Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/527

 OF THE EOMAN EMPIRE 505 unless Anne of Savoy was instructed by adversity, we may doubt the sincerity, or at least the fervour, of her zeal. While the regent grasped the sceptre with a firm and vigorous hand, she had been instructed to declare that the ten years of his legal administration would soon elapse ; and that, after a full trial of the vanity of the world, the emperor Cantacuzene sighed for the repose of a cloister, and was ambitious only of an heavenly crown. Had these sentiments been genuine, his voluntary abdication would have restored the peace of the empire, and his conscience would have been relieved by an act of justice. Palaeologus alone John Paiaeoio- was responsible for his future government ; and, whatever might arms a|aiiist be his vices, they were surely less formidable than the calamities lass' of a civil war, in which the barbarians and infidels were again invited to assist the Greeks in their mutual destruction. By the arms of the Turks, who now struck a deep and everlasting root ih Europe, Cantacuzene prevailed in the third conquest in which he had been involved ; and the young empei'or, driven from the sea and land, was compelled to take shelter among the Latins of the isle of Tenedos. His insolence and obstinacy provoked the victor to a step which must render the quarrel irreconcileable ; and the association of his son Matthew, whom he invested Avith the purple, established the succession in the family of the Canta- cuzeni. But Constantinople was still attached to the blood of her ancient princes ; and this last injury accelerated the restora- tion of the rightful heir. A noble Genoese espoused the cause of Palaeologus, obtained a promise of his sister, and achieved the revolution with two galleys and two thousand five hundred auxiliaries. Under the pretence of distress they were admitted into the lesser port ; a gate was opened, and the Latin shout of " Long life and victory to the emperor John Palaeologus ! " was answered by a general rising in his favour. A numerous and loyal party yet adhered to the standard of Cantacuzene ; but he asserts in his history (does he hope for belief.-') that his tender conscience i-ejected the assurance of conquest : that, in free obedience to the voice of religion and philosophy, he descended from the throne and embraced with pleasure the monastic habit and profession.**^ So soon as he ceased to be a prince, his sue- Abdication of cessor was not unwilling that he should be a saint ; the remainder ad. 1355, of his life was devoted to piety and learning ; in the cells of •*" The awkward apology of Cantacuzene (1. iv. c. 39-42), who relates, with visible confusion, his own downfall, may be supplied by the less accurate but more honest narratives of Matthew Villani (1. iv. c. 46, in the Script. Rerum Ital. torn, xiv. p. 268) and Ducas (c. 10, 11).