The Prince of India; Or, Why Constantinople Fell - Volume 01

ises in that quarter, the cracking of whips, the shouting of ox-drivers, the hammering betokened a prodigious activity. The besieged, und

t bronze monster remounted and gaping at them through an embrasure, and other monster

iniani, and he in turn despatched a messenger to the Emperor

ed, "the apostate Dacian must be master of his

ve underrated the new Sultan. Great as a father

the dismissal of Urban, the Captain held hi

their master-may God confound him!-to inconvenience, and nothing more. Now he is on guard, we may not repeat our

osions. Some balls passing over the defences ploughed into the city; and as definitions of force, the sounds they made in going were awful; yet they were the least of the terrors. Both the towers were hit, and they shook as if an earthquake were wrestling with them. The air whitened with dust an

nd walked leisurely forward. Instead of weapons, he carried an armful of stakes, and something which had the appearance of a heavy gavel. After a ca

aid, in a low voice: "With new agencies c

st attack; otherwise he can

he practice. Now he will g

what o

he trench, he wil

imultaneous; and he would have replied, but that instant a mob of laborers-so the spades and picks they bore bespoke them-poured from the embrasure of the larger gun, and, dist

e kept on; only when he exhausted his supply of stakes did he retire, leaving it inferrible th

the towers. Again the ancient piles shook from top to base. Some of the balistiers were thrown down. The Emperor staggered under the shock. One ball str

ke the liberty of transporting the reader elsewhere, that he may see the

ick imagination, shuddered to think of the havoc they might inflict should they fall in a thickly inhabited district. Then it came to him that the residence of the Princess Irene must be exposed to the danger. Like a Christian and a lover, he, sought to allay the chi

opulation had been brought from their houses by the strange thunder, and the appalling flight of meteoric bodies over

rid in pity lie answered: "Do not be so afraid, good people. It is the Turks.

which passed over

id they

God help th

often it made an i

s he is a Christian, to bring the

ther with a growing assurance that the abode of the Princess was in the range of danger, quickened his alarm for her. The white faces of the women h

ad to do with them originally than art or science. Knowing this, the Count was not sparing of his horse, and as his blood heated so did his fancy. If the fair Princess were unhurt, it was scarcely pos

slacken his gait, then halt and dismount. It was but a few doors from the

sing a tall man, who stood trembling

it was a meteor-struck this house. There is the hole it made. Others say it was a

the Count asked, s

illed.-Save us, O Son of God! Tho

ome men bringing out the body of one apparently dead? Her back was to him, but the sunlight was tangled in her uncovered hair, making gold of it. Her figure was tall and slender, and there was a marvellous grace in her action. Who was she? The Count's heart was prophetic. He gave the bridle rein t

knees, and, without waiting for her to offer the favo

it not for me to ask

e turned to him were not chiding; yet they were full of humid vio

to see what his guns have done-or-why should I not say it? Princess, I galloped here feari

ng her hand, returned: "Rise, Count Corti, t

passed him with their burd

last one?" sh

d find n

Bear her to my house, and lay her with the oth

the house, and to the chapel, and all who wished went in. Before the altar, two others were lying lifeless on improvised biers, an elderly woman and a half-grown girl. The Lady in picture above the altar looked down on them, as did the Holy Child

y fell grovelling on the floor. Sergius' voice never wavered. Corti would have extended his arms to give the Princess support; but she did not so much as change color; her hands holding a silver triptych remained firm. The deadly bullets were

ing another dwelling, and, without perceptible interval, an

was the fir

have perceived any alteration in it from the ordinary; then to the

aid: "Stay, O Princ

e to discover he was the subjec

to the gate; the Emperor may be calling me; but how can

ld you ha

place of

he

ce; if not within

was about giving his tongue would be a doubly dishonorable coinage, since it incl

en?" sh

t the bette

y with you. Doubt not my making the sea; there are not Christians and Mohammedans enough to stay me once my anchor

this time wrung with sudden

h, if not for my sake, then for that which carried me away! Or if thou canst not forget, pity me, pity me, and think of the wretche

hands, he turned

and be thou not afraid for me. My father was a hero, and he left me his spirit. I too have my duty born within the hour-it is to share the danger of my kinsman's people, to give them my presence, to comfort them all I can. I will show thee what thou seemest not to have credited-that a woman can be brave as any man. I will attend the sick, the wounded, and suffering. To the

ly struggling for composure,

go now,"

nt out

been struck; fortunat

ne, is angelic as thy face. Thou hast devoted thyself to t

u art, Count Corti, and

anly purity and goodness there is a power a

ght all who could had retreated to vaults, cellars, and such hiding-places as were safe, and took up their abodes in them. In the city but one woman went abroad without fear, and she bore bread and medicines, and dressed wounds, and

d over with maps and writing and drawing materials. Notable amongst the litter was the sword of Solomon. Near it lay a pair of steel gauntlets elegantly gilt. One stout centre-tree, the main support of the roof of camel's hair, appeared gayly dressed with lances, shields,

centre-tree; one occupied by Kalil, the Vizier; one, a bed-chamber, so to speak; one, a stable for the imperial

ly affected by Count Corti. His nether limbs were clad in wide trousers of yellow silk, drawn close at the ankles. Pointed shoes of red leather completed his equipment, unless we may include a whip with he

with the usual prostration, and i

water. I a

er was

nce of I

re longer than when we knew him a denizen of Constantinople, making his figure seem more spare and old; otherwise he was unchanged. He too prost

may r

the Cham

ahommed addressed the Prince, his counten

e, and rejoice. Constantinople is mine! The towers which have outlasted the ages, the walls which have mocked so many conquerors-behold them tottering to their fall! I will make dust of them. The city which has been a stumbling-b

omon, and in a kind of ecstas

s than to witness an outburst so wild-that directly this froth would disappear, as bubbles vanish from wine just poured. The most absolute of men have their ways-this

med replaced the sword, and stan

s fixed the day when I

ave, my

it t

his apartment, and came

eir decisio

ars, the Prince of India dispensed with

ithout noticing the calculations accompanying the chart; glancing

d the oath will derive an extra virtue-what is there to consume so much time? In three days I will have t

credit the skill and resources of the enemy behind the gate-perhap

ted a look a

ial with their messenger, and told him

almness of the Prince

ted to be confidenti

Caligaria, and before the Selimbria and the Adrianople two each. He will have seven left.... Nor must my Lord confine his attack to the l

ad to possession of the harbor? Will they break the chain which

roisms left for m

unt me with t

ince s

hey laid siege to Nicea, and after a time discovered they could not master it without first mastering Lake Ascanius. Thereupon

became th

if the harbor is left to the Greeks, how can he prevent the Genoese in Galata from succoring them? My Lord derives information from those treacherous people in the day; does he know o

ied with the impression he had made, th

fixing his eye on his confederate, he asked:

ut we have each of us a firmament of our own. In mine, Reason is the sun, and of its stars I mention two-Expe

ith its ruby handle, turning it at angles

t spoken like a Prophet. G