OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

237

After his decease, Lucas Notaras, great duke," chap.and first minister of the empire, was the most LXVUIimportant prisoner. When he offered his per-son and his treasures at the foot of the throne,

“ And why,” said the indignant sultan, “ did“ you not employ these treasures in the defence“of your prince and country?” “They were“ yours,” answered the slave, “God.hadreserved “ them for your hands.” “ If he reserved them“ for me,” replied the despot, “ how have you“ presumed to with-hold them so long by a fruit-“ less and fatal resistance?” The great dukealleged the obstinacy of the strangers, and somesecret encouragement from the Turkish vizir;and from this perilous interview, he was atlength dismissed with the assurance of pardonand protection. Mahomet condescended tovisit his wife, a venerable princess oppressedwith sickness and grief; and his consolation forher misfortunes was in the most tender strain ofhumanity and filial reverence. A similar cle-mency was extended to the principal officers ofstate, of whom several were ransomed at his ex-pence; and during some days he declared him-self the friend and father of the vanquished peo-ple. But the scene was soon changed; and be-fore his departure, the hippodrome streamedwith the blood of his noblest captives. His per-fidious cruelty is execrated by the Christians:they adorn with the colours of heroic martyrdom

1 Phranza was the personal enemy of the great duke ; nor ouldtime, or death, or his own retreat to a monastery, extort a feeling ofsympathy or forgiveness. Ducas is inclined to praise and pity themattyr; Chalcoeondyles la neuter, but we are indebted to him for thehint of the Greek conspiracy.