"Vae Victis!" Zorscha
Charge of the Damned!
By Jorgen Bayer
The Ottoman enemy was all around
Cut off were we on sea and ground
We drove them back and Mehemet II screams
More attacks and more Turks with the dead now dream.
The Turkish attack and fall in masses large,
The Byzantines stand, tormenting the Arab charge.
The attack begins, Bashi Bazuks attack our walls.
Rocks, shot, arrows rain down, and many Turk falls
Several attacks, all failing, real us to and fro,
Thanks be to God, we know.
Months go by and no Christian help arrives,
We stand and die and many Turks lost their lives.
Then, Christendom does our God humble.
On 29 May 1453, he made Constantinople rumble.
Emperor Constantine XI left the Palace at Blachernae
His choicest troops with him, to lead the way.
Giovanni Giustiniani’s great defense is only bent
And the Ottoman onslaught is nearly spent.
Then a gap in the wall appears and the Janissaries attack.
The Golden Horn shudders, men scream and die in their tracks.
Then luck changes for all there in.
Giustiniani is shot by a calverin.
His men pick up their wounded lord,
And run for the inner walls, away from the Turkish horde.
Then the city’s mighty walls fall.
God help us is our unanswered call.
Onward pour the Turkish dogs, in to the city.
Mehemet II says for three days give them no pity.
Alone stands the Emperor and his Varaingian Guard.
The Ottomans, for the inner gate, are driving hard.
The boldest Varaingian Guards enter the fray.
Many a Turkish pig will forever rue the day.
Furious Battle, men dying, everywhere, All hope was lost.
Oh heaven above, Dear God, look at the cost.
A final act of defiance, he knew what to do.
Constantine his scepter and crown away he threw.
Recklessly, screaming his war cry he charged into the fray,
Sword in clenched hand, hitting left and right, as it was his last day.
Into the midst of the Janissaries, I waded,
The Emperor’s body, I defended.
Like a rock, I stood my ground.
Blood and gore was all around.
Then the God of all men called my name
The Eastern Empire had fallen, that was our eternal shame.
Forevermore
The
Charge of the Damned!
Email me at: todtjager@comcast.net