90 CARNOT. 
modifications in the system of fortification, as to the 
nature of attack and defence. By the aid of this inven- 
tion and by that of guns of various kinds, which arose 
from it, the besieger, while still at a great distance, could 
breach the walls by his artillery. On the other hand, 
the besieged gained the means of annoying the enemy 
long before he had reached the walls by his covert. ways. 
Vast banks then rested against the walls, on which the 
largest guns could be easily worked. Thence arose the 
necessity of giving to the walls thus destined an immense 
and expensive thickness, that they might resist the 
thrust of these accumulations of earth. They at the 
same time protected the outward base of the ramparts 
towards the open country, by banks ingeniously contrived 
so as to agree with the undulations of the ground. By 
thus defilading the ramparts, they deprived the besieger 
of the possibility of making a breach from afar; they 
obliged him to approach very near to the body of the 
place, before he could expect much effect from his cannon 
against the walls of the besieged surmounted with guns. 
It is recounted that Soliman II. held a consultation 
with his generals, relative to the best way of besieging 
Rhodes. One among them, an experienced man, ex- 
plained the difficulties of the enterprise. The only 
answer the Sultan made was: “ Advance up to me, but 
remember that if thou puttest only the point of thy foot 
on the carpet in the midst of which I am sitting, thy 
head shall fall.” After some hesitation the Ottoman 
general thought best to raise the fearful carpet, and roll 
it on itself, in proportion as he advanced. He thus 
safely got closely up to his master, who then exclaimed : 
“T have now nothing further to teach thee ; thou know- 
est the art of besieging.” Such is, in fact, the faithful 
