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Thefollowing Piece was communicated to me by a Gentleman of the University ofOxford,who had copy’d it from the latter End of the Second Book ofNicetas Choniat, Concerning the Destruction of Constantinople.I had no sooner perus’d it, but I found it so curious in it self, and so well suited to the Subject of my Author, that I perceiv’d the Obligations I was under for that Favour; and judg’d it worthy of a Translation. I would only farther advertise the Reader, that the following Passage is not to be met with in any of the Printed Copies ofChoniat,but is a Transcript from him in that Part of his Book, where he writes, concerning the Statues ofConstantinople,which theRomans,when they took that City, caused to be melted down, and coyn’d. The Passage may be found in aMS. Cod. Bodl. fol. 447.l.25.and runs thus:
TheRomanConquerours, who were of an with avaritious Temper, even to a Proverb, practis’d a new Method of Rapine and Plunder, entirely unknown to those who had taken the City before them. For breaking open by Night the Royal Sepulchres in the great Grove of theHeroum, they sacrilegiously rifled the Corps of those Blessed Disciples ofJesus Christ, and carry’d off whatsoever was valuable in Gold, Rings, and Jewels, which they could find in these Repositories of the Dead. But coming to the Body of the EmperorJustinian, and finding his Coffin untouch’d, tho’ it was publickly known for some Years that it was nobly enrich’d, aw’d with in Fear and Admiration, they forbore to disturb the Imperial Ashes. And as they express’d no Reverence and Regard to the Dead, so were they equally Savage and Inhuman in their Treatment of the Living; even to those who were their own Countreymen. They spar’d neither the House ofGod, nor his Ministers, but stripped the great Church (Sancta Sophia) of all its fine Ornaments and Hangings, made of the richest Brocades, of inestimable Value: But still continuing unsatiable in their Avarice, they no sooner cast their Eyes upon the brazen Statues, than they order’d them to be melted down. The fineStatue of Juno in Brass, which stood in theForumofConstantine, they chopt in Pieces, and threw it into the Forge. The Head of this Statue was so large, that four Yoke of Oxen could scarce drag it into the Palace. Upon theBaseof it was cut, inBasso Relievo, the Figure ofParis,Venusstanding by him, presenting her with the Apple of Discord. The nobleQuadrilateral Pillar, supported with several Ranges of Pillars, and which by its Height overlook’d the whole City, and was both the Wonder and the Delight of the curious Spectator, shared the same Fate. This lofty Column was adorn’d with rural Representations of all kinds of singing Birds, Folds of Cattle, milking Pails, of Sheep bleating, and of Lambs frisking and playing,&c.There was also engrav’d upon it a View of the Sea and Sea-Gods; some of whom were catching Fish with their Hands; others ordering their Nets, then diving to the Bottom; whilst some in a wanton Manner, were throwing Balls at one another. This Pillar supported aPyramidat the Top of it, upon which was plac’d theStatue of a Woman, which turn’d about with the Wind, and was therefore calledAnemodes. This excellent Piece was also melted down for Coinage, as was also anEquestrianStatue, fixed upon a QuadrilateralPedestalin theTaurus. This was a bold Figure, of an heroic Countenance, and surprizing Stature. It was reported by some, that he was one of the Spies, who was sent byJoshuathe Son ofNun. With one Hand he pointed Eastward, with the other to the West, and the Coast ofGabeon. But this Statue was generally believed to representBellerophon, (born and brought up atPeloponnesus) sitting uponPegasus; for the Horse was without a Bridle, asPegasusis mostly figur’d, scouring the Plain, despising a Rider, flying and driving about in a headstrong manner. Thereis an old Report, which at this Day is in every Body’s Mouth, that there was stampt in the Breast-Plate of this Horse, with great Skill, the Figure of a Man, which appear’d outwardly; this Image was either one of theVenetici, theEpizophurii, or theBulgari, who were not, at that Time, conquer’d by theRomans. This Horse and his Rider were also melted down. In the Accoutrements of this Horse was likewise found a small brazen Image, wrapp’d up as it were in Wool, which theRomanslook’d upon to be of little or no Value, and therefore threw that also into the Fire. Neither did the Resentment of the barbarous and unpolite Soldiers stop here, but they expressed the utmost Fury against the finest Statues, and most curious Pieces of Workmanship in theHippocum, cutting the largest of them, which cost immense Sums, into small Coins of little Value. The great Statue ofHesperian Hercules, fix’d upon a magnificentPedestal, clothed in a Lyon’s Skin, which seem’d to live, and affright the Spectators with his tremendous Voice, felt the Marks of military Power. He was not here arm’d with his Quiver, his Bow, or his Club, but stretching out his right Leg and Arm, he kneeled upon his left Knee, and leaning upon his left Elbow, with his Hand open, he supported his Head in a thoughtful Manner, and seem’d to lament his Misfortunes; uneasy above all at those whichEurystheusout of mere Envy had impos’d upon him. This Figure was broad-chested, the Shoulders were large, his Hair long, curl’d, and reachingto his Waste; his Arms were brawny, and as long as those of the Original made byLysimachus, which was the first and last Master-piece of his Skill. In short, of such a stupendous Size was this Statue, that his Wrist was as thick as a Man’s Body, and the Length of his Leg equal in height to that of any ordinary Person. This noble Statue, I say, did not escape the Rage of these mighty Pretenders to native Virtue and Honour: Beside this, they also carry’d away theImage of the Loaded Assand hisDriver. These Figures were set up originally byAugustus CæsaratActium, of whom the Fable goes, that when he went out privately in the Night Time to take a View ofAnthony’s Army, he met a Man driving an Ass; and asking him “Who he was, andwhither he was going? He answered,my Name isNichon,and my Ass’sNichander,and I am going to Cæsar’s Army”. TheStatuesalso of theHyæna, and theWolfwhich suckledRomulusandRemus, underwent the same Fate, and were coyn’d into little brazenStaters. Theseveral Statuesalso of aManfighting with aLyon, of the HorseNeilôus, cover’d with Scales behind, of anElephantwith a movingProboscis, of theSphinx’s, beautiful as Women, and terrible as Beasts; which can occasionally walk, or fly in the Air, to fight with Birds of Prey. There was also theStatueof awild Horse, pricking up his Ears, snorting, curvetting, and prancing; this, andold Scyllawere served in the same injurious Manner. She was figur’d like a Woman to the Waste, witha grim frightful Look, just as she appear’d, when she sent her Dogs to destroyUlysses. There was also plac’d in theHippocumabrazen Eagle, which was the Invention ofApollonius Tyanæus, and a celebratedMonumentof his Sorcery. This Impostor, when he was once requested by theByzantians, to heal them of the Bitings of Serpents, which was then a common Malady among them, immediately using some diabolical Charms, and heathenish Ceremonies, he plac’d this Eagle upon a Pillar; it was a pleasant Sight enough, and deserv’d the Curiosity of being more narrowly inspected; for it made an agreeable Harmony, and less dangerous than that of theSyrens. Its Wings were stretch’d out, as ready for Flight, and it was trampling upon aSerpent, wreathing it self about him. The Serpent seem’d to make the utmost Effort to bite the Eagle, but its Venom had no Power to hurt him. The Eagle seem’d to gripe him so hard in his Talons, that he was forced to hang down his Head quietly, and seem’d either to be unwilling, or unable to spit his Venom at him. TheEagle, on the other Hand, look’d brisk and sprightly, and having obtain’d the Victory, seem’d to be in Haste, to bear him through the Air in Triumph, denoting by the Sprightliness of his Look, and the Feebleness of the Serpent, that the Serpents, that tormented theByzantians, would hurt them no more, but suffer themselves even to be handled and strok’d by them. But these were not the only Curiosities observable in thisAquilineStatue. It was also veryremarkable, that thetwelve Hourswere engraven under its Wings, under each Wing six, which shew’d the Hour of the Day, by the Rays of the Sun darting thro’ a Hole in each Wing, artificially made for that Purpose. But what shall I now say of the fine Proportions ofHelen, who engag’d allGreecein her Quarrel, and for whose SakeTroyitself was laid in Ruines? No Wonder that when living she could charm the most stubborn, and soften the most impenetrable Heart, when in breathing Brass she captivated all that saw her. Her Habit sat loose upon her, which discover’d too great an Inclination for Gallantry. Her Hair, which seem’d to wave in the Wind, was long and delicate, braided with Gold and Jewels. Her Robe was girt about her, falling down to the Knee. Her Lips seem’d like the opening Roses, you would fancy they mov’d, and such an agreeable Smile brightned her Countenance, as entertain’d the Eye of the Spectator with Pleasure. It is impossible for me to describe the Sweetness and Chearfulness of her Looks, the Arches of her Eyes, and the perfect Symmetry of the whole Statue. Take it therefore as it is given us by Poets and Historians.Helenthe Daughter ofTyndaruswas the Perfection of Beauty, the Child of Love, the Pride, and the Care ofVenus; the Master-piece of Nature, the great Prize of theGreciansandTrojans. Where is now yourNepenthe, the secret Charm to guard you from all Evils? Where are your irresistiblePhiltrums? Why did you not use them against these barbarous Invaders,with the same Success as you did formerly? But I suppose it was determined by the Fates, that you should fall by the Force of Fire, who have rais’d such Flames in the Breasts of those who came to behold you; or perhaps these our new Conquerours, who pretend to be descended from theTrojans, threw your Statue into the Fire, to revenge the burning of that City, of which you was only the innocent Cause. But I can neither think nor speak with Patience of these avaritious Monsters, who have demolish’d the most valuable, the most curious, the most costly Statues in the whole World; Fellows, who would have sold their Wives for Money; who behav’d themselves rather like Birds of Prey, than a regular well-disciplin’d Army; only with this Difference, that they spent their Prey as loosely, as they got it ingloriously, and would willingly venture their Lives to support their Extravagance. Hear these Verses ofHomer, who is well known to theGreeksand theBarbarians; to the Learned, and Unlearned, concerningHelen.
—No Wonder such Celestial Charms,For ten long Years should hold the World in Arms.Pope.
—No Wonder such Celestial Charms,For ten long Years should hold the World in Arms.Pope.
—No Wonder such Celestial Charms,For ten long Years should hold the World in Arms.Pope.
—No Wonder such Celestial Charms,
For ten long Years should hold the World in Arms.
Pope.
Pardon this Digression:—There was also plac’d upon a Pillar a moremodern Statueof aWoman, which was very curious and agreeable. Her Hair hung down behind, combed close down from the Forehead backwards, not breaded up, but bending to the Hand of the Spectator. Upon the right Hand of this Statue stood theEquestrianStatueof aMan. The Horse stood upon one Leg, the other bore a Cup with a mix’d Potion. The Rider was of a large Size, his Body compleatly arm’d, his Legs and his Feet were cover’d with Greaves, his Air was manly, rough, and warlike. The Horse was mettlesome, and high courag’d, pricking up his Ears, as tho’ he heard the Trumpet. His Neck was high, his Look fierce, his Eyes sparkling, as eager for the Battle; he rear’d up his Fore-feet, and pranced like a War-Horse. Near this Statue, hard by the Eastern Goal, call’dRusius, were a Range ofStatuesofCharioteers, dextrous in driving the Chariot, and turning the Goal. They were very busy in managing their Bridles, and smacking their Whips, and directing their Horses, with their Eyes fix’d steddily upon the Goal. In short, there seem’d to be describ’d in theseFiguresall the Tumult and Fury of a Chariot Race, with the most vigorous Struggle for Victory and Success. This Description of these Statues may seem imperfect; for it never was my Intention to describe them all. But what gave me the most agreeable Pleasure, and seem’d to me the most admirable Piece of Workmanship, was a largePedestal, upon which was plac’dan Animal cast in Brass, as large as an Ox, having a short Tail, and a moderate Dewlap, something like theÆgyptianCattle. It had no Hoofs; but held in its Teeth, ready to strangle it, anotherAnimal, cloth’d all over with Scales, almost impenetrable. It seem’d to be aBasilisk, and had a Mouth somewhat like aSerpent’s. It was taken by many to be an Ox of theNile, and by some to be aCrocodile. But I forbear to give the several Conjectures upon it. These Figures however seem’d to represent an odd Sort of Fight, each of them furiously striving for Victory. The Creature which seem’d to be theBasiliskwas in Colour like a Frog, and was all over bloated from Head to Foot. He was casting out his Venom upon his Antagonist, with an Intent to destroy him. ThisAnimalwas carv’d as bearing upon one Knee, and in a languishing Condition. This Observation gave the Spectators occasion to believe it fallen dead backward, if theBasewhere he stood had not supported him. There was also theFigureof anotherAnimal, in whose Jaws was represented a Smaller Creature, whose Mouth was open as almost choak’d by the Teeth which held him, struggling to get loose, but to no Purpose. His Tail, which was very Short, seem’d to tremble; his Shoulders, his fore Feet, and the hinder Part of his Body, were hid in the Mouth of his Enemy, and mash’d by his Jaws. TheseAnimalsalso mutually kill’d each other. Thus we may observe, that these Poisonous Creatures, so destructive to Man, are no less noxious to each other. And this, many Times, is the Case of Nations, and Kingdoms, as was exemplify’d in theRomans, when they made War upon us; killing, and destroying one another, through the Power ofChrist, who rejoyceth not in Blood, and disperseth the Nations that delight in War; who maketh the Just to walk upon the Adder,and the Basilisk, and treadeth the Lyon and Dragon under his Feet.
In the Beginning of thisMSupon a large Folio Page, are inscrib’d the following Words, in the Benefactor’s own Hand. “SirJohn Roe,Bart. Ambassador from His Majesty ofGreat Brittainto theGrand Seignior,as a perpetual Testimony of his Gratitude to the University, (Oxon)gave this Book, which he met with in his Travels, to the Publick Library, 1628.”
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