tilla; he
therefore privately informed Szilagy, his wife's brother, who at that
time defended Belgrade, that it was his intention to attack the ships of
the Turks on the 14th day of July in front, and requested his
co-operation in the rear. On the 14th came on the commencement of the
great battle of Belgrade, between Hunyadi and the Turk. Many days it
lasted.

_Myself_. Describe it.

_Hungarian_. I cannot. One has described it well--Florentius of Buda. I
can only repeat a few of his words:--"On the appointed day, Hunyadi, with
two hundred vessels, attacked the Turkish flotilla in front, whilst
Szilagy, with forty vessels, filled with the men of Belgrade, assailed it
in the rear; striving for the same object, they sunk many of the Turkish
vessels, captured seventy-four, burnt many, and utterly annihilated the
whole fleet. After this victory, Hunyadi, with his army, entered
Belgrade, to the great joy of the Magyars. But though the force of
Mahomed upon the water was destroyed, that upon the land remained entire;
and with this, during six days and nights, he attacked the city without
intermission, destroying its walls in many parts. His last and most
desperate assault was made on the 21st day of July. Twice did the Turks
gain possession of the outer town, and twice was it retaken with
indescribable slaughter. The next day the combat raged without ceasing
till mid-day, when the Turks were again beaten out of the town, and
pursued by the Magyars to their camp. There the combat was renewed, both
sides displaying the greatest obstinacy, until Mahomed received a great
wound over his left eye. The Turks then, turning their faces, fled,
leaving behind them three hundred cannon in the hands of the Christians,
and more than twenty-four thousand slain on the field of battle."

_Myself_. After that battle, I suppose Hunyadi enjoyed his triumphs in
peace?

_Hungarian_. In the deepest, for he shortly died. His great soul
quitted his body, which was exhausted by almost superhuman exertions, on
the 11th of August 1456. Shortly before he died, according to
Florentius, a comet appeared, sent, as it would seem, to announce his
coming end. The whole Christian world mourned his loss. The Pope
ordered the cardinals to perform a funeral ceremony at Rome in his
honour. His great enemy himself grieved for him, and pronounced his
finest eulogium. When Mahomed the Second heard of his death, he struck
his head for some time