190

l'HE DECLINE AND FALL

ohai\ While Mahomet threatened the capital of thelwni. ( j ie Greek emperor implored with ferven

, . prayers the assistance of earth and heaven. But

II. forms the invisible powers were deaf to his supplica-Consuii- tions; and Christendom beheld with indifferencea"i> P li;>3, the fall of Constantinople , while she derived atApni ti i eas t some promise of supply from the jealousand temporal policy of the sultan of Egypt . Somestates were too weak, and others too remote; bysome the danger was considered as imaginary,by others as inevitable: the Western princeswere involved in their endless and domesticquarrels; and the Roman pontiff was exasper-ated by the falsehood or obstinacy of the Greeks.Instead of employing in their favour the armsand treasures of Italy , Nicholas the fifth hadforetold their approaching ruin; and his honourwas engaged in the accomplishment of his pro-phecy. Perhaps he was softened by the last ex-tremity of their distress; but his compassion wastardy ; his efforts were faint and unavailing; andConstantinople had fallen, before the squadronsof Genoa and Venice could sail from their har-bours/ 1 Even the princes of the Morea and ofthe Greek islands affected a cold neutrality; theGenoese colony of Galatia negociated a privatetreaty; and the sultan indulged them in the de-lusive hope, that by his clemency they might sur-vive the ruin of the empire. A plebeian crowd,

a Non audivit, indignnm ducens, says the honest Antoninas; bat asthe Roman coart was afterwards grieved and ashamed, we find themore courtly expression of Platina, in animo fuisse pontifici juvareGroeeos, and the positive assertion of jEneas Sylvius, structam classem,dtc. CSnond. a. d. 1463, No. 3).