mohammed ali and his house-第33部分

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ent　of　his　words。〃




CHAPTER　VII

THE　MESSENGER。


Joy　and　merriment　prevailed　throughout　the　day　in　the　village　of　Praousta；　a　continuous　firing　of　guns　was　kept　up；　which　delighted　the　boys；　and　terrified　the　sick；　and　the　timid　little　girls。　Joyous　songs　were　sung；　and；　on　the　grand　square　before　the　mosque；　men　and　women　assembled　for　a　dance。

The　tambourine　rang　out　merrily；　and　cymbals　and　flutes　filled　the　air　with　sweet　sounds。

A　sail　on　the　water　was　arranged　for　the　afternoon；　and　the　boats　were　gayly　decked　with　flags　for　the　occasion。

In　the　first　large　boat　the　sheik；　the　ulemas；　and　the　leading　men　of　the　village；　were　reposing　on　carpets。　Two　boats　containing　the　musicians　followed；　and　then　came；　in　four　gayly…adorned　ones；　the　women　of　the　village；　enveloped　in　their　white　veils；　and　greeting　the　men　in　the　other　boats　with　their　bright　eyes　only。　It　was　a　beautiful　spectacle。　The　sea　itself　seemed　to　rejoice　over　it；　it　murmured　softly；　and　curled　its　waves　caressingly　upon　the　beach。

The　governor；　accompanied　by　his　distinguished　guest；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　had　come　down　to　Praousta。　Both　were　saluted　from　the　boats　with　shouts　of　applause；　handkerchiefs　and　caps　were　waved；　and　the　blessing　of　Allah　and　of　the　prophet　invoked　upon　their　heads。　But　curses　also　resounded　from　time　to　time　from　their　midst。

〃These　two　gentlemen　are　kind…hearted。　They　saved　us；　and　Mohammed　Ali　alone　was　the　cause　of　all　our　trouble　and　anxiety。　Woe　to　the　traitor！　He　wished　to　make　himself　a　name；　to　mount　to　honor　and　power　upon　our　shoulders；　though　we　should　be　ground　down　in　the　dust。　Woe　to　him！　woe　to　him　！　The　governor　is　kind；　we　have　nothing　to　fear　from　him。　Mohammed　Ali　alone　is　our　foewoe　to　him！〃

This　was　the　cry　from　one　to　the　other；　all　joined　in　it；　they　all　raised　their　fists　menacingly　against　Mohammed　Ali。　〃May　he　hear　our　curses；　and　see　our　threatening　hands！　We　will　be　avenged　on　him　for　what　he　has　done　to　us。　He　shall　be　repaid　for　all　the　evil　he　has　done　to　the　sheik；　of　this　he　can　rest　assured。　We　have　loved　and　been　kind　to　him；　we　have　treated　him　as　if　he　were　our　child；　he　is　indebted　to　us　for　all　he　is；　and　for　all　he　can　do。　From　us　he　learned　to　manage　a　boat；　to　use　a　gunand　thus　has　he　rewarded　us。　Woe　to　him！〃　This　cry　resounded　again　and　again　from　boat　to　boat：

〃Woe　to　him！　Woe　to　Mohammed　Ali；　the　son　of　Sitta　Khadra！〃

But　he　heard　nothing　of　all　this；　neither　the　curses；　nor　the　laughter　and　shouts　of　joy。　He　had　gone　to　his　solitary　resort　on　the　rock　above。　There　he　was　alone；　without　fear　of　being　observed　by　the　eyes　of　men。　There　no　one　could　hear　his　wails　of　anguish。　There　he　was　alone　with　wind　and　waves。　Alas；　how　short　a　time　had　elapsed　since　he　had　stood　there　in　joy　and　exultation！　His　soul　had　revelled　in　all　the　delights　of　the　world；　in　all　the　glories　of　Paradise。　Only　a　few　hours　had　passed；　and　yet　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　entirely　transformed；　that　he　had　became　another　man　since　then。

With　what　pious　thoughts；　with　what　ecstasy　had　he；　that　morning；　greeted　the　rising　sun！　His　heart　had　been　filled　with　ineffable　bliss；　tears　of　delight　had　stood　in　his　eyes。　Now　the　evening　is　sinking　down；　the　first　evening　after　that　blissful　sunrise；　and　vanished　is　all　he　had　gloried　in；　lost；　all　he　believed　he　had　won。　A　white　dove　had　fluttered　down　from　heaven；　he　had　seen　a　fair　swan　full　of　innocence　and　loveliness　at　his　side；　and　now；　the　white　dove　had　transformed　itself　into　a　monster；　and　the　fair　swan　had　become　an　evil　spirit。　Yes；　an　evil　spirit　had　assumed　the　form　of　a　swan；　and　cast　a　wicked　spell　over　his　heart；　and　nowO　Mohammed；　learn　to　suffer！　Rend　yourself　with　your　agony；　press　your　hands　convulsively　to　your　breast　till　the　blood　trickles　out　from　your　finger…nails；　cry　out　in　your　anguish；　till　the　eagle；　aroused　in　his　nest；　looks　out　with　greedy　eyes　after　the　poor　creature　that　has　dared　to　disturb　the　king　of　the　air！　Let　curses　resound　from　the　quivering　lips　that　are　as　pale　as　those　of　the　dead！　Curse　the　swan　for　having　become　a　ghin；　the　white　swan　for　having　transformed　herself　into　a　cat；　and　then　awake　from　your　despair。　Behold　her　standing　before　you　with　the　sweet　expression　on　her　delicate　features；　with　the　blushing　cheeks　as　you　raise　the　veil；　with　the　crimson　lips　that　grow　more　crimson　still　as　yours　touch　them。　Behold　her；　in　all　her　loveliness；　and　kneel　down　on　the　place　where　she　stood；　and　passionately　kiss　the　earth　her　feet　have　touched。　Bless　her　in　your　love；　and　curse　her　in　the　anger　of　your　hatred！

First　love　is　passionate　in　its　bliss；　burning　its　agony；　and　agony　and　bliss；　fury　and　delight；　are　all　pouring　through　your　soul；　and　giving　you　the　baptism　of　pain；　making　of　the　youth　a　man。

〃Tear　love　from　my　soul；　and　enable　me　to　tread　it　under　foot！〃　he　cries　out　fiercely；　as　he　now　rises　from　the　place　he　had　just　touched　with　his　lips。　〃Root　out　these　memories　from　my　breast；　spirit　of　my　mother！　She　to　whom　I　here　prayed；　and　swore　fidelity；　has　proved　untrue。　Strike　blind　the　eyes　of　my　soul；　that　they　may　no　longer　see　this　horror！　Make　deaf　my　ears；　that　I　may　no　longer　hear　the　sweet　voice　that　sounds　like　heavenly　music！　What　was　it　she　said；　what　were　her　words？

〃'I　will　be　thine；　and　love　no　other　but　thee！'　she　said。　'By　my　mother's　spirit；　I　swear　to　you　that　no　other　man　shall　lift　this　veil　from　my　face；　I　will　be　thine；　alone！'

〃It　was　music　when　she　said　it。　It　filled　my　heart　with　heavenly　joyousness。　And　now　it　proves　to　have　been　evil　spirits　only；　who　had　come　up　from　the　deep　to　deceive　a　poor　heart！　Oh；　these　memories；　they　will　follow　me　like　a　black　shadow　throughout　life。　In　wild　merriment　and　conflict；　I　shall　be　able　to　hush　them　in　the　noisy　day；　but；　in　the　stillness　of　the　night；　they　will　come　back　to　charmno；　to　tear　my　heart！　O　Masa；　Masa；　what　have　you　done！〃

Overwhelmed　with　his　agony；　he　sank　to　the　ground；　and　kissed　again　and　again　the　place　where　she　had　stood；　and　wept　aloud。

〃Mohammed！〃　suddenly　exclaimed　a　voice　behind　him。　〃Mohammed　Ali！　The　man　who　weeps　has　no　manly　courage；　and　it　would　be　vain　to　call　on　him　for　assistance！〃

Is　another　evil　spirit　beside　him？　What　woman　is　this　who　suddenly　appears　at　his　side；　closely　shrouded　in　a　black　veil？　Is　it　another　ghin　come　up　from　the　deep？

〃You　are　right；〃　murmured　he；　〃no　one　need　longer　hope　for　assistance　from　me；　I　will　give　vengeance　and　destruction　to　those　who　call　on　me　for　help！〃

He　springs　to　his　feet　and　stares　fiercely　at　the　woman。　〃Away　from　me！　Allah　is　Allah；　the　only　one　in　heaven；　and　Mohammed　is　his　prophet。　Away　from　me；　evil　spirit！〃

He　exorcises　this　creature　with　the　oath　with　which　evil　spirits　are　driven　out。　But　it　seems　this　spirit　is　not　to　be　exorcised。　The　veiled　woman　remains　quietly　standing；　regarding　him　sorrowfully。

〃Mohammed；　there　are　many　who　suffer；　and　yet　do　not　break　out　into　loud　lamentations。　Many　a　woman　wails　in　the　silence　of　her　chamber；　the　lamentation　of　many　a　young　girl　resounds；　unheard　and　unheeded；　through　the　harem。　I　know　a　girl；　Mohammed　Ali；　who　weeps　and　laments；　because　she　well　knows　that　one　whom　she　looked　upon　and　greeted　in　the　holy　stillness　of　the　morning　as　though　he　were　her　lord；　entering　the　harem　for　the　first　timethat　this　one　wrongfully　accuses　her；　calls　her　faithless；　yes；　perhaps　at　this　very　moment；　appeals　to　Allah　for　vengeance　for　a　crime　which　she　has　not　committed；　for　a　wrong　that　does　not　burden　her　soul！〃

〃You　know　such　a　girl？〃　he　cries；　with　loud；　mocking　laughter。　〃You　are　fortunate　in　knowing　her。　I　do　not　know　such　a　girl；　I　only　know　that　they　are　all　deceitful　and　traitorous。〃

〃Then　you　assuredly　do　not　know　this　one！　She　is　as　pure　as　an　angel；　and　her　name　is　Masa。〃

〃Masa！〃　he　exclaims；　in　loud　and　joyous　tones。　Then　his　countenance　darkens；　and；　raising　his　clinched　fists　threateningly；　he　cries：　〃Masa！　you　deceive　yourself。　Of　all　deceitful　women　she　is　the　worst。　Do　not　say　that　I　deceive　myself　with　regard　to　her；　I　saw；　with　my　own　eyes；　that　which　gives　me　death；　that　which　will　forever　gnaw　at　my　heart。　Away　from　me；　and　announce　to　her　who　sent　you　that　no　woman　shall　ever　deceive　Mohammed　again。〃

He　turns　to　descend　from　the　rock；　but　the　woman　holds　him　fast；　regarding　him　with　an　anxious；　entreating　look。

〃Do　you　wish　to　kill　my　darling；　the　beloved　child　of　my　mistress？　Listen；　Mohammed！　On　her　death…bed　the　mother　confided　to　me　her　only　child。　Grasping　her　cold　hand；　I　swore　by　Allah　that　I　would　hold　her　as　my　own；　that　I　would　watch　over　and　guard　her　from　all　evil。　This　morning　I　found　my　darling　in　an　agony　of　grief。　She　did　not　go　out　with　the　joyous　crowd；　but　remained　at　home　in　her　own　little　room。　I　saw　her　wringing　her　hands；　and　heard　her　entreating　Allah　to　take　her　life。　I　entered　her　room　and　said　to　her：　'O　Masa；　you　know　that　your　Djumeila　is　true　to　you。　Confide　in　her。　Tell　me　all　that　grieves　you。　What　is　it　that　gives　you　pain？'　After　I　had　thus　appealed　to　her　for　a　long　time；　she　arose　from　her　knees；　fell　on　my　neck；　and　whispered　in　my　ear　a　wondrous　tale　of　the　starry　sky；　of　sunrise；　and　heavenly　delight；　of　the　bliss　and　pain　of　love。　And　I　swore　by　Allah　and　the　prophet；　by　the　spirit　of　her　mother；　that　I　would　never　speak　to　another　a　word　of　what　she　had　told　me！　But；　because　I　love　the　child　of　my　mistress；　the　child　that　is　to　me　as　my　own；　so　dearly；　I　promised　that　I　would　go　to　the　man　she　loves　and　tell　him　everything　in　her　name。〃

〃Then　go　seek　him　she　loves！　You　will　find　him　in　the　governor's　palace；　there　he　sits　enthroned　in　the　midst　of　his　grand　and　brilliant　harem。　She　longs　to　see　the　doors　of　this　harem　thrown　open　to　her。　Go　to　him　and　tell　what　you　have　to　say。　You　will　be　welcome。〃

〃I　knew　to　whom　I　was　to　go；　and　I　have　already　reached　my　destination。　The　heart　of　a　woman　who　loves　can　see　the　absent　like　that　of　a　sorceress。　Masa　said　to　me：　'Go　up　the　rock　to　the　highest　point；　there　we　vowed　eternal　fidelity　to　each　other。　I　know　he　will　be　there！　He　will　seek　to　wipe　out　the　traces　of　our　morning　communion　with　his　curses；　perhaps；　too；　with　his　tears。'　Now　I　am　at　the　place　to　which　Mas