buttheTurks，inadistantandcloserattack，weretwicerepulsedwithconsiderableloss。Mahomethimselfsatonhorsebackonthebeachtoencouragetheirvalorbyhisvoiceandpresence，bythepromiseofreward，andbyfearmorepotentthanthefearoftheenemy。Thepassionsofhissoul，andeventhegesturesofhisbody，^45seemedtoimitatetheactionsofthecombatants；and，asifhehadbeenthelordofnature，hespurredhishorsewithafearlessandimpotenteffortintothesea。Hisloudreproaches，andtheclamorsofthecamp，urgedtheOttomanstoathirdattack，morefatalandbloodythanthetwoformer；andImustrepeat，thoughIcannotcredit，theevidenceofPhranza，whoaffirms，fromtheirownmouth，thattheylostabovetwelvethousandmenintheslaughteroftheday。TheyfledindisordertotheshoresofEuropeandAsia，whiletheChristiansquadron，triumphantandunhurt，steeredalongtheBosphorus，andsecurelyanchoredwithinthechainoftheharbor。Intheconfidenceofvictory，theyboastedthatthewholeTurkishpowermusthaveyieldedtotheirarms；buttheadmiral，orcaptainbashaw，foundsomeconsolationforapainfulwoundinhiseye，byrepresentingthataccidentasthecauseofhisdefeat。BalthiOgliwasarenegadeoftheraceoftheBulgarianprinces:hismilitarycharacterwastaintedwiththeunpopularviceofavarice；andunderthedespotismoftheprinceorpeople，misfortuneisasufficientevidenceofguilt。HisrankandserviceswereannihilatedbythedispleasureofMahomet。Intheroyalpresence，thecaptainbashawwasextendedonthegroundbyfourslaves，andreceivedonehundredstrokeswithagoldenrod:
^46hisdeathhadbeenpronounced；andheadoredtheclemencyofthesultan，whowassatisfiedwiththemilderpunishmentofconfiscationandexile。TheintroductionofthissupplyrevivedthehopesoftheGreeks，andaccusedthesupinenessoftheirWesternallies。AmidstthedesertsofAnatoliaandtherocksofPalestine，themillionsofthecrusadeshadburiedthemselvesinavoluntaryandinevitablegrave；butthesituationoftheImperialcitywasstrongagainstherenemies，andaccessibletoherfriends；andarationalandmoderatearmamentofthemarinestatesmighthavesavedtherelicsoftheRomanname，andmaintainedaChristianfortressintheheartoftheOttomanempire。YetthiswasthesoleandfeebleattemptforthedeliveranceofConstantinople:themoredistantpowerswereinsensibleofitsdanger；andtheambassadorofHungary，oratleastofHuniades，residedintheTurkishcamp，toremovethefears，andtodirecttheoperations，ofthesultan。^47
[Footnote42:ItissingularthattheGreeksshouldnotagreeinthenumberoftheseillustriousvessels；thefiveofDucas，thefourofPhranzaandLeonardus，andthetwoofChalcondyles，mustbeextendedtothesmaller，orconfinedtothelarger，size。
Voltaire，ingivingoneoftheseshipstoFredericIII。，confoundstheemperorsoftheEastandWest。]
[Footnote43:Inbolddefiance，orratheringrossignorance，oflanguageandgeography，thepresidentCousindetainstheminChioswithasouth，andwaftsthemtoConstantinoplewithanorth，wind。]