mohammed ali and his house-第26部分

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　so　well　as　you　this　morning　declared　in　the　mosque；　and　in　the　name　of　my　mother　whom　I　have　loved　as　few　sons　have　loved　their　mothers；　in　the　name　of　the　moon；　and　in　the　name　of　the　golden　stars　that　glitter　above　us；　I　entreat　you；　mount　with　me　to　the　summit　of　the　rock。　There　will　Mohammed　speak　words　to　you　that　his　tongue　has　never　uttered　before。　There　he　will　advise　you　how　to　save　your　father；　and　help　the　men　of　Praousta。〃

She　looked　up　to　the　crest　of　the　rock；　bathed　in　the　soft　moonlight。

〃You　would　lead　me　up　there？〃　murmured　she。

〃I　will　lead　you　safely；　or　follow　you；　as　the　slave　follows　his　mistress。　The　way　is　steep；　but　your　feet　are　active　as　those　of　the　gazelle。　I　now　remember　having　sometimes　observed　your　white　figure　and　your　flying　footstep。　Lightly　like　the　dove　have　I　seen　you　flit　from　rock　to　rock；　and　I　have　followed　you　with　reverence。　Yes；　I　have　long　known　you；　I　have　often　seen　you；　and　I　know　that　the　white　dove　need　only　spread　her　wings　to　flutter　up　to　the　Ear　of　Bucephalus。　O　Masa；　I　entreat　you；　spread　your　wings　and　fly！　There　I　will　speak　with　you　of　your　father　and　of　the　future；　of　yours　and　of　mine。　Will　you　grant　my　request？〃

She　did　not　reply；　but　only　regarded　him　with　an　inquiring；　doubtful　look。

Was　it　a　mere　accident；　or　had　he　purposely　placed　himself　so　that　the　light　of　the　now　waning　moon　shone　full　in　his　face？　Was　it　by　chance　that　he　was　so　placed　that　a　shadow　was　thrown　over　the　place　where　she　stood；　which　enabled　her　to　gaze　at　him　from　out　the　darkness　with　her　large；　luminous　eyes？

〃I　entreat　you；　Masa；　go　not　down　to　your　father's　house；　but　ascend　with　me　to　the　Ear　of　Bucephalus。　There；　where　none　but　Allah　and　Nature　can　hear　my　words；　I　will　speak　to　you　of　your　father；　and　of　the　men　of　the　village。〃

She　drew　her　veil　more　closely　about　her　and　bowed　her　head。　〃Lead　the　way；　Mohammed　Ali；　and　I　will　follow。〃

And　he；　overwhelmed　with　happiness；　knelt　down　and　tenderly　kissed　the　little　foot　that　peeped　out　from　beneath　her　white　garments。　Then　he　arose；　folded　his　arms　upon　his　breast；　and　bowed　his　head　in　reverence　before　his　queen。

〃Your　slave　will　lead　the　way；〃　said　he；　softly；　〃be　merciful；　and　follow　him。〃

He　then　turned　and　began　the　ascent　of　the　path　that　leads　up　to　the　crest　of　the　rock。　Masa　followed；　praying　to　herself　that　her　mother's　spirit　might　accompany　and　guard　her　from　all　danger。

Both　were　silent；　Mohammed　hastened　on　from　rock　to　rock；　higher　and　higher。

Mohammed　was　right。　Masa　fluttered　lightly　from　cliff　to　cliff　like　a　white　dove。

At　times　he　stood　still　and　looked　behind　him。

It　perhaps　occurred　to　him　that　he　was　walking　too　rapidly；　and　should　give　her　time　to　rest。　Or　he　feared；　perhaps；　the　heavenly　form　might　suddenly　vanish　like　the　vision　of　a　dream。

〃See；〃　said　he；　pointing　to　the　moon　now　waxing　pale　in　the　heavens。　〃See；　the　night　is　drawing　to　a　close；　and　day　is　about　to　break。　I　wish　to　see　the　sun　rise　with　you；　O　Masa！〃

〃I；　too；　desire　it；〃　was　whispered　in　her　heart；　but　her　lips　did　not　utter　the　words。　〃Lead　the　way；　I　follow　you。〃

The　whispering　of　the　lips　was　to　him　as　the　command　of　a　sovereign；　he　quickly　turned　and　continued　the　ascent。

They　had　now　reached　the　crest。　And　there；　high　above　all　earthly　care　and　sorrow；　the　two；　the　youth　and　maiden　stood；　alone　upon　the　lofty　plateau。

They　stood　upon　the　spot　of　which　Mohammed　had　said　that　it　was　not　yet　desecrated　by　the　foot　of　man。　Here　it　was　lonely　and　solemn；　here　Allah　and　holy　Nature　could　alone　hear　his　words。　And　now；　overcome　by　the　wondrous　picture　that　lay　spread　out　before　them；　and　perhaps　unconsciously；　Mohammed　took　the　girl's　hand；　and；　without　being　conscious　of　it；　she　allowed　him　to　take　it　in　his　own　and　pass　it　to　his　lips。

The　moon　had　vanished　beneath　the　horizon；　and　there；　where　heaven　and　earth　seemed　united　in　sweet　harmony；　a　purple　hue；　like　a　messenger　from　God；　gradually　overspread　the　sky。　Who　could　tell　where　the　earth　ended　and　the　heavens　began；　where　the　waves　ceased　to　murmur　and　were　commingled　with　the　skies　in　Godlike　majesty　and　love？　Little　purple　clouds　chased　each　other　across　the　heavens　like　flying　cupids；　and　here　and　there　a　star　still　faintly　sparkling　as　if　to　tell　of　the　Divine　mysteries　of　creation。

And　now　the　waters　of　the　sea　suddenly　begin　to　swell；　and　the　waves　roll　higher；　they　rear　their　white　crests　aloft；　and　a　whispering　pervades　the　air；　as　though　the　spirits　of　heaven　and　earth　were　pronouncing　the　morning　prayer　of　the　new　day。

Upon　the　crest　of　the　rock　stand　these　two　human　beings；　regarding　the　fading　stars　and　the　rising　sun；　hand…in…handthey；　too；　a　part　of　the　holy　universe　created　by　Allah　in　the　fulness　of　his　grace。　And　their　souls　and　hearts　are　as　innocent　as　were　those　of　the　first　human　pair　in　paradise；　before　the　alluring　voice　of　the　serpent　had　yet　been　heard。　The　light　of　day　still　shines；　as　through　a　veil；　but　a　rosy　hue　gradually　overspreads　the　heavens；　and；　at　last；　the　sun　rises；　in　all　its　splendor　from　out　the　sea；　as　on　the　first　morning　of　creation；　and　on　each　succeeding　morning　since；　comes　this　holy；　ever…renewed　mystery　of　the　sunrise；　that　tells　of　the　surpassing　glory　of　God。　A　wondrous　murmuring　rises　up　from　the　sea；　and　the　birds　are　all　awake；　exulting　in　the　brightness　of　the　morning。　The　palm；　the　olive；　and　the　myrtle　groves；　rustle　in　the　breeze。　The　lark　soars　heavenward；　singing　its　morning　greeting。　Even　the　eagle　has　spread　his　pinions；　and　is　mounting　aloft　from　his　nest　in　the　neighboring　rocks；　to　do　homage　to　the　sun。　It　is　as　though　all　Nature　were　crying；　exultingly；　〃The　new　day　has　awakened！〃

〃The　sun　has　risen；　Masa；〃　cried　Mohammed〃the　night　is　past。　As　often　as　I　have　wandered　among　these　rocks；　never　before　has　morning　seemed　so　fairnever　before　have　the　sun's　rays　so　filled　my　heart　with　warmth。　Heretofore；　the　sunrise　was　but　the　signal　for　me　to　go　in　pursuit　of　game；　or　to　prepare　to　cross　over　to　Imbro；　to　look　after　the　fishermen's　nets；　set　out　the　day　before。　But　to…day　Allah　proclaims　to　me　why　it　is　that　the　sunlight　is　so　glorious；　that　the　eagle　soars　so　proudly　aloft；　that　the　waves　surge　so　grandly。　O　Masa；　I　will　tell　you　why　it　is　thus：　it　is　because　they　are　all　imbued　with　the　spirit　of　creation；　and　this　spirit　is　love　eternal；　illimitable　love。〃

〃Speak　not　thus；〃　said　the　maiden；　tremblingly。　〃Speak　not　thus　to　me。　It　does　not　beseem　a　maiden　to　listen　to　a　man's　words　of　love　without　the　approval　of　her　father。〃

〃But　will　you　not　accord　me　this　privilege；　Masa？〃　asked　he；　gently。　〃May　I　not　go　to　your　father　and　entreat　him　to　give　me　the　pure　maiden；　that　she　may　accompany　me　through　day　and　night？〃

〃No；　do　not　speak　thus；〃　she　repeated；　tremblingly。　〃You　told　me　you　would　speak　of　my　fatherspeak　of　him；　Mohammed　Ali。〃

〃Yes；　of　your　father；〃　murmured　he。　〃I　had　so　much；　so　very　much　to　say　to　you；　and　now　it　seems　to　me　that　all　is　already　said。　What　remains　is　as　nothing；　and　is　forgotten。〃

〃You　are　mocking　me；〃　said　she；　gently。　〃You　only　wished　to　see　if　my　father's　daughter　would　be　foolish　enough　to　follow　you　where　she　should　never　go　except　at　her　father's　side；　or　accompanied　by　women。　You　have　punished　me；　Mohammed；　for　my　folly　and　boldness　in　following　you　and　confiding　in　you。　If　you　have　nothing　to　say　to　me；　then　let　me　quickly　go　and　return　to　my　father's　house。〃

〃No；　Masa；　do　not　go。　I　did　not　intend　to　mock　you；　I　really　had　so　much　to　say　to　you！　Yet　I　know　not　how　it　is　with　me；　it　seems　to　me　that　if　I　have　been　transformed；　created　anew；　that　yesterday　and　its　events　are　forgotten。　I　am　as　a　new；　a　different　being。〃

He　could　not　hear　the　voice　that　whispered　in　her　heart　also；　that　the　dawn　of　a　new　day　had　cast　its　spell　over　them　both。

〃Oh；　speak　to　me　of　my　father；〃　she　cried；　in　anxious　tones。

〃Yes；　I　will；　I　will　call　reason　to　my　aid。　Your　father　is　my　prisoner；　and　I　have　sworn　that　I　would　bring　the　rebels　back　to　submission；　and　honor　requires　that　I　should　finish　what　I　have　undertaken。　I　now　deplore　it　in　my　inmost　soul；　now　that　the　magic　of　your　eyes　has　transformed　me；　and　made　of　the　fierce　combatant　a　man　who　longs　to　fall　at　your　feet；　and　pour　out　his　heart's　agony　and　bliss。　And　yet　I　cannot　undo　what　I　have　begun。　I　registered　an　oath　in　the　presence　of　the　men　of　Praousta；　and　told　them：　If　you　do　not　on　the　morrow　comply　with　what　I　have　commanded；　in　the　name　of　the　tschorbadji；　I　shall　behead　the　prisoners　that　Allah　has　delivered　into　my　hands！'〃

〃O　my　father！〃　cried　Masa；　loudly；　in　tones　of　anguish。

〃I　cannot　do　otherwise；〃　said　Mohammed；　heaving　a　deep　sigh。　〃I　have　pledged　my　honor　that　it　should　be　so。　I　cannot　recall　my　oath。　But　I　can　die；　and　die　I　will；　no　other　resource　is　left　me。　I　must　choose　between　your　father's　death　and　mine。　I　cannot　live　dishonored　and　perjured。　The　tschorbadji　can　then　release　the　prisoners；　and　he　will　do　so；　for　he　is　kindly　disposed；　and　it　was　I　alone　who　wished　to　proceed　with　severity。　And　Osman　will　join　you　in　your　entreaties　to　his　father。　Now　all　is　clear；　now　I　know　what　it　was　I　wished　to　say　to　you　here　on　Bucephalus。　Ah；　still　so　much；　and　there　is　but　an　hour　left　me！　How　often　have　I　gazed；　from　this　place；　at　the　heavens　above；　and　the　sea　beneath；　how　often　seen　the　sun　rise　in　its　splendor！　But　now　that　I　have　gazed　in　your　eyes；　Masa；　all　else　is　forgotten　and　extinguished；　and　for　me　there　exists　only　the　present；　no　longer　a　past。　Yet　I　wished　to　see　you　once　more　before　my　death；　and；　I　entreat　you；　grant　me　one　request。　My　mother；　Sitta　Khadra；　once　told　me　that　when　a　man　was　about　to　die；　Allah's　holy　spirit　is　shed　upon　him；　and　the　best　and　purest　of　all　the　welis　is　sent　down　to　the　dying；　that　a　heavenly　atmosphere　may　surround　him　even　here　on　earth。　It　seems　to　me　that　you　are　the　weli　sent　by　Allah　to　him　who　is　about　to　die。　Therefore；　remove　your　veil；　that　I　may　behold　the　brightness　of　your　eyes　and　the　crimson　of　your　lips；　and　refresh　my　soul　in　the　light　of　your　countenance。　Yes；　die　I　must；　and　die　I　will；　when　I　shall　have　seen　the　brightness　of　your　eyes！〃

〃Look　at　me；〃　said　she；　softly；　〃and　he