Angelo, the legate of the Pope, and,
yielding to the tears and supplications of the despot of Servia, had,
at the time our story opens, quitted Buda, at the head of an immense
army, crossed the Danube, and, joining his valiant viceroy, the famous
John Hunniades, vaivode of Transylvania, defeated the Turks with great
slaughter, relieved all Bulgaria, and pushed on to the base of Mount
Haemus, known in modern times as the celebrated Balkan. Here the
Turkish general, Karam Bey, awaited the Christians, and hither to his
assistance was Iskander commanded to repair at the head of a body of
Janissaries, who had accompanied him to Greece, and the tributary
Epirots.
Had Iskander been influenced by vulgar ambition, his loftiest desires
might have been fully gratified by the career which Amurath projected
for him. The Turkish Sultan destined for the Grecian Prince the hand
of one of his daughters, and the principal command of his armies. He
lavished upon him the highest dignities and boundless wealth; and,
whether it arose from a feeling of remorse, or of affection for a
warrior whose unexampled valour and unrivalled skill had already added
some of the finest provinces of Asia to his rule, it is certain that
Iskander might have exercised over Amurath a far greater degree of
influence than was enjoyed by any other of his courtiers.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25