230

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

LXVIII.

loudest in their wailings were the nuns, whowere torn from the altar with naked bosoms,outstretched hands, and dishevelled hair: andwe should piously believe, that few could betempted to prefer the vigils of the haram tothose of the monastery. Of these unfortunateGreeks, of these domestic animals, whole stringswere rudely driven through the streets; and asthe conquerors were eager to return for more prey,their trembling pace was quickened with me-naces and blows. At the same hour, a similarrapine was exercised in all the churches and mo-nasteries, in all the palaces and habitations ofthe capital; nor could any palace, however sa-cred or sequestered, protect the persons or theproperty of the Greeks. Above sixty thousandof this devoted people were transported from thecity to the camp and fleet; exchanged or sold,according to the caprice or interest of their mas-ters, and dispersed in remote servitude throughthe provinces of the Ottoman empire . Amongthese we may notice some remarkable charac-ters. The historian Phranza, first chamberlainand principal secretary, was involved, with hisfamily, in the common lot. After suffering, fourmonths, the hardships of slavery, he recoveredhis freedom; in the ensuing winter he venturedto Adrianople , and ransomed his wife from themir bashi, or master of horse; but his two chil-dren, in the flower of youth and beauty, had beenseized for the use of Mahomet himself. Thedaughter of Phranza died in the seraglio, per-haps a virgin; his son, in the fifteenth year ofhis age, preferred death to infamy, and was stab-