OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 401 which the doge and the barons in vain affected to disclaim^ the name of the Latins became still more unpopular ; and the colony of that nation, above fifteen thousand persons, consulted their safety in a hasty retreat from the city to the protection of their standard in the suburb of Pera. The emperor returned in triumph ; but the firmest and most dexterous policy would have been insufficient to steer him through the tempest which over- whelmed the person and government of that unhappy youth. His own inclination and his father's advice attached him to his benefactors ; but Alexius hesitated between gratitude and pa- triotism, between the fear of his subjects and of his allies. ^^ By his feeble and fluctuating conduct he lost the esteem and con- fidence of both ; and, while he invited the marquis of Montferrat to occupy the palace, he suffered the nobles to conspire, and the people to arm, for the deliverance of their countiy. Regardless of his painful situation, the Latin chiefs repeated their demands, resented his delays, suspected his intentions, and exacted a de- cisive answer of peace or war. The haughty summons was delivered by three French knights and three Venetian deputies, who girded their swords, mounted their horses, pierced through the angry multitude, and entered with a fearless countenance the palace and presence of the Greek emperor. In a peremptoiy tone they recapitulated their services and his engagements ; and boldly declared that, unless their just claims were fully and immediately satisfied, they should no longer hold him either as a sovereign or a friend. After this defiance, the first that had ever wounded an Imperial ear, they departed without betraying any symptoms of fear ; but their escape from a servile palace and a furious city astonished the ambassadors themselves ; and their return to the camp was the signal of mutual hostility. Among the Greeks, all authority and wisdom were overborne The war re- o -^ ./ newed. A.D. by the impetuous multitude, who mistook their rage for valour, 1204 their numbers for strength, and their fanaticism for the support and inspiration of Heaven. In the eyes of both nations, Alexius was false and contemptible ; the base and spurious race of the Angeli was rejected with clamorous disdain ; and the people of Constantinople encompassed the senate, to demand at their hands a more worthy emperor. To eveiy senator, conspicuous by his birth or dignity, they successively presented the purple ; by each
- " Compare the suspicions and complaints of Nicetas (p. 359-362 [c. 3, 4]) with
the blunt charges of Baldwin of Flanders (Gesta Innocent. III. c. 92, p. 534), cum patriarch^ et mole nobilium, nobis promissis perjurus et mendax. VOL. VL 26
