says Gunther, to forbid the emperor to take from his own property and give it to foreigners. The Crusaders, on the other hand, lie declares, were loath to attack the city because they had no hope of success. They were in such danger that they were not safe around the city, nor could they leave without great risk. Hence it came to pass, says this writer, that "our men determined to besiege the city from which they could not flee."[1] Another author describes the situation of the army in equally striking terras. The Franks were between the hammer and the anvil.[2]
The invaders, however, had the great advantage over the citizens that they had two leaders who knew precisely what they wanted, and who intended to make every sacrifice in order to succeed. Though the chiefs and the soldiery might be restive, there was yet a military and a feudal discipline. There never appears to have been a murmur of discontent among the Venetians. Gunther again and again insists on the determination of the Venetians, " who drove us earnestly this way, partly because of the promised reward, and partly from their desire to obtain the dominion of the sea." The expedition, which, he adds, had been undertaken to please King Philip, was now solely directed by Boniface and Dan- dolo. The brave old leader, whose tenacity of purpose it is impossible not to admire, ruled the host by his nod, and, in spite of want of provisions, of secret disaffection among the troops, and of open opposition, was neither to be frightened nor wearied out of the accomplishment of his purpose. Boniface had bhindered, had lost his hold over Alexis, and seems, since his return in the beginning of November from Adrianople, to have been gradually losing ground. Still he, too, had his object, for which he was prepared to make every sacrifice, and so long as Dandolo was willing to hold out he, too, would defy disaffection and opposition.
Ostensibly, all that Boniface wanted was to be paid. In reality, nothing was further from his desire. No other
