Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/396

 374 THE DECLINE AND FALL ?hlScurof ^^ ^^^ series of the Byzantine princes^ I have exhibited the A^j'^usf^ms liypocrisy and ambition, the tyranny and fall of Andi-onicus, the Sept. 12 last male of the Comnenian family who reigned at Constantinople. The revolution, which cast him headlong from the throne, saved and exalted Isaac Angelus^-^ who descended by the females from the same Imperial dynasty. The successor of a second Nero might have found it an easy task to deserve the esteem and affection of his subjects ; they sometimes had reason to regret the admin- istration of Andronicus. The sound and vigorous mind of the tyrant was capable of discerning the connection between his own and the public interest ; and, while he was feared by all who could inspire him with fear, the unsuspected people and the re- mote provinces might bless the inexorable justice of their master. But his successor was vain and jealous of the supreme power, which he wanted courage and abilities to exercise ; his vices were pernicious, his virtues (if he possessed any virtues) were useless, to mankind ; and the Greeks, who imputed their calami- ties to his negligence, denied him the merit of any transient or accidental benefits of the times. Isaac slept on the throne, and was awakened only by the sound of pleasure ; his vacant hours were amused by comedians and buffoons, and even to these buffoons the emperor was an object of contempt ; his feasts and buildings exceeded the examples of royal luxury ; the number of his eunuchs and domestics amounted to twenty thousand ; and a daily sum of four thousand pounds of silver would swell to four millions sterling the annual expense of his household and table. His poverty was relieved by oppression ; and the public discon- tent was inflamed by equal abuses in the collection and the application of the revenue. While the Greeks numbered the days of their servitude, a flattering prophet, whom he rewarded with the dignity of patriarch, assured him of a long and victori- ous reign of thirty-two years ; during which he should extend his sway to mount Libanus, and his conquests beyond the Euphrates. But his only step towards the accomplishment of the prediction was a splendid and scandalous embassy to Saladin,^"^ to demand 21 The history of the reign of Isaac Angelus is composed, in three books, by the senator Nicetas (p. 288-290) ; and his offices of logothete, or principal secretary, and judge of the veil, or palace, could not bribe the impartiality of the historian. He wrote, it is true, after the fall and death of his benefactor. [Cp. above, vol. 5, P- 507-] "See Bohadin, Vit. Saladin. p. 129-131, 226, vers. Schultens. The ambassador of Isaac was equally versed in the Greek, French, and Arabic languages : a rare in- stance in those times. His embassies were received with honour, dismissed without effect, and reported with scandal in the West.