 It relates the story of a "sgherro" or a mercenary, who, at the news of the siege of Vienna, decides to organize an expedition to help free the city.The siege really took place in 1683 when the Ottoman army, led by Kara Mustafa Pasha (Bassà in the poem) besieged Vienna for two months.Just before leaving, however, it is reported that Vienna is free from the siege, so the collected money is then spent to organize a big party.