will, and those quick vicissitudes of emotion, to which men of a fine
susceptibility are subject, equally engaged the sympathy of the more
vigorous and constant and experienced mind of his companion.

To Nicaeus, Iskander had, for the first time in his life, confided much
of his secret heart; and the young Prince fired at the inspiring tale.
Often they consulted over the fortunes of their country, and, excited
by their mutual invention, at length even dared to hope that they might
effect its deliverance, when Iskander was summoned to the army. It was
a mournful parting. Both of them felt that the last few months of
their lives had owed many charms to their companionship. The parting
of friends, united by sympathetic tastes, is always painful; and
friends, unless this sympathy subsist, had much better never meet.
Iskander stepped into the ship, sorrowful, but serene; Nicaeus returned
to his palace moody and fretful; lost his temper with his courtiers,
and, when he was alone, even shed tears.



CHAPTER 3


Three weeks bad elapsed since the parting of Iskander and Nicaeus, when
the former, at the head of ten thousand men, entered by a circuitous
route the defiles of Mount Haemus, and approached the Turkish camp,
which had been pitched, upon a vast and elevated table-ground,
commanded on all sides by superior heights, which, however, were
fortified and well-garrisoned by Janissaries. The Epirots halted, and
immediately prepared to raise their tents, while their commander,
attended by a few of his officers, instantly proceeded to the pavilion