volume one

HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES. 349
Montesquieu says, that the Germans were the lest sort of
people in the ivorlcl. The French, who came after them,
showed themselves less patient, and were more respected.
The emperor sent the principal lords of his court to the
king of Erance, before whom they prostrated themselves,
and only spoke to him on their knees. French haughtiness
was more surprised than pleased at such homage, and only
answered the flattery of the East by a disdainful silence.
The two monarchs had an interview, in which they reciprocated
the most tender caresses, and sought to sui'pass each
other in magnificence. If Manuel on this occasion excelled
his rival in the display of his riches, he showed less sincerity
than Louis in the demonstrations of his friendship, for in
the midst of the banquets which he gave to the Crusaders,
the latter learnt that he preserved a close alliance with the
sultan of Iconium, and that the Turks were fully informed
of the plans of the French king.
This treachery irritated the Erencb lords, and when the
emperor required them to render him homage, as the
leaders of the first crusade had done, it was proposed in the
council that the only reply should be to take possession of
Constantinople. " You have heard," said the bishop of
Langres, " that the Grreeks propose to you to recognise their
empire, and submit to their laws : thus then weakness is to
command strength, and cowardice bravery ! What has this
nation done ? What have their ancestors done, that they
should show so much pride ? I will not speak to you of the
snares and the ambushes that they have everywhere planted
in your way ; we have seen the priests of Byzantium mingling
ridicule with outrage, purify Mdth fire the altars at which
our priests had sacrificed. They ask of us new oaths, which
lionour repudiates. Is it not time to revenge treasons, and
repulse insults ? Hitherto the Crusaders have sufiered
more from their perfidious friends than from their open enemies.
Constantinople has long been a troublesome barrier
between us and our brothers of the East. It is our duty at
last to open a free road to Asia. The G-reeks, you know,
have allowed the sepulchre of Christ, and all the Christian
cities of the East, to fall into the hands of the infidels.
Constantinople, there is no doubt, will soon become a prey
to Turks and barbarians, and by her cowardly weakness, she