按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
taken the kingdom from the Turks； and placed Muley Hamet in
possession； putting an end to the hopes which Muley Hamida； the
cruelest and bravest Moor in the world； entertained of returning to
reign there。 The Grand Turk took the loss greatly to heart； and with
the cunning which all his race possess； he made peace with the
Venetians （who were much more eager for it than he was）； and the
following year； seventy…four； he attacked the Goletta and the fort
which Don John had left half built near Tunis。 While all these
events were occurring； I was labouring at the oar without any hope
of freedom； at least I had no hope of obtaining it by ransom； for I
was firmly resolved not to write to my father telling him of my
misfortunes。 At length the Goletta fell； and the fort fell； before
which places there were seventy…five thousand regular Turkish
soldiers； and more than four hundred thousand Moors and Arabs from all
parts of Africa； and in the train of all this great host such
munitions and engines of war； and so many pioneers that with their
hands they might have covered the Goletta and the fort with handfuls
of earth。 The first to fall was the Goletta； until then reckoned
impregnable； and it fell； not by any fault of its defenders； who did
all that they could and should have done； but because experiment
proved how easily entrenchments could be made in the desert sand
there； for water used to be found at two palms depth； while the
Turks found none at two yards； and so by means of a quantity of
sandbags they raised their works so high that they commanded the walls
of the fort； sweeping them as if from a cavalier； so that no one was
able to make a stand or maintain the defence。
It was a common opinion that our men should not have shut themselves
up in the Goletta； but should have waited in the open at the
landing…place； but those who say so talk at random and with little
knowledge of such matters； for if in the Goletta and in the fort there
were barely seven thousand soldiers； how could such a small number；
however resolute； sally out and hold their own against numbers like
those of the enemy？ And how is it possible to help losing a stronghold
that is not relieved； above all when surrounded by a host of
determined enemies in their own country？ But many thought； and I
thought so too； that it was special favour and mercy which Heaven
showed to Spain in permitting the destruction of that source and
hiding place of mischief； that devourer； sponge； and moth of countless
money； fruitlessly wasted there to no other purpose save preserving
the memory of its capture by the invincible Charles V； as if to make
that eternal； as it is and will be； these stones were needed to
support it。 The fort also fell； but the Turks had to win it inch by
inch； for the soldiers who defended it fought so gallantly and stoutly
that the number of the enemy killed in twenty…two general assaults
exceeded twenty…five thousand。 Of three hundred that remained alive
not one was taken unwounded； a clear and manifest proof of their
gallantry and resolution； and how sturdily they had defended
themselves and held their post。 A small fort or tower which was in the
middle of the lagoon under the command of Don Juan Zanoguera； a
Valencian gentleman and a famous soldier； capitulated upon terms。 They
took prisoner Don Pedro Puertocarrero； commandant of the Goletta；
who had done all in his power to defend his fortress； and took the
loss of it so much to heart that he died of grief on the way to
Constantinople； where they were carrying him a prisoner。 They also
took the commandant of the fort； Gabrio Cerbellon by name； a
Milanese gentleman； a great engineer and a very brave soldier。 In
these two fortresses perished many persons of note； among whom was
Pagano Doria； knight of the Order of St。 John； a man of generous
disposition； as was shown by his extreme liberality to his brother；
the famous John Andrea Doria； and what made his death the more sad was
that he was slain by some Arabs to whom； seeing that the fort was
now lost； he entrusted himself； and who offered to conduct him in
the disguise of a Moor to Tabarca； a small fort or station on the
coast held by the Genoese employed in the coral fishery。 These Arabs
cut off his head and carried it to the commander of the Turkish fleet；
who proved on them the truth of our Castilian proverb； that 〃though
the treason may please； the traitor is hated；〃 for they say he ordered
those who brought him the present to be hanged for not having
brought him alive。
Among the Christians who were taken in the fort was one named Don
Pedro de Aguilar； a native of some place； I know not what； in
Andalusia； who had been ensign in the fort； a soldier of great
repute and rare intelligence； who had in particular a special gift for
what they call poetry。 I say so because his fate brought him to my
galley and to my bench； and made him a slave to the same master； and
before we left the port this gentleman composed two sonnets by way
of epitaphs； one on the Goletta and the other on the fort； indeed； I
may as well repeat them； for I have them by heart； and I think they
will be liked rather than disliked。
The instant the captive mentioned the name of Don Pedro de
Aguilar； Don Fernando looked at his companions and they all three
smiled； and when he came to speak of the sonnets one of them said；
〃Before your worship proceeds any further I entreat you to tell me
what became of that Don Pedro de Aguilar you have spoken of。〃
〃All I know is；〃 replied the captive； 〃that after having been in
Constantinople two years； he escaped in the disguise of an Arnaut；
in company with a Greek spy； but whether he regained his liberty or
not I cannot tell； though I fancy he did； because a year afterwards
I saw the Greek at Constantinople； though I was unable to ask him what
the result of the journey was。〃
〃Well then； you are right；〃 returned the gentleman； 〃for that Don
Pedro is my brother； and he is now in our village in good health；
rich； married； and with three children。〃
〃Thanks be to God for all the mercies he has shown him；〃 said the
captive； 〃for to my mind there is no happiness on earth to compare
with recovering lost liberty。〃
〃And what is more；〃 said the gentleman； 〃I know the sonnets my
brother made。〃
〃Then let your worship repeat them；〃 said the captive； 〃for you will
recite them better than I can。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said the gentleman； 〃that on the Goletta runs
thus。〃
CHAPTER XL
IN WHICH THE STORY OF THE CAPTIVE IS CONTINUED。
SONNET
〃Blest souls； that； from this mortal husk set free；
In guerdon of brave deeds beatified；
Above this lowly orb of ours abide
Made heirs of heaven and immortality；
With noble rage and ardour glowing ye
Your strength； while strength was yours； in battle plied；
And with your own blood and the foeman's dyed
The sandy soil and the encircling sea。
It was the ebbing life…blood first that failed
The weary arms； the stout hearts never quailed。
Though vanquished； yet ye earned the victor's crown：
Though mourned； yet still triumphant was your fall
For there ye won； between the sword and wall；
In Heaven glory and on earth renown。〃
〃That is it exactly； according to my recollection；〃 said the
captive。
〃Well then； that on the fort；〃 said the gentleman； 〃if my memory
serves me； goes thus：
SONNET
〃Up from this wasted soil； this shattered shell；
Whose walls and towers here in ruin lie；
Three thousand soldier souls took wing on high；
In the bright mansions of the blest to dwell。
The onslaught of the foeman to repel
By might of arm all vainly did they try；
And when at length 'twas left them but to die；
Wearied and few the last defenders fell。
And this same arid soil hath ever been
A haunt of countless mournful memories；
As well in our day as in days of yore。
But never yet to Heaven it sent； I ween；
From its hard bosom purer souls than these；
Or braver bodies on its surface bore。〃
The sonnets were not disliked； and the captive was rejoiced at
the tidings they gave him of his comrade； and continuing his tale；
he went on to say：
The Goletta and the fort being thus in their hands； the Turks gave
orders to dismantle the Goletta… for the fort was reduced to such a
state that there was nothing left to level… and to do the work more
quickly and easily they mined it in three places； but nowhere were
they able to blow up the part which seemed to be the least strong；
that is to say； the old walls； while all that remained standing of the
new fortifications that the Fratin had made came to the ground with
the greatest ease。 Finally the fleet returned victorious and
triumphant to Constantinople； and a few months later died my master；
El Uchali； otherwise Uchali Fartax； which means in Turkish 〃the scabby
renegade；〃 for that he was； it is the practice with the Turks to
name people from some defect or virtue they may possess； the reason
being that there are among them only four su