Sultan Amurath, that cruel prince, having laid siege to Bagdad, and
taken it, gave orders for putting thirty thousand Persians to death,
notwithstanding they had submitted, and laid down their arms. Among the
number of these unfortunate victims was a musician. He besought the
officer, who had the command to see the sultan’s orders executed, to
spare him but for a moment, while he might be permitted to speak to the
emperor. The officer indulged him with his entreaty; and, being brought
before the emperor, he was permitted to exhibit a specimen of his art.
Like the musician in Homer, he took up a kind of psaltry, resembling a
lyre, with six strings on each side, and accompanied it with his voice.
He sung the taking of Bagdad, and the triumph of Amurath. The pathetic
tones and exulting sounds which he drew from the instrument, joined to
the alternate plaintiveness and boldness of his strains, rendered the
prince unable to restrain the softer emotions of his soul. He even
suffered him to proceed until, overpowered with harmony, he melted into
tears of pity, and relented of his cruel intention. He spared the
prisoners who yet remained alive, and gave them instant liberty.
[57] Dictionary of Musicians. Hawkins.
[58] Wood’s Fasti, anno 1586.
[59] Hawkins.
[60] Burney.
* * * * *
~Topography.~