DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5827#0112
TIMUR BEG.
S3
ed speedy destruction to the houses, and soon opened
a practicable breach. The garrison, moreover, being
reduced to great extremity from want of water, all
the inhabitants were dismissed from the fortress but
such as were able to defend the works. The gover-
nor still continuing obstinate, seven of the besiegers
mounting one of the arches upon which the fort was
erected, reached the bottom of the wall. Being follow-
ed by two officers, they began to sap the foundation,
and soon made such progress, that the besieged, appre-
hending the result, threw down their arms and in-
sisted upon being permitted to depart. Some flung
themselves from the battlements rather than fall alive
into the enemy's hands.
Messer, now reduced to the last extremity, once
more sent his mother to supplicate the conqueror's
mercy. This was again promised, provided the ob-
ject for whom it was implored would appear before
the emperor and ask forgiveness on his knees. This
he consented to do ; but such was his irresolution,
arising from a dread of Timur's known severity, that
he would still have continued his defence of the place,
had not the Turks under his command positively
refused to offer further resistance. So great and so
universal was the panic among them, that his domes-
tics quitted him, and some even cast themselves from
the walls.
Seeing that all further resistance was vain, Messer tied
a handkerchief round his neck, in token of the most
perfect abjection, and, with his sword pointed towards
the ground, quitted the fortress and appeared in the
presence of his victorious foe. Through the intercession
S3
ed speedy destruction to the houses, and soon opened
a practicable breach. The garrison, moreover, being
reduced to great extremity from want of water, all
the inhabitants were dismissed from the fortress but
such as were able to defend the works. The gover-
nor still continuing obstinate, seven of the besiegers
mounting one of the arches upon which the fort was
erected, reached the bottom of the wall. Being follow-
ed by two officers, they began to sap the foundation,
and soon made such progress, that the besieged, appre-
hending the result, threw down their arms and in-
sisted upon being permitted to depart. Some flung
themselves from the battlements rather than fall alive
into the enemy's hands.
Messer, now reduced to the last extremity, once
more sent his mother to supplicate the conqueror's
mercy. This was again promised, provided the ob-
ject for whom it was implored would appear before
the emperor and ask forgiveness on his knees. This
he consented to do ; but such was his irresolution,
arising from a dread of Timur's known severity, that
he would still have continued his defence of the place,
had not the Turks under his command positively
refused to offer further resistance. So great and so
universal was the panic among them, that his domes-
tics quitted him, and some even cast themselves from
the walls.
Seeing that all further resistance was vain, Messer tied
a handkerchief round his neck, in token of the most
perfect abjection, and, with his sword pointed towards
the ground, quitted the fortress and appeared in the
presence of his victorious foe. Through the intercession