Underthetremendouspenaltiesofperjury，excommunication，anddeath，theLatinswereboundtodelivertheirplunderintothecommonstock:threechurcheswereselectedforthedepositanddistributionofthespoil:asinglesharewasallottedtoafoot—soldier；twoforasergeantonhorseback；fourtoaknight；
　　andlargerproportionsaccordingtotherankandmeritofthebaronsandprinces。Forviolatingthissacredengagement，aknightbelongingtothecountofSt。Paulwashangedwithhisshieldandcoatofarmsroundhisneck；hisexamplemightrendersimilaroffendersmoreartfulanddiscreet；butavaricewasmorepowerfulthanfear；anditisgenerallybelievedthatthesecretfarexceededtheacknowledgedplunder。Yetthemagnitudeoftheprizesurpassedthelargestscaleofexperienceorexpectation。
　　^88AfterthewholehadbeenequallydividedbetweentheFrenchandVenetians，fiftythousandmarksweredeductedtosatisfythedebtsoftheformerandthedemandsofthelatter。TheresidueoftheFrenchamountedtofourhundredthousandmarksofsilver，^89abouteighthundredthousandpoundssterling；norcanI
　　betterappreciatethevalueofthatsuminthepublicandprivatetransactionsoftheage，thanbydefiningitasseventimestheannualrevenueofthekingdomofEngland。^90
　　[Footnote85:Ceciderunttameneadieciviumquasiduomillia，&c。，Gunther，c。18。Arithmeticisanexcellenttouchstonetotrytheamplificationsofpassionandrhetoric。]
　　[Footnote86:QuidamsaysInnocentIII。，Gesta，c。94，p。538
　　necreligioni，necaetati，necsexuipepercerunt:sedfornicationes，adulteria，etincestusinoculisomniumexercentes，nonsolummaritatasetviduas，sedetmatronasetvirginesDeoquedicatas，exposueruntspurcitiisgarcionum。
　　Villehardouintakesnonoticeofthesecommonincidents。]
　　[Footnote87:Nicetassaved，andafterwardsmarried，anoblevirgin，p。380，whomasoldier，hadalmostviolated。]
　　[Footnote88:Ofthegeneralmassofwealth，Guntherobserves，utdepauperiusetadveniscivesditissimiredderentur，Hist。C。P。
　　c。18；Villehardouin，No。132，thatsincethecreation，nefutantgaaigniedansuneville；Baldwin，Gesta，c。92，uttantumtotanonvideaturpossidereLatinitas。]
　　[Footnote89:Villehardouin，No。133—135。Insteadof400，000，thereisavariousreadingof500，000。TheVenetianshadofferedtotakethewholebooty，andtogive400markstoeachknight，200toeachpriestandhorseman，and100toeachfoot—soldier:
　　theywouldhavebeengreatlosers，LeBeau，Hist。du。BasEmpiretom。xx。p。506。Iknownotfromwhence。]
　　[Footnote90:AtthecouncilofLyonsA。D。1245theEnglishambassadorsstatedtherevenueofthecrownasbelowthatoftheforeignclergy，whichamountedto60，000marksayear，MatthewParis，p。451Hume'sHist。ofEngland，vol。ii。p。170。]
　　InthisgreatrevolutionweenjoythesingularfelicityofcomparingthenarrativesofVillehardouinandNicetas，theoppositefeelingsofthemarshalofChampagneandtheByzantinesenator。^91AtthefirstviewitshouldseemthatthewealthofConstantinoplewasonlytransferredfromonenationtoanother；
　　andthatthelossandsorrowoftheGreeksisexactlybalancedbythejoyandadvantageoftheLatins。Butinthemiserableaccountofwar，thegainisneverequivalenttotheloss，thepleasuretothepain；thesmilesoftheLatinsweretransientandfallacious；theGreeksforeverweptovertheruinsoftheircountry；andtheirrealcalamitieswereaggravatedbysacrilegeandmockery。Whatbenefitsaccruedtotheconquerorsfromthethreefireswhichannihilatedsovastaportionofthebuildingsandrichesofthecity?Whatastockofsuchthings，ascouldneitherbeusednortransported，wasmaliciouslyorwantonlydestroyed!Howmuchtreasurewasidlywastedingaming，debauchery，andriot!Andwhatpreciousobjectswerebarteredforavilepricebytheimpatienceorignoranceofthesoldiers，whoserewardwasstolenbythebaseindustryofthelastoftheGreeks!Thesealone，whohadnothingtolose，mightderivesomeprofitfromtherevolution；butthemiseryoftheupperranksofsocietyisstronglypaintedinthepersonaladventuresofNicetashimselfHisstatelypalacehadbeenreducedtoashesinthesecondconflagration；andthesenator，withhisfamilyandfriends，foundanobscureshelterinanotherhousewhichhepossessednearthechurchofSt。Sophia。Itwasthedoorofthismeanhabitationthathisfriend，theVenetianmerchant，guardedinthedisguiseofasoldier，tillNicetascouldsave，byaprecipitateflight，therelicsofhisfortuneandthechastityofhisdaughter。Inacold，wintryseason，thesefugitives，nursedinthelapofprosperity，departedonfoot；hiswifewaswithchild；thedesertionoftheirslavescompelledthemtocarrytheirbaggageontheirownshoulders；andtheirwomen，whomtheyplacedinthecentre，wereexhortedtoconcealtheirbeautywithdirt，insteadofadorningitwithpaintandjewelsEverystepwasexposedtoinsultanddanger:thethreatsofthestrangerswerelesspainfulthanthetauntsoftheplebeians，withwhomtheywerenowlevelled；nordidtheexilesbreatheinsafetytilltheirmournfulpilgrimagewasconcludedatSclymbria，abovefortymilesfromthecapital。Onthewaytheyovertookthepatriarch，withoutattendanceandalmostwithoutapparel，ridingonanass，andreducedtoastateofapostolicalpoverty，which，haditbeenvoluntary，mightperhapshavebeenmeritorious。Inthemeanwhile，hisdesolatechurcheswereprofanedbythelicentiousnessandpartyzealoftheLatins。Afterstrippingthegemsandpearls，theyconvertedthechalicesintodrinking—cups；theirtables，onwhichtheygamedandfeasted，werecoveredwiththepicturesofChristandthesaints；andtheytrampledunderfootthemostvenerableobjectsoftheChristianworship。InthecathedralofSt。Sophia，theampleveilofthesanctuarywasrentasunderforthesakeofthegoldenfringe；andthealtar，amonumentofartandriches，wasbrokeninpiecesandsharedamongthecaptors。Theirmulesandhorseswereladenwiththewroughtsilverandgiltcarvings，whichtheytoredownfromthedoorsandpulpit；andifthebeastsstumbledundertheburden，theywerestabbedbytheirimpatientdrivers，andtheholypavementstreamedwiththeirimpureblood。Aprostitutewasseatedonthethroneofthepatriarch；andthatdaughterofBelial，assheisstyled，sunganddancedinthechurch，toridiculethehymnsandprocessionsoftheOrientals。Norweretherepositoriesoftheroyaldeadsecurefromviolation:inthechurchoftheApostles，thetombsoftheemperorswererifled；anditissaid，thataftersixcenturiesthecorpseofJustinianwasfoundwithoutanysignsofdecayorputrefaction。Inthestreets，theFrenchandFlemingsclothedthemselvesandtheirhorsesinpaintedrobesandflowinghead—dressesoflinen；andthecoarseintemperanceoftheirfeasts^92insultedthesplendidsobrietyoftheEast。Toexposethearmsofapeopleofscribesandscholars，theyaffectedtodisplayapen，aninkhorn，andasheetofpaper，withoutdiscerningthattheinstrumentsofscienceandvalorwerealikefeebleanduselessinthehandsofthemodernGreeks。
　　[Footnote91:ThedisordersofthesackofConstantinople，andhisownadventures，arefeelinglydescribedbyNicetas，p。367—
　　369，andintheStatusUrb。C。P。p。375—384。Hiscomplaints，evenofsacrilege，arejustifiedbyInnocentIII。，Gesta，c。
　　92；butVillehardouindoesnotbetrayasymptomofpityorremorse]
　　[Footnote92:IfIrightlyapprehendtheGreekofNicetas'sreceipts，theirfavoritedisheswereboiledbuttocksofbeef，saltporkandpeas，andsoupmadeofgarlicandsharporsourherbs，p。382。]
　　Theirreputationandtheirlanguageencouragedthem，however，todespisetheignoranceandtooverlooktheprogressoftheLatins。^93Intheloveofthearts，thenationaldifferencewasstillmoreobviousandreal；theGreekspreservedwithreverencetheworksoftheirancestors，whichtheycouldnotimitate；and，inthedestructionofthestatuesofConstantinople，weareprovokedtojoininthecomplaintsandinvectivesoftheByzantinehistorian。^94WehaveseenhowtherisingcitywasadornedbythevanityanddespotismoftheImperialfounder:intheruinsofpaganism，somegodsandheroesweresavedfromtheaxeofsuperstition；andtheforumandhippodromeweredignifiedwiththerelicsofabetterage。
　　SeveralofthesearedescribedbyNicetas，^95inafloridandaffectedstyle；andfromhisdescriptionsIshallselectsomeinterestingparticulars。1。Thevictoriouscharioteerswerecastinbronze，attheirownorthepubliccharge，andfitlyplacedinthehippodrome:theystoodaloftintheirchariots，wheelingroundthegoal:thespectatorscouldadmiretheirattitude，andjudgeoftheresemblance；andofthesefigures，themostperfectmighthavebeentransportedfromtheOlympicstadium。2。Thesphinx，river—horse，andcrocodile，denotetheclimateandmanufactureofEgyptandthespoilsofthatancientprovince。3。
　　Theshe—wolfsucklingRomulusandRemus，asubjectalikepleasingtotheoldandthenewRomans，butwhichcouldreallybetreatedbeforethedeclineoftheGreeksculpture。4。Aneagleholdingandtearingaserpentinhistalons，adomesticmonumentoftheByzantines，whichtheyascribed，nottoahumanartist，buttothemagicpowerofthephilosopherApollonius，who，bythistalisman，deliveredthecityfromsuchvenomousreptiles。5。Anassandhisdriver，whichwereerectedbyAugustusinhiscolonyofNicopolis，tocommemorateaverbalomenofthevictoryofActium。6。Anequestrianstatuewhichpassed，inthevulgaropinion，forJoshua，theJewishconqueror，stretchingouthishandtostopthecourseofthedescendingsun。AmoreclassicaltraditionrecognizedthefiguresofBellerophonandPegasus；andthefreeattitudeofthesteedseemedtomarkthathetrodonair，ratherthanontheearth。7。Asquareandloftyobeliskofbrass；thesideswereembossedwithavarietyofpicturesqueandruralscenes，birdssinging；rusticslaboring，orplayingontheirpipes；sheepbleating；lambsskipping；thesea，andasceneoffishandfishing；littlenakedcupidslaughing，playing，andpeltingeachotherwithapples；and，onthesummit，afemalefigure，turningwiththeslightestbreath，andthencedenominatedthewind'sattendant。8。ThePhrygianshepherdpresentingtoVenustheprizeofbeauty，theappleofdiscord。9。TheincomparablestatueofHelen，whichisdelineatedbyNicetasinthewordsofadmirationandlove:herwell—turnedfeet，snowyarms，rosylips，bewitchingsmiles，swimmingeyes，archedeyebrows，theharmonyofhershape，thelightnessofherdrapery，andherflowinglocksthatwavedinthewind；abeautythatmighthavemovedherBarbariandestroyerstopityandremorse。10。ThemanlyordivineformofHercules，^96ashewasrestoredtolifebythemasterhandofLysippus；ofsuchmagnitude，thathisthumbwasequaltohiswaist，hislegtothestature，ofacommonman:
　　^97hischestample，hisshouldersbroad，hislimbsstrongandmuscular，hishaircurled，hisaspectcommanding。Withouthisbow，orquiver，orclub，hislion'sskincarelesslythrownoverhim，hewasseatedonanosierbasket，hisrightlegandarmstretchedtotheutmost，hisleftkneebent，andsupportinghiselbow，hisheadrecliningonhislefthand，hiscountenanceindignantandpensive。11。AcolossalstatueofJuno，whichhadonceadornedhertempleofSamos，theenormousheadbyfouryokeofoxenwaslaboriouslydrawntothepalace。12。Anothercolossus，ofPallasorMinerva，thirtyfeetinheight，andrepresentingwithadmirablespirittheattributesandcharacterofthemartialmaid。BeforeweaccusetheLatins，itisjusttoremark，thatthisPallaswasdestroyedafterthefirstsiege，bythefearandsuperstitionoftheGreeksthemselves。^98TheotherstatuesofbrasswhichIhaveenumeratedwerebrokenandmeltedbytheunfeelingavariceofthecrusaders:thecostandlaborwereconsumedinamoment；thesoulofgeniusevaporatedinsmoke；andtheremnantofbasemetalwascoinedintomoneyforthepaymentofthetroops。Bronzeisnotthemostdurableofmonuments:fromthemarbleformsofPhidiasandPraxiteles，theLatinsmightturnasidewithstupidcontempt；^99butunlesstheywerecrushedbysomeaccidentalinjury，thoseuselessstonesstoodsecureontheirpedestals。^100Themostenlightenedofthestrangers，abovethegrossandsensualpursuitsoftheircountrymen，morepiouslyexercisedtherightofconquestinthesearchandseizureoftherelicsofthesaints。^101Immensewasthesupplyofheadsandbones，crossesandimages，thatwerescatteredbythisrevolutionoverthechurchesofEurope；andsuchwastheincreaseofpilgrimageandoblation，thatnobranch，perhaps，ofmorelucrativeplunderwasimportedfromtheEast。
　　^102Ofthewritingsofantiquity，manythatstillexistedinthetwelfthcentury，arenowlost。Butthepilgrimswerenotsolicitoustosaveortransportthevolumesofanunknowntongue:
　　theperishablesubstanceofpaperorparchmentcanonlybepreservedbythemultiplicityofcopies；theliteratureoftheGreekshadalmostcentredinthemetropolis；and，withoutcomputingtheextentofourloss，wemaydropatearoverthelibrariesthathaveperishedinthetriplefireofConstantinople。^103
　　[Footnote93:Nicetasusesveryharshexpressions，Fragment，apudFabric。Bibliot。Graec。tom。vi。p。414。Thisreproach，itistrue，appliesmoststronglytotheirignoranceofGreekandofHomer。Intheirownlanguage，theLatinsofthexiithandxiiithcenturieswerenotdestituteofliterature。SeeHarris'sPhilologicalInquiries，p。iii。c。9，10，11。]
　　[Footnote94:NicetaswasofChonaeinPhrygia，theoldColossaeofSt。Paul:heraisedhimselftothehonorsofsenator，judgeoftheveil，andgreatlogothete；beheldthefalloftheempire，retiredtoNice，andcomposedanelaboratehistoryfromthedeathofAlexiusComnenustothereignofHenry。]
　　[Footnote95:AmanuscriptofNicetasintheBodleianlibrarycontainsthiscuriousfragmentonthestatuesofConstantinople，whichfraud，orshame，orrathercarelessness，hasdroppedinthecommoneditions。ItispublishedbyFabricius，Bibliot。Graec。
　　tom。vi。p。405—416，andimmoderatelypraisedbythelateingeniousMr。HarrisofSalisbury，PhilologicalInquiries，p。
　　iii。c。5，p。301—312。]
　　[Footnote96:ToillustratethestatueofHercules，Mr。HarrisquotesaGreekepigram，andengravesabeautifulgem，whichdoesnot，however，copytheattitudeofthestatue:inthelatter，Herculeshadnothisclub，andhisrightlegandarmwereextended。]
　　[Footnote97:Itranscribetheseproportions，whichappeartomeinconsistentwitheachother；andmaypossiblyshow，thattheboastedtasteofNicetaswasnomorethanaffectationandvanity。]
　　[Footnote98:NicetasinIsaacoAngeloetAlexio，c。3，p。359。
　　TheLatineditorveryproperlyobserves，thatthehistorian，inhisbombaststyle，producesexpuliceelephantem。]
　　[Footnote99:IntwopassagesofNicetasedit。Paris，p。360。
　　Fabric。p。408theLatinsarebrandedwiththelivelyreproachandtheiravariceofbrassisclearlyexpressed。YettheVenetianshadthemeritofremovingfourbronzehorsesfromConstantinopletotheplaceofSt。Mark，Sanuto，VitedelDogi，inMuratori，Script。RerumItalicarum，tom。xxii。p。534。]
　　[Footnote100:Winckelman，Hist。del'Art。tom。iii。p。269，270。]
　　[Footnote101:SeethepiousrobberyoftheabbotMartin，whotransferredarichcargotohismonasteryofParis，dioceseofBasil，Gunther，Hist。C。P。c。19，23，24。Yetinsecretingthisbooty，thesaintincurredanexcommunication，andperhapsbrokehisoath。CompareWilkenvol。v。p。308。—M。]
　　[Footnote102:Fleury，Hist。Ecclestom。xvi。p。139—145。]
　　[Footnote103:Ishallconcludethischapterwiththenoticeofamodernhistory，whichillustratesthetakingofConstantinoplebytheLatins；butwhichhasfallensomewhatlateintomyhands。
　　PaoloRamusio，thesonofthecompilerofVoyages，wasdirectedbythesenateofVenicetowritethehistoryoftheconquest:andthisorder，whichhereceivedinhisyouth，heexecutedinamatureage，byanelegantLatinwork，deBelloConstantinopolitanoetImperatoribusComnenisperGallosetVenetosrestitutis，Venet。1635，infolio。Ramusio，orRhamnusus，transcribesandtranslates，sequituradunguem，aMs。
　　ofVillehardouin，whichhepossessed；butheenricheshisnarrativewithGreekandLatinmaterials，andweareindebtedtohimforacorrectstateofthefleet，thenamesofthefiftyVenetiannobleswhocommandedthegalleysoftherepublic，andthepatriotoppositionofPantaleonBarbustothechoiceofthedogeforemperor。]
　　ChapterLXI:PartitionOfTheEmpireByTheFrenchAndVenetians。
　　PartI。
　　PartitionOfTheEmpireByTheFrenchAndVenetians，—FiveLatinEmperorsOfTheHousesOfFlandersAndCourtenay。—TheirWarsAgainstTheBulgariansAndGreeks。—WeaknessAndPovertyOfTheLatinEmpire。—RecoveryOfConstantinopleByTheGreeks。—
　　GeneralConsequencesOfTheCrusades。
　　Afterthedeathofthelawfulprinces，theFrenchandVenetians，confidentofjusticeandvictory，agreedtodivideandregulatetheirfuturepossessions。^1Itwasstipulatedbytreaty，thattwelveelectors，sixofeithernation，shouldbenominated；thatamajorityshouldchoosetheemperoroftheEast；
　　andthat，ifthevoteswereequal，thedecisionofchanceshouldascertainthesuccessfulcandidate。Tohim，withallthetitlesandprerogativesoftheByzantinethrone，theyassignedthetwopalacesofBoucoleonandBlachernae，withafourthpartoftheGreekmonarchy。ItwasdefinedthatthethreeremainingportionsshouldbeequallysharedbetweentherepublicofVeniceandthebaronsofFrance；thateachfeudatory，withanhonorableexceptionforthedoge，shouldacknowledgeandperformthedutiesofhomageandmilitaryservicetothesupremeheadoftheempire；
　　thatthenationwhichgaveanemperor，shouldresigntotheirbrethrenthechoiceofapatriarch；andthatthepilgrims，whatevermightbetheirimpatiencetovisittheHolyLand，shoulddevoteanotheryeartotheconquestanddefenceoftheGreekprovinces。AftertheconquestofConstantinoplebytheLatins，thetreatywasconfirmedandexecuted；andthefirstandmostimportantstepwasthecreationofanemperor。ThesixelectorsoftheFrenchnationwereallecclesiastics，theabbotofLoces，thearchbishopelectofAcreinPalestine，andthebishopsofTroyes，Soissons，Halberstadt，andBethlehem，thelastofwhomexercisedinthecamptheofficeofpope'slegate:theirprofessionandknowledgewererespectable；andastheycouldnotbetheobjects，theywerebestqualifiedtobetheauthorsofthechoice。ThesixVenetiansweretheprincipalservantsofthestate，andinthislistthenoblefamiliesofQueriniandContariniarestillproudtodiscovertheirancestors。Thetwelveassembledinthechapelofthepalace；andafterthesolemninvocationoftheHolyGhost，theyproceededtodeliberateandvote。Ajustimpulseofrespectandgratitudepromptedthemtocrownthevirtuesofthedoge；hiswisdomhadinspiredtheirenterprise；andthemostyouthfulknightsmightenvyandapplaudtheexploitsofblindnessandage。ButthepatriotDandolowasdevoidofallpersonalambition，andfullysatisfiedthathehadbeenjudgedworthytoreign。HisnominationwasoverruledbytheVenetiansthemselves:hiscountrymen，andperhapshisfriends，^2
　　represented，withtheeloquenceoftruth，themischiefsthatmightarisetonationalfreedomandthecommoncause，fromtheunionoftwoincompatiblecharacters，ofthefirstmagistrateofarepublicandtheemperoroftheEast。TheexclusionofthedogeleftroomforthemoreequalmeritsofBonifaceandBaldwin；
　　andattheirnamesallmeanercandidatesrespectfullywithdrew。