mohammed ali and his house-第25部分

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　Alepp　will　keep　his　word　to　the　end　of　his　life。〃

〃But；　father；　beloved　father！〃　urged　the　maiden；　〃you　have　also　sworn　to　be　a　parent　and　a　guardian　to　me　all　the　days　of　your　life。　Keep　this　oath；　too；　save　your　life；　in　order　to　save　mine。　Then　you　must　know；　my　father；　that　Masa　will　not　remain　on　the　earth　if　you　leave　it。　Your　child　has　naught　upon　this　earth　but　you；　early　was　my　mother　taken；　and　it　has　become　lonely　in　Sheik　Alepp's　harem。　My　father　said：　'I　will　not　take　in　a　strange　woman：　no　second　wife　shall　ever　fill　the　place　in　my　heart　that　has　been　wholly　consecrated　to　my　dear　Masa。　My　only　child　shall　not　have　to　suffer　from　the　severity　and　caprice　of　a　strange　woman。'　This　was　nobly　said　and　nobly　done；　my　father；　to　devote　your　entire　life　to　your　child；　and　to　the　duties　of　guardian　of　your　people。　But　hear　me；　father：　what　is　to　become　of　your　daughter　when　she　is　left　alone　upon　the　earth？　Sorrow　and　want　will　be　my　portion；　and　I　should　wither　away　unseen；　and　be　trodden　under　foot　upon　the　wayside；　without　one　sympathizing　voice　to　bemoan　my　early　death。〃

Mohammed　still　crouched　within　the　shadow　of　the　cliff；　his　eyes　sparkling　like　the　stars　in　heaven；　but　the　maiden　saw　them　not；　nor　could　she　know　the　exultation　in　his　heart。

〃You　should　not　wither　away　unseen　and　unlamented　upon　the　wayside。　I　would　draw　you　to　my　bosom；　and　there　you　should　bloom　in　fragrance；　my　heavenly　blossom；　and　my　whole　life　would　lament　over　you　if　you　should　leave　the　earth。〃

In　the　silence　of　the　night　the　youth　still　listened　to　the　conversation　between　father　and　daughterto　the　tender　entreaties　of　the　maiden；　to　the　father's　stern　and　earnest　words；　he　heard　also　the　whispering　voices　of　the　ulemas；　who；　awakened　by　the　conversation；　betook　themselves　to　repeating　prayers；　in　order　that　they　might　not　hear　what　passed　between　father　and　daughter　at　this　solemn　moment。

Now　Masa　ceased　speaking；　a　few　stifled　sobs；　a　few　trembling　words　only；　could　be　distinguished。　But　the　sheik　remained　firm　and　unyielding。

〃I　cannot；　Masa。　Right　gladly　would　I　remain　and　live　with　you；　and　gladden　my　eyes　with　your　lovely　countenance；　gladly　would　I　still　continue　to　hear　the　voice　that　call　to　me　in　the　loved　tones　of　my　Aga；　and　is　to　my　ear　the　sweetest　music；　but　the　claims　of　duty　are　paramount；　and　what　duty　commands　man　must　perform。　Allah　so　wills　it。　Allah　be　praised！　The　sheik　cannot　counsel　his　people　to　yield　to　force；　he　must　wait　patiently　in　the　path　of　his　duty。　The　result　is　in　Allah's　hand；　and　Allah　is　great　and　mighty。　Allah　il　Allah！〃

〃Allah　il　Allah！〃　repeated　the　three　ulemas。

Rising　from　his　knees；　the　sheik　now　proceeded　to　give；　with　a　loud　voice；　the　second　call；　the　ebed；　for　he　saw　that　rosy　streaks　were　beginning　to　shoot　out　over　the　horizon；　and　he　knew　that　the　sun　would　rise　from　out　the　sea　in　an　hour；　it　was　therefore　time　to　pronounce　the　ebed。

〃I　praise　the　perfection　of　God　who　endures　for　ever　and　ever；　the　perfection　of　the　living；　the　only　and　the　highest　God。　The　perfection　of　the　God　who；　in　his　great　kingdom；　takes　unto　himself　neither　wife；　nor　an　associate；　nor　one　who　resembles　him；　nor　one　who　is　disobedient；　nor　a　substitute；　nor　an　equal；　nor　a　descendanthis　perfection　I　praise；　and　praised　be　his　name！　He　is　a　God　who　knew　what　was　to　be；　before　it　became　what　it　is；　and　what　has　been；　and　he　is　as　he　was　in　the　beginning。　His　perfection　I　praise；　and　praised　be　his　name；　he　is　a　God　without　equal。　There　is　no　one　who　is　equal　to　the　good　God；　there　is　no　one　who　is　equal　to　the　great　God；　there　is　no　God　beside　thee；　O　God；　whom　we　must　adore；　praise；　desire；　and　glorify！　I　praise　the　perfection　of　him　who　has　made　all　creatures；　who　preserves　and　provides　them　with　food；　and　has　determined　the　end　of　the　lives　of　his　servants。　O　God；　the　good；　the　gracious；　the　great；　forget　not　one　of　them。〃

The　ulemas　now　arose；　and　with　powerful　voices　began　the　following　monotonous　chant：

〃I　praise　the　perfection　of　Him　who　by　his　power　and　greatness　causes　pure　water　to　flow　from　the　solid　rock；　the　perfection　of　Him　who　spoke　to　our　master；　Moses；　on　the　mountain；　whereupon　the　mountain　crumbled　to　dust　out　of　fear　of　God；　whose　name　be　praised　as　the　one　and　the　only　one。　There　is　no　God　but　God；　and　he　is　a　righteous　judge。　I　praise　the　justice　of　the　first；　peace　and　comfort　be　with　you；　and　you　of　the　friendly　countenance；　O　ambassador　of　God；　peace　be　with　you；　and　with　your　family　and　companions；　O　you　prophet！　God　is　great；　and　God　favors；　and　preserves；　and　glorifies　the　great　prophet　Mohammed。　And　may　God；　whose　name　be　blessed　and　praised；　be　pleased　with　you；　O　Mohammed；　and　with　all　those　favored　with　the　wine　of　God！　Amen！〃＇Footnote：　See　the　Koran。＇

〃Amen！　Amen！　Amen！〃　repeated　the　ulemas；　and　the　maiden　whispered　it　after　them。　And；　within　the　shadow　of　the　cliff；　Mohammed　Ali；　who　had　reverently　repeated　the　ebed　in　a　low　voice；　murmured　Amen。

〃And　now；　my　daughter；〃　said　the　sheik；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃I　command　you　to　go　down　to　Praousta；　and　to　conceal　yourself　within　the　harem　of　my　house；　and　there　to　await　in　patience　and　submission；　as　beseems　a　woman；　the　events　of　the　morrow；　the　day　of　the　Lord　and　of　the　judgment。　Go；　my　child；　and　the　blessing　of　Allah　be　with　you！〃

Mohammed　looked　forth　from　behind　the　cliff；　and　beheld　the　veiled　figure　bending　down　and　grasping　the　old　man's　hand　through　the　bars　of　the　cage；　he　then　heard　the　father's　parting　blessing；　and　his　daughter's　low　sobs。

Now　she　arose；　and；　bathed　in　the　full　lustre　of　the　moon；　glided　softly　through　the　court…yard。　She　seemed　to　him　like　one　of　the　welis；　or　spirits　blessed　of　God；　as　she　swept　past　the　cliff　behind　which　Mohammed　stood；　and　passed　with　inaudible　footsteps　toward　the　rocky　stairway。




CHAPTER　III

THE　FIRST　DAY　OF　CREATION。


Noiselessly；　her　feet　scarcely　touching　the　ground；　the　veiled　figure　swept　onward。　The　light　of　the　moon　enveloped　her　as　with　a　silver　veil；　and　the　stars　gazed　at　her　wonderingly；　as　if　to　follow　with　their　eyes　the　lovely　being　who　walks　on　in　solitude　through　the　darkness　of　night。

She　did　not　fear　the　solitude；　for　the　welis　guarded　the　innocent　maiden；　and　kept　from　her　the　evil　spirits　and　ghins。

The　solitude　had　no　terrors　for　her；　but　she　shrank　back　with　alarm　when　the　moon　suddenly　cast　a　long　shadow　across　her　pathway。

The　shadow　of　a　man！　She　stood　still　for　a　moment　in　a　listening　attitude。

〃Allah　protect　me！〃　she　murmured；　as　she　drew　her　veil　more　closely　about　her　and　walked　on。

She　had　almost　reached　the　stairway　when　the　shadow　came　close　to　her　side；　and　a　hand　was　laid　on　her　shoulder。

〃Stay；　Masa；〃　whispered　a　voice。

She　trembled　and　sought　to　walk　on；　but　her　feet　seemed　chained　to　the　ground。　She　thought　the　ghins　were　detaining　her；　and　she　prayed　to　Allah　from　her　inmost　soul　to　release　her　from　their　dread　enchantment。

〃Fear　me　not；　Masa；〃　said　a　kindly　voice；　〃listen　to　me。　I　am　no　enemy。〃

〃I　do　not　fear　you；〃　said　she；　in　low；　faint　tones。　〃I　fear　neither　man　nor　the　evil　ghins；　for　the　welis　guard　me；　and　my　mother's　eyes　watch　over　me。　Allah；　too；　is　always　with　me　wherever　I　go；　by　night　or　day。　Yet　I　know　that　you　are　my　enemy；　because　you　are　my　father's　enemy。〃

〃Oh；　do　not　say　this！　Your　words　pierce　my　heart。〃

〃But　yet　you　are　my　enemy；　for　you　are　my　father's　enemy；　I　know　you；　I　recognize　the　fierce　youth　who　took　my　father　prisoner　at　the　mosque　this　morning。　It　was　you！　I　know　you　well；　and　my　heart　is　breaking。　You　are　the　author　of　my　father's　misery。　You　do　evil；　and　evil　thoughts　fill　your　heart。　Let　me　pass；　do　not　detain　me！　Let　me　return　to　my　father's　house。　Masa　must　obey　her　father　and　master。　Remove　your　hand　from　my　shoulder。　It　does　not　beseem　a　stranger　to　touch　a　chaste　maiden　with　his　impure　hand。　Let　me　pass。〃

〃You　say　I　am　your　enemy；　your　father's　enemy。　Believe　me；　Masa；　I　am　not　your　enemy；　not　your　father's　enemy。　An　evil　destiny　has　ordained　that　Mohammed　Ali　should　be　the　instrument；　the　sword　of　justice；　that　he　should　grieve　and　wound　her　he　would　so　gladly　shield。　The　evil　ghins　have　also　ordained　that　I　should　carry　out　the　law　and　assume　a　threatening　attitude　toward　your　father。　I　must　submit　to　what　Allah　ordains；　and　proceed　in　the　line　of　my　duty。　But；　Masa；　you　shall　know　that　I　am　neither　yours　nor　your　father's　enemy。　You　must　know　that　I　would　shed　my　heart's　blood　to　make　undone　that　which　I　have　commenced。　O　Masa；　had　I　sooner　beheld　these　eyes；　that　now　look　upon　me　with　the　brilliancy　of　the　stars　in　heaven；　had　I　sooner　beheld　the　countenance　that　now　beams　upon　me　with　the　brightness　of　the　young　day；　never　would　my　mother's　son　have　assumed　a　threatening　attitude　toward　your　father；　never　would　Mohammed　have　undertaken　to　enforce　the　law　against　him。　True；　the　evil　ghins　have　brought　this　about；　but　hearken　to　me；　Masa；　and　consider　well　that　your　father's　welfare　is　at　stake。〃

〃I　will　not　hear　you；〃　said　she；　tremblingly。

〃　I　swear；　by　the　spirit　of　my　mother；　that　I　have　nothing　to　conceal　before　Allah　and　the　prophet。　Do　not　wound　me；　Masa；　with　your　alarm。　You　seemed　to　me　this　morning　the　loveliest　of　women；　until　then　Sitta　Khadra　was　her　son's　only　love。　You　must　know　that　when　she　had　died；　Mohammed　Ali　fled　into　solitude　and　intended　to　take　his　own　life。　But　in　the　solitude；　Allah　said　to　him：　'The　life　I　have　given　you；　bear　with　manfully；　and　take　upon　yourself　the　sufferings　I　see　fit　to　visit　upon　you。'

〃I　bowed　submissively　to　his　commands；　I　left　my　solitude　and　raised　myself　by　my　sorrow　as　by　a　pillar。　But　in　you　I　seemed　to　see　my　mother's　spirit；　then　pain　vanished　from　my　heart；　and　my　mother　seemed　to　be　regarding　me　through　your　eyes。　Therefore；　Masa；　have　I　followed　you。　I　have　come　to　say　that　which　brings　the　blush　to　my　inmost　soul；　that　which　the　ear　of　no　other　human　being　shall　ever　hear。　In　the　name　of　my　mother；　I　beseech　you；　do　not　let　it　be　here　upon　this　open　path　where　men　may　pass；　and　which　the　foot　of　man　has　desecrated。　In　the　name　of　the　mother　you　love　so　well　as　you　this　morning　declared　in　the　mosque；　and　in　the　name　of　my　mother　whom　I　have　loved