FOOTNOTES:

“Five o’clock p.m. had sounded, and Sobieski had given up for the day all hope of the grand struggle, when the provoking composure of Kara Mustapha, whom he espied in a splendid tent tranquilly taking coffee with his two sons, roused him to such a pitch that he instantly gave orders for a general assault. It was made simultaneously on the wings and centre. He made towards the Pacha’s tent, bearing down all opposition, and repeating with a loud voice, ‘Non nobis, non nobis, Domine Exercitium, sed nomini tuo da gloriam!’ ‘Not unto us, Lord God of Hosts, not unto us, but unto thy name give the praise!’ He was soon recognised by Tartar and Cossack, who had so often beheld him blazing in the view of the Polish chivalry; they drew back, while his name rapidly passed from one extremity to the other of the Ottoman lines, to the dismay of those who had refused to believe him present. ‘Allah!’ said the Tartar Khan, ‘but the wizard(a) is with them sure enough!’ At that moment the hussars, raising their national cry of ‘God for Poland!’ cleared a ditch which would long have arrested the infantry, and dashed into the deep ranks of the enemy. They were a gallant band; their appearance almost justified the saying of one of their kings, ‘that if the sky itself were to fall, they would bear it up on the points of their lances.’ The shock was rude, and for some minutes dreadful; but the valour of the Poles, still more the reputation of their leader, and more than all, the finger of God, routed these immense hosts; they gave way on every side, the Khan was borne along with the stream to the tent of the now despairing Vizir. ‘Canst not thou help me?’ said Kara Mustapha to the brave Tartar, ‘then I am lost indeed!’ ‘The Polish king is there!’ replied the other, ‘I know him well. Did I not tell thee that all we had to do was to get away as quick as possible?’”—Foreign Quarterly Review, No. xiv. p. 511.

(a) The name given him by the Tartars, after a series of extraordinary victories had fully impressed them with a belief in his supernatural powers.

“But when the white-horsed morn o’er all the earth Shed her fair splendour, from the Grecian fleet A mighty sound rose tuneably, to wake The sleeping Echo, which returned a loud Heart-cheering answer from the island rock. Confused the Persians stood; for not for flight The Greeks rang forth that lofty battle-shout, But hurrying on rejoicing to the fight With high-souled valour. Then the trumpet’s clang Kindled the battle; then the word was given, And the quick oars with one united stroke Dashed into spray the salt resounding surge, And all bore down in sight. The right wing led First, in fair order; the main armament Pressed close behind, and all at once sent forth A mighty shout; ‘On, children of the Greeks, Set free your country, free your sons, your wives, The temples of your country’s gods, the tombs Of your forefathers—this day fights for all.’”