Page:Destruction of the Greek Empire.djvu/355

 PEEPAEATIONS FOE LAST STEUGGLE 315 to the belief that they might welcome a few more Italians who were reported to have been seen at Chios on their way to the capital. 1 On Thursday, May 24, Barbaro notes that there were music and feasting and other signs of rejoicing among the Turks because they had learned that they were about to make a general attack. 2 On the 25th and the 26th the great guns were con- stantly at work in the Lycus valley and at the two other places already described. On the evening, however, of the 26th, at one hour after sunset, the Turks made a great illumination along the whole length of their line. Every tent in the enemy's camp could be seen. The fires were so great as to show everything as clearly as if it were day. They lasted till midnight. The shouts from the Turks rent the heavens. The archbishop states that a Turkish edict or Irade had given notice that for three days praise should be offered to God, but that on one day there should be fasting. The illuminations in which the Turks indulged and the nightly feasting are what take place usually during the month of Kamazan. But as this was not Kamazan, every one rightly conjectured that they indicated that the Turks had received the welcome news of a general and immediate attack. Even, however, in these last days of the siege the sultan ^tan appears to have seriously hesitated whether to make the to attack, attack or abandon the attempt to capture the city. Many of the Turks really appear to have lost heart. They had been seven weeks before the city and had accomplished nothing. The pashas themselves were divided in opinion. Various rumours were current in the camp which increased their hesitation. Western Europe would not allow Con- 1 Tetaldi says : ' Se l'armee de Venise que menoit et conduisoit Messire Jean le Eendoul [Loredano] fut arrive a Constantinople ung seul jour avant que cette cite fust prinse, certes il n'y avoit aucun doute qu'ils eussent fort secouru et fussent venus bien a point ' (p. 30). 2 1 Per el campo del Turco in questo zorno se fexe asai feste, de soni, e de altra condition de alegreze, e questo perche i sentiva che tosto i volea dare la bataia zeneral ' (p. 48, under May 24).