Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/426

 404 THE DECLINE AND FALL might have admired the long aiTay of two embattled armies, which extended above half a league, the one on the ships and galleys, the other on the walls and towers, raised above the ordi- [AprU9] nary level by several stages of wooden turrets. Their first fury was spent in the discharge of darts, stones, and fire, from the engines ; but the water Mas deep ; the French were bold ; the Venetians were skilful : they approached the walls ; and a despe- rate conflict of swords, spears, and battle-axes was fought on the trembling bridges that grappled the floating to the stable bat- teries. In more than an hundred places the assault was urged and the defence was sustained ; till the superiority of ground and numbers finally pi-evailed, and the Latin trumpets sounded a [Aprui2] retreat. On the ensuing days the attack was renewed with equal vigour and a similar event ; and in the night the doge and the barons held a council, apprehensive only for the public danger ; not a voice pronounced the words of escape or treaty ; and each warrior, according to his temper, embraced the hope of victory or the assurance of a glorious death. ^"^ By the ex- perience of the former siege, the Greeks Avere instructed, but the Latins were animated ; and the knowledge that Constanti- nople might be taken was of more avail than the local precau- tions which that knowledge had inspired for its defence. In the third assault two ships were linked together to double their strength ; a strong north wind drove them on the shore ; the bishops of Troyes and Soissons led the van ; and the auspicious names of the Pilgrim and the Paradise resounded along the line.^' The episcopal banners were displayed on the walls ; an hundred marks of silver had been promised to the first adven- turers ; and, if their reward was intercepted by death, their names have been immortalised by fame. Four towei's were scaled ; three gates were bui-st open ; and the French knights, who might tremble on the waves, felt themselves invincible on horseback on the solid ground. Shall I relate that the thousands who guarded the emperor's person fled on the approach, and before the lance, of a single warrior } Their ignominious flight is attested by their countryman Nicetas ; an army of phantoms marched with the French hero, and he was magnified to a giant 98 Villehardouin (No. 126) confesses that mult ere grant peril : and Guntherus I (Hist. C. P. c. 13) affirms that nulla spes victorias arridere poterat. Yet the knight despises those who thought of flight, and the monk praises his countrymen who were resolved on death. auspicio.
 * ' Baldwin and all the writers honour the names of these two galleys, felici