Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/327

FROM CORFU TO CONSTANTINOPLE. 300 was complete ; the victoiy, both by land and sea, brilliant and unexpected. It is hardly too much to say that it was the be- ginning of the end, because the weakest portion of the walls were those facing the Golden Horn and within the harbor. The Greeks scarcely realized at the time how great was their loss, but the elation among the Venetians and the Crusaders showed the importance they attached to the event.' Eeaders will remember that in 1453 the defence of the harbor was so strong, by means of the chain and the fortifications, that Mahomet, in despair of breaking through, had to obtain pos- session of the harbor by transporting his boats over the neck of land between the modern Tophana and the valley now known as Cassim Pacha. Galata was then, however, a w^alled city, and the Turkish ships were probably much smaller than those of Yen ice. Venetians and Crusaders were rightly of opinion that the advantage they had gained should be immediately followed up by a general attack. No attempt at negotiations appears to have been made. A bold, sudden attempt was to be made before the emperor should have time to organize a defence. Four days only were spent in Galata, and these were occupied in transporting their stores, in preparing for battle, and in de- termining upon the plan of attack. The Venetia*ns were naturally in favor of making the principal assault by sea. Arrance- Their proposal was to take their ships close up to Skbyhind t^^^ ^^^'^11 ^^ t^^G "^^'^^^ 6^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^Jj ^^^^ throw aud water. ^^^^ ladders from the ships to the walls — a feat quite capable of execution, as subsequent events showed. The Crusaders as naturally preferred fighting on hind. The difficulty was overcome by the arrangement that the Venetians should attack by sea, while the army endeav- ored to effect an entrance through the landward walls. The army passed round the head of the Golden Horn, crossing by a stone bridge which the Greeks had destroyed, but which the Crusaders were able, by working day and night, to repair in time for the attack. On the fifth day after the capture of the ^ Nicetas, p. 719.