The Wheeling Repository

The Happy Man;

Or the Art of living, in any condition,

with Content.

An Epic Poem, In XXIV Books.

Book I.--620--25.

20. Think not, said the princess, that

my brother and myself, who are companions

in sorrow, have the like reasons

for being unhappy. My brother has

been in pursuit of pleasure in the midst

of entertainments, riches,

and sensual indulgence:

I have been seeking it by

very different means: yet both of us

have been mocked by destiny; for, after

promising ourselves perfect felicity, we

find ourselves in possession of a deep-

rooted melancholy. She spoke, and as

an arrow flies swiftly from a bow which

has been long bent and oppressed, a deep

sigh burst from her heart, and a torrent

of tears from her eyes, which she strove

in vain to repress. Nevertheless, after

drying them a little, she proceeded thus:

Let my oppressed heart vent itself

at last in sighs to the rocks and mountains,

in order that they, at least, may be witnesses

of Sophia's grief. Ah! what violence have

I not done to my own heart,

in order to appear cheerful in compliance

to the count!

21. It is little less than two years*

since the crown of Constantinople rested

upon my head, and about the same

period has elapsed since it was rudely

snatched away without any just cause.

Within the space of twenty-four hours,

Fortune raised me to the Imperial

throne, and dragged me down from it.

Ephemera of empresses, the same sun,

without alighting from his chariot, saw

me a vassal, a sovereign, and again a

vassal. I will relate the event, as it may

not have come to thy knowledge.

22. Thou already knowest what tragical

transactions happened at Constantinople, after the impious Alexis III. to

ascend the throne, shut up in a dungeon

his brother the emperor Isaac Angelus

II. and put out his eyes; and how

Alexis IV. surnamed the Youth, son

of the latter and nephew of the former, was obliged to fly, to avoid a misfortune similar to that which his father

had suffered. Well: this persecuted

Alexis, calling to his assistance the

knights of the Crusade, drove away the

intrusive tyrant, and having

restored his blind father

Isaac to the throne,

reigned in his name. He was a tyrant

in his manners, though he was not so by

any injustice in seizing the sceptre.*

His glory was succeeded by the discontent

of the people, who groaned beneath

the galling yoke, which soon became so

insupportable that they sighed for a happy

occasion to throw it off.--Ducas. Alexis V called Murtzulphus,† profited by

this opportunity. To succeed in his de-

praved and dark designs, and seeing in

my husband Nicolas Canabus virtues

more worthy of a throne than the

blood of Alexis was, he persuaded the people

—(ah! false man! yet thy crime brought

upon thee its just punishment)—I say

he persuaded the people that they would

render themselves happy by tearing the

crown from the head of the young prince, and placing it upon that of Nicolas.

*Sophia was crowned in the year 1204.

†Alexis Angelus Comnenus, notwithstanding what has been said, was so flagitious as to destroy the city of Constantinople; yet Voltaire speaks favourably of him, and condemns those of the crusade for dethroning him. He was called Murtzulphus, from his large eye brows, which fell over his eyes. After reigning a few months, his eyes were put out by order of his father in law, Alexius, and he lost his life by being thrown from the top of Theodisius's column, in the year 1205.
crown from the head of Alexis, and giving it to my husband, whose royal blood adorned with many virtues of which nobody was ignorant, rendered him worthy of it. What he proposed was soon accomplished; so much did the people esteem the one and abominate the other. In the magnificent temple of Saint Sophia, Nicolas was proclaimed emperor, and we both ascended the throne--one crown being placed on both our heads. All then was transport, feasting, and rejoicing.

23. And now behold, a white dove appeared in the temple, flying from side to side, and bearing in her bill an olive branch, emblematic, no doubt, of that peace which the mild character of the newly proclaimed emperor promised. My soul was transported by the happy presage of this mysterious circumstance. Immediately I saw a Black eagle enter, which darted furiously, like lightning, upon the innocent dove, made her his prey, and carried her off in his talons.

24. I saw, was silent, and swooned away. My faithful heart felt a presentiment of something direful, which it did not understand. All sides resounded with songs of panegyric, acclamations of joy, and dances of festivity. Around me I beheld nothing but incense, and testimonies of gladness. All Constantinople was enlivened by mutual gratulations-- so hateful was the tyrant.

Then it was that Murtzuphus, who was bent upon pulling down and trampling under foot two emperors, in one day, in order unjustly to mount the throne himself, nimbly flew to advise Alexis to make his escape, and hide himself from the fury of the people, who had just proclaimed in the temple a new emperor. Alexis heard the name of the new monarch, and trembled. Struck at the same time with horror by his own vices, and awed by that virtue to which he was a stranger, he ventured, in competition with my husband, to dispute neither his merit nor his title. He was bereft of speech, and had no counsellors. Pale, weak, and trembling, he had almost lost his senses, when Murtzuphus took him by the hand, with counterfeited friendship and zeal, and under pretence of concealing him from the rage of the mob, shut him up in a subterranean prison; then,

*History says here, viz. Nicolas Canabus, Alex. IV. and Isaac II. to whom, with the like design of destroying him as he manifested to the others, he ordered poison to be given, in 1203.

throwing off the mask which had disguised his wicked design, he ordered him to be put in manacles and fetters, stripped him of his royal robes, and decking himself with them, presented himself in public, scattering, with both hands, immense riches around him. Intoxicated with gold, and feeling respect for the distinctive marks of royalty, the people at first tolerated him, soon feared him, and finally adored him. For they were so well satisfied at finding themselves no longer under the tyranny of Alexis, that they had no scruples about the iniquity of the means which had freed them.

24. In the mean time, whilst the people, half mad with all this tumult, continued their rejoicings without knowing what they did, Murtzuphus, by means of one of his confidents, informed my husband, as he was entering into the palace, of the particulars of what passed; and told him moreover, that Alexis was coming at the head of his faithful troops, to wrest from his head the tottering crown, and, as a friend, counselled him immediately to retire to a certain safe castle, whilst he himself would go and draw together the knights of the crusade, that were yet in the harbour of Constantinople,* and who, being displeased with Alexis, would not lose so fair an opportunity to avenge themselves.

25. Thus the innocent emperor fell into the snare which had been laid for him, and he also became a captive. Oh! that they had only spared him his life! But no! His virtues rendered him terrible even in chains, and Murtzuphus found that he could only secure himself in the throne by his crimes-the only means whereby to reign without virtue. In a word, he soon made both prisoners suffer death, beginning with Isaac Angelus, to whom he administered poison. Unexampled Monster in malice, he contrived to dethrone two emperors in one day, with no other arms but fraud, and to ascend the throne himself, by no other merit than his crimes. Judge, then, if I have not more reason than the count to live a melancholy life. She spoke; and the animation she displayed, in addition to the nobleness of her

+This harbour makes a very fine appearance, and is considered as the largest in the world. It is a league in length, and half a league in breadth.

+With his own hand he strangled the young emperor Alexis, in 1204.

thoughts, gave such energy to her words as penetrated the very heart of Misano, whom, whilst inwardly struggling with his emotions, they beheld lost in suspense, without venturing to declare what his mind suggested.