Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/274

 upon my desired Journey, carrying with me a Truce of eight Years, the Fruits of my eight Years Abroad there, which may be continued for a longer Time, unless some considerable Change happens.

we came to Sophia, where the Way parts, one to Rhagusa, the other to Belgrade, Leyva and Requesne desired me to part Company, and go to Rhagusa, that so they might more easily pass to Venice and Italy, and procure those Gifts which they promised to lend to the Bashaws, and repay the Money they had borrowed at Constantinople; and that they would send Letters of Thanks by me to Cæsar, to give him due Acknowledgments for their Release: Which Service they would willingly have performed in Person, if their other Occasions had not hindered. I easily consented to their Requests, and was the better pleased, because Requesne, being a very old Man, died before he came to Rhagusa: If I had denied their Request, it might have been thought my Refusal had contributed to his Disease.

DE Sande and my self passed the rest of our Journey without any great Inconvenience; for the Truth is, he is a very facetious Man, and, if he is troubled with Grief, he knows how to cover it, and to pretend Mirth outwardly. In our way, many diverting Things offered themselves; sometimes we would alight, and try which of us could run fastest; I, being lean, could easily out-run him, who was fat and pursy, and just come out of Prison. When we came near to a Village, Ebrahim would ride up to us (for he with his Turks followed gravely on Horseback) and beseeched us, by all that was dear to us, not to be seen on foot by the Villagers, for it would be accounted a Disgrace to us among the Turks. His Advice made us sometimes get into our