PartII。
WhenthesixambassadorsoftheFrenchpilgrimsarrivedatVenice，theywerehospitablyentertainedinthepalaceofSt。
Mark，bythereigningduke；hisnamewasHenryDandolo；^40andheshoneinthelastperiodofhumanlifeasoneofthemostillustriouscharactersofthetimes。Undertheweightofyears，andafterthelossofhiseyes，^41Dandoloretainedasoundunderstandingandamanlycourage:thespiritofahero，ambitioustosignalizehisreignbysomememorableexploits；andthewisdomofapatriot，anxioustobuildhisfameonthegloryandadvantageofhiscountry。Hepraisedtheboldenthusiasmandliberalconfidenceofthebaronsandtheirdeputies:insuchacause，andwithsuchassociates，heshouldaspire，wereheaprivateman，toterminatehislife；buthewastheservantoftherepublic，andsomedelaywasrequisitetoconsult，onthisarduousbusiness，thejudgmentofhiscolleagues。TheproposaloftheFrenchwasfirstdebatedbythesixsageswhohadbeenrecentlyappointedtocontroltheadministrationofthedoge:itwasnextdisclosedtothefortymembersofthecouncilofstate；
andfinallycommunicatedtothelegislativeassemblyoffourhundredandfiftyrepresentatives，whowereannuallychoseninthesixquartersofthecity。Inpeaceandwar，thedogewasstillthechiefoftherepublic；hislegalauthoritywassupportedbythepersonalreputationofDandolo:hisargumentsofpublicinterestwerebalancedandapproved；andhewasauthorizedtoinformtheambassadorsofthefollowingconditionsofthetreaty。^42ItwasproposedthatthecrusadersshouldassembleatVenice，onthefeastofSt。Johnoftheensuingyear；thatflat—bottomedvesselsshouldbepreparedforfourthousandfivehundredhorses，andninethousandsquires，withanumberofshipssufficientfortheembarkationoffourthousandfivehundredknights，andtwentythousandfoot；thatduringatermofninemonthstheyshouldbesuppliedwithprovisions，andtransportedtowhatsoevercoasttheserviceofGodandChristendomshouldrequire；andthattherepublicshouldjointhearmamentwithasquadronoffiftygalleys。Itwasrequired，thatthepilgrimsshouldpay，beforetheirdeparture，asumofeighty—fivethousandmarksofsilver；andthatallconquests，byseaandland，shouldbeequallydividedbetweentheconfederates。Thetermswerehard；buttheemergencywaspressing，andtheFrenchbaronswerenotlessprofuseofmoneythanofblood。Ageneralassemblywasconvenedtoratifythetreaty:thestatelychapelandplaceofSt。Markwerefilledwithtenthousandcitizens；andthenobledeputiesweretaughtanewlessonofhumblingthemselvesbeforethemajestyofthepeople。"IllustriousVenetians，"saidthemarshalofChampagne，"wearesentbythegreatestandmostpowerfulbaronsofFrancetoimploretheaidofthemastersoftheseaforthedeliveranceofJerusalem。Theyhaveenjoinedustofallprostrateatyourfeet；norwillwerisefromthegroundtillyouhavepromisedtoavengewithustheinjuriesofChrist。"
Theeloquenceoftheirwordsandtears，^43theirmartialaspect，andsuppliantattitude，wereapplaudedbyauniversalshout；asitwere，saysJeffrey，bythesoundofanearthquake。Thevenerabledogeascendedthepulpittourgetheirrequestbythosemotivesofhonorandvirtue，whichalonecanbeofferedtoapopularassembly:thetreatywastranscribedonparchment，attestedwithoathsandseals，mutuallyacceptedbytheweepingandjoyfulrepresentativesofFranceandVenice；anddespatchedtoRomefortheapprobationofPopeInnocenttheThird。Twothousandmarkswereborrowedofthemerchantsforthefirstexpensesofthearmament。Ofthesixdeputies，tworepassedtheAlpstoannouncetheirsuccess，whiletheirfourcompanionsmadeafruitlesstrialofthezealandemulationoftherepublicsofGenoaandPisa。
[Footnote40:HenryDandolowaseighty—fourathiselection，A。D。1192，andninety—sevenathisdeath，A。D。1205。SeetheObservationsofDucangesurVillehardouin，No。204。Butthisextraordinarylongevityisnotobservedbytheoriginalwriters，nordoesthereexistanotherexampleofaheronearahundredyearsofage。Theophrastusmightaffordaninstanceofawriterofninety—nine；butinsteadofProoem。adCharacter。，IammuchinclinedtoreadwithhislasteditorFischer，andthefirstthoughtsofCasaubon。Itisscarcelypossiblethatthepowersofthemindandbodyshouldsupportthemselvestillsuchaperiodoflife。]
[Footnote41:ThemodernVenetiansLaugier，tom。ii。p。119
accusetheemperorManuel；butthecalumnyisrefutedbyVillehardouinandtheolderwriters，whosupposethatDandololosthiseyesbyawound，No。31，andDucange。
Note:Theaccountsdiffer，bothastotheextentandthecauseofhisblindnessAccordingtoVillehardouinandothers，thesightwastotallylost；accordingtotheChronicleofAndrewDandolo。Murat。tom。xii。p。322，hewasvisedebilis。SeeWilken，vol。v。p。143。—M。]
[Footnote42:SeetheoriginaltreatyintheChronicleofAndrewDandolo，p。323—326。]
[Footnote43:AreaderofVillehardouinmustobservethefrequenttearsofthemarshalandhisbrotherknights。Sachiezquelaotmaintelermeploreedepitie，No。17；multplorant，ibid；
maintelermeploree，No。34；siorentmultpitieetplorerentmultdurement，No。60；iotmaintelermeploreedepitie，No。
202。Theyweeponeveryoccasionofgrief，joy，ordevotion。]
Theexecutionofthetreatywasstillopposedbyunforeseendifficultiesanddelays。Themarshal，onhisreturntoTroyes，wasembracedandapprovedbyThibautcountofChampagne，whohadbeenunanimouslychosengeneraloftheconfederates。Butthehealthofthatvaliantyouthalreadydeclined，andsoonbecamehopeless；andhedeploredtheuntimelyfate，whichcondemnedhimtoexpire，notinafieldofbattle，butonabedofsickness。
Tohisbraveandnumerousvassals，thedyingprincedistributedhistreasures:theysworeinhispresencetoaccomplishhisvowandtheirown；butsometherewere，saysthemarshal，whoacceptedhisgiftsandforfeitedtheirwords。ThemoreresolutechampionsofthecrossheldaparliamentatSoissonsfortheelectionofanewgeneral；butsuchwastheincapacity，orjealousy，orreluctance，oftheprincesofFrance，thatnonecouldbefoundbothableandwillingtoassumetheconductoftheenterprise。Theyacquiescedinthechoiceofastranger，ofBonifacemarquisofMontferrat，descendedofaraceofheroes，andhimselfofconspicuousfameinthewarsandnegotiationsofthetimes；^44norcouldthepietyorambitionoftheItalianchiefdeclinethishonorableinvitation。AftervisitingtheFrenchcourt，wherehewasreceivedasafriendandkinsman，themarquis，inthechurchofSoissons，wasinvestedwiththecrossofapilgrimandthestaffofageneral；andimmediatelyrepassedtheAlps，toprepareforthedistantexpeditionoftheEast。
AboutthefestivalofthePentecosthedisplayedhisbanner，andmarchedtowardsVeniceattheheadoftheItalians:hewasprecededorfollowedbythecountsofFlandersandBlois，andthemostrespectablebaronsofFrance；andtheirnumberswereswelledbythepilgrimsofGermany，^45whoseobjectandmotivesweresimilartotheirown。TheVenetianshadfulfilled，andevensurpassed，theirengagements:stableswereconstructedforthehorses，andbarracksforthetroops:themagazineswereabundantlyreplenishedwithforageandprovisions；andthefleetoftransports，ships，andgalleys，wasreadytohoistsailassoonastherepublichadreceivedthepriceofthefreightandarmament。ButthatpricefarexceededthewealthofthecrusaderswhowereassembledatVenice。TheFlemings，whoseobediencetotheircountwasvoluntaryandprecarious，hadembarkedintheirvesselsforthelongnavigationoftheoceanandMediterranean；andmanyoftheFrenchandItalianshadpreferredacheaperandmoreconvenientpassagefromMarseillesandApuliatotheHolyLand。Eachpilgrimmightcomplain，thatafterhehadfurnishedhisowncontribution，hewasmaderesponsibleforthedeficiencyofhisabsentbrethren:thegoldandsilverplateofthechiefs，whichtheyfreelydeliveredtothetreasuryofSt。Marks，wasagenerousbutinadequatesacrifice；andafteralltheirefforts，thirty—fourthousandmarkswerestillwantingtocompletethestipulatedsum。Theobstaclewasremovedbythepolicyandpatriotismofthedoge，whoproposedtothebarons，thatiftheywouldjointheirarmsinreducingsomerevoltedcitiesofDalmatia，hewouldexposehispersonintheholywar，andobtainfromtherepublicalongindulgence，tillsomewealthyconquestshouldaffordthemeansofsatisfyingthedebt。Aftermuchscrupleandhesitation，theychoserathertoaccepttheofferthantorelinquishtheenterprise；andthefirsthostilitiesofthefleetandarmyweredirectedagainstZara，^46astrongcityoftheSclavoniancoast，whichhadrenounceditsallegiancetoVenice，andimploredtheprotectionofthekingofHungary。^47Thecrusadersburstthechainorboomoftheharbor；landedtheirhorses，troops，andmilitaryengines；andcompelledtheinhabitants，afteradefenceoffivedays，tosurrenderatdiscretion:theirliveswerespared，buttherevoltwaspunishedbythepillageoftheirhousesandthedemolitionoftheirwalls。Theseasonwasfaradvanced；theFrenchandVenetiansresolvedtopassthewinterinasecureharborandplentifulcountry；buttheirreposewasdisturbedbynationalandtumultuousquarrelsofthesoldiersandmariners。TheconquestofZarahadscatteredtheseedsofdiscordandscandal:thearmsoftheallieshadbeenstainedintheiroutsetwiththeblood，notofinfidels，butofChristians:
thekingofHungaryandhisnewsubjectswerethemselvesenlistedunderthebannerofthecross；andthescruplesofthedevoutweremagnifiedbythefearoflassitudeofthereluctantpilgrims。Thepopehadexcommunicatedthefalsecrusaderswhohadpillagedandmassacredtheirbrethren，^48andonlythemarquisBonifaceandSimonofMontfortescapedthesespiritualthunders；theonebyhisabsencefromthesiege，theotherbyhisfinaldeparturefromthecamp。InnocentmightabsolvethesimpleandsubmissivepenitentsofFrance；buthewasprovokedbythestubbornreasonoftheVenetians，whorefusedtoconfesstheirguilt，toaccepttheirpardon，ortoallow，intheirtemporalconcerns，theinterpositionofapriest。
[Footnote44:ByavictoryA。D。1191overthecitizensofAsti，byacrusadetoPalestine，andbyanembassyfromthepopetotheGermanprinces，Muratori，Annalid'Italia，tom。x。p。163，202。]
[Footnote45:SeethecrusadeoftheGermansintheHistoriaC。
P。ofGunther，CanisiiAntiq。Lect。tom。iv。p。v。—viii。，whocelebratesthepilgrimageofhisabbotMartin，oneofthepreachingrivalsofFulkofNeuilly。Hismonastery，oftheCistercianorder，wassituateinthedioceseofBasil]
[Footnote46:Jadera，nowZara，wasaRomancolony，whichacknowledgedAugustusforitsparent。Itisnowonlytwomilesround，andcontainsfiveorsixthousandinhabitants；butthefortificationsarestrong，anditisjoinedtothemainlandbyabridge。Seethetravelsofthetwocompanions，SponandWheeler，VoyagedeDalmatie，deGrece，&c。，tom。i。p。64—70。JourneyintoGreece，p。8—14；thelastofwhom，bymistakingSestertiaforSestertii，valuesanarchwithstatuesandcolumnsattwelvepounds。If，inhistime，therewerenotreesnearZara，thecherry—treeswerenotyetplantedwhichproduceourincomparablemarasquin。]
[Footnote47:KatonaHist。CriticaReg。Hungariae，StirpisArpad。tom。iv。p。536—558collectsallthefactsandtestimoniesmostadversetotheconquerorsofZara。]
[Footnote48:Seethewholetransaction，andthesentimentsofthepope，intheEpistlesofInnocentIII。Gesta，c。86，87，88。]
[Footnote*:Montfortprotestedagainstthesiege。Guido，theabbotofVauxdeSernay，inthenameofthepope，interdictedtheattackonaChristiancity；andtheimmediatesurrenderofthetownwasthusdelayedforfivedaysoffruitlessresistance。
Wilken，vol。v。p。167。Seelikewise，atlength，thehistoryoftheinterdictissuedbythepope。Ibid。—M。]
Theassemblyofsuchformidablepowersbyseaandlandhadrevivedthehopesofyoung^49Alexius；andbothatVeniceandZara，hesolicitedthearmsofthecrusaders，forhisownrestorationandhisfather's^50deliverance。TheroyalyouthwasrecommendedbyPhilipkingofGermany:hisprayersandpresenceexcitedthecompassionofthecamp；andhiscausewasembracedandpleadedbythemarquisofMontferratandthedogeofVenice。
Adoublealliance，andthedignityofCaesar，hadconnectedwiththeImperialfamilythetwoelderbrothersofBoniface:^51heexpectedtoderiveakingdomfromtheimportantservice；andthemoregenerousambitionofDandolowaseagertosecuretheinestimablebenefitsoftradeanddominionthatmightaccruetohiscountry。^52TheirinfluenceprocuredafavorableaudiencefortheambassadorsofAlexius；andifthemagnitudeofhisoffersexcitedsomesuspicion，themotivesandrewardswhichhedisplayedmightjustifythedelayanddiversionofthoseforceswhichhadbeenconsecratedtothedeliveranceofJerusalem。Hepromisedinhisownandhisfather'sname，thatassoonastheyshouldbeseatedonthethroneofConstantinople，theywouldterminatethelongschismoftheGreeks，andsubmitthemselvesandtheirpeopletothelawfulsupremacyoftheRomanchurch。Heengagedtorecompensethelaborsandmeritsofthecrusaders，bytheimmediatepaymentoftwohundredthousandmarksofsilver；toaccompanytheminpersontoEgypt；or，ifitshouldbejudgedmoreadvantageous，tomaintain，duringayear，tenthousandmen，and，duringhislife，fivehundredknights，fortheserviceoftheHolyLand。ThesetemptingconditionswereacceptedbytherepublicofVenice；andtheeloquenceofthedogeandmarquispersuadedthecountsofFlanders，Blois，andSt。Pol，witheightbaronsofFrance，tojoininthegloriousenterprise。Atreatyofoffensiveanddefensivealliancewasconfirmedbytheiroathsandseals；andeachindividual，accordingtohissituationandcharacter，wasswayedbythehopeofpublicorprivateadvantage；
bythehonorofrestoringanexiledmonarch；orbythesincereandprobableopinion，thattheireffortsinPalestinewouldbefruitlessandunavailing，andthattheacquisitionofConstantinoplemustprecedeandpreparetherecoveryofJerusalem。Buttheywerethechiefsorequalsofavaliantbandoffreemenandvolunteers，whothoughtandactedforthemselves:
thesoldiersandclergyweredivided；and，ifalargemajoritysubscribedtothealliance，thenumbersandargumentsofthedissidentswerestrongandrespectable。^53TheboldestheartswereappalledbythereportofthenavalpowerandimpregnablestrengthofConstantinople；andtheirapprehensionsweredisguisedtotheworld，andperhapstothemselves，bythemoredecentobjectionsofreligionandduty。Theyallegedthesanctityofavow，whichhaddrawnthemfromtheirfamiliesandhomestotherescueoftheholysepulchre；norshouldthedarkandcrookedcounselsofhumanpolicydivertthemfromapursuit，theeventofwhichwasinthehandsoftheAlmighty。Theirfirstoffence，theattackofZara，hadbeenseverelypunishedbythereproachoftheirconscienceandthecensuresofthepope；norwouldtheyagainimbruetheirhandsinthebloodoftheirfellow—Christians。
TheapostleofRomehadpronounced；norwouldtheyusurptherightofavengingwiththeswordtheschismoftheGreeksandthedoubtfulusurpationoftheByzantinemonarch。Ontheseprinciplesorpretences，manypilgrims，themostdistinguishedfortheirvalorandpiety，withdrewfromthecamp；andtheirretreatwaslessperniciousthantheopenorsecretoppositionofadiscontentedparty，thatlabored，oneveryoccasion，toseparatethearmyanddisappointtheenterprise。
[Footnote49:AmodernreaderissurprisedtohearofthevaletdeConstantinople，asappliedtoyoungAlexius，onaccountofhisyouth，liketheinfantsofSpain，andthenobilissimuspueroftheRomans。Thepagesandvaletsoftheknightswereasnobleasthemselves，VillehardouinandDucange，No。36。]
[Footnote50:TheemperorIsaacisstyledbyVillehardouin，Sursac，No。35，&c。，whichmaybederivedfromtheFrenchSire，ortheGreekmeltedintohispropername；thefurthercorruptionsofTursacandConseracwillinstructuswhatlicensemayhavebeenusedintheolddynastiesofAssyriaandEgypt。]
[Footnote51:ReinierandConrad:theformermarriedMaria，daughteroftheemperorManuelComnenus；thelatterwasthehusbandofTheodoraAngela，sisteroftheemperorsIsaacandAlexius。ConradabandonedtheGreekcourtandprincessforthegloryofdefendingTyreagainstSaladin，Ducange，Fam。Byzant。
p。187，203。]
[Footnote52:NicetasinAlexioComneno，l。iii。c。9accusesthedogeandVenetiansasthefirstauthorsofthewaragainstConstantinople，andconsidersthearrivalandshamefuloffersoftheroyalexile。
Note:Headmits，however，thattheAngelihadcommitteddepredationsontheVenetiantrade，andtheemperorhimselfhadrefusedthepaymentofpartofthestipulatedcompensationfortheseizureoftheVenetianmerchandisebytheemperorManuel。
Nicetas，inloc。—M。]
[Footnote53:VillehardouinandGuntherrepresentthesentimentsofthetwoparties。TheabbotMartinleftthearmyatZara，proceededtoPalestine，wassentambassadortoConstantinople，andbecameareluctantwitnessofthesecondsiege。]
Notwithstandingthisdefection，thedepartureofthefleetandarmywasvigorouslypressedbytheVenetians，whosezealfortheserviceoftheroyalyouthconcealedajustresentmenttohisnationandfamily。TheyweremortifiedbytherecentpreferencewhichhadbeengiventoPisa，therivaloftheirtrade；theyhadalongarrearofdebtandinjurytoliquidatewiththeByzantinecourt；andDandolomightnotdiscouragethepopulartale，thathehadbeendeprivedofhiseyesbytheemperorManuel，whoperfidiouslyviolatedthesanctityofanambassador。Asimilararmament，forages，hadnotrodetheAdriatic:itwascomposedofonehundredandtwentyflat—bottomedvesselsorpalandersforthehorses；twohundredandfortytransportsfilledwithmenandarms；seventystore—shipsladenwithprovisions；andfiftystoutgalleys，wellpreparedfortheencounterofanenemy。^54Whilethewindwasfavorable，theskyserene，andthewatersmooth，everyeyewasfixedwithwonderanddelightonthesceneofmilitaryandnavalpompwhichoverspreadthesea。Theshieldsoftheknightsandsquires，atonceanornamentandadefence，werearrangedoneithersideoftheships；thebannersofthenationsandfamiliesweredisplayedfromthestern；ourmodernartillerywassuppliedbythreehundredenginesforcastingstonesanddarts:thefatiguesofthewaywerecheeredwiththesoundofmusic；andthespiritsoftheadventurerswereraisedbythemutualassurance，thatfortythousandChristianheroeswereequaltotheconquestoftheworld。^55Inthenavigation^56
fromVeniceandZara，thefleetwassuccessfullysteeredbytheskillandexperienceoftheVenetianpilots:atDurazzo，theconfederatesfirstlandedontheterritoriesoftheGreekempire:
theIsleofCorfuaffordedastationandrepose；theydoubled，withoutaccident，theperilouscapeofMalea，thesouthernpointofPeloponnesusortheMorea；madeadescentintheislandsofNegropontandAndros；andcastanchoratAbydusontheAsiaticsideoftheHellespont。Thesepreludesofconquestwereeasyandbloodless:theGreeksoftheprovinces，withoutpatriotismorcourage，werecrushedbyanirresistibleforce:thepresenceofthelawfulheirmightjustifytheirobedience；anditwasrewardedbythemodestyanddisciplineoftheLatins。AstheypenetratedthroughtheHellespont，themagnitudeoftheirnavywascompressedinanarrowchannel，andthefaceofthewaterswasdarkenedwithinnumerablesails。TheyagainexpandedinthebasinofthePropontis，andtraversedthatplacidsea，tilltheyapproachedtheEuropeanshore，attheabbeyofSt。Stephen，threeleaguestothewestofConstantinople。Theprudentdogedissuadedthemfromdispersingthemselvesinapopulousandhostileland；and，astheirstockofprovisionswasreduced，itwasresolved，intheseasonofharvest，toreplenishtheirstore—shipsinthefertileislandsofthePropontis。Withthisresolution，theydirectedtheircourse:butastronggale，andtheirownimpatience，drovethemtotheeastward；andsoneardidtheyruntotheshoreandthecity，thatsomevolleysofstonesanddartswereexchangedbetweentheshipsandtherampart。Astheypassedalong，theygazedwithadmirationonthecapitaloftheEast，or，asitshouldseem，oftheearth；risingfromhersevenhills，andtoweringoverthecontinentsofEuropeandAsia。