The Prince of India; Or, Why Constantinople Fell - Volume 01

aid in the presence of his beloved, and it shall be easier f

established his reputation in Constantinople for courage; his recent defen

ields of peace than the pursuit of glory in the ruggeder fields of war. But the custom was now accepted, and at sight of him, mounted and in glistening armor, even the critics smiled, and showered his head with silent g

e as gratifying. The Emperor made no concealment of his pa

ve no further need of my galley and its crew.

ceived the off

yment for it. Duke Notaras, the Grand Adm

ith the fleet, and if the result of the war is with Your Majesty, the Grand Admiral can arrange for the payment;

the tender, the Emperor said to Phranza: "Count Corti has cast his lot with us. As I interpret him, he do

e Captain o

es

cherne. In a few days he had fift

so in his release from Mahommed. Not an hour of the day passe

to him like the privilege of fr

such times he strove to be devout, but in taking her for his pattern of conduct-as yet he hardly knew when to arise or kneel, or cross himself-if his thoughts wandered from the Madonna and Child to her, if sometimes he fell to making comparisons in which the Madonna suffered as

se its office, and he would quiet himself with the weakling's plea-another time-to-morrow, to-morrow. And always upon the passing of the opportunity, the impulse being laid with so many of its predecessors in the graveyard of broken resolutions

shered into the reception-room by Lysander. "I bring y

ow?" sh

companied the Grand Equerry to assist in receiving one John Grant, who

s John

and throwing hollow iron balls filled with inflammable liquid. On stri

eek fire re

iles ready. The man declares also, if His Holiness would only proclaim a crusade against the Turks. Constantinople has not space

Princess returned; "the more

December, the Count again di

t now?" sh

His Holiness has

la

ill arrive

ate! What i

nd Metropolit

he a fol

y a suite of prie

omes to nego

y a

"Know you not that Isidore, familiarly called the Cardinal, was appointed Metropolitan of the Russian Greek Church

not a

our gates!" Meantime the Hippodrome had been converted into a Campus Martius, where at all hours of the day the newly enlisted men were being drilled in the arms to which they were assigned; now as archers, now as slingers; now with balistas and catapults and arquebuses; now to the small artillery especially constructed

s concluded that a naval battle was imminent. The walls in the vicinity of the Point were speedily crowded with spectators. In fact, the anxiety was great enough to draw the Emperor from his High Residence. Not doubting the galleys were bringing him stores, possibly reinforcements, he directed his small fleet in the Golden Horn to be ready to go to their assis

of Blacherne. From the wall over the gate the Princess Ir

esence stepped from a bo

o thousand companions in arms to the succor of the most

or is here

and extended to him, an

have I been disquieted lest we should

me. For the present I will lodge them in my residence." Then he addressed the Genoese: "Duke Notaras, High Admiral of the Em

ions of the people present, were not agreeable to the Duke; although coldly polit

irst crusade, it was not entirely wanting in such particulars; for it has often happened, if the chronicles may be trusted, that the expiring light of great countries has lingered longest in their festive halls, just as old families have been known to nurture their pride in sparkling heirlooms, all else having been swept away.

e him sat the Princess Irene; and on their right and left, in gallant interspersion, other ladies, the

n preserved by history, together with the comm

a, under Duke Notaras

arino, intrusted with the d

commandant of the walls on the landward side

brothers, gen

Troilus Bochiardi, defend

charged with safe keeping the walls betwe

ohn Grant, who, with Theodore Carys

ngasco, another Genoese,

netians, he maintained the stretch of wall on the harb

signed to the guardianship of the wall on the se

elli; with the Emperor's brother,

ces; yet they did not await the motion of Nicholas, the dila

y rise on st

selves to hi