Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/143

 perial judge, after him other councillors, judges, and officials, with a guard of janissaries, and with heralds and other officers of justice. Upon this the young man was led out of prison with his hands bound behind his back, and an iron ring on his neck, through which a chain was passed, while two executioners, well-made fellows, in handsome clothes, (for such people are in no odium with the Turks,) held him by the chain on each side; the guard of janissaries went in front and rear, and a countless number of people on horses and in carriages looked on. When the young Greek was led out of prison a great cry arose from both men and women, that it would be a great shame to destroy such a youth, and all compassionated and advised him to become a Turk, promising that they would petition the Emperor himself to grant him his life. He, however, briefly refused to agree to their proposal, and become a Turk. The chiaous pasha, as he was led past his palace, seeing how handsome he was, sent a message to him, saying that, if he would become a Mahometan, he would contrive that he should save his life, and that the beautiful lady should become his wife; but the young man did not allow himself to be moved, but answered that he was sprung from Christian parents, had been baptized and brought up as a Christian, and would also die as a Christian.

They therefore led out the lady, also, from another prison, and placed her on a mule, round which walked a great number of veiled women; she herself was not veiled, but had her beautiful hair plaited in long plaits on both sides, in the Turkish fashion, with one plait hanging on her back behind. She wore a red carmine