Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/341

ISAAC AND ALEXIS JOINT EMPERORS. 323 or's statement was true, and that liis proposal was the most Differences iu advantagcous onc possiblc under the circumstances, the army. q^^ ^j^^, ^|.|j^3^. iiand, the bargain at Corfu had been that after Michaehnas those who had come out for Holy War, and had no wish to join in an expedition against a Christian city, should be free to go, and should liave a fleet provided for their transport to Syria. The compromise had been con- firmed b}^ the most solemn oaths. This party now claimed its f ulfihnent. " Baillez-nous les vaisseaux, ainsi que vous nous I'avez jure ; car nous voulons aller en Syrie." Dandolo and Boniface readily accepted the imperial proposal. The first, because of the treaty with Malek Adel, not to introduce the Crusaders to Egypt, for, though Syria was spoken of, it was by no means clear that the original plan would not be adhered to; the second, with the object of serving Phih'p and himself. They could now^ use stronger arguments than at Corfu ; they had begun the business and must finish it. It was dangerous to go down to Syria or to Egypt in w^inter. They could do nothing at that season if they w^ere there. The cause of the Lord would be lost. " Wait till Marcli, and we can then leave the emperor in a good position. We can then go with plenty of money and of provisions." Again and again Yillehardouin insists that the aim of the malcontents was to break up the army. " They cared," says he, " neither for better nor for worse, provided that the army should be divided." Once more it is worth recalling that his object is to explain why the army of Crusaders did not accomplish its object. The Venetians accepted the proposal, and bound Postpone- 1 1 1 1 n . , . - meut decided themsclves to hold tlic fleet in readiness for a year on. from Michaelmas. The opposition, feeble now in comparison with what it had been at Corfu, found itself in far too small a minority to prolong its resistance, and thus the proposal of Alexis was accepted by the Crusaders also. In truth the position of the young emperor was exceedingly Position of critical. He had gone himself to Galata to make Alexis. jjjg pi-QpQsal, and, although he probably wished that it should not be published, it is pretty certain that its tenor would be known within the city. If he, indeed, stated that