Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/177

 Turkey, to be beheaded, and his ransom transmitted to Turkey. But, sad to say, that most unfortunate man had already lost his health, and deplored, above all, with tears, the loss of his thumbs and toes, and complained that he should never be able to use a weapon to the day of his death. In other respects he was a tall and well-made person, and, if that knave had not deceived him, he intended to have ransomed himself, and taken vengeance on the Turks.

Such prisoners as are priests, scribes, scholars, citizens, or gentlemen, are in the greatest misery, because they have not learnt any handicraft, and no value is set upon them. The second prison is for common prisoners who know no handicraft. Of these there were then about 700 persons, of all the various nations that there are beneath the sky. These are taken, in the beginning of spring, on board the galleys as rowers. When they return from the voyage they must hew stone and marble, construct earthworks, carry materials for building, and, in a word, like day-labourers, if there is any contemptible work to be done anywhere, they must perform it. They receive from one year’s end to another nothing more for food than two loaves of bread per diem, and water to drink. The Turks strike and beat them like cattle for the least misconduct. Nay, not even at night do they enjoy repose, but must go to work if anybody wants them.

The third building is a hospital, in which the sick prisoners lie, and where the old men who are past work through age loiter about. These, besides bread, receive soup and porridge. This building is called Paul’s prison. As long as they are there they are made comfortable; when they get well, they must work to make up