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Chap.XVIL Grand Seignor s Seraglio. 87 



crTcd, That he wondred the Page, who fhould have deriv'd new ftrength and courage, 

 from the Grand Sejgnor's prefence, found it fo difficult to get the better of the Mufco- 

 w'fe, whom he had fo eafily worited the day before. 



The language of the Mutes, by figns, is as intelligible in the Seraglio, as if they had 

 the liberty of fpeaking, and the Grand Seignor, who underftands it as well as any of 

 them, as having been accuftom'd thereto from his Infancy, and commonly difcouriing 

 with them, was ftrangely furpriz'd, to understand that the Mufcovite had been, the day 

 before, in the fame place. His indignation immediately fluhYd into his face •■> he com- 

 manded the Wreftlcrs to give over their Excrcife, and, calling the Page to him, he 

 ask'd him, How he had contriv'd that man's entrance into the Seraglio. The unfor- 

 tunate Tocatrfi, who could not deny a thing, which fo many others were ready to 

 teltifie, acquainted his Highnefs with what had pafs'd i whereupon, the Sultan^ in- 

 cens'd at the greatnefs of his confidence, prevented his making an end of the Story, 

 by commanding the Bolhngi-bacbi to be prefently fent for, whom he order'd to feiie 

 on the Mufcovian Wreitler, and fee him receive Five hundred blowes on the foles of 

 the Feet, with a Wand or Cudgel \ which no doubt was enough to make him un- 

 capable of excrcifing himftlf, for a good while after. The Overfeer had Orders, to 

 fee the fame punithment inrli&ed upon the Page Tocateli i which was immediately 

 put in execution : the Grand Seignor having, in the mean time, retir'd into the Ap- 

 partment of the Women. 



It was the Opinion of moft about the Seraglio, that thofe two unfortunate wretches 

 would have efcap'd, with the punithment of Five hundred blowes, each of them, upon 

 the foles of their feet. But the Grand Seignor, who was refolv'd to have their lives, 

 and had retir'd, purpofely,* into the Lodgings of the Women, to prevent all mediation 

 for their pardon, fent away prefently a fecond Order, to the Bojlangi-Bachi, whereby 

 he was commanded to fee the Page hang'd up, in the Evening, on a Tree, which is at 

 the Corner of the place, where they had Wreftled, and the Mufcovite on another Tree, 

 which is without the Gate of the Seraglio. 



Some would be apt to think, that thefe two Executions were enough to appeafe the Amurath's 

 Prince's indignation : But it prov'd otherwife. The next morning, the Sultan-//w»- great Severt 1' 

 rath fent for the Capi-Aga, the chiefefc amongft the Eunuchs, and the Grand Mailer 

 and Comptroller, of the Seraglio, and commanded, That the Gellad, who is the com- 

 mon Executioner, mould alfo give his attendance. Upon the palTing of thefe Orders, 

 all thofe, that were prefent, caft themfelves at his Hkhnclfc's feet, befeeching him to 

 confider,' That the Capi-Aga was innocent, that he had not the leatt notice of the con- 

 fidence of the Page, and that, if it had come to his knowledge, he would have feverely 

 punilh'd it. The Grand Seignor continuing ftM extreamly incens'd, could not be 

 appeas'd by all the intreaties and fubmimons they made to him, and would have the 

 Capi-Aga, as Grand Mailer of the Seraglio, to be anfwerable for all thofe that come 

 into it ■■> when, for the good fortune of that principal Officer of the Sultans Palace, 

 there came in the Moufti, and the Scligdar, or Chief of the Pages of the Chamber,who 

 with much ado made a lhift to beg his pardon. Yet was not that granted but in part* 

 for all they could obtain, extended only to the faving of his lite i and fo the Grand 

 Seienor order'd him to be immediately thruit out of the Seraglio, with a charge never 

 to enter again into it, while he liv'd i and inttead of the Dignity of Bajfa, whereto he 

 lhould have been advane'd, to be redue'd to a (mail Penilon ot Three hundred A$m 

 a day* 



I thought it pertinent to my defign, to bring in this Story of the Two Wreftlers, in 

 order to the greater confirmation of what I have affirm'd at the beginning of this 

 Chapter, concerning the impoilibility there is, for any perfon whatfoever, Man, or 

 Woman, to get into the Appartment of the Sultanejjcs, when they purnlh, with fo ' 

 much feverity, a Stranger, who, without exprefs order, prefumes but to let his foot 

 within any Court of the Seraglio. 



Take 



