End of the world -- Fiction; Epidemics -- Fiction; Science fiction; Twenty-first century -- Fiction
Each vessel in the mean time brought exhilarating tidings from Greece.
The presence of a friend in its armies and councils made us enter into
the details with enthusiasm; and a short letter now and then from
Raymond told us how he was engrossed by the interests of his adopted
country. The Greeks were strongly attached to their commercial
pursuits, and would have been satisfied with their present
acquisitions, had not the Turks roused them by invasion. The patriots
were victorious; a spirit of conquest was instilled; and already they
looked on Constantinople as their own. Raymond rose perpetually in
their estimation; but one man held a superior command to him in their
armies. He was conspicuous for his conduct and choice of position in a
battle fought in the plains of Thrace, on the banks of the Hebrus,
which was to decide the fate of Islam. The Mahometans were defeated,
and driven entirely from the country west of this river. The battle was
sanguinary, the loss of the Turks apparently irreparable; the Greeks,
in losing one man, forgot the nameless crowd strewed upon the bloody
field, and they ceased to value themselves on a victory, which cost
them— Raymond.
At the battle of Makri he had led the charge of cavalry, and pursued
the fugitives even to the banks of the Hebrus. His favourite horse was
found grazing by the margin of the tranquil river. It became a question
whether he had fallen among the unrecognized; but no broken ornament or
stained trapping betrayed his fate. It was suspected that the Turks,
finding themselves possessed of so illustrious a captive, resolved to
satisfy their cruelty rather than their avarice, and fearful of the
interference of England, had come to the determination of concealing
for ever the cold-blooded murder of the soldier they most hated and
feared in the squadrons of their enemy.
Raymond was not forgotten in England. His abdication of the
Protectorate had caused an unexampled sensation; and, when his
magnificent and manly system was contrasted with the narrow views of
succeeding politicians, the period of his elevation was referred to
with sorrow. The perpetual recurrence of his name, joined to most
honourable testimonials, in the Greek gazettes, kept up the interest he
had excited. He seemed the favourite child of fortune, and his untimely
loss eclipsed the world, and shewed forth the remnant of mankind with
diminished lustre. They clung with eagerness to the hope held out that
he might yet be alive. Their minister at Constantinople was urged to
make the necessary perquisitions, and should his existence be
ascertained, to demand his release. It was to be hoped that their
efforts would succeed, and that though now a prisoner, the sport of
cruelty and the mark of hate, he would be rescued from danger and
restored to the happiness, power, and honour which he deserved.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account