Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/534

 512 THE DECLINE AND FALL struck at the same moment with a similar panic ; and the Genoese were astonished, and almost ashamed, at their double victory. Their triumphant vessels, crowned with flowers, and dragging after them the captive galleys, repeatedly passed and repassed before the palace. The only virtue of the emperor was patience, and the hope of revenge his sole consolation. Yet the distress of both parties interjjosed a temporary agree- ment ; and the shame of the empire was disguised by a thin veil of dignity and power. Summoning the chiefs of the colony, Cantacuzene affected to despise the trivial object of the debate ; and, after a mild reproof, most liberally granted the lands, which had been previously resigned to the seeming custody of his officers. ^^ victoryofthe But the empcror was soon solicited to ^^olate the ti*eaty, and the Venetians to join liis amis Avitli the enetians, the perpetual enemies of AD. 1352, Feb. Genoa and her colonies. While he compared the reasons of peace and war, his moderation was provoked by a wanton insult of the inhabitants of Pera, who discharged fi*om their rampart a large stone that fell in the midst of Constantinople. On his just complaint, they coldly blamed the imprudence of their engineer ; but the next day the insult was repeated, and they exulted in a second proof that the royal city was not beyond the reach of their artillery. Cantacuzene instantly signed his treaty with the Venetians ; but the weight of the Roman empire was scarcely felt in the balance of these opulent and powerful republics.^^ From the straits of Gibraltar to the mouth of the Tanais, their fleets encountered each other with various success ; and a mem- orable battle was fought in the narrow sea, under the walls of Constantinople. It would not be an easj' task to reconcile the accounts of the Greeks, the Venetians, and the Genoese ; ^'' and, while I depend on the narrative of an impartial historian, ^^ I shall '5 The events of this war are related by Cantacuzene (1. iv. c. ii) with obscurity and confusion, and by Nic. Gregoras (1. xvii. c. 1-7) in a clear and honest narrative. The priest was less responsible than the prince for the defeat of the fleet. ^ The second war is darkly told by Cantacuzene (1. iv. c. 18, p. 24, 25, 28-32), who wishes to disguise what he dares not deny. I regret this part of Nic. Gregoras, which is still in Ms. at Paris. [It has since been edited, see Appendi.x i.] " Muratori (Annali d'ltaha, torn. xii. p. 144) refers to the most ancient Chronicles of Venice (Caresinus [Kaffaino Carasini ; ob. 1390], the continuator of Andrew Dandolus, torn. xii. p. 421, 422), and Genoa (George Stella [ob. 1420], Annales Genuenses, torn. xvii. p. 1091, 1092) ; both which I have diligently consulted in his great Collection of the Historians of Italy. 74, 75, p. 156, 157, in Muratori's Collection, torn. xiv.
 * ^ See the Chronicle of Matteo Villani of Florence, 1. ii. c. 59, 60, p. 145-147, c.