mohammed ali and his house-第24部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ing　dignity　and　high　resolve。

At　the　command　of　Mohammed；　one　of　the　governor's　collectors　was　sent　to　Praousta。　He　was　instructed　to　place　himself　in　front　of　the　mosque；　call　the　people　together　by　the　sound　of　the　tomtom；　and　announce　to　them；　in　the　name　of　the　tschorbadji；　that　all　who　would　see　the　victims　of　their　rebellion　should　come　up　the　mountain；　but　without　arms；　and　only　three　at　a　time。　They　should　be　allowed　to　enter　the　court…yard　of　the　palace；　where　they　could　see　that　the　prisoners　were　still　alive；　and　that　their　lives　and　liberty　rested　solely　with　the　men　of　Praousta。　In　conformity　with　this　proclamation；　the　men　of　the　village　came　up　to　the　palace　in　threes。

Above；　upon　the　rock；　knelt　a　young　girl；　closely　veiled。　The　men　of　Praousta　knew　well　that　this　was　Masa；　the　sheik's　daughter。　They　bowed　low　before　her；　and　greeted　her　with　the　greeting　of　peace。　She　raised　her　trembling　hands　toward　them；　exclaiming：　〃Have　pity　on　my　unhappy　father！　Submit　to　the　law！　Yield　to　necessity！　O　save　my　father；　and　do　not　make　me　an　orphan！〃

The　men　of　Praousta　made　no　reply；　they　bowed　their　heads　silently；　and　passed　on；　with　clouded　countenances；　to　the　iron　cage　in　which　the　governor's　lion　had　once　been　confined；　and　where　now　stood　the　sheik　and　the　ulemas；　thus　made　wild　beasts　of；　they；　the　best　and　wisest　men　of　Praousta；　the　representatives　of　the　people；　made　a　public　spectacle！

The　sheik　and　the　ulemas　beckoned　to　each　man　who　passed；　and　besought　him　to　hold　fast　to　his　resolution　not　to　pay　the　new　tax。　〃If　you　yield　now；　and　pay　twofold；　soon　they　will　demand　threefold；　they　wish　to　impoverish　us　and　exact　our　heart's　blood；　but　we　will　not　submit；　and　we　command　you　to　stand　firm！〃

〃But　you；　O　fathers　of　our　community；　what　will　be　your　fate？〃

〃That　Allah　has　determined；〃　replied　one　of　the　ulemas。　〃Not　a　bird　falls　to　the　ground；　not　a　worm　is　crushed；　by　the　careless　foot　of　man；　without　his　knowledge。　He　who　protects　the　spiders　in　the　trees　and　in　the　corners　of　the　rooms；　the　birds　of　the　air；　and　the　monsters　of　the　deep；　will　also　care　for　us。　Allah　be　praised！〃

〃Allah　be　praised！〃　echoed　the　men；　as　they　turned　their　steps　toward　Praousta。

The　maiden　still　knelt　upon　the　rocky　stairway　and　raised　her　hands　in　wild　entreaty　to　the　passers…by。　〃Yield；　yield；　I　implore　you！　Do　not　deliver　over　your　wisest　and　best　men　to　a　bloody　death！〃

Mohammed　stood　in　the　hall；　behind　a　pillar；　listening　earnestly　to　the　words　spoken　by　the　prisoners　to　the　men　of　the　village。　From　time　to　time　Osman　joined　him；　and　begged　him　not　to　act　the　part　of　guard　over　the　prisoners；　but　to　come　into　the　saloon　and　rest　upon　the　divan。　〃They　can　not　escape；　the　railing　is　high；　and　the　gate　securely　locked。　Come；　grant　me　the　pleasure　of　your　company；　and　let　me　seek　to　soften　your　heart；　and　incline　you　to　mercy。〃

〃Impossible；〃　said　Mohammed；　sternly。　〃If　we　yield　now；　the　tschorbadji's　authority　is　forever　lost。〃

〃But；〃　said　the　tschorbadji；　who　joined　them　at　that　moment；　〃what　is　to　come　of　all　this；　if　the　prisoners　do　not　submit？〃

〃Their　heads　shall　fall　upon　the　block　to…morrow　morning；　at　the　hour　of　prayer；〃　said　Mohammed；　in　so　firm　and　clear　a　voice　that　his　words　were　heard　by　Cousrouf　Pacha；　who　had　just　entered　the　hall。

〃He　is　right；　tschorbadji；〃　said　he；　bowing　his　head　with　great　dignity。　〃Yes；　he　is　right！　If　the　rabble　are　rebellious；　let　the　heads　of　some　of　them　fall！　Order　and　law　must　reign！　Many…headed　is　the　hydra；　and　it　is　no　great　misfortune　if　a　few　of　their　brawling　heads　are　hewn　off！〃

〃Allah　is　great！　His　will　be　done；〃　said　the　tschorbadji。　〃I　do　not　wish　the　court…yard　of　my　dwelling　to　be　stained　with　blood。　I　do　not　wish　to　rule　harshly　and　unmercifully　in　the　evening　of　my　life；　after　governing　my　people　so　many　years　by　mild　and　gentle　rule。〃

〃There　you　are　wrong；〃　said　Cousrouf　Pacha；　〃mildness　and　gentleness　do　not　become　a　ruler；　only　by　severity　and　an　unbending　will　can　he　exalt　himself　to　power；　and；　even　when　he　reaches　the　goal；　he　must　trust　to　arms；　if　he　is　to　maintain　himself。〃

〃And　if　with　sword　and　dagger　he　reaches　the　throne；〃　said　Osman；　looking　gently　and　reproachfully　at　the　proud　pacha；　〃may　he　then　hope　to　hear　music　and　hymns　of　praise；　or　must　he　not　then　only　expect　to　hear　cries　of　anguish　uttered　by　those　over　whose　heads　he　strode　to　power？　He　could　not　then　expect　to　see　a　fair　and　blooming　land；　but　a　land　full　of　corpses　and　blood！　No；　no；　Cousrouf　Pacha！　I　desire　not　to　reach　that　height。　I　will　rather　dwell　in　the　valleys…in　the　shadow　of　the　cliffs　on　the　sea　shore…and　gather　shells；　and　revel　in　the　gladness　and　delight　of　a　modest　and　quiet　existence。〃

〃And　you；　Mohammed；〃　said　the　pacha；　smiling　scornfully；　〃what　is　your　ambition？　Will　you　gather　shells　upon　the　sea…shore　with　Osman；　or　will　you　climb　the　heights　with　me　to　a　splendid　goal？〃

Mohammed　turned　his　eyes　entirely　away　from　the　pacha；　nodded　to　his　friend　Osman；　and　said：　〃I　will　tread　my　own　path　alone。　Where　fate　will　lead　me　I　know　not。　I　seek　no　companionship；　and　will　follow　no　man's　lead。　From　time　to　time；　I　may　turn　aside　from　my　path；　and　wander；　with　joy　and　gladness；　with　my　only　friend；　on　the　sea…　shore；　and　seek　for　shells；　and　revel　in　the　delights　of　a　modest　and　quiet　life。〃

With　a　kindly　glance；　Osman　extended　his　hand；　as　if　in　a　grateful　greeting。

The　men　of　Praousta　continued　to　pass　before　the　iron　cage；　and　the　sheik　still　appealed　to　them　to　be　firm；　and　not　to　sacrifice　their　rights。

Suddenly　the　sun　disappeared；　and　night　came　down　upon　the　earth。　The　prisoners　said　their　evening　prayers　in　a　loud　voice；　and　when；　from　the　minarets　of　Praousta；　the　call　of　the　muredin　rang　out　on　the　air；　the　prisoners　commenced　singing；　firmly　and　devoutly：　〃God　is　great！　There　is　no　God　but　our　God；　and　Mohammed　is　his　prophet！　Come　to　prayer！　Come　to　be　healed！　God　is　just！　There　is　no　God　but　our　God！〃　And　from　the　village　of　Praousta　the　solemn　hymn　was　echoed　back：　〃God　is　just！　There　is　no　God　but　our　God！〃　Then　all　was　silent；　and　the　night；　like　a　silver　veil；　wrapped　the　earth　in　its　folds。

In　the　house　of　the　tschorbadji　all　was　still；　it　was　the　custom　to　retire　early　and　to　rise　with　the　sun。　God；　in　His　goodness；　created　the　night　for　repose。　The　moon　is　a　sacred　lantern；　which　God　hangs　over　a　sleeping　world；　and　the　stars　are　the　eyes　of　the　guardian　angels　watching　over　the　helpless　sleepers。　Therefore；　is　it　well　to　go　to　rest　with　the　setting　sun。

Profound　silence　reigned　in　Cavalla；　in　the　palace　of　the　governor；　and　in　the　village　of　Praousta　the　men　were　at　the　mosque；　praying　that　Allah　would　vouchsafe　them　wisdom　for　the　duties　of　the　coming　day。　To　the　slender　female　kneeling　in　the　mosque　they　whispered：　〃Soften　your　father's　heart；　maiden；　and　beseech　him　to　allow　us　to　obey　this　hard　command。〃

Did　she　understand？　Was　there　comfort　or　encouragement　in　these　words？　She　bowed　her　head　still　lower；　and　sobbed　beneath　her　veil；　she　knew　too　well　her　father's　immovable　will；　and　that　he　preferred　death　to　submission。

The　court…yard　was　quiet。　The　tachorbadji　had　offered　to　place　two　sentinels　before　the　gate　of　the　enclosure；　but　Mohammed　declined　the　offer。　〃I　alone　must　complete　that　which　I　alone　began。　I　pledged　you　my　honor；　tschorbadji；　that　I　would　subdue　this　rebellion；　and　I　alone　will　guard　the　prisoners。　I　will　trust　no　man　but　myself。　Who　knows　but　that　the　men　of　Praousta　may　try　to　storm　the　enclosure？　They　are　crafty　and　deceitful。　I　know　them　well；　and　will　myself　guard　the　prisoners。〃

〃Allow；　at　least；　some　of　the　soldiers　to　relieve　you　during　the　night　in　this　hard　service。〃

〃No　service　which　honor　and　duty　require　is　hard；〃　said　Mohammed；　proudly。　〃Let　the　soldiers　sleep；　I　will　keep　watch。〃

Osman　gave　him　a　long　and　searching　look；　as　if　he　would　read　the　purpose　of　his　soul；　and；　strange　to　say；　Mohammed　turned　his　face　aside　to　avoid　his　friend's　keen　eye。　Was　it　only　from　a　sense　of　honor　and　duty　that　Mohammed　undertook　the　lonely　watch？　Or　did　he　hope　the　clear　moonlight　would　reveal　some　other　beautiful　picture　than　the　golden　plateau；　and　the　great　shadows　thrown　upon　it　by　the　palace？　When　night　had　fully　settled　down　upon　the　earth；　Mohammed　crept　forward　in　the　shadow　of　the　palace；　to　a　large　rock　which　stood　at　the　entrance　of　the　court…yard；　there　he　concealed　himself；　and　waited。　What　was　he　waiting　for？　From　that　point　he　could　overlook　the　courtyard；　and；　by　leaning　forward；　he　could　also　see　the　stairway　in　the　rock。　Why　did　he　turn　his　head　in　that　direction　so　often？　Why　did　he　suddenly　shrink　back；　and　why　did　his　heart　tremble　as　he　saw　a　white　figure；　illuminated　by　the　moon；　advancing？　Mohammed　cowered　still　lower　behind　the　rock。

Probably　she　did　not　see　him；　and　supposed　the　moon　and　the　stars　only　had　seen　her　glide　softly　through　the　gateway；　and　into　the　court…yard。

The　veiled　virgin　now　walks　through　the　court…yard　to　the　iron　railing；　kneels　down　upon　the　mosaic　pavement；　and；　raising　her　hands；　whispers　softly：

〃Father；　my　beloved　father；　do　you　hear　your　daughter's　voice？〃　Mohammed　bows　his　head；　and　listens　in　breathless　suspense；　his　heart　throbbing　wildly。

〃I　hear　you；　my　daughter；〃　replied　the　sheik；　in　a　quiet　tone。　〃I　expected　you；　for　I　know　my　Masa's　heart　well。〃

〃Masa；〃　murmured　Mohammed；　〃what　a　beautiful；　glorious　name！　It　falls　like　music　upon　my　ear；　and　makes　my　heart　beat　strangely。　What　does　this　mean？　Allah；　protect　thy　servant！〃

Against　his　will；　he　still　listens　to　this　heavenly　voice　that　now　entreats　her　father　to　yield；　to　submit　to　the　inevitable。　But　the　sheik；　as　she　continued　her　supplications；　commanded　silence；　and　forbade　her　to　burden　his　heart　with　her　tears。

〃Life；　my　daughter；　is　but　a　short　span；　but　eternity　is　long；　and　woe　to　those　who　have　not　done　their　duty　during　that　short　period！　They　will　suffer　for　it　throughout　eternity；　for　Allah　is　strong　in　his　wrath；　and　just　in　his　punishment。　I　have　sworn　that　I　will　watch　over　the　welfare　of　my　community　while　I　live；　and　Sheik　Alepp　will　keep　his　word　to　the　end　of　his　life。〃

〃But；　father；　beloved　father！〃　urged　the　maide