176

THE DECLINE AND FALL

chap, turn of Phranza, the treaty was ratified bv the

LXVII. ^ *

_Greek monarch, who with his own hand im-pressed three Vermillion crosses on the goldenbull, and assured the Georgian envoy, that in thespring his gallies should conduct the bride toher imperial palace. But Constantine embracedhis faithful servant, not with the cold approba-tion of a sovereign, but with the warm confidenceof a friend, who, after a long absence, is irnpatieut to pour his secrets into the bosom of hisstate of friend. “ Since the death of my mother and oftine^ourtl“ Cantacuzene, who alone advised me without“ interest or passion , 11 I am surrounded,” saidthe emperor, “ by men whom I can neither love,“ nor trust, nor esteem. You are not a stran-“ ger to Lucas Notaras, the great admiral: ob-“ stinately attached to his own sentiments, he“ declares, both in private and public, that his“ sentiments are the absolute measure of my“ thoughts and actions. The rest of the cour-“ tiers are swayed by their personal or factious“ views; and how can I consult the monks on“ questions of policy and marriage? I have yet“ much employment for your diligence and fide-“ lity. In the spring you shall engage one of my“ brothers to solicit the succour of the Western“ powers; from the Morea you shall sail to Cy-“ prus on a particular commission; and from“ thence proceed to Georgia, to receive and con-“ duct the future empress.” “ Your commands,”

h Cantacuzene (I am ignorant of his relation to the emperor of thatname) was great domestic, a firm asserter of the Greek creed, aud abrother of the queen of Sei via, whom he visited with the character ofambassador (Syropulus d. 37 28 45).