"Blind Old Dandolo."

We hear little of "blind old Dandolo" until his elevation to the ducal throne of Venice in 1192. Though at that time eighty-four years old and blind, he was not infirm, and even exhibited the vigor and fire of robust manhood. Having entered into an alliance, in 1202, with the leaders of the fourth Crusade, he agreed to furnish vessels to transport their army to the Levant. There was some delay about obtaining a commander for the Venetian armada, when the Doge ended it by offering himself. After mass had been celebrated in St. Mark's Church, he suddenly ascended the tribune and addressed the people. "Seigniors," he said, "you are sharing with the bravest people upon earth the most glorious enterprise which mortal can undertake. I am a very old man (ninety-four years), infirm in health, and in greater need of repose than glory; yet, if it be your pleasure that I should take the sign of the cross to watch over you, who am your sovereign, and leave my son in my stead to protect our country, I will cheerfully go, and live and die with you and the pilgrims." The multitude, as if with one voice, exclaimed," We beseech you, in God's name, to do as you have said, and go with us." Dandolo left the tribune, knelt before the high altar, where he shed tears of holy enthusiasm, then fixing the cross upon his ducal cap, and appointing his son regent, he left the cathedral to prepare for the voyage. The fleet set sail October 9th, 1202. It numbered fifty galleys and four hundred and fifty other vessels, all gay with blazoned banners, the colors of different nations, the gleaming of shields, and the glitter of axe and spear. Forty thousand warriors seemed then a host fit to conquer the world, and the Crusaders, overcome with emotion, broke out into songs of prayer and praise as they glided down the Adriatic. Dandolo himself led the attack upon Constantinople, "Byzantine's conquering foe." Two ships, the Paradise and the Pilgrim, were tied together, and a drawbridge or ladder was let down to the walls. The Doge was the first to enter the city (July 17th, 1203). The throne of Constantinople was offered by the Crusaders to Dandolo, but he declined it. He died on the first day of June, 1205, aged ninety-seven years, having reigned thirteen years, six months and five days, and was buried in the Church of St. Sophia, Constantinople.