Inhisenthusiasm，Alexiusindulged，oraffected，theambitioushopeofleadinghisnewalliestosubvertthethronesoftheEast；butthecalmerdictatesofreasonandtemperdissuadedhimfromexposinghisroyalpersontothefaithofunknownandlawlessBarbarians。Hisprudence，orhispride，wascontentwithextortingfromtheFrenchprincesanoathofhomageandfidelity，andasolemnpromise，thattheywouldeitherrestore，orhold，theirAsiaticconquestsasthehumbleandloyalvassalsoftheRomanempire。Theirindependentspiritwasfiredatthementionofthisforeignandvoluntaryservitude:theysuccessivelyyieldedtothedexterousapplicationofgiftsandflattery；andthefirstproselytesbecamethemosteloquentandeffectualmissionariestomultiplythecompanionsoftheirshame。TheprideofHughofVermandoiswassoothedbythehonorsofhiscaptivity；andinthebrotheroftheFrenchking，theexampleofsubmissionwasprevalentandweighty。InthemindofGodfreyofBouilloneveryhumanconsiderationwassubordinatetothegloryofGodandthesuccessofthecrusade。HehadfirmlyresistedthetemptationsofBohemondandRaymond，whourgedtheattackandconquestofConstantinople。Alexiusesteemedhisvirtues，deservedlynamedhimthechampionoftheempire，anddignifiedhishomagewiththefilialnameandtherightsofadoption。^67ThehatefulBohemondwasreceivedasatrueandancientally；andiftheemperorremindedhimofformerhostilities，itwasonlytopraisethevalorthathehaddisplayed，andtheglorythathehadacquired，inthefieldsofDurazzoandLarissa。ThesonofGuiscardwaslodgedandentertained，andservedwithImperialpomp:oneday，ashepassedthroughthegalleryofthepalace，adoorwascarelesslyleftopentoexposeapileofgoldandsilver，ofsilkandgems，ofcuriousandcostlyfurniture，thatwasheaped，inseemingdisorder，fromthefloortotheroofofthechamber。\"Whatconquests，\"exclaimedtheambitiousmiser，\"mightnotbeachievedbythepossessionofsuchatreasure!\"—\"Itisyourown，\"
repliedaGreekattendant，whowatchedthemotionsofhissoul；
andBohemond，aftersomehesitation，condescendedtoacceptthismagnificentpresent。TheNormanwasflatteredbytheassuranceofanindependentprincipality；andAlexiuseluded，ratherthandenied，hisdaringdemandoftheofficeofgreatdomestic，orgeneraloftheEast。ThetwoRoberts，thesonoftheconquerorofEngland，andthekinsmenofthreequeens，^68bowedintheirturnbeforetheByzantinethrone。AprivateletterofStephenofChartresattestshisadmirationoftheemperor，themostexcellentandliberalofmen，whotaughthimtobelievethathewasafavorite，andpromisedtoeducateandestablishhisyoungestson。Inhissouthernprovince，thecountofSt。GilesandThoulousefaintlyrecognizedthesupremacyofthekingofFrance，aprinceofaforeignnationandlanguage。Attheheadofahundredthousandmen，hedeclaredthathewasthesoldierandservantofChristalone，andthattheGreekmightbesatisfiedwithanequaltreatyofallianceandfriendship。Hisobstinateresistanceenhancedthevalueandthepriceofhissubmission；andheshone，saystheprincessAnne，amongtheBarbarians，asthesunamidstthestarsofheaven。HisdisgustofthenoiseandinsolenceoftheFrench，hissuspicionsofthedesignsofBohemond，theemperorimpartedtohisfaithfulRaymond；andthatagedstatesmanmightclearlydiscern，thathoweverfalseinfriendship，hewassincereinhisenmity。^69
ThespiritofchivalrywaslastsubduedinthepersonofTancred；
andnonecoulddeemthemselvesdishonoredbytheimitationofthatgallantknight。HedisdainedthegoldandflatteryoftheGreekmonarch；assaultedinhispresenceaninsolentpatrician；