Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/420

 398 THE DECLINE AND FALL English guard : the presence chamber glittered with gold and jewels, the false substitutes of virtue and power ; by the side of the blind Isaac his wife was seated, the sister of the king of Hungary ; and by her appearance the noble matrons of Greece were drawn from their domestic retirement and mingled with the circle of senators and soldiers. The Latins, by the mouth of the marshal, spoke like men conscious of their merits, but who re- spected the work of their own hands ; and the emperor clearly understood that his son's enaraeement with Venice and the pil- grims must be ratified without hesitation or delay. Withdrawing into a private chamber with the empress, a chamberlain, an in- terpreter, and the four ambassadors, the father of young Alexius inquired with some anxiety into the nature of his stipulations : the submission of the Eastern empire to the pope, the succour of the Holy Land, and a present conti'ibution of two hundred thousand marks of silver. — "These conditions are weighty," was his prudent reply ; " they are hard to accept and difficult to perform. But no conditions can exceed the measure of your services and deserts." After this satisfactory assurance, the barons mounted on Jiorse- back, and introduced the heir of Constantinople to the city and palace : his youth and marvellous adventures engaged every heart [Aug. 1] in his favour, and Alexius was solemnly crowned with his father in the dome of St. Sophia. In the first days of his reign, the people, already blessed with the restoration of plenty and peace, was delighted by the joyful catastrophe of the tragedy ; and the discontent of the nobles, their regret, and their fears, were covered by the polished surface of pleasure and loyalty. The mixture of two discoi'dant nations in the same capital might have been preg- nant with mischief and danger ; and the suburb of Galata, or Pera, was assigned for the quarters of the French and Venetians. But the liberty of trade and familiar intercourse was allowed be- tween the friendly nations ; and each day the pilgrims were tempted b^- devotion or curiosity to visit the churches and palaces of Constantinople. Their rude minds, insensible perhaps of the finer arts, were astonished by the magnificent scenery ; and the poverty of their native towns enhanced the populousness and riches of the first metropolis of Christendom.®'- Descending from his state, young Alexius was prompted by interest and gratitude to repeat his frequent and familiar visits to his Latin allies ; and 82 Compare, in the rude energy of Villehardouin (No. 66, loo), the inside and outside views of Constantinople, and their impression on the minds of the pilgrims : Cette ville (says he) que de totes les autres 6re souveraine. See the parallel passages of Fulcherius Carnotensis, Hist. Hierosol. 1. i. c. 4, and Will. Tyr. ii. 3, .x. 26.