themostaudacioustoclimbwereinstantlyprecipitated；andnotadart，notabullet，oftheChristians，wasidlywastedontheaccumulatedthrong。Buttheirstrengthandammunitionwereexhaustedinthislaboriousdefence:theditchwasfilledwiththebodiesoftheslain；theysupportedthefootstepsoftheircompanions；andofthisdevotedvanguardthedeathwasmoreserviceablethanthelife。Undertheirrespectivebashawsandsanjaks，thetroopsofAnatoliaandRomaniaweresuccessivelyledtothecharge:theirprogresswasvariousanddoubtful；but，afteraconflictoftwohours，theGreeksstillmaintained，andimprovedtheiradvantage；andthevoiceoftheemperorwasheard，encouraginghissoldierstoachieve，byalasteffort，thedeliveranceoftheircountry。Inthatfatalmoment，theJanizariesarose，fresh，vigorous，andinvincible。Thesultanhimselfonhorseback，withanironmaceinhishand，wasthespectatorandjudgeoftheirvalor:hewassurroundedbytenthousandofhisdomestictroops，whomhereservedforthedecisiveoccasion；andthetideofbattlewasdirectedandimpelledbyhisvoiceandeye。Hisnumerousministersofjusticewerepostedbehindtheline，tourge，torestrain，andtopunish；
andifdangerwasinthefront，shameandinevitabledeathwereintherear，ofthefugitives。Thecriesoffearandofpainweredrownedinthemartialmusicofdrums，trumpets，andattaballs；andexperiencehasproved，thatthemechanicaloperationofsounds，byquickeningthecirculationofthebloodandspirits，willactonthehumanmachinemoreforciblythantheeloquenceofreasonandhonor。Fromthelines，thegalleys，andthebridge，theOttomanartillerythunderedonallsides；andthecampandcity，theGreeksandtheTurks，wereinvolvedinacloudofsmokewhichcouldonlybedispelledbythefinaldeliveranceordestructionoftheRomanempire。Thesinglecombatsoftheheroesofhistoryorfableamuseourfancyandengageouraffections:theskilfulevolutionsofwarmayinformthemind，andimproveanecessary，thoughpernicious，science。Butintheuniformandodiouspicturesofageneralassault，allisblood，andhorror，andconfusionnorshallIstrive，atthedistanceofthreecenturies，andathousandmiles，todelineateasceneofwhichtherecouldbenospectators，andofwhichtheactorsthemselveswereincapableofforminganyjustoradequateidea。
[Footnote57:Besidesthe10，000guards，andthesailorsandthemarines，Ducasnumbersinthisgeneralassault250，000Turks，bothhorseandfoot。]
TheimmediatelossofConstantinoplemaybeascribedtothebullet，orarrow，whichpiercedthegauntletofJohnJustiniani。
Thesightofhisblood，andtheexquisitepain，appalledthecourageofthechief，whosearmsandcounselswerethefirmestrampartofthecity。Ashewithdrewfromhisstationinquestofasurgeon，hisflightwasperceivedandstoppedbytheindefatigableemperor。\"Yourwound，\"exclaimedPalaeologus，\"isslight；thedangerispressing:yourpresenceisnecessary；andwhitherwillyouretire?\"—\"Iwillretire，\"saidthetremblingGenoese，\"bythesameroadwhichGodhasopenedtotheTurks；\"