[Footnote35:HewasthesonofCaesarJohnDucas，brotheroftheemperorConstantine，Ducange，Fam。Byzant。p。165。NicephorusBryenniusapplaudshisvirtuesandextenuateshisfaults，l。i。
p。30，38。l。ii。p。53。YetheownshisenmitytoRomanus。
Scylitzesspeaksmoreexplicitlyofhistreason。]
Aslongasahopesurvived，Romanusattemptedtorallyandsavetherelicsofhisarmy。Whenthecentre，theImperialstation，wasleftnakedonallsides，andencompassedbythevictoriousTurks，hestill，withdesperatecourage，maintainedthefighttillthecloseofday，attheheadofthebraveandfaithfulsubjectswhoadheredtohisstandard。Theyfellaroundhim；hishorsewasslain；theemperorwaswounded；yethestoodaloneandintrepid，tillhewasoppressedandboundbythestrengthofmultitudes。Thegloryofthisillustriousprizewasdisputedbyaslaveandasoldier；aslavewhohadseenhimonthethroneofConstantinople，andasoldierwhoseextremedeformityhadbeenexcusedonthepromiseofsomesignalservice。
Despoiledofhisarms，hisjewels，andhispurple，Romanusspentadrearyandperilousnightonthefieldofbattle，amidstadisorderlycrowdofthemeanerBarbarians。InthemorningtheroyalcaptivewaspresentedtoAlpArslan，whodoubtedofhisfortune，tilltheidentityofthepersonwasascertainedbythereportofhisambassadors，andbythemorepatheticevidenceofBasilacius，whoembracedwithtearsthefeetofhisunhappysovereign。ThesuccessorofConstantine，inaplebeianhabit，wasledintotheTurkishdivan，andcommandedtokissthegroundbeforethelordofAsia。Hereluctantlyobeyed；andAlpArslan，startingfromhisthrone，issaidtohaveplantedhisfootontheneckoftheRomanemperor。^36Butthefactisdoubtful；andif，inthismomentofinsolence，thesultancompliedwiththenationalcustom，therestofhisconducthasextortedthepraiseofhisbigotedfoes，andmayaffordalessontothemostcivilizedages。Heinstantlyraisedtheroyalcaptivefromtheground；andthriceclaspinghishandwithtendersympathy，assuredhim，thathislifeanddignityshouldbeinviolateinthehandsofaprincewhohadlearnedtorespectthemajestyofhisequalsandthevicissitudesoffortune。Fromthedivan，Romanuswasconductedtoanadjacenttent，wherehewasservedwithpompandreverencebytheofficersofthesultan，who，twiceeachday，seatedhimintheplaceofhonorathisowntable。Inafreeandfamiliarconversationofeightdays，notaword，notalook，ofinsultescapedfromtheconqueror；butheseverelycensuredtheunworthysubjectswhohaddesertedtheirvaliantprinceinthehourofdanger，andgentlyadmonishedhisantagonistofsomeerrorswhichhehadcommittedinthemanagementofthewar。Inthepreliminariesofnegotiation，AlpArslanaskedhimwhattreatmentheexpectedtoreceive，andthecalmindifferenceoftheemperordisplaysthefreedomofhismind。\"Ifyouarecruel，\"saidhe，\"youwilltakemylife；ifyoulistentopride，youwilldragmeatyourchariot—wheels；ifyouconsultyourinterest，youwillacceptaransom，andrestoremetomycountry。\"\"Andwhat，\"continuedthesultan，\"wouldhavebeenyourownbehavior，hadfortunesmiledonyourarms?\"ThereplyoftheGreekbetraysasentiment，whichprudence，andevengratitude，shouldhavetaughthimtosuppress。\"HadIvanquished，\"hefiercelysaid，\"Iwouldhaveinflictedonthybodymanyastripe。\"TheTurkishconquerorsmiledattheinsolenceofhiscaptiveobservedthattheChristianlawinculcatedtheloveofenemiesandforgivenessofinjuries；andnoblydeclared，thathewouldnotimitateanexamplewhichhecondemned。Aftermaturedeliberation，AlpArslandictatedthetermsoflibertyandpeace，aransomofamillion，anannualtributeofthreehundredandsixtythousandpiecesofgold，^37themarriageoftheroyalchildren，andthedeliveranceofalltheMoslems，whowereinthepoweroftheGreeks。Romanus，withasigh，subscribedthistreaty，sodisgracefultothemajestyoftheempire；hewasimmediatelyinvestedwithaTurkishrobeofhonor；hisnoblesandpatricianswererestoredtotheirsovereign；andthesultan，afteracourteousembrace，dismissedhimwithrichpresentsandamilitaryguard。Nosoonerdidhereachtheconfinesoftheempire，thanhewasinformedthatthepalaceandprovinceshaddisclaimedtheirallegiancetoacaptive:asumoftwohundredthousandpieceswaspainfullycollected；andthefallenmonarchtransmittedthispartofhisransom，withasadconfessionofhisimpotenceanddisgrace。Thegenerosity，orperhapstheambition，ofthesultan，preparedtoespousethecauseofhisally；buthisdesignswerepreventedbythedefeat，imprisonment，anddeath，ofRomanusDiogenes。^38