The Slaves of the Padishah · Chapter
VII: The Panic of Nagyenyed explained
The chapter describes the panic that spreads through Transylvania after a false alarm about an invasion.
What happens
The chapter describes the panic that spreads through Transylvania after a false alarm about an invasion. Mr. Ebéni, the commandant of Klausenburg, is roused from sleep by the news brought by Magyari, and a series of exaggerated messages leads to a mass flight from Nagyenyed. The Turkish envoy Yffim Beg also flees in terror. Meanwhile, the captive leader of the freebooters escapes, and Father Gregory hides his flock in the Cavern of Balina. The chapter highlights the chaos, misinformation, and cowardice that ensue.
Themes in this chapter
War and Destruction
The chapter shows how the mere rumor of war causes widespread panic, flight, and chaos, highlighting the destructive impact of conflict on civilian life.
Honor and Betrayal
The false accusations of treason against the German soldiers and the escape of the captured leader underscore themes of mistrust and betrayal during times of crisis.
Fate and Death
The exaggerated reports of invasion and the subsequent flight reflect a sense of impending doom and the unpredictable nature of fate.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Ebéni
The commandant of Klausenburg who is initially asleep and then panics upon hearing the exaggerated news of an invasion.
- Dean Magyari
The reverend who brings the initial warning to Klausenburg and tries to organize a defense.
- Michael Apafi
The Prince who, upon hearing the exaggerated report, orders his wife to be taken to safety and flees himself.
- Princess Apafi
The Prince's wife, who is terrified by the news and is quickly sent away in a carriage.
- Yffim Beg
The envoy of the Pasha of Buda who, while bathing, hears the panic and flees on a barebacked horse without his turban.
- Andrew
The Prince's faithful old servant who prepares the carriage for the Princess and spreads the exaggerated news.
- Master Szénasi
A crafty adventurer who sows discord between the Hungarian and German troops and later escapes from captivity.
- Brother Gregory
A friar who, after the escape of the prisoners, leads his flock to hide in the Cavern of Balina.
Key passages
“The worthy man had this peculiarity that when any of his officers awoke him for anything and told him that this or that had happened, he would simply reply “Impossible!” turn over on the other side, and go on slumbering.”
Mr. Ebéni had a habit of dismissing any news as impossible and going back to sleep.
This illustrates his initial disbelief and contributes to the panic.
“The people, aroused from its sleep in terror at the sound of the church-bells at that unwonted hour, naturally hastened in crowds to the church, where the reverend gentleman stood up before them and, in the most impressive language, told them all that he had seen, described the danger which was drawing near to them beneath the wings of the night, and exhorted his hearers valiantly to defend themselves.”
The church bells rang at night, waking the people, who gathered to hear Magyari's dramatic warning about the approaching danger.
This shows how fear and dramatic rhetoric can spread panic.
“The courier got out of the town as quickly as possible, and by the time he had reached his destination had worked up his imagination to such an extent that he fancied the invading host had already valiantly covered the four leagues; and, bursting in upon the Prince without observing that the Princess, then in an interesting condition, was with him, blurted out the following message: “The Szathmár garrison with seventeen bands of freebooters has invaded Transylvania and is besieging Klausenburg, but Mr. Ebéni is, no doubt, still defending himself.””
The courier exaggerated the news so much that he claimed the enemy was already besieging Klausenburg, causing the Prince to panic.
This highlights how misinformation escalates the crisis.
“The worthy Yffim Beg was actually sitting in his bath when the panic-flight took place; and, alarmed at the noise, he sprang out of the water, and wrapping a sheet round him rushed to the window, and perceiving the terrified flying rabble, cried to one of the passersby: “Whither are you running? What is going on here?””
Yffim Beg, while bathing, heard the commotion and, seeing people fleeing, asked what was happening.
This shows how even foreign envoys were caught up in the panic.
“Thus Teleki had gained his object: the Transylvanian troops had now good reasons for staying at home. Yet he had got much more than he wanted, for he had only required of Kászonyi a feigned attack, whereas the band of Kökényesdi had ravaged Transylvania as far as Klausenburg.”
Teleki's plan to create a diversion worked too well, causing a real invasion and widespread destruction.
This reveals the unintended consequences of political maneuvering.
