The French on Crusade Main Menu Introduction Odo’s Letter to His Venerable Abbot, Suger Book One Book Four Bibliography and Further Reading

First Encounters at Constantinople

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          Conducted by the emperor, the king also visited the shrines and, after returning, when won over by the urgency of his host’s requests, dined with him. That banquet afforded pleasure to ear, mouth, and eye with pomp as marvelous, viands as delicate, and pastime as pleasant as the guests were illustrious. There many of the king’s men feared for him; but he, who had entrusted the care of himself to God, feared nothing at all, since he had faith and courage; for one who is not inclined to do harm does not easily believe that anyone will harm him.
          Although the Greeks furnished us no proof that they were treacherous, I believe that they would not have exhibited such unremitting servitude if they had had good intentions. Actually, they were concealing the wrongs which were to be avenged after we crossed the Arm. However, it was not held against the Greeks that they closed the city gates to the throng, since it had burned many of their houses and olive trees, either for want of wood or by reason of arrogance and the drunkenness of fools. The king frequently punished offenders by cutting off their ears, hands, and feet, yet he could not thus check the folly of the whole group. Indeed, one of two things was necessary, either to kill many thousands at one time or to put up with their numerous evil deeds. As I was saying, a ship supplied us an ample market, and in front of the palace and even in the tents we had a rate of exchange which would have been adequate if it had lasted; namely, less than two denarii for one stamina and a mark for thirty staminea (three solidi). But after we had traveled three days beyond the city we paid five or six denarii for one stamina and lost a mark on twelve soldi.
 

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