Hunniades endeavoured to
attack them on their flank, but was himself charged by the Turkish
cavalry. The battle was now general, and raged with terrible fury.
Iskander had secreted in his centre, a new and powerful battery of
cannon, presented to him by the Pope, and which had just arrived from
Venice. This battery played upon the Janissaries with great
destruction. He himself mowed them down with his irresistible
scimitar. Infinite was the slaughter! awful the uproar! But of all
the Christian knights this day, no one performed such mighty feats of
arms as the Prince of Athens. With a reckless desperation he dashed
about the field, and everything seemed to yield to his inspired
impulse. His example animated his men with such a degree of
enthusiasm, that the division to which he was opposed, although
encouraged by the presence of Mahomed himself, could no longer
withstand the desperate courage of the Christians, and fled in all
directions. Then, rushing to the aid of Iskander, Nicaeus, at the head
of a body of picked men, dashed upon the rear of the Janissaries, and
nearly surrounded them.
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