Tripoli, North Africa, 1647: The Slave-market

The auctioneer studies the paper and periodically looks up from his reading to peer intently at Tobias who wonders about this; of course, he’s not to know this paper tells the auctioneer that he is a captured English seaman and that he is 22 years old. That’s all the auctioneer needs to know and he will use this information as a selling point as he presents Tobias to the buyers. 

The auctioneer raises his hand to still the buzz of conversation that fills Tobias’s head with a sound akin to a thousand, angry wasps and waits in dignified silence until the crowd is hushed. Then and only then does he speak. Tobias knows he is speaking about him and even though he doesn’t understand the words, he instinctively knows he is extolling Tobias’s virtues. If Tobias could understand him, he would be surprised for the auctioneer is fulsome in his praise of him. 

“Behold the unbeliever! Have you ever seen a more worthy slave? Truly he was born to serve in whatever capacity his master decrees. Look at his youthful body; marvel at the strength of his powerful chest and the width of his shoulders. Gaze upon his strong limbs; the reach of his arms and the power of his legs. And behold the slave’s arse! Truly it is that of a work slave. This slave was born for hard labour; to toil at the oar of a galley, to labour in your fields or your quarries. And yet, he has the looks and the demeanour to serve you in your homes or bedrooms. Tell me! Have you ever seen a more promising slave than this young Nasrani? At twenty-two, he is a mere babe with many years of productive labour ahead of him. His papers tell me that the infidel’s name is Tobias and that he is a peasant, country born and raised in that far away den of iniquity, that home of Shaitan and his foul spawn – England. And in his later years he served as a seaman where his body was honed to the physical perfection you now see before you. Fortune smiled upon the true believer the day this young infidel was delivered into our hands. But come; don’t be shy! Come feel the hardness of the slave’s body. Feel the power of his muscles for yourselves. Test the strength of his limbs. Come place your hands on the slave. Inspect him, examine him and you will see that I don’t exaggerate when I say this slave is true perfection. I invite your bids for this magnificent slave!”

Artwork by Amalaric; the text is mine.