mohammed ali and his house-第42部分

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〃My　forgiveness？〃　said　she；　nestling　her　little　head　on　his　breast；　as　they　sat　side　by　side　on　the　cushions　brought　here　by　Mohammed's　care；　and　covered　with　Persian　carpets。　〃My　forgiveness；　and　for　what？

〃Because　I　thought　ill　of　you；　Masa；　because；　while　I　lay　in　anguish　up　yonder　on　the　rock　the　other　day；　I　accused　you　in　my　senseless　anger；　and　cursed　my　love　for　you。　I　thought　you　were　a　woman　like　all　other　women；　and　yet　you　are　beautiful　and　fair　and　pure；　like　a　houri　of　paradise。　I　wished　to　tear　you　from　my　heart　as　we　tear　weeds　from　a　flower…garden；　and　my　heart　was　to　be　henceforth　accessible　only　to　ambition　and　glory；　and　now　I　know　that　all　this　is　vain　and　empty。　Mohammed　no　longer　has　aspirations　after　glory　and　renown；　Mohammed　no　longer　knows　that　wreaths　of　fame　are　twined　and　that　laurels　bloom　without　in　the　world；　Mohammed　only　knows　that　this　is　paradise；　and　that　heaven's　fairest　flower　blooms　here　at　his　side。　I　feel　your　breath；　my　flower；　I　inhale　fragrance　from　your　lips；　and　see　the　starlight　in　your　eyes；　though　none　shines　in　upon　us　from　the　dark　world　without。　I　am　with　you；　and　you　with　me。　Oh；　let　me　rest　at　your　side；　and　forget　the　world；　and　may　it　forget　us　too！〃

〃I　do　not　understand　your　words；〃　murmured　she。　〃You　are　wise　and　learned；　and　I　am　only　a　poor　girl；　who　has　no　words　to　express　her　thoughts；　and　hardly　thoughts　for　that　which　she　feels。　I　do　know；　however；　that　I　am　in　paradise；　and　Allah　forbid　that　my　feet　should　bear　me　out　into　the　world　again！　Oh；　I　never　wish　to　see　it　again；　Mohammed。　And　beautiful　it　would　be；　it　seems　to　me；　to　slumber　here　in　sweet　tranquillity；　never　to　awake　again。〃

〃Oh；　it　were　heavenly；　my　sweet　dove；〃　murmured　he；　pressing　her　to　his　heart；　〃to　fall　into　a　sweet　slumber　here；　and　to　journey　hence；　heavenward；　to　awaken　in　paradise。　I　would　we　had　nothing　more　to　do　with　the　world；　yet；　swear　to　me；　Masa；　that　when　the　world　holds　us　in　its　embrace　again；　you　will　love　me　eternallysay　eternally！〃

〃What　does　eternally　mean？〃　asked　she；　softly。　〃I　do　not　know　what　eternally　means。　All　life　is　a　single　day。　At　sunrise　this　morning　I　felt　that　I　loved　you；　and　now　do　you　suppose　that　Masa　is　so　forgetful　a　child　that　she　cannot　preserve　what　she　feels　in　her　heart　for　a　single　day　until　the　sun　sets　in　the　evening？〃

〃Yes；　Masa；　you　are　right！〃　exclaimed　Mohammed；　in　tones　of　enthusiasm。　〃Life　is　as　a　single　day。　When　the　sun　sets；　night　comes；　and　we　sink　down　and　dream；　and　in　our　dream　we　are　conscious　only　of　the　love　of　the　blissful　day。　Yes；　life　is　but　a　day；　and　may　this　day　end　blissfully　for　us　as　it　began！　It　is　dark　around　us；　and　I　cannot　see　you。　But　look；　Allah　is　kind；　he　sends　us　his　light。　The　moon　has　broken　forth　from　behind　the　clouds；　and　it　shines　into　our　grotto　and　illumines　your　fair　face。　The　moon　and　the　stars　love　you；　Masa；　yet　they　shall　not　tear　you　from　me。　No；　Masa　must　remain　with　me；　that　my　life　may　not　end　in　darkness　and　misery；　that　I　may　be　happy。　O　good　moon；　messenger　of　the　prophet；　with　your　brilliancy　you　light　up　the　countenance　of　my　houri。　Journey　on　in　your　course；　good　moon；　and　tell　the　houris　and　the　angels　above　that　one　of　their　sisters　has　remained　here　in　the　paradise　grotto；　and　that　this　houri　is　mine；　minein　the　name　of　Heaven。〃

He　pressed　her　to　his　heart　and　laid　his　head　in　her　lap。　Both　were　silent。

Suddenly　a　loud　report　resounded　through　the　stillness　of　the　night。　Mohammed　released　himself　from　her　arms；　and　sprang　in　terror　to　his　feet。

〃That　was　the　report　of　a　pistol…shot。　Alas！　it　awakens　me　from　my　dreams。　All　bliss　is　at　an　end；　the　earth　is　again　here；　and　calls　me　from　paradise。〃

〃You　will　leave　me；　Mohammed！〃　cried　she；　rising　from　her　cushion。　〃Mohammed；　you　intend　to　leave　me　tonight？〃

〃O　Masa；　I　must！　Do　not　tremble；　my　white　dove；　all　our　troubles　and　anxieties　will　soon　be　at　an　end。　That　report　was　the　signal　that　Cousrouf　Pacha　is　preparing　to　depart。〃

〃Is　it　then　really　true？〃　asked　Masa；　her　countenance　beaming　with　delight。　〃The　pacha　takes　his　departure　and　restores　me　to　freedom！〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Mohammed。　〃He　was　to　have　embarked　yesterday　evening；　and　who　knows　but　that　when　the　sun　rises　the　ship　will　long　since　have　sailed　out　of　the　harbor。　Yet　we　must　be　cautious。　It　might　be　only　a　pretence；　to　lull　us　into　false　security。　It　is　for　this　reason；　Masa；　that　I　dare　not　pass　the　night　here。　His　spies；　who　follow　and　observe　me　everywhere；　might　announce　to　him　that　Mohammed　Ali　had　again　passed　the　night　elsewhere　than　in　his　house。　Let　us　be　cautious　while　misfortune　with　its　black　pinions　still　hovers　over　us。　Afterward　the　sun　will　shine　for　us。　Consider　this；　Masa；　and　I　will　conduct　you　out　into　life　again　as　soon　as　he　shall　have　left　the　harbor。　The　whole　earth　shall　then　be　our　paradise。　Let　us；　therefore；　wait　and　be　patient。〃

She　stood　there　thoughtfully；　she；　too；　was　awakened　from　her　dream；　and　life　with　its　cares　and　anxieties　had　laid　its　hold　on　her。

〃How　is　my　father？　〃　asked　she；　anxiously。　〃O　Mohammed；　I　have　forgotten　him　and　his　sufferings　since　you　have　been　with　me。　You　are　silent。　He　is　dead。　Oh；　grief　for　his　daughter　has　killed　my　good　father！　〃

〃No；　Masa！　he　is　not　dead；　but　he　is　ill。　I　do　not　deny　it；　grief　has　gnawed　at　his　heart。　Therefore；　let　us　hope　that　our　happiness　will　restore　him　to　health。　And　to…morrow　he　will　behold　our　happiness　when　I　bring　you　to　him；　for　you　will　be　free；　Masa。　as　soon　as　the　ship　has　sailed。〃

〃I　shall　never　be　free；〃　she　cried　out；　aloud。　〃He　has　purchased　me；　and　I　shall　remain　his　property。　O　Mohammed；　my　soul　shudders；　for　I　am　forsworn　before　Allah。　By　Allah　and　the　spirit　of　my　mother　have　I　sworn　that　I　would　return　and　restore　to　him　his　property。　I　am　forsworn；　and　therefore；　Mohammed；　when　you　leave　me；　the　ghins　come　and　flutter　about　me；　pursuing　me　everywhere　and　whispering　in　my　ear：　'You　are　lost　and　damned；　for　you　have　forsworn　yourself　by　the　spirit　of　your　mother。'　And　then　I　fall　on　my　knees　and　pray　to　the　welis　to　guard　and　protect　me　in　my　terror　and　anxiety。　O　Mohammed；　when　you　are　here　I　am　in　paradise；　but　when　you　are　away；　I　feel　myself　in　hell！　Therefore；　remain　with　me。　Do　not　leave　me　here　in　the　dark　night。　See；　the　stars　are　all　hidden；　and　the　moon　is　covered　with　clouds。　Oh；　I　was　wrong　when　I　said　there　was　no　night。　When　you　are　with　me；　the　sun　shines；　though　it　be　night　without。　But　when　you　are　not　with　me；　it　is　dark　night；　even　though　the　sun　be　shining　without。　Do　not　leave　me　alone；　remain　with　your　Masa；　my　Mohammed；　stay；　stay；　at　least　to…night。〃

Can　he　resist　such　sweet　entreaty？　Can　he　tear　himself　from　the　fair　arms　that　are　entwined　about　him　and　draw　him　back；　and　rush　out　into　the　night？　Can　he　speak　of　prudence　and　worldly　wisdom；　while　she　whispers　such　words　to　him　in　her　sweet　voice？

Let　come　what　will　in　the　world　without；　let　all　be　over…whelmed　in　ruin；　love　is　here；　paradise　is　open；　and　you；　Masa；　are　its　angel…　occupant。　Let　the　world　pass　away；　let　the　firm　rocks　be　shattered；　let　the　sea　swallow　all　and　leave　but　a　desert　of　water　about　us；　I　am　content；　Masa；　to　embark　with　you　in　a　little　boat；　you　and　I　alone；　to　ride　over　the　waves　and　listen　to　the　melodies　which　the　naiads　sing　to　us　from　the　deep；　and　to　what　the　voice　of　the　wind　proclaims。　O　my　houri；　alone　with　you　in　the　boat；　what　care　I　for　the　world；　for　magnificence　and　renown？　Let　others　seek　them；　they　are　welcome。　And　though　Death　with　his　gloomy　visage　stood　at　the　entrance　of　this　grotto　ready　to　destroy　me；　what　care　I？　And　though　your　father　die　and　men　bury　him；　what　care　we？　We　live　and　we　love。〃

He　pressed　her　passionately　to　his　heart。　But　now　it　was　she　who　drew　him　back　to　the　world；　to　reality。

〃No；　Mohammed；　my　father　must　not　die。　Go　to　him；　step　to　his　bedside　and　say　to　him：　'Pray　and　wait。　When　the　gloomy　stranger　who　has　purchased　your　Masa　and　made　her　his　property　shall　have　embarked　in　his　ship　and　sailed；　your　daughter　will　return　to　you　in　love　and　happiness。　Wait；　father。　Do　not　join　my　dear　mother；　wait　for　your　Masa。'　Speak　to　him　thus；　and　I　know　he　will　live　to　see　his　Masa；　again。　No；　I　am　not　afraid。　The　ghins　will　not　enter　if　Masa　kneels　at　the　entrance　and　prays　to　the　prophet　who　told　men　that　they　were　to　love　one　another；　and　that　love　alone　could　secure　happiness。　No；　I　am　not　afraid。　And　see；　Mohammed；　day　is　breaking；　the　sun　will　soon　shine　in　upon　me；　and　then　Masa　will　sing　the　song　taught　her　by　Djumeila　that　speaks　of　love　and　stars。　I　am　no　longer　afraid；　Mohammed；　for　I　am　your　beloved；　and　the　girl　whom　a　hero　has　chosen　for　his　own；　how　could　she　lack　courage？〃

For　the　second　time　a　loud　report　now　resounded　throughout　the　cave。

〃I　know　what　that　means；〃　said　Mohammed；　anxiously。　〃It　is　Osman　warning　me　to　be　on　my　guard。　'I　will　give　you　a　signal　when　danger　threatens；'　whispered　he；　in　my　ear；　when　we　parted；　'that　you　may　know　that　your　friend　is　watching　over　you　in　the　night　also。'　Yes；　I　must　go。　But　listen；　Masa：　when　I　am　gone；　replace　the　stone　I　showed　you　yesterday；　before　the　opening；　and　then　go　back　into　the　cave　to　the　point　where　the　passage　turns；　where　no　one　can　see　the　entrance　to　the　second　cave。　Remain　there；　and　await　the　return　of　him　you　love。〃

〃I　will　do　so；　Mohammed。　When　you　have　gone；　I　will　push　the　stone　before　the　entrance；　and　go　back　into　the　second　cave；　where　I　will　fall　on　my　knees　and　pray　to　Allah　and　his　prophet　until　my　beloved　returns。〃

At　this　moment　a　third　report　resounded　through　the　cave。

〃Danger　threatensMasa；　I　must　away。　We　will　soon　be　free；　farewell　until　then；　farewell！　Ah！　how　pale　you　have　suddenly　become！　Let　me　look　at　you　once　more；　my　Masa！〃

He　raises　her　in　his　arms　and　carries　her　to　the　opening；　and　the　moon　is　gracious　and　illumines　her　countenance；　but　it　also　makes　it　deathly　pale。

〃O　Masa；　my　white　dove；　how　pale　you　are！　Yet　your　eyes　are　bright　let　me　kiss　them。　And　with　this　kiss　I　swear　I　will　love　you　eternally！　And　now　kiss　me；　too；　and　let　this　kiss　be　the　vow　of　your　eternal　love　for　me！〃

She　kissed　him　passionately。　〃I　love　you；　Mohammed；　and　you　alone　will　I　love　on　e