CHAPTER XXXIX.
Constantine eluded the heavy boats of the Turks, which were anchoredto prevent their drifting away upon the swift current with which theBlack Sea discharges itself through the Bosphorus into Marmora. Uponmeeting the befriending galleys, it was with little difficulty that hepersuaded the Genoese captains to risk the encounter with the Turkishfleet. As Constantine pointed out to the Italian captains, theenormous navy of the blockaders, formed in the shape of a crescent,and stretched from the wall of the city across to the Asiatic shore,presented a more formidable obstacle to the eye than to the swift andskilfully manned Genoese galleys. The Turkish boats were generally butsmall craft, and laden down to the water's edge with men. The Genoesehad four galleys, together with one which belonged to Byzantium.
These were vessels of the largest size, constructed by men who hadlearned to assert their prowess as lords of the sea. They were armedwith cannon adapted to sweep the deck of an adversary at shortrange:--a weapon which the Turks had not yet floated, though they werein advance of the Christians in using such artillery on land. The highsides of the Christian galleys, moreover, prevented their beingboarded except with dangerous climbing, while the defenders stoodready to pour the famous liquid called "Greek fire" upon the heads ofthose who should attempt it. Besides, heaven favored the Christians;for a strong gale was blowing, which, while it tossed the boats oftheir adversaries beyond their easy control, filled the sails of theGenoese, and sent them bounding over the waves: the oarsmen sittingready to catch deftly into the bending billows with their blades. Eachof the five vessels chose for a target a large one of the Turks, andclove it with its iron prow: while the cannon swept the Turkishsoldiers by hundreds from other boats near to them. Passing throughthe thin crescent, the Christian galleys skilfully tacked, and,careening upon their sides, again assailed the Turks before they couldevade their swift and resistless momentum. Again and again the galleyspassed, like shuttles on a loom, through the line of the enemy,sinking the unwieldy hulks and drowning the crowded crews.
From the walls and house tops of the city went up huzzas for thevictors and praises to heaven. From the shores of Asia, and from belowthe city wall, thousands of Moslems groaned their imprecations. TheSultan raged upon the beach, as he saw one after another of hispennants sink beneath the waves. Dashing far into the sea upon hishorse, he vented his impotent fury in beating the water with his mace,shrieking maledictions into the laughing winds, and invoking upon theChristians curses from all the Pagan gods and Moslem saints.
At one moment the Byzantine galley was nearly overcome, having beencaught in a group of Turkish boats, whose occupants climbed her sides,and did murderous work among the crew. Though ultimately rescued bythe Genoese, it was only after severe loss.
But above all other casualties the Christians mourned the fate ofyoung Constantine. With almost superhuman strength he had cut downseveral assailants; but was finally set upon by such odds that he waspressed over the low bulwarks, and fell into the sea. The galley withits consorts made way to the chain at the entrance to the Golden Horn,where the rich stores, a thousand times richer now in the necessitywhich they relieved, were received amid the acclamations of thegrateful Greeks.
But woe,--Oh, so heavy! crushed one solitary heart. Her eyes staredwildly at the messenger who brought the fatal tidings; and stared,hour by hour, in their stony grief, upon the wall of her apartment.Kind attendants spoke to her, but she heard them not. Her soul seemedto have gone seeking in other worlds the soul of her lover. Theservants, awed by the majesty of her sorrow, sat down in the courtwithout, and waited: but she called them not. Daylight faded intodarkness. The lamp which was brought she waved with her hand to havetaken away. The maidens who came to disrobe her for the night foundher bowed with her face upon the couch; and, receiving no response totheir proffered offices, retired again to wait.
The morning came; and the cheer of the sunlight which, quickening theouter world, poured through the windows high in the walls of herapartment, seemed to awaken her from her trance. But how changed inappearance! The ruddy hue of health, and the bronzing of dailyexposure to the open air, seemed alike to have been blanched by thatwhich had taken hope from her soul. Her eyes were sunken, and thelustre in them, though not lessened, now seemed to come from aninfinite depth--from some distant, inner world which had lost allrelation to this, as a passing star. Morsinia rose, weak at first; buther limbs grew strong with the imparted strength of her will. She ate;and speaking aloud--but more in addressing herself than herattendants--said: "I will away to the walls!"
Through the masses of debris, and among the groups of men who wereresting and waiting to take the places of their wearied comrades onthe ramparts, she went straight to the gate of St. Romanus, where theassaults were most incessant. The cry of "The Little Empress!" gaveway to that of "The Panurgia! The Panurgia!"[77] as some, thoughfamiliar with her form, were startled by the almost unearthly changeof her countenance. She returned no salutation as was usual with her,but, as if impelled by some superhuman purpose, her beauty lit as witha halo by the majesty of a celestial passion, she climbed the stepsinto the tottering tower above the gate. A strong, but gentle hand wasput upon her arm. It was that of the Emperor.
"My daughter, you must not be here. Come away!"
She looked at him for an instant in hesitation; and then, bowing herhead, responded in scarcely audible voice:
"I will obey you, Sire," and added, speaking to herself--
"It is _his_ will too."
"I know your grief," said his majesty kindly, "and now, as yourEmperor, I must protect you against yourself."
"I want no protection," cried the broken-hearted girl. "Oh, let medie! For what should I live?"
"My dear child," said the Emperor with trembling voice, while thetears filled his eyes. "In other days your holy faith taught me how tobe strong. Now, in your necessity, let me repeat to you the lesson.For what shall _you_ live? For what should _I_ live? I am Emperor, butmy empire is doomed. I live no longer for earthly hope, but solely todo duty; nothing but duty, stern duty, painful every instant, crushingalways, but a burden heaven imposed on a breaking heart. That heavenappoints it--that, and that alone--makes me willing to live and do it.When the time comes I shall seek death where the slain lie thethickest. But not to-day; for to-day I can serve. Live for duty! Livefor God! The days may not be many before we shall clasp hands withthose who, now invisible, are looking upon us. Let us go and cheer theliving before we seek the companionship of the dead."
As the Emperor spoke, his face glowed with a majesty of soul whichmade the symbol of earthly majesty that adorned his brow seem poorindeed.
Gazing a moment with reverent amazement at the man who had alreadyreceived the divine anointing for the sacrifice of martyrdom he was sosoon to offer, Morsinia responded:
"Your words, Sire, come to me as from the lips of God. I will go andpray, and then--then I shall live for duty."
FOOTNOTES:
[77] The Panurgia, a name given to the Holy Virgin, who at a formersiege of Constantinople, in 1422, was imagined to have appeared uponthe wall for its defense.
The Captain of the Janizaries Page 39
