They
seized the villages and reached the City,
the
mighty Fortress, they're attacking it now,
pursuing
and enslaving young and old,
like
wildfire raging in the height of summer.
Their
aim was not to waste a single hour,
with
such a mass of men, to smash the walls.
Such
was their valour, such their impetus,
their
exploits there brought awe and wonderment,
fighting
to take the Fortress and enslave it,
and
to annihilate the stricken Christians.
But
they went on resisting, night and day,
and
casting countless foes to death's dark realm.
But,
Christ, how can you bear so many tears,
fresh
tears each day, how can you tolerate it?
—
if gathered up, those tears would fill a lake
so
broad and deep that ships could sail upon it!
Come
hither, springs, bring water for my eyes,
to
weep and to lament with all my soul.
Candia,
my lips falter, my limbs are trembling,
my
hands have not the strength to grasp the pen,
to
tell of all the havoc, all the grief,
that's
fallen on this hapless, ravaged city.
.
O
Candia, jewel of Venice, Doge's crown,
your
rulers looked upon you with such pride!
O
Candia, all who've seen you yearn for you;
wherever
they may be, they speak your praise;
all
cities praise you, Candia, for your beauty,
yet
here you are today in desperate straits.
1. Anthimos (Akakios) Diakrousis, The Cretan war, 2008 More
| 5. The “Cretan War” | |
---|---|---|
| 5.1 The Siege and the Fall of Candia (1648-1669) | |
| 5.2 Cretan War and sank of La Thérèse | |
| 5.3 The evacuation of Candia | |
| 5.4 The Cretan War in the Literature | |
| 5.4.1 Anthimos (Akakios) Diakrousis | |
| 5.4.2 Marinos Tzanes Bounialis |