But the stone bastion still kept up its fire,

Where the chief Pacha calmly held his post:

Some twenty times he made the Russ retire,

And baffled the assaults of all their host;

At length he condescended to inquire

If yet the city's rest were won or lost;

And being told the latter, sent a Bey

To answer Ribas' summons to give way.[471]