Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/237

 for God and His mercy’s sake, to take compassion upon us and lend us the money. But they, too, excused themselves on account of their great expenses, since they were about to follow the Sultan’s camp, and were obliged to borrow from others themselves. However, they declared themselves willing to go thus far, viz. if the aga would take either cloth, or velvet, or house-furniture, they would send him articles in moderation to the value of the 200 ducats. With this answer they dismissed us. Thus we, poor harassed creatures, returned to our tower with empty hands, great terror, weeping, and anxiety, and informed the aga that no one would lend us aught in ready money, unless he were willing to receive it in articles of commerce. On hearing this, he shook his stick at us, and threatened to beat us, if the Turks sitting by had not prevented him, called us liars in our throats, promise-breakers, and unfaithful dogs; recounted the acts of kindness which he had done us, and would not believe that we could not make arrangements about the money. “For,” said he, “how can you but lie in your throats in saying that your Christians and brethren, of whom there are thousands, will not redeem you, whereas, if they gave an asper apiece, it would amount to a much larger sum than these 200 ducats? But the fact is, you dogs want to cheat me; you will not exert yourselves to obtain the money, but are leading me by the nose, and forgetting my benefactions, and thus it is no more proper to believe you than dogs; whereas, if it had not been for me and my care for you, and the love which I showed you, knaves that you are, never would it have come to your eventual relense from this grievous gaol. And, therefore, I swear