by Robert Reed
chieftains were gathered together in the palace . The intriguing
Palli, the accomplished Karazza, the warlike Ypsilanti, were among
the principal . They talked of the events of the day; the skirmish at
noon; the diminished numbers of the Infidels; their defeat and flight:
they contemplated, after a short interval of time, the capture of the
Golden City . They endeavoured to picture forth what would then
happen, and spoke in lofty terms of the prosperity of Greece, when
Constantinople should become its capital . The conversation then
reverted to Asiatic intelligence, and the ravages the plague made
in its chief cities; conjectures were hazarded as to the progress that
disease might have made in the besieged city .
Raymond had joined in the former part of the discussion . In lively
terms he demonstrated the extremities to which Constantinople was
reduced; the wasted and haggard, though ferocious appearance of
the troops; famine and pestilence was at work for them, he observed,
and the infidels would soon be obliged to take refuge in their only
hope—submission . Suddenly in the midst of his harangue he broke
off, as if stung by some painful thought; he rose uneasily, and I per-
ceived him at length quit the hall, and through the long corridor
seek the open air . He did not return; and soon Clara crept round to
me, making the accustomed invitation . I consented to her request,
and taking her little hand, followed Raymond . We found him just
about to embark in his boat, and he readily agreed to receive us
as companions . After the heats of the day, the cooling land-breeze
ruffled the river, and filled our little sail. The city looked dark to the
south, while numerous lights along the near shores, and the beauti-
ful aspect of the banks reposing in placid night, the waters keenly
reflecting the heavenly lights, gave to this beauteous river a dower
of loveliness that might have characterized a retreat in Paradise . Our
single boatman attended to the sail; Raymond steered; Clara sat at
his feet, clasping his knees with her arms, and laying her head on
them . Raymond began the conversation somewhat abruptly .
“This, my friend, is probably the last time we shall have an op-
portunity of conversing freely; my plans are now in full operation,
and my time will become more and more occupied . Besides, I wish
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at once to tell you my wishes and expectations, and then never again
to revert to so painful a subject . First, I must thank you, Lionel, for
having remained here at my request. Vanity first prompted me to ask
you: vanity, I call it; yet even in this I see the hand of fate—your
presence will soon be necessary; you will become the last resource
of Perdita, her protector and consoler . You will take her back to
Windsor .”—
“Not without you,” I said . “You do not mean to separate again?”
“Do not deceive yourself,” replied Raymond, “the separation at
hand is one over which I have no control; most near at hand is it;
the days are already counted . May I trust you? For many days I have
longed to disclose the mysterious presentiments that weigh on me,
although I fear that you will ridicule them . Yet do not, my gentle
friend; for, all childish and unwise as they are, they have become a
part of me, and I dare not expect to shake them off .
“Yet how can I expect you to sympathize with me? You are of
this world; I am not . You hold forth your hand; it is even as a part of
yourself; and you do not yet divide the feeling of identity from the
mortal form that shapes forth Lionel . How then can you understand
me? Earth is to me a tomb, the firmament a vault, shrouding mere
corruption . Time is no more, for I have stepped within the threshold
of eternity; each man I meet appears a corse, which will soon be
deserted of its animating spark, on the eve of decay and corruption .
“Cada piedra un piramide levanta, y cada flor costruye
un monumento, cada edificio es un sepulcro altivo, cada sol-
dado un esqueleto vivo.”3
His accent was mournful,—he sighed deeply . “A few months
ago,” he continued, “I was thought to be dying; but life was strong
within me . My affections were human; hope and love were the day-
stars of my life . Now— they dream that the brows of the conqueror
of the infidel faith are about to be encircled by triumphant laurel;
they talk of honourable reward, of title, power, and wealth—all I
3
Calderon de la Barca .
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ask of Greece is a grave . Let them raise a mound above my lifeless
body, which may stand even when the dome of St . Sophia has fallen .
“Wherefore do I feel thus? At Rodosto I was full of hope; but
when first I saw Constantinople, that feeling, with every other joy-
ful one, departed . The last words of Evadne were the seal upon the
warrant of my death . Yet I do not pretend to account for my mood
by any particular event . All I can say is, that it is so . The plague I am
told is in Constantinople, perhaps I have imbibed its effluvia—per-
haps disease is the real cause of my prognostications . It matters little
why or wherefore I am affected, no power can avert the stroke, and
the shadow of Fate’s uplifted hand already darkens me .
“To you, Lionel, I entrust your sister and her child . Never men-
tion to her the fatal name of Evadne . She would doubly sorrow over
the strange link that enchains me to her, making my spirit obey her
dying voice, following her, as it is about to do, to the unknown coun-
try .”I listened to him with wonder; but that his sad demeanour and
solemn utterance assured me of the truth and intensity of his feel-
ings, I should with light derision have attempted to dissipate his
fears . Whatever I was about to reply, was interrupted by the power-
ful emotions of Clara . Raymond had spoken, thoughtless of her pres-
ence, and she, poor child, heard with terror and faith the prophecy
of his death . Her father was moved by her violent grief; he took her
in his arms and soothed her, but his very soothings were solemn and
fearful . “Weep not, sweet child,” said he, “the coming death of one
you have hardly known . I may die, but in death I can never forget or
desert my own Clara . In after sorrow or joy, believe that you father’s
spirit is near, to save or sympathize with you . Be proud of me, and
cherish your infant remembrance of me . Thus, sweetest, I shall not
appear to die . One thing you must promise,—not to speak to any one
but your uncle, of the conversation you have just overheard . When
I am gone, you will console your mother, and tell her that death was
only bitter because it divided me from her; that my last thoughts will
be spent on her . But while I live, promise not to betray me; promise,
my child .”
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 996
With faltering accents Clara promised, while she still clung to
her father in a transport of sorrow . Soon we returned to shore, and
I endeavoured to obviate the impression made on the child’s mind,
by treating Raymond’s fears lightly . We heard no more of them;
for, as he had said, the siege, now drawing to a conclusion, became
paramount in interest, engaging all his time and attention .
The empire of the Mahometans in Europe was at its close . The
Greek fleet blockading every port of Stamboul, prevented the ar-
rival of succour from Asia; all egress on the side towards land had
become impracticable, except to such desperate sallies, as reduced
the numbers of the enemy without making any impression on our
lines . The garrison was now so much diminished, that it was evident
that the city could easily have been carried by storm; but both hu-
manity and policy dictated a slower mode of proceeding . We could
hardly doubt that, if pursued to the utmost, its palaces, its temples
and store of wealth would be destroyed in the fury of contending
triumph and defeat . Already the defenceless citizens had suffered
through the barbarity of the Janisaries; and, in time of storm, tumult
and massacre, beauty, infancy and decrepitude, would have alike
been sacrificed to the brutal ferocity of the soldiers. Famine and
blockade were certain means of conquest; and on these we founded
our hopes of victory .
Each day the soldiers of the garrison assaulted our advanced
posts, and impeded the accomplishment of our works . Fire-boats
were launched from the various ports, while our troops sometimes
recoiled from the devoted courage of men who did not seek to live,
but to sell their lives dearly . These contests were aggravated by the
season: they took place during summer, when the southern Asiatic
wind came laden with intolerable heat, when the streams were dried
up in their shallow beds, and the vast basin of the sea appeared to
glow under the unmitigated rays of the solsticial sun . Nor did night
refresh the earth. Dew was denied; herbage and flowers there were
none; the very trees drooped; and summer assumed the blighted ap-
pearance of winter, as it went forth in silence and flame to abridge
the means of sustenance to man. In vain did the eye strive to find
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 997
the wreck of some northern cloud in the stainless empyrean, which
might bring hope of change and moisture to the oppressive and
windless atmosphere . All was serene, burning, annihilating . We the
besiegers were in the comparison little affected by these evils . The
woods around afforded us shade,—the river secured to us a constant
supply of water; nay, detachments were employed in furnishing the
army with ice, which had been laid up on Haemus, and Athos, and
the mountains of Macedonia, while cooling fruits and wholesome
food renovated the strength of the labourers, and made us bear with
less impatience the weight of the unrefreshing air . But in the city
things wore a different face . The sun’s rays were refracted from the
pavement and buildings—the stoppage of the public fountains—the
bad quality of the food, and scarcity even of that, produced a state
of suffering, which was aggravated by the scourge of disease; while
the garrison arrogated every superfluity to themselves, adding by
waste and riot to the necessary evils of the time . Still they would not
capitulate .
Suddenly the system of warfare was changed . We experienced no
more assaults; and by night and day we continued our labours un-
impeded . Stranger still, when the troops advanced near the city, the
walls were vacant, and no cannon was pointed against the intruders .
When these circumstances were reported to Raymond, he caused
minute observations to be made as to what was doing within the
walls, and when his scouts returned, reporting only the continued
silence and desolation of the city, he commanded the army to be
drawn out before the gates . No one appeared on the walls; the very
portals, though locked and barred, seemed unguarded; above, the
many domes and glittering crescents pierced heaven; while the old
walls, survivors of ages, with ivy-crowned tower and weed-tangled
buttress, stood as rocks in an uninhabited waste . From within the
city neither shout nor cry, nor aught except the casual howling of
a dog, broke the noon-day stillness . Even our soldiers were awed
to silence; the music paused; the clang of arms was hushed . Each
man asked his fellow in whispers, the meaning of this sudden peace;
while Raymond from an height endeavoured, by means of glasses,
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 998
to discover and observe the stratagem of the enemy . No form could
be discerned on the terraces of the houses; in the higher parts of the
town no moving shadow bespoke the presence of any living being:
the very trees waved not, and mocked the stability of architecture
with like immovability .
The tramp of horses, distinctly heard in the silence, was at length
discerned . It was a troop sent by Karazza, the Admiral; they bore
dispatches to the Lord General . The contents of these papers were
important . The night before, the watch, on board one of the smaller
vessels anchored near the seraglio wall, was roused by a slight
splashing as of muffled oars; the alarm was given: twelve small
boats, each containing three Janizaries, were descried endeavouring
to make their way through the fleet to the opposite shore of Scutari.
When they found themselves discovered they discharged their mus-
kets, and some came to the front to cover the others, whose crews,
exerting all their strength, endeavoured to escape with their light
barks from among the dark hulls that environed them . They were in
the end all sunk, and, with the exception of two or three prisoners,
the crews drowned . Little could be got from the survivors; but their
cautious answers caused it to be surmised that several expeditions
had preceded this last, and that several Turks of rank and importance
had been conveyed to Asia . The men disdainfully repelled the idea
of having deserted the defence of their city; and one, the youngest
among them, in answer to the taunt of a sailor, exclaimed, “Take
it, Christian dogs! take the palaces, the gardens, the mosques, the
abode of our fathers—take plague with them; pestilence is the en-
emy we fly; if she be your friend, hug her to your bosoms. The curse
of Allah is on Stamboul, share ye her fate .”
Such was the account sent by Karazza to Raymond: but a tale full
of monstrous exaggerations, though founded on this, was spread by
the accompanying troop among our soldiers . A murmur arose, the
city was the prey of pestilence; already had a mighty power sub-
jugated the inhabitants; Death had become lord of Constantinople .
I have heard a picture described, wherein all the inhabitants of
earth were drawn out in fear to stand the encounter of Death . The
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 999
feeble and decrepid fled; the warriors retreated, though they threat-
ened even in flight. Wolves and lions, and various monsters of the
desert roared against him; while the grim Unreality hovered shaking
his spectral dart, a solitary but invincible assailant . Even so was it
with the army of Greece . I am convinced, that had the myriad troops
of Asia come from over the Propontis, and stood defenders of the
Golden City, each and every Greek would have marched against
the overwhelming numbers, and have devoted himself with patriotic
fury for his country . But here no hedge of bayonets opposed itself, no
death-dealing artillery, no formidable array of brave soldiers—the
unguarded walls afforded easy entrance—the vacant palaces luxuri-
ous dwellings; but above the dome of St . Sophia the superstitious
Greek saw Pestilence, and shrunk in trepidation from her influence.
Raymond was actuated by far other feelings . He descended the
hill with a face beaming with triumph, and pointing with his sword
to the gates, commanded his troops to—down with those barri-
cades—the only obstacles now to completest victory . The soldiers
answered his cheerful words with aghast and awe-struck looks; in-
stinctively they drew back, and Raymond rode in the front of the
lines:—“By my sword I swear,” he cried, “that no ambush or strata-
gem endangers you . The enemy is already vanquished; the pleasant
places, the noble dwellings and spoil of the city are already yours;
force the gate; enter and possess the seats of your ancestors, your
own inheritance!”
An universal shudder and fearful whispering passed through the
lines; not a soldier moved . “Cowards!” exclaimed their general, ex-
asperated, “give me an hatchet! I alone will enter! I will plant your
standard; and when you see it wave from yon highest minaret, you
may gain courage, and rally round it!”
One of the officers now came forward: “General,” he said, “we
neither fear the courage, nor arms, the open attack, nor secret am-
bush of the Moslems . We are ready to expose our breasts, exposed
ten thousand times before, to the balls and scymetars of the infidels,
and to fall gloriously for Greece . But we will not die in heaps, like
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 1000
dogs poisoned in summer-time, by the pestilential air of that city—
we dare not go against the Plague!”
A multitude of men are feeble and inert, without a voice, a leader;