Submitted by Sir Joshua, Mar 29, 2007 07:33

Muslim sultans of Constantinople seem to have had a habit of delivering heads to people to whom they wanted to make a point. I recently had the pleasure of reading the Journals of Edmund and Jules de Goncourt. Edmund relates an anecdote told by Camille Rousset (see Journal 30 April, 1881)

"After General Sebastiani (French Ambassador to Turkey in 1806) had repulsed the English attack on Constantinople, the Sultan Selim said to him: 'What reward would you like? I will give you anything you ask.'

'In that case, I ask His Highness to allow me to see the harem.' 'Very well, you shall see it.' And he showed him the harem and all his wives.. When the visit was over, the Sultan asked Gen. Sebastiani: 'Did you notice a woman you liked?' 'Yes,' replied the general, and he indicated which one. 'Very well,' said the Sultan once more. And that evening Gen. Sebastiani received the woman's head on a platter, together with a message to this effect: 'As a Moslem, I could not offer you, a Christian, a woman of my faith. But like this, you can be sure that this woman on whom you set your eyes will never belong to any other man.'

Wasn't it St. Theresa who said,' Be careful of what you pray for.' ?

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