The grief of the Russians was profound and universal.

For ages they had not known a prince so illustrious or so devoted to the welfare of his country.
The young Vassali had been but a few years on the throne when Tamerlane himself advanced with countless hordes from the far Orient, crushing down all opposition, and sweeping over prostrate nations like the pestilence which had preceded him, and whose track he followed.
Tamerlane was the son of a petty Mogol prince.

He was born in a season of anarchy, and when the whole Tartar horde was distracted with civil dissensions.

The impetuous young man had hardly begun to think, ere he had formed the resolve to attain the supremacy over all the Mogol tribes, to conquer the whole known world, and thus to render himself immortal in the annals of glory.

Behind a curtain of mountains, and protected by vast deserts, his persuasive genius collected a large band of followers, who with enthusiasm adopted his views and hailed him their chief.
After inuring them to fatigue, and drilling them thoroughly in the exercises of battle, he commenced his career.