Whateverauthoritycouldenactwasaccomplished，atleastintheory，bythecampsandmarches，theexercisesandevolutions，theedictsandbooks，oftheByzantinemonarch。^80Whateverartcouldproducefromtheforge，theloom，orthelaboratory，wasabundantlysuppliedbytherichesoftheprince，andtheindustryofhisnumerousworkmen。Butneitherauthoritynorartcouldframethemostimportantmachine，thesoldierhimself；andiftheceremoniesofConstantinealwayssupposethesafeandtriumphalreturnoftheemperor，^81histacticsseldomsoarabovethemeansofescapingadefeat，andprocrastinatingthewar。^82Notwithstandingsometransientsuccess，theGreeksweresunkintheirownesteemandthatoftheirneighbors。Acoldhandandaloquacioustonguewasthevulgardescriptionofthenation:theauthorofthetacticswasbesiegedinhiscapital；andthelastoftheBarbarians，whotrembledatthenameoftheSaracens，orFranks，couldproudlyexhibitthemedalsofgoldandsilverwhichtheyhadextortedfromthefeeblesovereignofConstantinople。Whatspirittheirgovernmentandcharacterdenied，mighthavebeeninspiredinsomedegreebytheinfluenceofreligion；butthereligionoftheGreekscouldonlyteachthemtosufferandtoyield。TheemperorNicephorus，whorestoredforamomentthedisciplineandgloryoftheRomanname，wasdesirousofbestowingthehonorsofmartyrdomontheChristianswholosttheirlivesinaholywaragainsttheinfidels。Butthispoliticallawwasdefeatedbytheoppositionofthepatriarch，thebishops，andtheprincipalsenators；andtheystrenuouslyurgedthecanonsofSt。Basil，thatallwhowerepollutedbythebloodytradeofasoldiershouldbeseparated，duringthreeyears，fromthecommunionofthefaithful。^83
[Footnote77:Seethefifth，sixth，andseventhchapters，and，intheTacticsofLeo，withthecorrespondingpassagesinthoseofConstantine。]
[Footnote78:Leo，Tactic。p。581Constantin。p1216。YetsuchwerenotthemaximsoftheGreeksandRomans，whodespisedthelooseanddistantpracticeofarchery。]
[Footnote79:ComparethepassagesoftheTactics，p。669and721，andthexiithwiththexviiithchapter。]
[Footnote80:IntheprefacetohisTactics，Leoveryfreelydeploresthelossofdisciplineandthecalamitiesofthetimes，andrepeats，withoutscruple，Proem。p。537，thereproaches，nordoesitappearthatthesamecensureswerelessdeservedinthenextgenerationbythedisciplesofConstantine。]