themostaudacioustoclimbwereinstantlyprecipitated；andnotadart，notabullet，oftheChristians，wasidlywastedontheaccumulatedthrong。Buttheirstrengthandammunitionwereexhaustedinthislaboriousdefence:theditchwasfilledwiththebodiesoftheslain；theysupportedthefootstepsoftheircompanions；andofthisdevotedvanguardthedeathwasmoreserviceablethanthelife。Undertheirrespectivebashawsandsanjaks，thetroopsofAnatoliaandRomaniaweresuccessivelyledtothecharge:theirprogresswasvariousanddoubtful；but，afteraconflictoftwohours，theGreeksstillmaintained，andimprovedtheiradvantage；andthevoiceoftheemperorwasheard，encouraginghissoldierstoachieve，byalasteffort，thedeliveranceoftheircountry。Inthatfatalmoment，theJanizariesarose，fresh，vigorous，andinvincible。Thesultanhimselfonhorseback，withanironmaceinhishand，wasthespectatorandjudgeoftheirvalor:hewassurroundedbytenthousandofhisdomestictroops，whomhereservedforthedecisiveoccasion；andthetideofbattlewasdirectedandimpelledbyhisvoiceandeye。Hisnumerousministersofjusticewerepostedbehindtheline，tourge，torestrain，andtopunish；
　　andifdangerwasinthefront，shameandinevitabledeathwereintherear，ofthefugitives。Thecriesoffearandofpainweredrownedinthemartialmusicofdrums，trumpets，andattaballs；andexperiencehasproved，thatthemechanicaloperationofsounds，byquickeningthecirculationofthebloodandspirits，willactonthehumanmachinemoreforciblythantheeloquenceofreasonandhonor。Fromthelines，thegalleys，andthebridge，theOttomanartillerythunderedonallsides；andthecampandcity，theGreeksandtheTurks，wereinvolvedinacloudofsmokewhichcouldonlybedispelledbythefinaldeliveranceordestructionoftheRomanempire。Thesinglecombatsoftheheroesofhistoryorfableamuseourfancyandengageouraffections:theskilfulevolutionsofwarmayinformthemind，andimproveanecessary，thoughpernicious，science。Butintheuniformandodiouspicturesofageneralassault，allisblood，andhorror，andconfusionnorshallIstrive，atthedistanceofthreecenturies，andathousandmiles，todelineateasceneofwhichtherecouldbenospectators，andofwhichtheactorsthemselveswereincapableofforminganyjustoradequateidea。
　　[Footnote57:Besidesthe10，000guards，andthesailorsandthemarines，Ducasnumbersinthisgeneralassault250，000Turks，bothhorseandfoot。]
　　TheimmediatelossofConstantinoplemaybeascribedtothebullet，orarrow，whichpiercedthegauntletofJohnJustiniani。
　　Thesightofhisblood，andtheexquisitepain，appalledthecourageofthechief，whosearmsandcounselswerethefirmestrampartofthecity。Ashewithdrewfromhisstationinquestofasurgeon，hisflightwasperceivedandstoppedbytheindefatigableemperor。"Yourwound，"exclaimedPalaeologus，"isslight；thedangerispressing:yourpresenceisnecessary；andwhitherwillyouretire?"—"Iwillretire，"saidthetremblingGenoese，"bythesameroadwhichGodhasopenedtotheTurks；"
　　andatthesewordshehastilypassedthroughoneofthebreachesoftheinnerwall。Bythispusillanimousacthestainedthehonorsofamilitarylife；andthefewdayswhichhesurvivedinGalata，ortheIsleofChios，wereembitteredbyhisownandthepublicreproach。^58HisexamplewasimitatedbythegreatestpartoftheLatinauxiliaries，andthedefencebegantoslackenwhentheattackwaspressedwithredoubledvigor。ThenumberoftheOttomanswasfifty，perhapsahundred，timessuperiortothatoftheChristians；thedoublewallswerereducedbythecannontoaheapofruins:inacircuitofseveralmiles，someplacesmustbefoundmoreeasyofaccess，ormorefeeblyguarded；andifthebesiegerscouldpenetrateinasinglepoint，thewholecitywasirrecoverablylost。Thefirstwhodeservedthesultan'srewardwasHassantheJanizary，ofgiganticstatureandstrength。Withhiscimeterinonehandandhisbucklerintheother，heascendedtheoutwardfortification:ofthethirtyJanizaries，whowereemulousofhisvalor，eighteenperishedintheboldadventure。
　　Hassanandhistwelvecompanionshadreachedthesummit:thegiantwasprecipitatedfromtherampart:heroseononeknee，andwasagainoppressedbyashowerofdartsandstones。Buthissuccesshadprovedthattheachievementwaspossible:thewallsandtowerswereinstantlycoveredwithaswarmofTurks；andtheGreeks，nowdrivenfromthevantageground，wereoverwhelmedbyincreasingmultitudes。Amidstthesemultitudes，theemperor，^59
　　whoaccomplishedallthedutiesofageneralandasoldier，waslongseenandfinallylost。Thenobles，whofoughtroundhisperson，sustained，tilltheirlastbreath，thehonorablenamesofPalaeologusandCantacuzene:hismournfulexclamationwasheard，"CannottherebefoundaChristiantocutoffmyhead?"^60andhislastfearwasthatoffallingaliveintothehandsoftheinfidels。^61TheprudentdespairofConstantinecastawaythepurple:amidstthetumulthefellbyanunknownhand，andhisbodywasburiedunderamountainoftheslain。Afterhisdeath，resistanceandorderwerenomore:theGreeksfledtowardsthecity；andmanywerepressedandstifledinthenarrowpassofthegateofSt。Romanus。ThevictoriousTurksrushedthroughthebreachesoftheinnerwall；andastheyadvancedintothestreets，theyweresoonjoinedbytheirbrethren，whohadforcedthegatePhenaronthesideoftheharbor。^62Inthefirstheatofthepursuit，abouttwothousandChristianswereputtothesword；butavaricesoonprevailedovercruelty；andthevictorsacknowledged，thattheyshouldimmediatelyhavegivenquarterifthevaloroftheemperorandhischosenbandshadnotpreparedthemforasimilaroppositionineverypartofthecapital。Itwasthus，afterasiegeoffifty—threedays，thatConstantinople，whichhaddefiedthepowerofChosroes，theChagan，andthecaliphs，wasirretrievablysubduedbythearmsofMahomettheSecond。HerempireonlyhadbeensubvertedbytheLatins:herreligionwastrampledinthedustbytheMoslemconquerors。^63
　　[Footnote58:IntheseverecensureoftheflightofJustiniani，Phranzaexpresseshisownfeelingsandthoseofthepublic。Forsomeprivatereasons，heistreatedwithmorelenityandrespectbyDucas；butthewordsofLeonardusChiensisexpresshisstrongandrecentindignation，gloriaesalutissuiqueoblitus。InthewholeseriesoftheirEasternpolicy，hiscountrymen，theGenoese，werealwayssuspected，andoftenguilty。
　　Note:M。BrossethasgivensomeextractsfromtheGeorgianaccountofthesiegeofConstantinople，inwhichJustiniani'swoundintheleftfootisrepresentedasmoreserious。Withcharitableambiguitythechronicleraddsthathissoldierscarriedhimawaywiththemintheirvessel。—M。]
　　[Footnote59:DucaskillshimwithtwoblowsofTurkishsoldiers；
　　Chalcondyleswoundshimintheshoulder，andthentrampleshiminthegate。ThegriefofPhranza，carryinghimamongtheenemy，escapesfromthepreciseimageofhisdeath；butwemay，withoutflattery，applythesenoblelinesofDryden:—
　　AstoSebastian，letthemsearchthefield；
　　Andwheretheyfindamountainoftheslain，Sendonetoclimb，andlookingdownbeneath，Theretheywillfindhimathismanlylength，Withhisfaceuptoheaven，inthatredmonumentWhichhisgoodswordhaddigged。]
　　[Footnote60:Spondanus，A。D。1453，No。10，whohashopesofhissalvation，wishestoabsolvethisdemandfromtheguiltofsuicide。]
　　[Footnote61:LeonardusChiensisveryproperlyobserves，thattheTurks，hadtheyknowntheemperor，wouldhavelaboredtosaveandsecureacaptivesoacceptabletothesultan。]
　　[Footnote62:Cantemir，p。96。TheChristianshipsinthemouthoftheharborhadflankedandretardedthisnavalattack。]
　　[Footnote63:Chalcondylesmostabsurdlysupposes，thatConstantinoplewassackedbytheAsiaticsinrevengefortheancientcalamitiesofTroy；andthegrammariansofthexvthcenturyarehappytomeltdowntheuncouthappellationofTurksintothemoreclassicalnameofTeucri。]
　　Thetidingsofmisfortuneflywitharapidwing；yetsuchwastheextentofConstantinople，thatthemoredistantquartersmightprolong，somemoments，thehappyignoranceoftheirruin。
　　^64Butinthegeneralconsternation，inthefeelingsofselfishorsocialanxiety，inthetumultandthunderoftheassault，asleeplessnightandmorningmusthaveelapsed；norcanI
　　believethatmanyGrecianladieswereawakenedbytheJanizariesfromasoundandtranquilslumber。Ontheassuranceofthepubliccalamity，thehousesandconventswereinstantlydeserted；
　　andthetremblinginhabitantsflockedtogetherinthestreets，likeaherdoftimidanimals，asifaccumulatedweaknesscouldbeproductiveofstrength，orinthevainhope，thatamidthecrowdeachindividualmightbesafeandinvisible。Fromeverypartofthecapital，theyflowedintothechurchofSt。Sophia:inthespaceofanhour，thesanctuary，thechoir，thenave，theupperandlowergalleries，werefilledwiththemultitudesoffathersandhusbands，ofwomenandchildren，ofpriests，monks，andreligiousvirgins:thedoorswerebarredontheinside，andtheysoughtprotectionfromthesacreddome，whichtheyhadsolatelyabhorredasaprofaneandpollutededifice。Theirconfidencewasfoundedontheprophecyofanenthusiastorimpostor；thatonedaytheTurkswouldenterConstantinople，andpursuetheRomansasfarasthecolumnofConstantineinthesquarebeforeSt。
　　Sophia:butthatthiswouldbethetermoftheircalamities:thatanangelwoulddescendfromheaven，withaswordinhishand，andwoulddelivertheempire，withthatcelestialweapon，toapoormanseatedatthefootofthecolumn。"Takethissword，"wouldhesay，"andavengethepeopleoftheLord。"Attheseanimatingwords，theTurkswouldinstantlyfly，andthevictoriousRomanswoulddrivethemfromtheWest，andfromallAnatoliaasfarasthefrontiersofPersia。ItisonthisoccasionthatDucas，withsomefancyandmuchtruth，upbraidsthediscordandobstinacyoftheGreeks。"Hadthatangelappeared，"exclaimsthehistorian，"hadheofferedtoexterminateyourfoesifyouwouldconsenttotheunionofthechurch，eveneventthen，inthatfatalmoment，youwouldhaverejectedyoursafety，orhavedeceivedyourGod。"
　　^65
　　[Footnote64:WhenCyrussuppressedBabylonduringthecelebrationofafestival，sovastwasthecity，andsocarelessweretheinhabitants，thatmuchtimeelapsedbeforethedistantquartersknewthattheywerecaptives。Herodotus，l。i。c。191，
　　andUsher，Annal。p。78，whohasquotedfromtheprophetJeremiahapassageofsimilarimport。]
　　[Footnote*:ThisreferstoanexpressioninDucas，who，toheightentheeffectofhisdescription，speaksofthe"sweetmorningsleeprestingontheeyesofyouthsandmaidens，"p。288。
　　Edit。Bekker。—M。]
　　[Footnote65:ThislivelydescriptionisextractedfromDucas，c。39，whotwoyearsafterwardswassentambassadorfromtheprinceofLesbostothesultan，c。44。TillLesboswassubduedin1463，Phranza，l。iii。c。27，thatislandmusthavebeenfullofthefugitivesofConstantinople，whodelightedtorepeat，perhapstoadorn，thetaleoftheirmisery。]
　　ChapterLXVIII:ReignOfMahometTheSecond，ExtinctionOfEasternEmpirePartIV。
　　Whiletheyexpectedthedescentofthetardyangel，thedoorswerebrokenwithaxes；andastheTurksencounterednoresistance，theirbloodlesshandswereemployedinselectingandsecuringthemultitudeoftheirprisoners。Youth，beauty，andtheappearanceofwealth，attractedtheirchoice；andtherightofpropertywasdecidedamongthemselvesbyapriorseizure，bypersonalstrength，andbytheauthorityofcommand。Inthespaceofanhour，themalecaptiveswereboundwithcords，thefemaleswiththeirveilsandgirdles。Thesenatorswerelinkedwiththeirslaves；theprelates，withtheportersofthechurch；andyoungmenoftheplebeianclass，withnoblemaids，whosefaceshadbeeninvisibletothesunandtheirnearestkindred。Inthiscommoncaptivity，theranksofsocietywereconfounded；thetiesofnaturewerecutasunder；andtheinexorablesoldierwascarelessofthefather'sgroans，thetearsofthemother，andthelamentationsofthechildren。Theloudestintheirwailingswerethenuns，whoweretornfromthealtarwithnakedbosoms，outstretchedhands，anddishevelledhair；andweshouldpiouslybelievethatfewcouldbetemptedtopreferthevigilsoftheharemtothoseofthemonastery。OftheseunfortunateGreeks，ofthesedomesticanimals，wholestringswererudelydriventhroughthestreets；andastheconquerorswereeagertoreturnformoreprey，theirtremblingpacewasquickenedwithmenacesandblows。
　　Atthesamehour，asimilarrapinewasexercisedinallthechurchesandmonasteries，inallthepalacesandhabitations，ofthecapital；norcouldanyplace，howeversacredorsequestered，protectthepersonsorthepropertyoftheGreeks。Abovesixtythousandofthisdevotedpeopleweretransportedfromthecitytothecampandfleet；exchangedorsoldaccordingtothecapriceorinterestoftheirmasters，anddispersedinremoteservitudethroughtheprovincesoftheOttomanempire。Amongthesewemaynoticesomeremarkablecharacters。ThehistorianPhranza，firstchamberlainandprincipalsecretary，wasinvolvedwithhisfamilyinthecommonlot。Aftersufferingfourmonthsthehardshipsofslavery，herecoveredhisfreedom:intheensuingwinterheventuredtoAdrianople，andransomedhiswifefromthemirbashi，ormasterofthehorse；buthistwochildren，intheflowerofyouthandbeauty，hadbeenseizedfortheuseofMahomethimself。
　　ThedaughterofPhranzadiedintheseraglio，perhapsavirgin:
　　hisson，inthefifteenthyearofhisage，preferreddeathtoinfamy，andwasstabbedbythehandoftheroyallover。^66A
　　deedthusinhumancannotsurelybeexpiatedbythetasteandliberalitywithwhichhereleasedaGrecianmatronandhertwodaughters，onreceivingaLatindoeFromodefromPhilelphus，whohadchosenawifeinthatnoblefamily。^67TheprideorcrueltyofMahometwouldhavebeenmostsensiblygratifiedbythecaptureofaRomanlegate；butthedexterityofCardinalIsidoreeludedthesearch，andheescapedfromGalatainaplebeianhabit。^68
　　ThechainandentranceoftheoutwardharborwasstilloccupiedbytheItalianshipsofmerchandiseandwar。Theyhadsignalizedtheirvalorinthesiege:theyembracedthemomentofretreat，whiletheTurkishmarinersweredissipatedinthepillageofthecity。Whentheyhoistedsail，thebeachwascoveredwithasuppliantandlamentablecrowd；butthemeansoftransportationwerescanty:theVenetiansandGenoeseselectedtheircountrymen；
　　and，notwithstandingthefairestpromisesofthesultan，theinhabitantsofGalataevacuatedtheirhouses，andembarkedwiththeirmostpreciouseffects。
　　[Footnote66:SeePhranza，l。iii。c。20，21。Hisexpressionsarepositive:Amerassuamanujugulavit……volebatenimeoturpiteretnefarieabuti。Memiserumetinfelicem!Yethecouldonlylearnfromreportthebloodyorimpurescenesthatwereactedinthedarkrecessesoftheseraglio。]
　　[Footnote67:SeeTiraboschitom。vi。P。i。p。290andLancelot，Mem。del'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。x。p。718。
　　Ishouldbecurioustolearnhowhecouldpraisethepublicenemy，whomhesooftenrevilesasthemostcorruptandinhumanoftyrants。]
　　[Footnote68:ThecommentariesofPiusII。supposethathecraftilyplacedhiscardinal'shatontheheadofacorpsewhichwascutoffandexposedintriumph，whilethelegatehimselfwasboughtanddeliveredasacaptiveofnovalue。ThegreatBelgicChronicleadornshisescapewithnewadventures，whichhesuppressedsaysSpondanus，A。D。1453，No。15inhisownletters，lestheshouldlosethemeritandrewardofsufferingforChrist。
　　Note:HewassoldasaslaveinGalata，accordingtoVonHammer，p。175。SeethesomewhatvagueanddeclamatoryletterofCardinalIsidore，intheappendixtoClarke'sTravels，vol。ii。
　　p。653。—M。]
　　Inthefallandthesackofgreatcities，anhistorianiscondemnedtorepeatthetaleofuniformcalamity:thesameeffectsmustbeproducedbythesamepassions；andwhenthosepassionsmaybeindulgedwithoutcontrol，small，alas!isthedifferencebetweencivilizedandsavageman。Amidstthevagueexclamationsofbigotryandhatred，theTurksarenotaccusedofawantonorimmoderateeffusionofChristianblood:butaccordingtotheirmaxims，themaximsofantiquity，thelivesofthevanquishedwereforfeited；andthelegitimaterewardoftheconquerorwasderivedfromtheservice，thesale，ortheransom，ofhiscaptivesofbothsexes。^69ThewealthofConstantinoplehadbeengrantedbythesultantohisvictorioustroops；andtherapineofanhourismoreproductivethantheindustryofyears。
　　Butasnoregulardivisionwasattemptedofthespoil，therespectiveshareswerenotdeterminedbymerit；andtherewardsofvalorwerestolenawaybythefollowersofthecamp，whohaddeclinedthetoilanddangerofthebattle。Thenarrativeoftheirdepredationscouldnotaffordeitheramusementorinstruction:thetotalamount，inthelastpovertyoftheempire，hasbeenvaluedatfourmillionsofducats；^70andofthissumasmallpartwasthepropertyoftheVenetians，theGenoese，theFlorentines，andthemerchantsofAncona。Oftheseforeigners，thestockwasimprovedinquickandperpetualcirculation:buttherichesoftheGreeksweredisplayedintheidleostentationofpalacesandwardrobes，ordeeplyburiedintreasuresofingotsandoldcoin，lestitshouldbedemandedattheirhandsforthedefenceoftheircountry。Theprofanationandplunderofthemonasteriesandchurchesexcitedthemosttragiccomplaints。ThedomeofSt。Sophiaitself，theearthlyheaven，thesecondfirmament，thevehicleofthecherubim，thethroneofthegloryofGod，^71wasdespoiledoftheoblationofages；andthegoldandsilver，thepearlsandjewels，thevasesandsacerdotalornaments，weremostwickedlyconvertedtotheserviceofmankind。Afterthedivineimageshadbeenstrippedofallthatcouldbevaluabletoaprofaneeye，thecanvas，orthewood，wastorn，orbroken，orburnt，ortrodunderfoot，orapplied，inthestablesorthekitchen，tothevilestuses。Theexampleofsacrilegewasimitated，however，fromtheLatinconquerorsofConstantinople；andthetreatmentwhichChrist，theVirgin，andthesaints，hadsustainedfromtheguiltyCatholic，mightbeinflictedbythezealousMussulmanonthemonumentsofidolatry。
　　Perhaps，insteadofjoiningthepublicclamor，aphilosopherwillobserve，thatinthedeclineoftheartstheworkmanshipcouldnotbemorevaluablethanthework，andthatafreshsupplyofvisionsandmiracleswouldspeedilyberenewedbythecraftofthepriestsandthecredulityofthepeople。HewillmoreseriouslydeplorethelossoftheByzantinelibraries，whichweredestroyedorscatteredinthegeneralconfusion:onehundredandtwentythousandmanuscriptsaresaidtohavedisappeared；^72tenvolumesmightbepurchasedforasingleducat；andthesameignominiousprice，toohighperhapsforashelfoftheology，includedthewholeworksofAristotleandHomer，thenoblestproductionsofthescienceandliteratureofancientGreece。WemayreflectwithpleasurethataninestimableportionofourclassictreasureswassafelydepositedinItaly；andthatthemechanicsofaGermantownhadinventedanartwhichderidesthehavocoftimeandbarbarism。
　　[Footnote69:Busbequiusexpatiateswithpleasureandapplauseontherightsofwar，andtheuseofslavery，amongtheancientsandtheTurks，deLegat。Turcica，epist。iii。p。161。]
　　[Footnote70:ThissumisspecifiedinamarginalnoteofLeunclavius，Chalcondyles，l。viii。p。211，butinthedistributiontoVenice，Genoa，Florence，andAncona，of50，20，and15，000ducats，Isuspectthatafigurehasbeendropped。