were not strong enough for division, as had been already proved. Moreover, the weakness of the wall lay in the fact that it possessed no flank defences; it was all curtain; and there were the quays, of which the assailants could take advantage for landing troops, scaling-ladders, and engines. The Crusaders attacked from the ships of the Venetians by means of drawbridges and wooden towers. Nevertheless, after a fight of extraordinary fury, the Latins had to retire, with the loss of many of their bravest soldiers.
Three days later, on the 12th of April, they renewed the attack, this time with better success. They had bound their ships together in pairs; they had raised the wooden bulwarks of their decks, and enlarged the tops which held the archers, so that they could bring to bear upon any point of the walls a concentrated volley of missiles. These tactics succeeded, aided by the arrows and bolts from the other ships. The two united vessels, the Paradise and the Pilgrim, laid three bridges upon one of the towers of the wall, which was instantly occupied by their men. Crowds poured in at this avenue, and within a few minutes four or five of the towers, with the wall between, were in the hands of the Crusaders. Then they opened three of the city gates, landed their horses from the ships in the rear, and prepared to take the town, street by street if necessary, by storm. But here the Varangians and the Pisans declined the contest. They refused to fight any more, and carried the emperor to his palace of Bucoleon. The Crusaders for their part seized and occupied the palace of Blachern, near the northern angle
