mohammed ali and his house-第87部分

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he　lips　of　her　beloved。

〃And　is　it　possible；　Nefysseh；　you　are　indeed　with　me；　and　my　dreams　of　love　and　bliss　are　realized？　You　with　me！　What　can　have　happened？　Why　this　wondrous　change？〃

He　raises　his　hand　to　his　forehead　and　touches　the　wound；　and　then　he　knows　what　has　taken　place；　he　feels　it　in　the　burning　pain　of　his　wound。

〃Oh；　we　are　lostall　lost！　Tell　me；　Nefysseh；　must　I　die？〃

〃No；　you　shall　not　die；　you　shall　live；　Youssouf；　live　for　me。〃

〃For　thee？　Oh；　tell　me；　Nefysseh；　do　you；　then；　love　me？〃

She　bends　over　him；　clasps　him　in　her　arms；　and　lays　her　cheek　against　his。

〃You　ask；　Youssouf？　Do　you　not　know？　I　have　long　loved；　perhaps　I　loved　you　even　while　Mourad　still　lived！　But　I　wished　to　know　nothing　of　it；　and　I　knew　nothing　of　it。　I　refused　to　listen　to　the　voices　that　whispered　in　my　heart。　And　yet　so　blissful；　so　heavenly；　to　look　at　you；　Youssouf；　and　read　in　your　eyes　the　secret　of　your　love。　Yet　my　lips　were　silent；　for；　as　Mourad's　wife；　I　wished　to　remain　unblamable。　You　loved　me；　and　I　wished　to　remain　free　from　blame　for　your　sake；　too。〃

The　tears　that　pour　from　her　eyes　fall　upon　his　facea　heavenly　dew　that　gives　him　new　strength；　new　happiness。

〃Speak　on；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　oh；　speak　on！　What　I　hear　is　music！　Let　me　hear　this　music　and　be　happy！　Oh；　speak　on；　Nefysseh！〃

〃What　shall　I　say；　Youssouf？　The　whole　meaning　of　my　words　is　still；　I　love　you；　and　have　long　loved　you！　When　Mourad；　my　husband；　died；　I　vowed　over　his　dead　body　that　I　would　remain　true　to　him　beyond　the　grave。　Do　you　know　why　I　wished　to　raise　this　barrier　between　us？　I　could　not　allow　the　youth　to　sacrifice　his　life　for　me　in　the　blossom　of　his　age。　And；　moreover；　oh；　fool　that　I　was；　I　fancied　the　wide　abyss　that　separated　Mourad　Bey's　widow　from　his　kachef　Youssouf　could　never　be　crossed！　I　was　proud；　Youssouf；　and　proud　for　you；　also！　I　did　not　wish　to　give　any　one　occasion　to　say：　'Kachef　Youssouf　marries　Mourad's　widow　for　her　possessionsfor　her　wealth。　She　is　too　old　for　him　to　love　her。　He　can　only　have　married　her　for　her　wealth　and　her　name。'　Thus　they　might　have　spoken　of　the　youth；　of　the　hero　I　loved　and　adored；　and　for　whom　I　would　gladly　have　sacrificed　my　life。〃

〃And　to　whom　you　were　yet　so　cruel；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　to　whom　you　caused　so　much　suffering！　For　I　have　suffered；　Sitta　Nefysseh。　It　was　my　heaven　to　be　in　your　presence；　to　see　you。　I　adored　you；　and　yet　you　refused　to　listen　to　me。　But　let　me　be　silent。　Speak　on；　oh；　speak　on　of　my　happiness！　Tell　me　again　that　you　love　me；　Nefysseh；　I　cannot　believe　itit　cannot　be！〃

〃And　yet　it　is　so；　Youssouf；　and　long　have　I　loved　you。　You　know　not　of　the　long；　sleepless　nights　I　have　passed　in　my　solitary　chamber；　my　hands　folded　in　prayer　to　Allah　for　strength　and　firmness。　You　know　not　how　often；　in　the　still　night；　I　have　stretched　out　my　arms　toward　you；　and　pronounced　your　name　with　passionate　longing；　entreating　the　welis　to　bear　you　to　me　in　their　gentle　arms。　Yet；　with　the　day　came　cold；　calm　reason；　exhorting　Mourad's　widow　to　be　firm　and　proud。　And；　alas！　I　was　firm。　You　knew　not　what　it　cost　me。　Then；　Youssouf；　a　new　period　came。　The　beys　Bardissi　and　L'Elfi　addressed　me；　covetous　not　only　of　the　possession　of　the　woman；　but　also　of　her　wealth。　From　that　hour　I　knew　that　danger　threatened　you；　for　the　Mameluke　beys　are　fierce　and　cruel；　and；　if　they　had　known　of　my　affection　for　you；　my　beloved；　you　would　have　been　lost。　This　I　knew；　and　therefore　was　I　cold　and　indifferent　in　my　manner　to　you。　You　called　me　unfeeling　and　cruel　when　I　sent　you　away　to　battle。　I　was　afraid　it　might　excite　suspicion　if　I　kept　you　back　at　such　a　time；　and　then；　too；　I　was　satisfied　you　would　make　for　yourself　a　name；　which　you　have　done；　my　beloved。　You　returned。　You　came　with　a　new　declaration　of　love；　which　Nefysseh　rejected；　because　Bardissi　had　been　with　her　in　the　self…same　hour；　and　had　renewed　his　addresses；　and　because　he　would　never　forgive　you　if　I　chose　you　instead　of　himself。　And　now　this　fearful　disaster　has　overtaken　us　all！　Treachery　has　stained　our　streets　with　blood！　The　Mameluke　beys　have　left　the　city　in　wild　flight！　You；　Youssouf　Bey；　have；　however；　remained　here；　and　now　I　may　tell　you　all；　avow　all　that　I　feel　and　have　endured　and　suffered　in　secret。　I　may　tell　you　that　I　love　you；　and　Allah　will　be　merciful　and　gracious；　Youssouf。　We　are　united　in　love。　The　seal　has　fallen　from　my　lips；　and　they　dare　proclaim　what　I　feel。　Oh；　my　Youssouf；　there　is　a　bright　future　in　store　for　us；　you　will　recover；　and　be　strong　and　happy！〃

〃I　am　already　well；〃　murmured　he。　〃All　is　well　with　me；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　for　you　love　me；　and　in　your　love　I　shall　regain　health　and　strength。〃

His　lips　cease　to　speak；　and　a　tremor　courses　through　his　whole　being。

〃Youssouf！〃　cries　she；　in　tones　of　anguish〃Youssouf！　Oh；　stay　with　me；　do　not　leave　me！〃

In　response　to　her　call；　he　opens　his　eyes　and　gives　her　a　tender　look。

〃Yes；　Sitta　Nefysseh；　I　shall　remain　with　you　throughout　all　time；　throughout　eternity；　for　love　is　eternal。〃

His　lips　are　hushed；　but　his　eyes　still　gaze　up　at　her；　for　a　moment；　with　the　lustre　of　life；　then　they　grow　dim　and　cold；　and　slowly　the　veil　of　death　sinks　down　over　his　countenance。　The　lips　that　but　now　spoke　the　words；　〃I　love　you；〃　are　hushed　forever！

Bowed　down　over　him；　her　eyes　axed　intently　on　the　features　from　which　the　last　traces　of　life　are　vanishing；　she　sees　the　kiss　that　Death　has　imprinted　on　his　lips；　and　the　last　smile　slowly　fade　from　his　countenance。

And　again　she　neither　weeps　nor　laments；　she　only　tears　the　veil　from　her　head　with　a　wild；　despairing　movement；　and　lays　it　over　the　countenance　of　her　beloved　dead。

〃Sleep；　Youssouf；　sleep　beneath　my　veil！　You　are　dead；　and　my　happiness　dies　with　youI　shall　be　a　living　monument　to　your　memory！　I　shall　live　in　poverty　and　solitude；　Youssouf；　and　the　treasures　which　you　buried　for　me　beneath　the　earth　shall　remain　there；　a　subterranean　monument　to　my　love。　They　shall　never　see　the　light　of　day！　You　have　buried　my　treasures；　and　I　will　bury　my　greatest；　holiest　treasureyou；　Youssouf　Bey；　and　with　you　Sitta　Nefysseh　buries　her　youth；　her　love；　and　her　grandeur；　to　be　henceforth　only　a　poor　widow；　who　lives　in　solitary　retirement；　a　prey　to　sorrow。　Sleep；　Youssouf　Bey！　You　will　awake　with　me　above；　to　an　eternal　lifesleep；　Youssouf！〃

She　lifts　the　veil　once　more；　and　kisses　the　forehead；　now　cold　as　marble；　she　then　replaces　it　softly；　and　leaves　the　room。




CHAPTER　XIV

COURSCHID　PACHA。


A　new　viceroy　is　enthroned　in　Cairo；　the　viceroy　Courschid　Pacha；　and　it　is　again　the　old　story　of　wars；　want　of　money；　and　oppression　of　the　people。

Courschid　Pacha！　What　is　he　but　a　continuation　of　all　the　other　viceroys；　governors；　and　caimacans　who　have　ruled　in　Cairo　since　Egypt　has　belonged　to　the　Turkish　empire？　New　taxes；　new　extortion；　and　new　wars。　For　the　Mameluke　beys　have　assembled　on　the　plain　of　Gheezeh　and　formed　new　plans；　recruited　their　ranks　with　Arabians　and　Nubians；　and　prepared　to　take　the　field　against　the　rulers　in　Cairo；　and　above　all　against　their　most　hated　enemy；　the　pacha　Mohammed　Ali。

Such　was　the　dignity　conferred　upon　Mohammed　by　Courschid　Pacha；　upon　his　entrance　into　Cairo；　in　the　name　of　the　grand　sultan。

It　is　not　to　war　against　Courschid　Pacha　that　the　Mamelukes　are　assembling　their　forces。　To　destroy　Mohammed　Ali；　the　soldier…king；　the　real　ruler　in　Cairo；　is　their　aim；　and；　in　order　to　accomplish　this；　they　even　humble　themselves　before　the　viceroy；　who　is　already　involved　in　a　conflict　with　Mohammed。　They　seek　to　treat　with　him；　and　with　the　grand…admiral　of　the　Turkish　fleet；　sent　by　the　Sublime　Porte　to　Alexandria　to　restore　peace　to　the　distracted　country。　To　him；　the　grand…admiral；　the　Mameluke　beys　address　a　letter　offering　their　services：

〃The　undersigned；　knowing　that　your　highness　has　come　to　Egypt　to　put　an　end　to　the　anarchy　that　prevails；　offer；　in　the　name　of　all　the　beys；　to　unite　their　forces　with　those　of　Courschid　Pacha；　and　to　assist　him　and　your　highness　in　all　you　may　do　and　undertake；　provided　Mohammed　Ali　and　the　Albanians　be　driven　from　the　country。〃

This　proposition　receives　the　approval　of　Courschid　Pacha；　who　hates　Mohammed　as　heartily　as　the　Mamelukes　do！　Mohammed　is　the　people's　idol。　To　him　they　apply　for　relief　from　oppression；　and；　whenever　there　is　any　thing　to　be　demanded　of　the　viceroy；　it　is　Mohammed；　supported　by　the　cadis　and　sheiks；　who　loudly　demands　that　right　and　justice　be　done。　Merely　this：　〃Right　and　justice！〃　But　this　it　is　that　Courschid　cannot　accord　them。　He　cannot　accord　right　and　justice；　he　who　is　always　in　want　and　danger；　he　who　is　suffering　with　the　disease　that　has　so　long　cursed　the　viceroys　of　Egyptwant　of　money。　When　money　is　needed；　it　must　be　had；　even　if　extorted　from　the　inhabitants　of　Cairo　and　its　vicinity。　And　Mohammed　often　interposes　and　prevents　Courschid　from　executing　his　money…raising　schemes。

Courschid　Pacha；　incensed　by　this　interference；　complains　to　the　sultan　at　Stamboul；　and　requests　that　the　sarecbsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　be　relieved　from　duty　at　Cairo；　and　assigned　to　duty　elsewhere。　At　the　same　time；　in　order　to　make　himself　independent　of　the　Albanians；　who　are　wholly　under　the　influence　of　Mohammed　Ali；　he　causes　a　body　of　troops　to　be　brought　to　Cairo　for　himself；　a　body　of　Delis；　wild；　lawless　troops；　who　carry　terror　and　dismay　wherever　they　go。　These　Delis　are　now　seen　in　Egypt　for　the　first　time；　the　viceroy　treats　them　tenderly；　and　Courschid；　who　has　money　for　no　one　else；　has　money　for　his　Delis；　and　when　he　has　none；　he　delivers　over　to　their　mercy　some　village　in　the　vicinity　of　Cairo；　out　of　which　they　pay　themselves　by　pillage。

At　last　a　day　came　when　the　people；　so　long　bowed　down　in　the　dust；　arose　like　a　lion；　and　refused　to　yield　longer　to　such　oppression。

〃We　will　endure　this　no　more；　we　will　submit　to　this　injustice　and　oppression　no　longer！〃

The　cadis　and　sheiks　repair　to　the　citadel　to　announce　the　determination　of　the　people　to　the　viceroy。

〃The　people　refuse　to　submit　further　to　this　oppression。　Neither　they　nor　we　will　endure　it。〃

They　say　this　to　his　face；　proudly；　fearlessly。　He　rep