Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/23

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE S glorious years of his grandfather Heraclius. Without delay or opposition, the naval forces of the Saracens passed through the unguarded channel of the Hellesjjont, which even now, under the feeble and disorderly government of the Turks, is maintained as the natural bulwark of the capital.* The Arabian fleet cast anchor, and the troops were disembarked near the palace of Heb- domon, seven miles from the city. During many days, from the dawn of light to the evening, the line of assault was extended from the golden gate to the eastern promontory, and the fore- most warriors were impelled by the weight and eifort of the succeeding columns. But the besiegers had formed an insufficient estimate of the strength and resources of Constantinople. The solid and lofty walls were guarded by numbers and discipline ; the spirit of the Romans was rekindled by the last danger of their religion and empire ; the fugitives from the conquered pro- vinces more successfully renewed the defence of Damascus and Alexandria ; and the Saracens were dismayed by the strange and prodigious effects of artificial fire. This firm and effectual resistance diverted their arms to the more easy attempts of plundering the European and Asiatic coasts of the Propontis ; and, after keeping the sea from the month of April to that of September, on the approach of winter they retreated fourscore miles from the capital, to the isle of Cyzicus, in which they had established their magazine of spoil and provisions. So patient was their perseverance, or so languid were their opera- tions, that they repeated in the six following summers the same attack and retreat, with a gradual abatement of hope and vigour, till the mischances of shipwreck and disease, of the sword and of fire, compelled them to relinquish the fruitless enterprise. They might bewail the loss or commemorate the martyrdom of thirty tliousand Moslems, who fell in the siege of Constantinople ; and the solemn funeral of Abu Ayub, or Job, excited the curiosity of the Christians themselves. That venerable Arab, one of the last of the companions of Mahomet, was numbered among the ansars, or auxiliaries, of Medina, who sheltered the head of the flying prophet. In his youth he fought, at Bedar and Ohud, under the holy standard ; in his mature age he was Baron de Tott (torn. iii. p. 39-97), who was .sent to fortify them against the Russians. From a principal actor, I should have expected more accurate details ; but he seems to write for the amusement, rather than the instruction, of his reader. Perhaps, on the approach of the enemy, the minister of Constantine was occupied, like that of Mustapha, in finding two Canary birds who should sing precisely the same note.
 * The state and defence of the Dardanelles is exposed in the M^moires of the