A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Z

The Rise of Iskander

B >> Benjamin Disraeli >> The Rise of Iskander



Scanned by K. Kay Shearin



THE RISE OF ISKANDER

by Benjamin Disraeli







CHAPTER 1


The sun had set behind the mountains, and the rich plain of Athens was
suffused with the violet glow of a Grecian eye. A light breeze rose;
the olive-groves awoke from their noonday trance, and rustled with
returning animation, and the pennons of the Turkish squadron, that lay
at anchor in the harbour of Piræus, twinkled in the lively air. From
one gate of the city the women came forth in procession to the
fountain; from another, a band of sumptuous horsemen sallied out, and
threw their wanton javelins in the invigorating sky, as they galloped
over the plain. The voice of birds, the buzz of beauteous insects, the
breath of fragrant flowers, the quivering note of the nightingale, the
pattering call of the grasshopper, and the perfume of the violet,
shrinking from the embrace of the twilight breeze, filled the purple
air with music and with odour.

A solitary being stood upon the towering crag of the Acropolis, amid
the ruins of the Temple of Minerva, and gazed upon the inspiring scene.
Around him rose the matchless memorials of antique art; immortal
columns whose symmetry baffles modern proportion, serene Caryatides,
bearing with greater grace a graceful burthen, carvings of delicate
precision, and friezes breathing with heroic life. Apparently the
stranger, though habited as a Moslemin, was not insensible to the
genius of the locality, nor indeed would his form and countenance have
misbecome a contemporary of Pericles and Phidias. In the prime of life
and far above the common stature, but with a frame the muscular power
of which was even exceeded by its almost ideal symmetry, white
forehead, his straight profile, his oval countenance, and his curling
lip, exhibited the same visage that had inspired the sculptor of the
surrounding demigods.

The dress of the stranger, although gorgeous, was, however, certainly
not classic. A crimson shawl was wound round his head and glittered
with a trembling aigrette of diamonds. His vest which set tight to his
form, was of green velvet, richly embroidered with gold and pearls.
Over this he wore a very light jacket of crimson velvet, equally
embroidered, and lined with sable. He wore also the full white camese
common among the Albanians; and while his feet were protected by
sandals, the lower part of his legs was guarded by greaves of
embroidered green velvet. From a broad belt of scarlet leather peeped
forth the jewelled hilts of a variety of daggers, and by his side was
an enormous scimitar, in a scabbard of chased silver.

The stranger gazed upon the wide prospect before him with an air of
pensive abstraction. "Beautiful Greece," he exclaimed, "thou art still
my country. A mournful lot is mine, a strange and mournful lot, yet
not uncheered by hope. I am at least a warrior; and this arm, though
trained to war against thee, will not well forget, in the quick hour of
battle, the blood that flows within it. Themistocles saved Greece and
died a Satrap: I am bred one, let me reverse our lots, and die at least
a patriot."

At this moment the Evening Hymn to the Virgin arose from a neighbouring
convent. The stranger started as the sacred melody floated towards
him, and taking a small golden cross from his heart, he kissed it with
devotion, and then descending the steep of the citadel, entered the
city.

He proceeded alone the narrow winding streets of Athens until he at
length arrived in front of a marble palace, in the construction of
which the architect had certainly not consulted the surrounding models
which Time bad spared to him, but which, however, it might have
offended a classic taste, presented altogether a magnificent
appearance. Half-a-dozen guards, whose shields and helmets somewhat
oddly contrasted with the two pieces of cannon, one of which was
ostentatiously placed on each side of the portal, and which had been
presented to the Prince of Athens by the Republic of Venice, lounged
before the entrance, and paid their military homage to the stranger as
he passed them. He passed them and entered a large quadrangular
garden, surrounded by arcades, supported by a considerable number of
thin, low pillars, of barbarous workmanship, and various-coloured
marbles. In the midst of the garden rose a fountain, whence the
bubbling waters flowed in artificial channels through vistas of orange
and lemon trees. By the side of the fountain on a luxurious couch, his
eyes fixed upon a richly-illuminated volume, reposed Nicæus, the
youthful Prince of Athens.

"Ah! is it you?" said the Prince, looking up with a smile, as the
stranger advanced. "You have arrived just in time to remind me that we
must do something more than read the Persæ, we must act it."

"My dear Nicæus," replied the stranger, "I have arrived only to bid you
farewell."

"Farewell!" exclaimed the Prince in a tone of surprise and sorrow; and
he rose from the couch. "Why! what is this?"

"It is too true;" said the stranger, and he led the way down one of the
walks. "Events have occurred which entirely baffle all our plans and
prospects, and place me in a position as difficult as it is harrowing.
Hunniades has suddenly crossed the Danube in great force, and carried
everything before him. I am ordered to proceed to Albania instantly,
and to repair to the camp at the head of the Epirots."

"Indeed!" said Nicæus, with a thoughtful air. "My letters did not
prepare me for this. 'Tis sudden! Is Amurath himself in the field?"

"No; Karam Bey commands. I have accounted for my delay to the Sultan
by pretended difficulties in our treaty, and have held out the prospect
of a larger tribute."

"When we are plotting that that tribute should be paid no longer!"
added Nicæus, with a smile.

"Alas! my dear friend," replied the Turkish commander, "my situation
has now become critical. Hitherto my services for the Moslemin have
been confined to acting against nations of their own faith. I am now
suddenly summoned to combat against my secret creed, and the best
allies of what I must yet call my secret country. The movement, it
appears to me, must be made now or never, and I cannot conceal from
myself, that it never could have been prosecuted under less auspicious
circumstances."

"What, you desponding!" exclaimed Nicæus; "then I must despair. Your
sanguine temper has alone supported me throughout all our dangerous
hopes."

"And Æschylus?" said the stranger, smiling.

"And Æschylus, certainly," replied Nicæus; "but I have lived to find
even Æschylus insipid. I pant for action."

"It may be nearer than we can foresee," replied the stranger. "There
is a God who fashions all things. He will not desert a righteous
cause. He knoweth that my thoughts are as pure as my situation is
difficult. I have some dim ideas still brooding in my mind, but we
will not discuss them now. I must away, dear Prince. The breeze
serves fairly. Have you ever seen Hunniades?"

"I was educated at the Court of Transylvania," replied Nicæus, looking
down with a somewhat embarrassed air. "He is a famous knight,
Christendom's chief bulwark."

The Turkish commander sighed. "When we meet again," he said, "may we
meet with brighter hopes and more buoyant spirits. At present, I must,
indeed, say farewell."

Tile Prince turned with a dejected countenance, and pressed his
companion to his heart. "'Tis a sad end," said he, "to all our happy
hours and lofty plans."

"You are as yet too young to quarrel with Fortune," replied the
stranger, "and for myself, I have not yet settled my accounts with her.
However, for the present farewell, dear Nicæus!"

"Farewell," replied the Prince of Athens, "farewell, dear Iskander!"



CHAPTER 2


Iskander was the youngest son of the Prince of Epirus, who, with the
other Grecian princes, had, at the commencement of the reign of Amurath
the Second, in vain resisted the progress of the Turkish arms in
Europe. The Prince of Epirus had obtained peace by yielding his four
sons as hostages to the Turkish sovereign, who engaged that they should
be educated in all the accomplishments of their rank, and with a due
deference to their faith. On the death of the Prince of Epirus,
however, Amurath could not resist the opportunity that then offered
itself of adding to his empire the rich principality he had long
coveted. A Turkish force instantly marched into Epirus, and seized
upon Croia, the capital city, and the children of its late ruler were
doomed to death. The beauty, talents, and valour of the youngest son,
saved him, however, from the fate of his poisoned brothers. Iskander
was educated at Adrianople, in the Moslemin faith, and as he, at a very
early age, exceeded in feats of arms all the Moslemin warriors, he
became a prime favourite of the Sultan, and speedily rose in his
service to the highest rank.

At this period the irresistible progress of the Turkish arms was the
subject of alarm throughout all Christendom.

Constantinople, then the capital of the Greek Empire, had already been
more than once besieged by the predecessors of Amurath, and had only
been preserved by fortunate accidents and humiliating terms. The
despots of Bosnia, Servia, and Bulgaria, and the Grecian princes of
Etolia, Macedon, Epirus, Athens, Phocis, Bœotia, and indeed of all the
regions to the straits of Corinth, were tributaries to Amurath, and the
rest of Europe was only preserved from his grasp by the valour of the
Hungarians and the Poles, whom a fortunate alliance had now united
under the sovereignty of Uladislaus, who, incited by the pious
eloquence of the cardinal of St. 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
Hæmus, 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. But the
heart of Iskander responded with no sympathy to these flattering
favours. His Turkish education could never eradicate from his memory
the consciousness that he was a Greek; and although he was brought up
in the Moslemin faith, he had at an early period of his career,
secretly recurred to the creed of his Christian fathers. He beheld in
Amurath the murderer of his dearest kinsmen, and the oppressor of his
country; and although a certain calmness of temper, and coolness of
judgment, which very early developed themselves in his character,
prevented him from ever giving any indication of his secret feelings,
Iskander had long meditated on the exalted duty of freeing his country.

Dispatched to Greece, to arrange the tributes and the treaties of the
Grecian princes, Iskander became acquainted with the young Nicæus; and
their acquaintance soon matured into friendship. Nicæus was
inexperienced; but nature had not intended him for action. The young
Prince of Athens would loll by the side of a fountain, and dream of the
wonders of old days. Surrounded by his eunuchs, his priests, and his
courtiers, he envied Leonidas, and would have emulated Themistocles.
He was passionately devoted to the ancient literature of his country,
and had the good taste, rare at that time, to prefer Demosthenes and
Lysias to Chrysostom and Gregory, and the choruses of the Grecian
theatre to the hymns of the Greek church. The sustained energy and
noble simplicity of the character of Iskander, seemed to recall to the
young prince the classic heroes over whom he was so often musing, while
the enthusiasm and fancy of Nicæus, and all that apparent weakness of
will, and those quick vicissitudes of emotion, to which men of a fine
susceptibility are subject, equally engaged the sympathy of the more
vigorous and constant and experienced mind of his companion.

To Nicæus, Iskander had, for the first time in his life, confided much
of his secret heart; and the young Prince fired at the inspiring tale.
Often they consulted over the fortunes of their country, and, excited
by their mutual invention, at length even dared to hope that they might
effect its deliverance, when Iskander was summoned to the army. It was
a mournful parting. Both of them felt that the last few months of
their lives had owed many charms to their companionship. The parting
of friends, united by sympathetic tastes, is always painful; and
friends, unless this sympathy subsist, had much better never meet.
Iskander stepped into the ship, sorrowful, but serene; Nicæus returned
to his palace moody and fretful; lost his temper with his courtiers,
and, when he was alone, even shed tears.



CHAPTER 3


Three weeks bad elapsed since the parting of Iskander and Nicæus, when
the former, at the head of ten thousand men, entered by a circuitous
route the defiles of Mount Hæmus, and approached the Turkish camp,
which had been pitched, upon a vast and elevated table-ground,
commanded on all sides by superior heights, which, however, were
fortified and well-garrisoned by Janissaries. The Epirots halted, and
immediately prepared to raise their tents, while their commander,
attended by a few of his officers, instantly proceeded to the pavilion
of Karam Bey.

The arrival of Iskander diffused great joy among the soldiery; and as
he passed through the encampment, the exclamations of the Turkish
warriors announced how ready they were to be led to the charge by a
chieftain who had been ever successful. A guard of honour, by the
orders of Karam Bey, advanced to conduct Iskander to his presence; and
soon, entering the pavilion, the Grecian prince exchanged courtesies
with the Turkish general. After the formal compliments had passed,
Karam Bey waved his hand, and the pavilion was cleared, with the
exception of Mousa, the chief secretary, and favourite of Karam.

"You have arrived in good time, Iskander, to assist in the destruction
of the Christian dogs," said the Bey. "Flushed with their accursed
success, they have advanced too far. Twice they have endeavoured to
penetrate the mountains; and each time they have been forced to retire,
with great loss. The passages are well barricadoed with timber and
huge fragments of rock. The dogs have lost all heart, and are sinking
under the joint sufferings of hunger and cold. Our scouts tell me they
exhibit symptoms of retreat. We must rush down from the mountains, and
annihilate them."

"Is Hunniades here in person?" inquired Iskander.

"He is here," replied Karam, "in person, the dog of dogs! Come,
Iskander, his head would be a fine Ramadan present to Amurath. 'Tis a
head worth three tails, I guess."

Mousa, the chief secretary, indulged in some suppressed laughter at
this joke. Iskander smiled.

"If they retreat we must assuredly attack them," observed Iskander,
musingly. "I have a persuasion that Hunniades and myself will soon
meet."

"If there be truth in the Prophet!" exclaimed Karam. "I have no doubt
of it. Hunniades is reserved for you, Bey. We shall hold up our heads
at court yet, Iskander. You have had letters lately ?"

"Some slight words."

"No mention of us, of course?"

"Nothing, except some passing praise of your valour and discretion."

"We do our best, we do our best. Will Isa Bey have Ætolia, think you?"

"I have no thoughts. Our royal father will not forget his children,
and Isa Bey is a most valiant chieftain."

"You heard not that he was coming here?" inquired Karam.

"Have you?" responded the cautious Iskander.

"A rumour, a rumour," replied Karam. "He is at Adrianople, think you?"

"It may be so: I am, you know, from Athens."

"True, true. We shall beat them, Iskander, we shall beat them."

"For myself, I feel sanguine," replied the Prince, and he arose to
retire. "I must at present to my men. We must ascertain more
accurately the movements of the Christians before we decide on our own.
I am inclined myself to reconnoitre them. How far may it be?"

"There is not room to form our array between them and the mountains,"
replied Karam.

"'Tis well. Success attend the true believers! By to-morrow's dawn we
shall know more."



CHAPTER 4


Iskander returned to his men. Night was coming on. Fires and lights
blazed and sparkled in every direction. The air was clear, but very
cold. He entered his tent, and muffling himself up in his pelisse of
sables, he mounted his horse, and declining any attendance, rode for
some little distance, until he had escaped from the precincts of the
camp. Then he turned his horse towards one of the wildest passes of
the mountain, and galloping at great speed, never stopped until he had
gained a considerable ascent. The track became steep and rugged. The
masses of loose stone rendered his progress slow; but his Anatolian
charger still bore him at intervals bravely, and in three hours' time
he had gained the summit of Mount Hæmus. A brilliant moon flooded the
broad plains of Bulgaria with shadowy light. At the base of the
mountainous range, the red watch-fires denoted the situation of the
Christian camp.

Iskander proceeded down the descent with an audacious rapidity; but his
charger was thorough-bred, and his moments were golden. Ere midnight,
he had reached the outposts of the enemy, and was challenged by a
sentinel.

"Who goes there?"

"A friend to Christendom."

"The word?"

"I have it not -- nay calmly. I am alone, but I am not unarmed. I do
not know the word. I come from a far country, and bear important
tidings to the great Hunniades; conduct me to that chief."

"May I be crucified if I will," responded the sentinel, "before I know
who and what you are. Come, keep off, unless you wish to try the
effect of a Polish lance," continued the sentinel; "'tis something, I
assure you, not less awkward than your Greek fire, if Greek indeed you
be."

"My friend, you are a fool," said Iskander, "but time is too precious
to argue any longer." So saying, the Turkish commander dismounted, and
taking up the brawny sentinel in his arms with the greatest ease, threw
him over his shoulder, and threatening the astounded soldier with
instant death if he struggled, covered him with his pelisse, and
entered the camp.

They approached a watch-fire, around which several soldiers were
warming themselves.

"Who goes there?" inquired a second sentinel.

"A friend to Christendom," answered Iskander.

"The word?"

Iskander hesitated.

"The word, or I'll let fly," said the sentinel, elevating his cross
bow.

"The Bridge of Buda," instantly replied the terrified prisoner beneath
the pelisse of Iskander.

"Why did not you answer before, then?" said one of the guards.

"And why do you mock us by changing your voice?" said another. "Come,
get on with you, and no more jokes."

Iskander proceeded through a street of tents, in some of which were
lights, but all of which were silent. At length, he met the esquire of
a Polish knight returning from a convivial meeting, not a little
elevated.

"Who are you?" inquired Iskander.

"I am an Esquire," replied the gentleman.

"A shrewd man, I doubt not, who would make his fortune," replied
Iskander. "You must know great things have happened. Being on guard I
have taken a prisoner, who has deep secrets to divulge to the Lord
Hunniades. Thither, to his pavilion, I am now bearing him. But he is
a stout barbarian, and almost too much for me. Assist me in carrying
him to the pavilion of Hunniades, and you shall have all the reward,
and half the fame."

"You are a very civil spoken young gentleman," said the Esquire. "I
think I know your voice. Your name, if I mistake not, is Leckinski?"

"A relative. We had a common ancestor."

"I thought so. I know the Leckinskies ever by their voice. I am free
to help you on the terms you mention -- all the reward and half the
fame. 'Tis a strong barbarian, is it? We cannot cut his throat, or it
will not divulge. All the reward and half the fame! I will be a
knight to-morrow. It seems a sort of fish, and has a smell."

The Esquire seized the Shoulders of the prisoner, who would have spoken
had he not been terrified by the threats of Iskander, who, carrying the
legs of the sentinel, allowed the Polish gentleman to lead the way to
the pavilion of Hunniades. Thither they soon arrived; and Iskander,
dropping his burthen, and leaving the prisoner without to the charge of
his assistant, entered the pavilion of the General of the Hungarians.

He was stopped in a small outer apartment by an officer, who inquired
his purpose, and to whom he repeated his desire to see the Hungarian
leader, without loss of time, on important business. The officer
hesitated; but, summoning several guards, left Iskander in their
custody, and, stepping behind a curtain, disappeared. Iskander heard
voices, but could distinguish no words. Soon the officer returned,
and, ordering the guards to disarm and search Iskander, directed the
Grecian Prince to follow him. Drawing aside the curtain, Iskander and
his attendant entered a low apartment of considerable size. It was
hung with skins. A variety of armour and dresses were piled on
couches. A middle-aged man, of majestic appearance, muffled in a
pelisse of furs, with long chestnut hair, and a cap of crimson velvet
and ermine, was walking up and down the apartment, and dictating some
instructions to a person who was kneeling on the ground, and writing by
the bright flame of a brazen lamp. The bright flame of the blazing
lamp fell full upon the face of the secretary. Iskander beheld a most
beautiful woman.

She looked up as Iskander entered. Her large dark eyes glanced through
his soul. Her raven hair descended to her shoulders in many curls on
each side of her face, and was braided with strings of immense pearls.
A broad cap of white fox-skin crowned her whiter forehead. Her
features were very small, but sharply moulded, and a delicate tint gave
animation to her clear fair cheek. She looked up as Iskander entered,
with an air rather of curiosity than embarrassment.

Hunniades stopped, and examined his visitor with a searching
inquisition. "Whence come you?" inquired the Hungarian chieftain.

"From the Turkish camp," was the answer.

"An envoy or a deserter"

"Neither."

"What then?"

"A convert."

"Your name?"

"Lord Hunniades," said Iskander, "that is for your private ear. I am
unarmed, and were I otherwise, the first knight of Christendom can
scarcely fear. I am one in birth and rank your equal; if not in fame,
at least, I trust, in honour. My time is all-precious: I can scarcely
stay here while my horse breathes. Dismiss your attendant."

Hunniades darted a glance at his visitor which would have baffled a
weaker brain, but Iskander stood the scrutiny calm and undisturbed.
"Go, Stanislaus," said the Vaivode to the officer. "This lady, sir,"
continued the chieftain, "is my daughter, and one from whom I have no
secrets."

Iskander bowed lowly as the officer disappeared.

"And now," said Hunniades, "to business. Your purpose?"

"I am a Grecian Prince, and a compulsory ally of the Moslemin. In a
word, my purpose here is to arrange a plan by which we may effect, at
the same time, your triumph, and my freedom."

"To whom, then, have I the honour of speaking?" inquired Hunniades.

"My name, great Hunniades, is perhaps not altogether unknown to you:
they call me Iskander."

"What, the right arm of Amurath, the conqueror of Caramania, the flower
of Turkish chivalry? Do I indeed behold that matchless warrior?"
exclaimed Hunniades, and he held forth his hand to his guest, and
ungirding his own sword, offered it to the Prince. "Iduna" continued
Hunniades, to his daughter, "you at length behold Iskander."

"My joy is great, sir," replied Iduna, "if I indeed rightly understand
that we may count the Prince Iskander a champion of the Cross."

Iskander took from his heart his golden crucifix, and kissed it before
her. "This has been my companion and consolation for long years,
lady," said Iskander; "you, perhaps, know my mournful history,
Hunniades. Hitherto my pretended sovereign has not required me to bare
my scimitar against my Christian brethren. That hour, however, has at
length arrived, and it has decided me to adopt a line of conduct long
meditated. Karam Bey who is aware of your necessities, the moment you
commence your retreat, will attack you. I shall command his left wing.
In spite of his superior power and position, draw up in array, and meet
him with confidence. I propose, at a convenient moment in the day, to
withdraw my troops, and with the Epirots hasten to my native country,
and at once raise the standard of independence. It is a bold measure,
but Success is the child of Audacity. We must assist each other with
mutual diversions. Single-handed it is in vain for me to commence a
struggle, which, with all adventitious advantages, will require the
utmost exertion of energy, skill, and patience. But if yourself and
the King Uladislaus occupy the armies of Amurath in Bulgaria, I am not
without hope of ultimate success, since I have to inspire me all the
most urgent interests of humanity, and combat, at the same time, for my
God, my country, and my lawful crown."

Copyright (c) 2007. famouswriterz.com. All rights reserved.