CHAPTER II
A FIRE FROM THE HEGUMEN'S TOMB
The great fire burned its way broadly over two hills of the city,stopping at the wall of the garden on the eastern front of Blacherne.How it originated, how many houses were destroyed, how many of thepeople perished in the flames and in the battle waged to extinguishthem, were subjects of unavailing inquiry through many days.
For relief of the homeless, Constantine opened his private coffers. Healso assumed personal direction of the removal of the debris cumberingthe unsightly blackened districts, and, animated by his example, thewhole population engaged zealously in the melancholy work. When Galata,laying her jealousies aside, contributed money and sent companies oflaborers over to the assistance of her neighbor, it actually seemed asif the long-forgotten age of Christian brotherhood was to be renewed.But, alas! This unity, bred of so much suffering, so delightful as arest from factious alarms, so suggestive of angelic society andheavenly conditions in general, disappeared--not slowly, but almost ina twinkling.
It was afternoon of the second day after the fire. Having been onhorseback since early morning, the Emperor, in need of repose, hadreturned to his palace; but met at the portal by an urgent request foraudience from the Princess Irene, he received her forthwith. The readercan surmise the business she brought for consideration, and also theamazement with which her royal kinsman heard of the discovery andrescue of Lael. For a spell his self-possession forsook him. Inanticipation of the popular excitement likely to be aroused by thenews, he summoned his councillors, and after consultation, appointed acommission to investigate the incident, first sending a guard to takepossession of the cistern.
Like their master, the commissioners had never heard of the firstprofanation of the ancient reservoir; as a crime, consequently, thisrepetition was to them original in all its aspects, and they addressedthemselves to the inquiry incredulously; but after listening toSergius, and to the details the little Jewess was able to give them,the occurrence forced itself on their comprehension as more than acrime at law--it took on the proportions and color of a conspiracyagainst society and religion. Then its relative consequences presentedthemselves. Who were concerned in it?
The name of Demedes startled them by suddenly opening a wide horizon ofconjecture. Some were primarily disposed to welcome the intelligencefor the opportunity it offered His Majesty to crush the Academy ofEpicurus, but a second thought cooled their ardor; insomuch that theybegan drawing back in alarm. The Brotherhood of the St. James' waspowerful, and it would certainly resent any humiliation their venerableHegumen might sustain through the ignominious exposure of his son.
In great uncertainty, and not a little confusion, the commissionatebody hied from the Princess Irene to the cistern. While careful to hideit from his associates, each of them went with a scarce admitted hopethat there would be a failure of the confirmations at least withrespect to the misguided Demedes; and not to lose sight of Nilo, inwhom they already discerned a serviceable scapegoat, they required himto go with them.
The revelations call for a passing notice. In the court the body of thekeeper was found upon the pavement. The countenance looked the terrorof which the man died, and as a spectacle grimly prepared the beholdersfor the disclosures which were to follow.
There was need of resolution to make the dismal ferriage from the lowerplatform in the cistern, but it was done, Nilo at the oars. When thevisitors stepped on the landing of the "palace," their wonder wasunbounded. When they passed through the battered doorway, and standingunder the circlet, in which the lights were dead, gazed about them,they knew not which was most astonishing, the courage of the majesticblack or the audacity of the projector of the villanous scheme. Butwhere was he? We may be sure there was no delay in the demand for him.While the fishing tongs were being brought, the apartments wereinspected, and a list of their contents made. Then the party collectedat the edge of the landing. The secret hope was faint within them, forthe confirmations so far were positive, and the terrible negro, not inthe least abashed, was showing them where his enemy went down. Theygave him the tongs, and at the first plunge he grappled the body, andcommenced raising it. They crowded closer around him, awe-struck yetsilently praying: Holy Mother, grant it be any but the Hegumen's son! Awhite hand, the fingers gay with rings, appeared above the water. Thefisherman took hold of it, and with a triumphant smile, drew the corpseout, and laid it face up for better viewing. The garments were stillbright, the gilded mail sparkled bravely. One stooped with the light,and said immediately:
"It is he--Demedes!"
Then the commissioners looked at each other--there was no need ofspeech--a fortunate thing, for at that instant there was nothing ofwhich they were more afraid.
Avoidance of the dreaded complications was now impossible--so at leastit seemed to them. Up in the keeper's room, whither they hurriedlyadjourned, it was resolved to despatch a messenger to His Majesty withan informal statement of the discoveries, and a request for orders. Theunwillingness to assume responsibility was natural.
Constantine acted promptly, and with sharp discernment of theopportunity afforded the mischief-makers. The offence was to the city,and it should see the contempt in which the conspirators held it, thedanger escaped, and the provocation to the Most Righteous; if thenthere were seditions, his conscience was acquit. He sent Phranza tobreak the news to the Hegumen, and went in person to the Monastery,arriving barely in time to receive the blessings of his reverendfriend, who, overcome by the shock, died in his arms. Returning sadlyto Blacherne, he ordered the corpses of the guilty men to be exposedfor two days before the door of the keeper's house, and the cisternthrown open for visitation by all who desired to inspect the Palace ofDarkness, as he appropriately termed the floating tenement constructedwith such wicked intents. He also issued a proclamation for thesuppression of the Epicurean Academy, and appointed a day ofThanksgiving to God for the early exposure of the conspiracy. Nilo hesent to a cell in the Cynegion, ostensibly for future trial, but reallyto secure him from danger; in his heart he admired the King's spirit,and hoped a day would come when he could safely and suitably reward him.
On the part of the people the commotion which ensued was extraordinary.They left the fire to its smouldering, and in steady currents marchedpast the ghastly exhibits prepared for them in the street, looked atthem, shuddered, crossed themselves, and went their ways apparentlythankful for the swiftness of the judgment which had befallen; nor wasthere one heard to criticise the Emperor's course. The malefactors weredropped, like unclean clods, into the earth at night, without ceremonyor a mourner in attendance. Thus far all well.
At length the day of thanksgiving arrived. By general agreement, therewas not a sign of dissatisfaction to be seen. The most timorous of thecommissioners rested easy. Sancta Sophia was the place appointed forthe services, and Constantine had published his intention to bepresent. He had donned the Basilean robes; his litter was at the doorof the palace; his guard of horse and foot was formed, when the officeron duty at the gate down by the Port of Blacherne arrived with astartling report.
"Your Majesty," he said, unusually regardless of the ancientsalutation, "there is a great tumult in the city."
The imperial countenance became stern.
"This is a day of thanks to God for a great mercy; who dares profane itby tumult?"
"I must speak from hearsay," the officer answered.... "The funeral ofthe Hegumen of the St. James took place at daylight this morning"--
"Yes," said Constantine, sighing at the sad reminder, "I had intendedto assist the Brotherhood. But proceed."
"The Brothers, with large delegations from the other Monasteries, wereassembled at the tomb, when Gennadius appeared, and began to preach,and he wrought upon his hearers until they pushed the coffin into thevault, and dispersed through the streets, stirring up the people."
At this the Emperor yielded to his indignation.
"Now, by the trials and sufferings of the Most Christian Mother, are webeasts insensible to destr
uction? Or idiots exempt from the penaltiesof sin and impiety? And he--that genius of unrest--that master offoment--God o' Mercy, what has he laid hold of to lead so many bettermen to betray their vows and the beads at their belts? Tellme--speak--my patience is nearly gone."
For an instant, be it said, the much tried Sovereign beheld a stronghand move within reach, as offering itself for acceptance. No doubt hesaw it as it was intended, the symbol and suggestion of a policy. Pityhe did not take it! For then how much of mischance had been avertedfrom himself--Constantinople might not have been lost to the Christianworld--the Greek Church had saved its integrity by recognizing theunion with the Latins consummated at the Council ofFlorence--Christianity had not been flung back for centuries in theEast, its birthplace.
"Your Majesty," the officer returned, "I can report what I heard,leaving its truth to investigation.... In his speech by the tombGennadius admitted the awfulness of the crime attempted by Demedes, andthe justice of the punishment the young man suffered, its swiftnessproving it to have been directed by Heaven; but he declared itsconception was due to the Academy of Epicurus, and that there remainednothing deserving study and penance except the continued tolerationwithout which the ungodly institution had passed quickly, as plaguesfly over cities purified against them. The crime, he said, was ended.Let the dead bury the dead. But who were they responsible for grace tothe Academy? And he answered himself, my Lord, by naming the Church andthe State."
"Ah! He attacked the Church then?"
"No, my Lord, he excused it by saying it had been debauched by an_azymite_ Patriarch, and while that servant of prostitution and heresycontrolled it, wickedness would be protected and go on increasing."
"And the State--how dealt he with the State?"
"The Church he described as Samson; the Patriarch, as an uncomelyDelilah who had speciously shorn it of its strength and beauty; theState, as a political prompter and coadjutor of the Delilah; and Rome,a false God seeking to promote worship unto itself through the debasedChurch and State."
"God o' Mercy!" Constantine exclaimed, involuntarily signing to thesword-bearer at his back; but recovering himself, he asked with forcedmoderation: "To the purpose of it all--the object. What did he proposeto the Brothers?"
"He called them lovers of God in the livery of Christ, and imploredthem to gird up their loins, and stand for the religion of the Fathers,lest it perish entirely."
"Did he tell them what to do?"
"Yes, my Lord."
A wistful, eager look appeared on the royal face, and behind it anexpectation that now there would be something to justify arrest andexile at least--something politically treasonable.
"He referred next to the thanksgiving services appointed to-day inSancta Sophia, and declared it an opportunity from Heaven, sent themand all the faithful in the city, to begin a crusade for reform; not byresort to sword and spear, for they were weapons of hell, but byrefusing to assist the Patriarch with their presence. A vision had cometo him in the night, he said--an angel of the Lord with the Madonna ofBlacherne--advising him of the Divine will. Under his furtherurgency--and my Lord knows his power of speech--the Brothers listening,the St. James' and all present from the other Orders, broke up and tookto the streets, where they are now, exhorting the people not to go tothe Church, and there is reason to believe they will"--
"Enough," said the Emperor, with sudden resolution. "The good Gregoryshall not pray God singly and alone."
Turning to Phranza, he ordered him to summon the court for theoccasion. "Let not one stay away," he continued; "and they shall put ontheir best robes and whole regalia; for, going in state myself, I haveneed of their utmost splendor. It is my will, further, that the army bedrawn from their quarters to the Church, men, music, and flags, and thenavies from their ships. And give greeting to the Patriarch, and notifyhim, lest he make haste. Aside from these preparations, I desire thegrumblers be left to pursue their course unmolested. The sincere andholy amongst them will presently have return of clear light."
This counter project was entered upon energetically.
Shortly after noon the military bore down to the old Church, brayingthe streets with horns, drums and cymbals, and when they were at orderin the immense auditorium, their banners hanging unfurled from thegalleries, the Emperor entered, with his court; in a word, the brave,honest, white-haired Patriarch had company multitudinous and noble ashe could desire. None the less, however, Gennadius had his wayalso--_the people took no part in the ceremony_.
After the celebration, Constantine, in his chambers up in Blacherne,meditated upon the day and its outcome. Phranza was his sole attendant.
"My dear friend," the Emperor began, breaking a long silence, and muchdisquieted, "was not my predecessor, the first Constantine, beset withreligious dissensions?"
"If we may credit history, my Lord, he certainly was."
"How did he manage them?"
"He called a Council."
"A Council truly--was that all?"
"I do not recollect anything more."
"It was this way, I think. He first settled the faith, and thenprovided against dispute."
"How, my Lord?"
"Well, there was one Arius, a Libyan, Presbyter of a little church inAlexandria called Baucalis, preacher of the Unity of God"--
"I remember him now."
"Of the Unity of God as opposed to the Trinity. Him the firstConstantine sent to prison for life, did he not?"
Thereupon Phranza understood the subject of his master's meditation;but being of a timid soul, emasculated by much practice of diplomacy,usually a tedious, waiting occupation, he hastened to reply: "Even so,my Lord. Yet he could afford to be heroic. He had consolidated theChurch, and was holding the world in the hollow of his hand."
Constantine allowed a sigh to escape him, and lapsed into silence; whennext he spoke, it was to say slowly:
"Alas, my dear friend! The people were not there"--meaning at SanctaSophia. "I fear, I fear"--
"What, my Lord?"
Another sigh deeper than the first one: "I fear I am not a statesman,but only a soldier, with nothing to give God and my Empire except asword and one poor life."
These details will help the reader to a fair understanding of thedomestic involvements which overtook the Emperor about the timeMahommed ascended the Turkish throne, and they are to be considered inaddition to the negotiations in progress with the Sultan. And as it isimportant to give an idea of their speeding, we remark further, thatfrom the afternoon of the solemnity in Sancta Sophia the discussionthen forced upon him went from bad to worse, until he was seriouslydeprived both of popular sympathy and the support of the organizedreligious orders. The success of the solemnity in point of display, andthe measures resorted to, were not merely offensive to Gennadius andhis ally, the Duke Notaras; they construed them as a challenge to atrial of strength, and so vigorously did they avail themselves of theiradvantages that, before the Emperor was aware of it, there were twodistinct parties in the city, one headed by Gennadius, the other byhimself and Gregory the Patriarch.
Month by month the bitterness intensified; month by month the imperialparty fell away until there was little of it left outside the court andthe army and navy, and even they were subjected to incessantinroads--until, finally, it came to pass that the Emperor was doubtfulwhom to trust. Thereupon, of course, the season for energeticrepressive measures vanished, never to return.
Personalities, abuse, denunciation, lying, and sometimes downrightblows took the place of debate in the struggle. One day religion was anexciting cause; next day, politics. Throughout it all, however,Gennadius was obviously the master-spirit. His methods wereconsummately adapted to the genius of the Byzantines. By confininghimself strictly to the Church wrangle, he avoided furnishing theEmperor pretexts for legal prosecution; at the same time he wroughtwith such cunning that in the monasteries the very High Residence ofBlacherne was spoken of as a den of _azymites_, while Sancta Sophia wasabandoned to the Patriarch. To be seen in the purlieu
s of the latterwas a signal for vulgar anathemas and social ostracism. His habitsmeantime were of a sort to make him a popular idol. He grew, ifpossible, more severely penitential; he fasted and flagellated himself;he slept on the stony floor before his crucifix; he seldom issued fromhis cell, and when visited there, was always surprised at prayers, theburden of which was forgiveness for signing the detested Articles ofUnion with the Latins. The physical suffering he endured was notwithout solace; he had heavenly visions and was attended by angels. Ifin his solitude he fainted, the Holy Virgin of Blacherne ministered tohim, and brought him back to life and labor. First an ascetic, then aProphet--such was his progression.
And Constantine was a witness to the imposture, and smarted under it;still he held there was nothing for him but to temporize, for if heordered the seizure and banishment of the all-powerful hypocrite, hecould trust no one with the order. The time was dark as a starlessnight to the high-spirited but too amiable monarch, and he watched andwaited, or rather watched and drifted, extending confidence to but twocounsellors, Phranza and the Princess Irene. Even in their company hewas not always comfortable, for, strange to say, the advice of thewoman was invariably heroic, and that of the man invariably weak andaccommodating.
From this sketch the tendencies of the government can be right plainlyestimated, leaving the suspicion of a difference between the firstConstantine and the last to grow as the evils grew.