mohammed ali and his house-第12部分

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he　now　scarcely　sees　as　they　pass　by；　the　cave；　too；　his　paradise；　is　forgotten。　He　would　no　longer　desire　to　return　to　this　dark；　dreary　solitude。

Upward；　upward　to　the　highest　point　of　the　rock；　to　which　the　name　〃The　Ear　of　Bucephalus〃　had　been　given！　He　climbs　the　rocky　ascent　like　a　gazelle。　Thither　no　one　will　follow　him；　there　the　eye　of　the　prophet　alone　will　see；　and　the　ear　of　Allah　alone　hear　him。　Up　there　he　will　be　alone　with　God　and　his　dreams。

Now　he　is　on　the　summit；　gazing　fax　out　into　the　sea；　into　the　infinite　distance　where　heaven　and　sea　unite　and　become　one。　He　stretches　out　his　arms　and　utters　a　cry　of　exultation　that　resounds　through　the　mountains　like　the　scream　of　the　eagle：

〃Thither　will　I；　to　the　land　of　promise　and　of　fortune！to　the　land　where　slaves　become　heroes；　and　heroes　princes！　Mother；　your　dream　shall　be　realized！　There　I　shall　find　palaces　on　whose　summit　I　shall　stand　with　uplifted　sword；　nations　at　my　feet。　To　Egypt　will　I　go。　To　the　land　of　grandeur　and　glory；　where　for　thousands　of　years　the　greatest　and　mightiest　have　made　of　themselves　princes　and　rulers。　I　will　become　mighty；　I　will　cultivate　my　mind；　that　it　may　help　me　to　rule　men。　Then　I　will　make　of　myself　a　prince　before　whom　all　other　princes　shall　fall　in　the　dust！〃

He　shouts　again　exultingly；　and　the　walls　of　the　cliffs　echo　back　his　cry。　He　feels　so　happy；　so　free　from　all　earthly　care。　He　seems　to　float　in　upper　air　like　the　eagle；　looking　down　upon　the　lowliness　of　earth　beneath。

As　he　looks　out　into　the　distance；　he　sees　a　little　dark　spot　rise　on　the　horizon。　His　eagle…eye　perceives　that　it　is　a　ship。　As　it　comes　nearer；　it　dances　on　the　waves；　and　its　white　sails　expand　like　the　wings　of　a　giant　swan。　It　is　a　beautiful；　majestic　object。　The　young　Mohammed　rejoices　at　the　spectacle；　and　says；　in　low　tones；　to　himself；　〃Some　day　I　shall　possess　ships；　too。　Some　day　I　shall　tread　the　deck　of　the　great　admiral's　ship。〃

The　ship　glides　over　the　glittering　mirror　of　the　deep；　and　comes　nearer　and　nearer；　and　the　curious　are　now　assembled　on　the　shore　to　gaze　at　it；　for　rarely　do　vessels　seek　the　rocky　promontory　of　Bucephalus　to　land　in　the　bay　of　Contessa。　The　peninsula　is　desolate　and　barren；　and　there　is　nothing　here　for　merchant…ships　but　the　tobacco　for　which　this　region　is　celebrated。　A　Turkish　galleon　comes　semi…annually　for　the　taxes　which　the　governor　has　levied；　to　bring　them　to　Stamboul　to　the　coffers　of　the　grand…sultan。

But　the　vessel　now　approaching　is　no　Turkish　galleon；　but　a　magnificent　ship；　and　one　can　see　on　the　deck；　under　the　gold…　embroidered　tent；　a　Turk　reclining　on　cushions。　Slaves　in　rich　attire　are　on　their　knees　before　him；　others　are　behind　him　fanning　the　flies　away　with　fans　made　of　peacock…feathers。

〃Who　can　this　great　man；　this　stranger　be？〃　ask　the　curious；　who　are　standing　on　the　beach；　gazing　fixedly　at　the　ship　that　has　now　entered　the　little　bay；　and　is　steering　toward　the　landing。

Mohammed　has　also　hurried　down　to　the　beach。　To…day；　while　his　heart　and　mind　are　filled　with　the　narrative　of　the　scha…er；　to…day　every　thing　seems　to　him　so　strange；　so　wonderful；　it　seems　to　him　that　he　is　about　to　receive　intelligence　from　the　world　his　whole　being　longs　for　so　intensely；　the　world　that　is　one　day　to　lie　at　his　feet。

The　ship　has　entered　the　bay；　and　a　boat　containing　three　Turkish　gentlemen　is　coming　from　it　to　the　shore：　They　haughtily　step　ashore；　and　pass　by；　without　saluting　the　crowd；　to　the　pathway　that　leads　up　to　Cavalla。　But　the　grand…looking　Turk　is　still　on　deck；　reclining　on　his　cushions；　the　slaves　are　still　about；　filling　and　refilling　his　long　chibouque；　on　whose　golden　mouth…piece　brilliants　are　seen　glittering。

Mohammed's　keen　eyes　observe　all　this；　and　he　follows　each　movement　of　the　aristocratic　Turk　with　breathless　attention。　Thus；　he　thinks；　will　he　also　do　some　day；　thus　will　he；　too；　recline　on　his　silken　cushions；　surrounded　by　his　slaves　he；　the　prince！

How　would　those　who　were　standing　around　the　boy　have　laughed　if　they　could　have　divined　Mohammed's　thoughts；　if　they　had　known　that　he　was　dreaming　of　his　future　magnificence　while　standing　there　on　the　beach　in　his　wide　cotton　pants；　tied　at　the　bottom　around　his　ankles　with　strings；　his　felt　thrust　into　a　pair　of　peaked　shoes　of　doubtful　color；　a　faded　red　shawl　bound　around　his　waist；　on　his　body　a　well…worn　brown　shirt；　the　whole　crowned　with　the　red　tarboosh　that　covered　his　dark　hair；　around　which　was　wound　a　white　and　riot　particularly　clean　kufei！

Who　could　have　imagined　that　this　poor　Turkish　child　was　dreaming　of　future　glory；　and　saying　to　himself；　as　he　regarded　the　grand　gentleman　on　the　deck　of　the　ship：　〃I　will　one　day　be　as　you　are；　and　even　greater　than　you！〃

The　governor；　accompanied　by　the　strange　Turks；　and　followed　by　servants　carrying　palanquins；　was　now　observed　coming　down　the　pathway　from　Cavalla。　Hastily　he　walks　to　the　beach；　and；　with　the　Turks；　enters　the　boat　and　steers　for　the　ship。

The　governor　has　now　reached　the　ship　and　climbed　to　the　deck；　but　the　grand　gentleman　does　not　stir　from　his　cushions；　and　only　greets　him　with　a　gracious　nod。　The　people　on　the　beach　observe　this　with　astonishment；　and　ask　each　other：　〃Who　can　this　be？　Tschorbadji　Hassan　is　the　greatest　man　on　our　peninsula；　and　every　head　bows　down　before　him。　And　this　gentleman　dares　to　salute　him　with　a　mere　nod。　Truly　he　must　be　a　very　great　man！〃

Mohammed　regards　the　people　who　are　speaking　contemptuously；　and　murmurs　to　himself：　〃I　shall　be　a　greater　man　some　day。　He　is　no　prince；　else　his　ship　would　show　the　admiral's　flag；　and　the　governor　would　fall　on　his　face　before　him。　The　scha…er　told　me　that　such　is　the　custom　in　the　presence　of　princes。　But　the　people　shall　one　day　prostrate　them　selves　on　their　faces　before　me！〃

At　last　the　grand　gentleman　arises　slowly　from　his　cushions；　and　lays　his　arm　on　the　shoulder　of　the　governor；　who　walks　at　his　side；　his　head　bowed　down；　and　seemingly　delighted　at　being　permitted　to　bear　this　burden　on　his　shoulder。

They　walk　to　the　stairway；　the　governor　busies　himself　in　helping　the　stranger　to　descend；　jumps　into　the　boat；　and　extends　his　band　to　assist　him　to　enter。　He　tranquilly　receives　these　attentions；　the　slaves　follow；　and　lay　gold…embroidered　cushions　on　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　and　the　grand　gentleman　reclines　on　them　in　an　easy　attitude。　The　governor　stands　before　him；　addressing　him　with　an　air　of　profound　reverence；　and　the　slaves　take　up　their　position　behind　him；　and　waft　refreshing　breezes　to　him　with　their　fans。　As　the　boat　reaches　the　beach；　the　governor　turns　and　addresses　the　people　in　imperious　tones：

〃Bow　down　in　the　dust　before　the　grand…vizierbefore　Cousrouf　Pacha！　Salute　his　excellency！〃

All　fall　on　their　knees；　and　remain　there　in　mute　reverence；　while　the　pacha；　accompanied　by　the　governor；　and　followed　by　his　slaves；　ascends　the　pathway　to　Cavalla。

One　person　only　had　not　fallen　down　on　his　knees；　and　that　person　was　Mohammed　Ali。

He　had　secreted　himself　behind　a　rock；　and　there　he　stands；　regarding　the　pacha　with　eager　eyes；　and　glancing　contemptuously　at　those　who；　at　other　times　so　noisy　and　arrogant；　are　now　bowed　down　in　the　dust；　and　who　have　as　yet　not　even　ventured　to　raise　their　heads。

But　now　the　scene　on　the　shore　becomes　an　animated　one。　The　governor　has　ordered　that　other　boats　be　sent　out　to　the　ship；　and　a　peculiar　and　wondrous　sight　presents　itself　on　board。

White　female　figures；　closely　enveloped　in　long　white　veils；　appear　on　deck。　Tall　men；　with　black　faces　and　fat　bodies；　stand　at　their　side。　The　sailors　have　disappeared　from　the　deck；　no　one　is　now　visible　but　the　white　female　figures　and　the　fat　black　men。

〃That　is　the　harem　of　the　grand…vizier；〃　the　people　now　whisper　to　each　other；　〃and　those　men　at　their　side　are　the　eunuchs。〃

Two　of　these　eunuchs　now　come　to　the　shore；　and；　in　threatening　tones；　order　the　men　to　leave　the　beach　at　once；　and　to　go　up　to　Cavalla　to　announce　there　that　no　one　shall　allow　himself　to　be　seen　in　the　streets。

The　men　hurriedly　ascend　the　pathway　to　the　city；　without　even　venturing　to　look　back　at　the　pacha's　harem。

Mohammed　Ali　alone　is　nowhere　to　be　seen。　He　has　crouched　down　behind　the　rocks；　and　no　one　sees　the　fiery　eyes　that　peer　out　cautiously　from　his　hiding…place。

The　women；　looking　like　white　swans；　are　now　rowed　to　the　shore。

The　beach　is　bareno　one　sees　them。　They　can　venture　to　open　their　veils　a　little；　and　look　about　them　on　this　strange　shore。

Oh！　what　glowing　eyes；　what　purple　lips；　are　disclosed　to　the　boy's　sight！　For　the　first　time；　his　heart　beats　stormily；　for　the　first　time；　he　feels　a　strange　delight　in　his　soul。　Yesbeautiful　are　these　women；　as　are　the　houris　in　paradise；　and　enviable　is　he　to　whom　they　belong。

Two　of　the　eunuchs　walk　before　the　women；　four　walk　beside　them；　and　imperiously　command　them　to　draw　their　veils　closer　together。　They　approach　several　of　them　with　profound　respect；　and　extend　their　hands　to　assist　them　in　entering　the　palanquins　that　stand　ready　to　receive　them；　the　others　must　go　on　foot。

Loudly　resounds　the　cry　of　the　eunuchs　who　walk　in　advance：　〃The　haremthe　harem　of　his　excellency！　Away；　ye　men！　The　harem！〃

At　this　cry　all　flee　to　their　houses　in　the　city　above；　and　none　are　to　be　seen　in　the　deserted　streets　but　the　ladies　of　the　harem　that　are　being　borne　along　in　palanquins；　and　the　train　of　veiled　figures　behind　them。

The　procession　moves　on　to　the　governor's　house；　where　a　strange　scene　presents　itself。　Servants　are　standing　about　in　gold…　embroidered　garments；　all　is　confusion　and　motion。　His　excellency　the　pacha　condescends　to　take　up　his　abode　in　the　governor's　palace；　and　the　upper　saloons　are　being　opened　and　prepared　for　the　distinguished　guest。　Adjoining　the　main　building；　a　side　building；　with　barred　windows；　extends　far　out　into　the　garden。　Until　now　it　had　stood　empty；　for　the　governor　cares　not　for　the　society　of　women；　his　heart　is　cold　toward　them；　he　loves　nothing　but　his　son。　The　harem　is　empty；　and　is　therefore　ready　to　receive　the　women　and　slaves　of　his　excellency　Cousrouf　Pacha。　The　shutters　of　the　windows　have　long　stood　openthe