THE RISE OF ISKANDER - Ibiblio

letter. "As I hoped and deemed, a most complete victory. Karam Bey himself a prisoner, baggage,
standards, great guns, treasure. Brave soldier of the Cross! (may I prove so!) Your perfectly-devised
movement, (poh, poh!) Hah! what is this?" exclaimed Iskander, turning pale; his lip quivered, his eye
looked dim. He walked to an arched window. His companion, who supposed that he was reading, did
not disturb him.
7.9 "Poor, poor Hunniades!" at length exclaimed Iskander, shaking his. head.
7.10 "What of him?" inquired Nicæus, quickly.
7.11 "The sharpest accident of war!" replied Iskander. "It quite clouds my spirit. We must forget
these things, we must forget. Epirus! he is not a patriot who can spare a thought from thee. And yet, so
young, so beautiful, so gifted, so worthy of a hero! when I saw her by her great father's side, sharing his
toils, aiding his councils, supplying his necessities, methought I gazed upon a ministering angel! upon -- "
7.12 "Stop, stop in mercy's name, Iskander!" exclaimed Nicæus, in a very agitated tone. "What is all
this? Surely no, surely not, surely Iduna -- "
7.13 "'Tis she!"
7.14 "Dead?" exclaimed Nicæus, rushing up to his companion, and seizing his arm.
7.15 "Worse, much worse!"
7.16 "God of Heaven!" exclaimed the young Prince, with almost a frantic air. "Tell me all, tell me all!
This suspense fires my brain. Iskander, you know not what this woman is to me; the sole object of my
being, the bane, the blessing of my life! Speak, dear friend, speak! I beseech you! Where is Iduna?"
7.17 "A prisoner to the Turk."
7.18 "Iduna a prisoner to the Turk. I'll not believe it! Why do we wear swords? Where's chivalry?
Iduna, a prisoner to the Turk! 'Tis false. It cannot be. Iskander, you are a coward! I am a coward! All
are cowards! A prisoner to the Turk! Iduna! What, the Rose of Christendom! has it been plucked by
such a turbaned dog as Amurath? Farewell, Epirus! Farewell, classic Athens! Farewell, bright fields of
Greece, and dreams that made them brighter! The sun of all my joy and hope is set, and set for ever!"
7.19 So saying, Nicæus, tearing his hair and garments, flung himself upon the floor, and hid his face
in his robes.
7.20 Iskander paced the room with a troubled step and thoughtful brow. After some minutes he
leant down by the Prince of Athens, and endeavoured to console him.
7.21 "It is in vain, Iskander, it is in vain," said Nicæus. "I wish to die."
7.22 "Were I a favoured lover, in such a situation," replied Iskander, "I should scarcely consider
death my duty, unless the sacrifice of myself preserved my mistress."
7.23 "Hah!" exclaimed Nicæus, starting from the ground. "Do you conceive, then, the possibility of
rescuing her?"
7.24 "If she live, she is a prisoner in the Seraglio at Adrianople. You are as good a judge as myself
of the prospect that awaits your exertions. It is, without doubt, a difficult adventure, but such, methinks,
as a Christian knight should scarcely shun."
7.25 "To horse;" exclaimed Nicæus, "to horse -- And yet what can I do? Were she in any other
place but the capital I might rescue her by force, but in the heart of their empire, it is impossible. Is there
no ransom that can tempt the Turk? My principality would rise in the balance beside this jewel."
7.26 "That were scarcely wise, and certainly not just," replied Iskander; "but ransom will be of no
avail. Hunniades has already offered to restore Karam Bey, and all the prisoners of rank, and the chief
trophies, and Amurath has refused to listen to any terms. The truth is, Iduna has found favour in the eyes
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