they could not comprehend.

The Turks fought with the desperation of men who feel that they are
betrayed, and must be victims. The small and isolated bodies were soon
massacred, all with cold steel, for at this time, although some of the
terrible inventions of modern warfare were introduced, their use was
not general. The citadel, indeed, was fortified with cannon; but the
greater part of the soldiery trusted to their crooked swords, and their
unerring javelins. The main force of the Turkish garrison had been
quartered in an old palace of the Archbishop, situate in the middle of
the city on a slightly rising and open ground, a massy building of
rustic stone. Here the Turks, although surrounded, defended themselves
desperately, using their cross bows with terrible effect; and hither,
the rest of the city being now secured, Iskander himself repaired to
achieve its complete deliverance.

The Greeks had endeavoured to carry the principal entrance of the
palace by main force, but the strength of the portal had resisted their
utmost exertions, and the arrows of the besieged had at length forced
them to retire to a distance. Iskander directed that two pieces of
cannon should be dragged down from the citadel, and then played against
the entrance. In the meantime, he ordered immense piles of damp
faggots to be lit before the building, the smoke of which prevented the
besieged from taking any aim. The ardour of the people was so great
that the cannon were soon served against the palace, and their effects
were speedily remarked. The massy portal shook; a few blows of the
battering ram, and it fell. The Turks sallied forth, were received
with a shower of Greek fire, and driven in with agonising yells. Some
endeavoured to escape from the windows, and were speared or cut down;
some appeared wringing their hands in despair upon the terraced roof.