—378，Thevenot，Voyages，P。i。p。229—242，andTott，Memoires，tom。iii；thelastofwhomisalwayssolicitoustoamuseandamazehisreader]
[Footnote45:ImustconfessthatIhavebeforemyeyesthelivingpicturewhichThucydidesl。vii。c。71hasdrawnofthepassionsandgesturesoftheAtheniansinanavalengagementinthegreatharborofSyracuse。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtoDucas，oneoftheAfabibeatouthiseyewithastoneCompareVonHammer。—M。]
[Footnote46:AccordingtotheexaggerationorcorrupttextofDucas，c。38，thisgoldenbarwasoftheenormousorincredibleweightof500librae，orpounds。Bouillaud\'sreadingof500
drachms，orfivepounds，issufficienttoexercisethearmofMahomet，andbruisethebackofhisadmiral。]
[Footnote47:Ducas，whoconfesseshimselfillinformedoftheaffairsofHungaryassignsamotiveofsuperstition，afatalbeliefthatConstantinoplewouldbethetermoftheTurkishconquests。SeePhranzal。iii。c。20andSpondanus。]
ItwasdifficultfortheGreekstopenetratethesecretofthedivan；yettheGreeksarepersuaded，thataresistancesoobstinateandsurprising，hadfatiguedtheperseveranceofMahomet。Hebegantomeditatearetreat；andthesiegewouldhavebeenspeedilyraised，iftheambitionandjealousyofthesecondvizierhadnotopposedtheperfidiousadviceofCalilBashaw，whostillmaintainedasecretcorrespondencewiththeByzantinecourt。Thereductionofthecityappearedtobehopeless，unlessadoubleattackcouldbemadefromtheharboraswellasfromtheland；buttheharborwasinaccessible:animpenetrablechainwasnowdefendedbyeightlargeships，morethantwentyofasmallersize，withseveralgalleysandsloops；
and，insteadofforcingthisbarrier，theTurksmightapprehendanavalsally，andasecondencounterintheopensea。Inthisperplexity，thegeniusofMahometconceivedandexecutedaplanofaboldandmarvellouscast，oftransportingbylandhislightervesselsandmilitarystoresfromtheBosphorusintothehigherpartoftheharbor。Thedistanceisabouttenmiles；
thegroundisuneven，andwasoverspreadwiththickets；and，astheroadmustbeopenedbehindthesuburbofGalata，theirfreepassageortotaldestructionmustdependontheoptionoftheGenoese。Buttheseselfishmerchantswereambitiousofthefavorofbeingthelastdevoured；andthedeficiencyofartwassuppliedbythestrengthofobedientmyraids。Alevelwaywascoveredwithabroadplatformofstrongandsolidplanks；andtorenderthemmoreslipperyandsmooth，theywereanointedwiththefatofsheepandoxen。Fourscorelightgalleysandbrigantines，offiftyandthirtyoars，weredisembarkedontheBosphorusshore；arrangedsuccessivelyonrollers；anddrawnforwardsbythepowerofmenandpulleys。Twoguidesorpilotswerestationedatthehelm，andtheprow，ofeachvessel:thesailswereunfurledtothewinds；andthelaborwascheeredbysongandacclamation。Inthecourseofasinglenight，thisTurkishfleetpainfullyclimbedthehill，steeredovertheplain，andwaslaunchedfromthedeclivityintotheshallowwatersoftheharbor，farabovethemolestationofthedeepervesselsoftheGreeks。Therealimportanceofthisoperationwasmagnifiedbytheconsternationandconfidencewhichitinspired:butthenotorious，unquestionablefactwasdisplayedbeforetheeyes，andisrecordedbythepens，ofthetwonations。^48Asimilarstratagemhadbeenrepeatedlypractisedbytheancients；^49theOttomangalleysImustagainrepeatshouldbeconsideredaslargeboats；and，ifwecomparethemagnitudeandthedistance，theobstaclesandthemeans，theboastedmiracle^50hasperhapsbeenequalledbytheindustryofourowntimes。^51AssoonasMahomethadoccupiedtheupperharborwithafleetandarmy，heconstructed，inthenarrowestpart，abridge，orrathermole，offiftycubitsinbreadth，andonehundredinlength:itwasformedofcasksandhogsheads；joinedwithrafters，linkedwithiron，andcoveredwithasolidfloor。Onthisfloatingbatteryheplantedoneofhislargestcannon，whilethefourscoregalleys，withtroopsandscalingladders，approachedthemostaccessibleside，whichhadformerlybeenstormedbytheLatinconquerors。
TheindolenceoftheChristianshasbeenaccusedfornotdestroyingtheseunfinishedworks；^!buttheirfire，byasuperiorfire，wascontrolledandsilenced；norweretheywantinginanocturnalattempttoburnthevesselsaswellasthebridgeofthesultan。Hisvigilancepreventedtheirapproach；theirforemostgaliotsweresunkortaken；fortyyouths，thebravestofItalyandGreece，wereinhumanlymassacredathiscommand；norcouldtheemperor\'sgriefbeassuagedbythejustthoughcruelretaliation，ofexposingfromthewallstheheadsoftwohundredandsixtyMussulmancaptives。Afterasiegeoffortydays，thefateofConstantinoplecouldnolongerbeaverted。Thediminutivegarrisonwasexhaustedbyadoubleattack:thefortifications，whichhadstoodforagesagainsthostileviolence，weredismantledonallsidesbytheOttomancannon:
manybreacheswereopened；andnearthegateofSt。Romanus，fourtowershadbeenlevelledwiththeground。Forthepaymentofhisfeebleandmutinoustroops，Constantinewascompelledtodespoilthechurcheswiththepromiseofafourfoldrestitution；andhissacrilegeofferedanewreproachtotheenemiesoftheunion。A
spiritofdiscordimpairedtheremnantoftheChristianstrength；
theGenoeseandVenetianauxiliariesassertedthepreeminenceoftheirrespectiveservice；andJustinianiandthegreatduke，whoseambitionwasnotextinguishedbythecommondanger，accusedeachotheroftreacheryandcowardice。
[Footnote48:TheunanimoustestimonyofthefourGreeksisconfirmedbyCantemirp。96fromtheTurkishannals；butI
couldwishtocontractthedistanceoftenmiles，andtoprolongthetermofonenight。
Note:Sixmiles，notten。VonHammer。—M]
[Footnote49:PhranzarelatestwoexamplesofasimilartransportationoverthesixmilesoftheIsthmusofCorinth；theonefabulous，ofAugustusafterthebattleofActium；theothertrue，ofNicetas，aGreekgeneralinthexthcentury。TothesehemighthaveaddedaboldenterpriseofHannibal，tointroducehisvesselsintotheharborofTarentum，Polybius，l。viii。p。
749，edit。Gronov。
Note:VonHammergivesalongerlistofsuchtransportations，p。533。DionCassiusdistinctlyrelatestheoccurrencetreatedasfabulousbyGibbon。—M。]
[Footnote50:AGreekofCandia，whohadservedtheVenetiansinasimilarundertaking，Spond。A。D。1438，No。37，mightpossiblybetheadviserandagentofMahomet。]
[Footnote51:IparticularlyalludetoourownembarkationsonthelakesofCanadaintheyears1776and1777，sogreatinthelabor，sofruitlessintheevent。]
[Footnote!:Theywerebetrayed，accordingtosomeaccounts，bytheGenoeseofGalata。VonHammer，p。536。—M。]
DuringthesiegeofConstantinople，thewordsofpeaceandcapitulationhadbeensometimespronounced；andseveralembassieshadpassedbetweenthecampandthecity。^52TheGreekemperorwashumbledbyadversity；andwouldhaveyieldedtoanytermscompatiblewithreligionandroyalty。TheTurkishsultanwasdesirousofsparingthebloodofhissoldiers；stillmoredesirousofsecuringforhisownusetheByzantinetreasures:andheaccomplishedasacreddutyinpresentingtotheGaboursthechoiceofcircumcision，oftribute，orofdeath。TheavariceofMahometmighthavebeensatisfiedwithanannualsumofonehundredthousandducats；buthisambitiongraspedthecapitaloftheEast:totheprinceheofferedarichequivalent，tothepeopleafreetoleration，orasafedeparture:butaftersomefruitlesstreaty，hedeclaredhisresolutionoffindingeitherathrone，oragrave，underthewallsofConstantinople。Asenseofhonor，andthefearofuniversalreproach，forbadePalaeologustoresignthecityintothehandsoftheOttomans；andhedeterminedtoabidethelastextremitiesofwar。Severaldayswereemployedbythesultaninthepreparationsoftheassault；
andarespitewasgrantedbyhisfavoritescienceofastrology，whichhadfixedonthetwenty—ninthofMay，asthefortunateandfatalhour。Ontheeveningofthetwenty—seventh，heissuedhisfinalorders；assembledinhispresencethemilitarychiefs，anddispersedhisheraldsthroughthecamptoproclaimtheduty，andthemotives，oftheperilousenterprise。Fearisthefirstprincipleofadespoticgovernment；andhismenaceswereexpressedintheOrientalstyle，thatthefugitivesanddeserters，hadtheythewingsofabird，^53shouldnotescapefromhisinexorablejustice。ThegreatestpartofhisbashawsandJanizariesweretheoffspringofChristianparents:butthegloriesoftheTurkishnamewereperpetuatedbysuccessiveadoption；andinthegradualchangeofindividuals，thespiritofalegion，aregiment，oranoda，iskeptalivebyimitationanddiscipline。Inthisholywarfare，theMoslemswereexhortedtopurifytheirmindswithprayer，theirbodieswithsevenablutions；andtoabstainfromfoodtillthecloseoftheensuingday。Acrowdofdervisesvisitedthetents，toinstilthedesireofmartyrdom，andtheassuranceofspendinganimmortalyouthamidsttheriversandgardensofparadise，andintheembracesoftheblack—eyedvirgins。YetMahometprincipallytrustedtotheefficacyoftemporalandvisiblerewards。Adoublepaywaspromisedtothevictorioustroops:\"Thecityandthebuildings，\"
saidMahomet，\"aremine；butIresigntoyourvalorthecaptivesandthespoil，thetreasuresofgoldandbeauty；berichandbehappy。Manyaretheprovincesofmyempire:theintrepidsoldierwhofirstascendsthewallsofConstantinopleshallberewardedwiththegovernmentofthefairestandmostwealthy；andmygratitudeshallaccumulatehishonorsandfortunesabovethemeasureofhisownhopes。\"SuchvariousandpotentmotivesdiffusedamongtheTurksageneralardor，regardlessoflifeandimpatientforaction:thecampreechoedwiththeMoslemshoutsof\"GodisGod:thereisbutoneGod，andMahometistheapostleofGod；\"^54andtheseaandland，fromGalatatotheseventowers，wereilluminatedbytheblazeoftheirnocturnalfires。
[Footnote52:ChalcondylesandDucasdifferinthetimeandcircumstancesofthenegotiation；andasitwasneithergloriousnorsalutory，thefaithfulPhranzaspareshisprinceeventhethoughtofasurrender。]
[Footnote53:ThesewingsChalcondyles，l。viii。p。208arenomorethananOrientalfigure:butinthetragedyofIrene，Mahomet\'spassionsoarsabovesenseandreason:—
ShouldthefierceNorth，uponhisfrozenwings。
Bearhimaloftabovethewonderingclouds，AndseathiminthePleiads\'goldenchariot—
Thenshouldmyfurydraghimdowntotortures。
Besidestheextravaganceoftherant，Imustobserve，1。Thattheoperationofthewindsmustbeconfinedtothelowerregionoftheair。2。Thatthename，etymology，andfableofthePleiadsarepurelyGreek，ScholiastadHomer，Sigma686。EudociainIonia，p。399。Apollodor。l。iii。c。10。Heyne，p。229，Not。
682，andhadnoaffinitywiththeastronomyoftheEast，HydeadUlugbeg，Tabul。inSyntagmaDissert。tom。i。p。40，42。
Goguet，OriginedesArts，&c。，tom。vi。p。73—78。Gebelin，Hist。duCalendrier，p。73，whichMahomethadstudied。3。Thegoldenchariotdoesnotexisteitherinscienceorfiction；butI
muchfearDr。JohnsonhasconfoundedthePleiadeswiththegreatbearorwagon，thezodiacwithanorthernconstalation。]
[Footnote54:PhranzaquarrelswiththeseMoslemacclamations，notforthenameofGod，butforthatoftheprophet:thepiouszealofVoltaireisexcessive，andevenridiculous。]
[Footnote*:ThepictureisheightenedbytheadditionofthewailingcriesofKyris，whichwereheardfromthedarkinteriorofthecity。VonHammerp。539。—M。]
FardifferentwasthestateoftheChristians；who，withloudandimpotentcomplaints，deploredtheguilt，orthepunishment，oftheirsins。ThecelestialimageoftheVirginhadbeenexposedinsolemnprocession；buttheirdivinepatronesswasdeaftotheirentreaties:theyaccusedtheobstinacyoftheemperorforrefusingatimelysurrender；anticipatedthehorrorsoftheirfate；andsighedforthereposeandsecurityofTurkishservitude。ThenoblestoftheGreeks，andthebravestoftheallies，weresummonedtothepalace，topreparethem，ontheeveningofthetwenty—eighth，forthedutiesanddangersofthegeneralassault。ThelastspeechofPalaeologuswasthefuneralorationoftheRomanempire:^55hepromised，heconjured，andhevainlyattemptedtoinfusethehopewhichwasextinguishedinhisownmind。Inthisworldallwascomfortlessandgloomy；andneitherthegospelnorthechurchhaveproposedanyconspicuousrecompensetotheheroeswhofallintheserviceoftheircountry。Buttheexampleoftheirprince，andtheconfinementofasiege，hadarmedthesewarriorswiththecourageofdespair，andthepatheticsceneisdescribedbythefeelingsofthehistorianPhranza，whowashimselfpresentatthismournfulassembly。Theywept，theyembraced；regardlessoftheirfamiliesandfortunes，theydevotedtheirlives；andeachcommander，departingtohisstation，maintainedallnightavigilantandanxiouswatchontherampart。Theemperor，andsomefaithfulcompanions，enteredthedomeofSt。Sophia，whichinafewhourswastobeconvertedintoamosque；anddevoutlyreceived，withtearsandprayers，thesacramentoftheholycommunion。Hereposedsomemomentsinthepalace，whichresoundedwithcriesandlamentations；solicitedthepardonofallwhomhemighthaveinjured；^56andmountedonhorsebacktovisittheguards，andexplorethemotionsoftheenemy。ThedistressandfallofthelastConstantinearemoregloriousthanthelongprosperityoftheByzantineCaesars。
[Footnote55:IamafraidthatthisdiscoursewascomposedbyPhranzahimself；anditsmellssogrosslyofthesermonandtheconvent，thatIalmostdoubtwhetheritwaspronouncedbyConstantine。Leonardusassignshimanotherspeech，inwhichheaddresseshimselfmorerespectfullytotheLatinauxiliaries。]
[Footnote56:Thisabasement，whichdevotionhassometimesextortedfromdyingprinces，isanimprovementofthegospeldoctrineoftheforgivenessofinjuries:itismoreeasytoforgive490times，thanoncetoaskpardonofaninferior。]
[Footnote*:ComparetheverycuriousArmenianelegyonthefallofConstantinople，translatedbyM。Bore，intheJournalAsiatiqueforMarch，1835；andbyM。Brosset，intheneweditionofLeBeau，tom。xxi。p。308。Theauthorthusendshispoem:
\"I，Abraham，loadedwithsins，havecomposedthiselegywiththemostlivelysorrow；forIhaveseenConstantinopleinthedaysofitsglory。\"—M。]
Intheconfusionofdarkness，anassailantmaysometimessucceed；outinthisgreatandgeneralattack，themilitaryjudgmentandastrologicalknowledgeofMahometadvisedhimtoexpectthemorning，thememorabletwenty—ninthofMay，inthefourteenhundredandfifty—thirdyearoftheChristianaera。Theprecedingnighthadbeenstrenuouslyemployed:thetroops，thecannons，andthefascines，wereadvancedtotheedgeoftheditch，whichinmanypartspresentedasmoothandlevelpassagetothebreach；andhisfourscoregalleysalmosttouched，withtheprowsandtheirscaling—ladders，thelessdefensiblewallsoftheharbor。Underpainofdeath，silencewasenjoined:butthephysicallawsofmotionandsoundarenotobedienttodisciplineorfear；eachindividualmightsuppresshisvoiceandmeasurehisfootsteps；butthemarchandlaborofthousandsmustinevitablyproduceastrangeconfusionofdissonantclamors，whichreachedtheearsofthewatchmenofthetowers。Atdaybreak，withoutthecustomarysignalofthemorninggun，theTurksassaultedthecitybyseaandland；andthesimilitudeofatwinedortwistedthreadhasbeenappliedtotheclosenessandcontinuityoftheirlineofattack。^57Theforemostranksconsistedoftherefuseofthehost，avoluntarycrowdwhofoughtwithoutorderorcommand；ofthefeeblenessofageorchildhood，ofpeasantsandvagrants，andofallwhohadjoinedthecampintheblindhopeofplunderandmartyrdom。Thecommonimpulsedrovethemonwardstothewall；