mohammed ali and his house-第1部分

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Mohammed　Ali　and　His　House

An　Historical　Romance

by　L。　MUHLBACH

Translated　from　German　by　Chapman　Coleman








CONTENTS


BOOK　I　　　　　YEARS　OF　YOUTH。

CHAPTER
　　　I。　　The　Sea
　　II。　　Mother　and　Son
　III。　　Boyish　Dreams
　　IV。　　Premonition　of　Death
　　　V。　　The　Story…teller
　　VI。　　The　Mamelukes
　VII。　　Dreams　of　the　Future
VIII。　　The　Friends
　　IX。　　A　Soul　in　the　Agonies　of　Death
　　　X。　　Cousrouf　Pacha
　　XI。　　The　Revolt



BOOK　II　　　　　PARADISE　AND　HELL。

CHAPTER
　　　I。　　The　Flower　of　Praousta
　　II。　　Masa
　III。　　The　First　Day　of　Creation
　　IV。　　Masa's　Jewelry
　　　V。　　The　Deliverance
　　VI。　　The　Flight
　VII。　　The　Messenger
VIII。　　Vanished
　　IX。　　Where　is　she？
　　　X。　　The　Departure
　　XI。　　The　Triple　Oath
　XII。　　The　Paradise　under　the　Earth



BOOK　III　　　　　THE　MAMELUKES。

CHAPTER
　　　I。　　Revenge
　　II。　　All　Things　pass　away
　III。　　The　Bim　Bashi
　　IV。　　The　Embarkation
　　　V。　　The　Camp　at　Aboukir
　　VI。　　The　Massacre
　VII。　　Restitution
VIII。　　The　Viceroy　of　Egypt
　　IX。　　Sitta　Nefysseh
　　　X。　　L'Elfi　Bey
　　XI。　　The　Council　of　War
　XII。　　The　Abduction



BOOK　IV　　　　　THE　VICEROY。

CHAPTER
　　　I。　　Butheita
　　II。　　In　the　Desert
　III。　　The　Agreement
　　IV。　　The　Revolt
　　　V。　　A　Strong　Heart
　　VI。　　Persecution
　VII。　　Money！　Pay！
VIII。　　The　Insurrection
　　IX。　　Vengeance　at　Last
　　　X。　　The　Return　to　Cairo
　　XI。　　Mohammed　Ali　and　Bardissi
　XII。　　Against　the　Mamelukes
XIII。　　Love　unto　Death
　XIV。　　Courschid　Pacha
　　XV。　　The　Tent
　XVI。　　Retribution
XVII。　　Conclusion




BOOK　I

YEARS　OF　YOUTH


CHAPTER　1

THE　SEA。


Beautiful　is　the　sea　when　it　lies　at　rest　in　its　sublimity；　its　murmuring　waves　gently　rippling　upon　the　beach；　the　sky　above　reflected　with　a　soft　light　upon　its　dark　bosom。

Beautiful　is　the　sea　when　it　bears　upon　its　surface　the　stately　ships；　as　though　they　were　rose…leaves　caressingly　tossed　by　one　wave　to　another。　Beautiful　is　the　sea　when　the　light　barks　with　their　red　sails　are　borne　slowly　onward　by　the　gentle　breeze；　the　careless　fishermen　casting　nets　from　the　decks　of　their　frail　craft　into　the　deep；　to　draw　thence；　for　the　nourishment　or　pleasure　of　man；　its　silent　inhabitants。　Beautiful　it　is　when　in　the　darkness　of　the　night；　relieved　only　by　the　light　of　the　stars；　and　the　moon　just　rising　above　the　horizon；　the　pirates　venture　forth　in　their　boats　from　their　lairs　on　the　coast；　and　glide　stealthily　along　within　the　shadow　of　the　overhanging　cliffs；　awaiting　an　opportunity　to　rob　the　fishermen　of　their　harvest；　or；　united　in　larger　numbers；　to　suddenly　surround　the　stately　merchantman；　clamber　like　cats　up　its　sides；　murder　the　sleeping；　unsuspecting　crew；　and　put　themselves　in　possession　of　the　vessel。

The　sea　has　witnessed　all　this　for　centuries；　has　silently　buried　such　secrets　in　its　depths；　and　yet；　after　such　nights　of　blood　and　terror；　the　sun　has　again　risen　in　splendor　over　its　bosom；　ever　presenting　the　same　sublime　spectacle。

Beautiful　is　the　sea　when　it　lies　at　rest　in　the　azure　light　of　the　skies…a　very　heaven　on　earth。　But　still　more　beautiful；　more　glorious；　is　it　when　it　surges　in　its　mighty　wrath…a　wrath　compared　with　which　the　thunder　of　the　heavens　is　but　as　the　whispering　of　love；　the　raging　of　a　storm　upon　the　land；　a　mere　murmur。　An　immeasurable　monster；　the　sea　rushes　with　its　mighty　waves　upon　the　rock…bound　coast；　sends　clouds　of　spray　high　into　the　air；　telling　in　tones　of　thunder　of　the　majesty　and　strength　of　the　ocean　that　refuses　to　be　fettered　or　conciliated。

You　may　cultivate　the　arts　and　sciences　on　the　land；　you　may　bring　the　earth　into　subjection；　and　make　it　yield　up　its　treasures；　the　sea　has　bounded　in　freedom　since　the　beginning；　and　it　will　not　be　conquered；　will　not　be　tamed。　The　mind　of　man　has　learned　to　command　all　things　on　the　land；　knows　the　secrets　of　the　depths　of　the　earth；　and　uses　them；　but　man　is　weak　and　powerless　when　he　dares　to　command；　or　ventures　to　combat；　the　ocean。　At　its　pleasure　it　carries　ships；　barks；　and　boats；　but　at　its　pleasure　it　also　destroys　and　grinds　them　to　dust；　and　you　can　only　fold　your　hands　and　let　it　act　its　will。

Today　it　is　surging　fiercely；　its　waves　are　black；　and　their　white　heads　curl　over　upon　the　rock　Bucephalus；　that　stretches　far　out　into　the　bay　of　Contessa；　pictured　against　the　blue　sky　in　the　form　of　a　gigantic　black　steed。　Huddled　together；　at　the　foot　of　this　rock；　and　leaning　against　its　surface；　is　a　group　of　men　and　boys。　They　are　eagerly　gazing　out　upon　the　water；　and　are　perhaps　speaking　to　each　other；　but　no　one　hears　what　another　says；　for　the　waves　are　roaring；　and　the　storm　howling　in　the　rocky　caves；　and　the　waves　and　storm；　with　their　mighty　chorus；　drown　the　little　human　voices。　The　pale　faces　of　the　boys　are　expressive　of　terror　and　anxiety；　the　knit　brows　of　the　men　indicate　that　they　are　expecting　a　disaster；　and　the　trembling　lips　of　the　old　men　forebode　that　the　next　hour　may　bring　with　it　some　horrible　event。

They　stand　upon　the　beach；　waiting　anxiously；　but　the　monsterthe　searegards　them　not；　and　hurls　one　black　wave　after　the　other　in　upon　the　cliff　behind　which　they　stand；　often　drenching　them　with　spray。

But　these　people　pay　no　attention　to　this；　hardly　notice　it；　their　whole　soul　is　in　their　eyes；　which　are　gazing　fixedly　out　upon　the　waters。　Thus　they　stand；　these　poor；　weak　human　beings；　in　the　presence　of　the　grand；　majestic　ocean；　conscious　their　impotence；　and　waiting　till　the　monster　shall　graciously　allow　his　anger　to　abate。　For　a　moment　the　storm　holds　its　breath；　a　strange；　solemn　stillness　follows　upon　the　roaring　of　the　elements；　and　affords　these　people　an　opportunity　to　converse；　and　impart　their　terror　and　anxiety　to　each　other。

〃He　will　not　return；〃　said　one　of　them；　with　a　shake　of　the　head　and　a　sad　look。

〃He　is　lost！〃　sighed　another。

〃And　you　boys　are　to　blame　for　it！〃　cries　a　third；　turning　to　the　group　who　stood　near　the　men；　closely　wrapped　in　their　brown　cloaks；　the　hoods　pulled　down　over　their　eyes。

〃Why　did　you　encourage　him　to　undertake　so　daring　a　feat？〃　cried　a　fourth；　pointing　threateningly　toward　the　boys。

〃It　is　not　our　fault；　Sheik　Emir；〃　said　one　of　them；　defiantly；　〃he　would　do　so。〃

〃Mohammed　always　was　proud　and　haughty；〃　exclaimed　another。　〃We　told　him　that　a　storm　was　coming；　and　that　we　would　go　home。　But　he　wouldn't；　sheik。〃

〃That　is　to　say；〃　said　the　sheik；　angrily〃that　is　to　say；　you　have　been　ridiculing　the　poor　boy　again？〃

〃He　is　always　so　proud；　and　thinks　himself　something　better　than　the　rest　of　us；〃　murmured　the　boy；　〃though　he　is　something　worse；　and　may　some　day　be　a　beggar　if〃

The　storm　now　began　to　rage　more　furiously；　the　waves　towered　higher；　and　threw　their　spray　far　on　to　the　shore　and　high　upon　the　rock；　as　though　determined　to　make　known　its　dread　majesty　to　the　inhabitants　of　the　city　of　Cavalla；　which　stands　with　its　little　houses；　narrow　streets；　and　splendid　mosque；　on　the　plateau　of　the　rock　of　Bucephalus。　On　the　summit　of　the　rock　a　woman　is　kneeling；　her　hands　extended　imploringly　toward　heaven；　she　has　allowed　the　white　veil　to　fall　from　her　face；　and　her　agonized　features　are　exposed　to　view；　regardless　of　the　law　that　permits　her　to　reveal　her　countenance　in　the　harem　only。　What　are　the　laws　to　her？　where　is　the　man　to　command　her　to　veil　her　countenance？　who　says　to　her：　〃You　belong　to　me；　and　my　heart　glows　with　jealousy　when　others　behold　you〃？

No　one　is　there　who　could　thus　address　her；　for　she　is　a　widow；　and　calls　nothing　on　earth　her　own；　and　loves　nothing　on　earth　but　her　son；　her　Mohammed　Ali。

She　knows　that　he　has　gone　out　to　sea　in　a　frail　skiff　to　cross　over　to　the　island…rock　Imbro。　The　boys　have　told　her　of　the　daring　feat　which　her　son　had　undertaken　with　them。　Filled　with　anxiety；　they　had　come　up　to　the　widow　of　Ibrahim　to　announce　that　her　son　had　refused　to　return　with　them　after　they　had　started　in　their　fisher…　boats　for　the　island　of　Imbro。　〃I　have　begun　it　and　I'll　carry　it　out；〃　the　proud　boy　had　replied　to　them。　〃You　have　ridiculed　me；　and　think　yourselves　better　oarsmen　than　I；　and　now　you　shall　see　that　I　alone　shall　cross　over　to　Imbro；　while　you　cowardly　return　when　the　storm　begins　to　rage。〃

This　was　his　reply；　and　in　their　anxiety　they　had　repeated　it　to　his　mother　Khadra；　telling　her；　at　the　same　time；　that　they　were　innocent　of　her　son's　misdeed；　and　had　begged　him　in　his　mother's　name　to　return　with　them。　There　she　kneels　on　the　brow　of　the　rock；　gazing　out　upon　the　water；　imploring　Allah　to　restore　her　son；　and　conjuring　the　raging　sea　to　bear　back　her　child　to　the　shore。

The　mother's　entreaties　are　ardent；　and　strong　is　her　prayer　to　Allah　and　to　Nature。

The　ghins；　the　evil　spirits　themselves；　hold　their　breath　and　flap　their　black　wings　more　gently　when　they　rustle　past　the　spot　where　a　mother　weeps　and　prays　for　her　son！

But　a　tear　drops　from　the　eyes　of　the　good　spirits　when　they　meet　such　a　mother；　and　this　tear　is　potent　to　save　her　child。　Perhaps　at　this　moment　an　agathodaemon　has　flown　by；　has　seen　the　agonized　mother；　and　has　let　fall　a　tear　upon　the　waters；　for　at　this　moment　they　become　more　tranquil。　Perhaps　the　ghins　have　suddenly　been　swept　away　by　the　whirlwind；　Zeboah；　for　the　storm　is　now　hushed。

The　storm　is　stilled；　though　from　time　to　time　its　mighty　breath　is　again　heard；　and　then　it　is　again　mute；　and　the　waves　roll　in　upon　the　shore　less　furiously。　The　sky；　too；　begins　to　grow　clear。　The　sun　looks　out　from　between　the　clouds；　and　throws　a　long　golden　streak　of　light　across　the　waves；　as　if　to　conciliate　with　its　smile　the　foaming　sea；　and　smooth　its　furrowed　brow。

Now；　a　single；　mighty　cry　resounds　from　above；　from　the　place　where　the　mother　is　kneeling。　It　seems　to　find　its　echo　here　below　on　the　shore　where　the　men　and　boys　are　standing。　It　is　a　cry　of　joy；　of　ecstasy。　And　all　hands　are　raised　and　pointed　across　the　water　to　the　spot　where　the　island…rock；　Imbro；　must　lie。　It　is　not　visible；　the　waves　have　surged　over　it；　as　they　always　do　when　the　storm　rages；　but　they　know　that　it　must　lie　there。　And　therea　black　spot！　It　dances　on　the　waves；　and　is　lifted　above　the　white　spray。　The　sun　throws　its　rays　far　out　over　the　water