mohammed ali and his house-第93部分

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His　whole　past　rises　up　before　him。　He　is　once　more　at　home；　on　the　rude　rock　where　he　spent　his　youth。

He　sees　every　thing　once　more；　sees；　also；　the　pale　face　of　his　Osman；　of　his　dear　friend。

He　is　deadhis　sons　have　told　him　that　Osman　is　dead。

〃It　is　well　for　him　that　he　is；　he　suffered　much；〃　he　murmurs；　in　low　tones。　〃I；　also；　have　suffered　much。　And　yet　I　have　also　experienced　much　happiness；　and　shall　probably　do　so　in　the　future；　also；〃　he　continues；　in　louder　tones。　〃Sink　down　behind　me；　past！　the　future　is　mine。　And　now　be　strong；　Mohammed；　arise　and　be　a　man！　The　past　is　at　an　end！　Masa；　you　have　to…day　sent　me　a　greeting　through　my　sons。　Farewell！　Now　I　belong　to　the　present　and　to　the　future。　Farewell！〃

He　rises；　walks　with　firm　footstep　through　the　apartment；　and　enters　the　room　where　Ada　and　his　sons　are　awaiting　him。

〃Come；　my　sons；　I　will　show　you　my　capital；　the　most　beautiful　of　all　citiesI　will　show　you　Cairo。　Come！〃

He　takes　his　sons　by　the　hand；　and；　alas！　he　forgets　the　poor　woman　who　is　regarding　him　tenderly；　and　down　whose　cheeks　two　tears　slowly　trickle　as　the　door　closes　behind　him。

Mohammed　leads　his　sons　through　the　long　suite　of　splendid　apartments；　which　they　regard　with　wonder；　into　the　grand　reception…　chamber；　and　steps　out　with　them　upon　the　balcony。　The　beautiful　city　of　Cairo　now　lies　spread　out　before　them。　Over　there　glitters　the　Nile；　like　a　silver　ribbon；　and　beyond　tower　aloft　the　wondrous　forms　of　the　great　Pyramids　of　Gheezeh。

A　cry　of　delight　escapes　the　lips　of　the　boys。　〃Oh；　how　beautiful；　how　glorious；　father！〃

〃Yes；　beautiful　is　Cairo；　beautiful　is　Egypt；　my　sons。　All　that　you　see　spread　out　before　you　is　mine。　I　am　the　ruler　of　Egypt；　you　shall　be　its　rulers　after　me；　and　our　house　shall　become　great　and　glorious。　This　I　swear；　by　Allah！　I　will　not；　like　my　predecessors；　be　deposed　from　my　throne　and　descend　the　hill　on　which　stands　the　proud　citadel　of　Cairo。　I　swear；　by　Allah；　that　my　house　shall　continue　to　rule　over　Egypt；　and　it　shall　be　inscribed　in　the　books　of　history：　'Mohammed　Ali　was　the　first　free　viceroy　of　Egypt；　and　his　sons　succeeded　him　on　the　throne。'　Swear　to　me；　my　sons；　that　you　will　one　day　become　good　and　just　rulers　over　Egypt！〃

〃We　swear　that　we　will；　father！　We　will　one　day　become　good　and　just　rulers　over　Egypt！〃　the　three　boys　reply；　as　with　one　voice；　their　eyes　sparkling；　their　countenances　radiant　with　the　light　of　high　resolve。

〃You　have　heard　it；　Allah！〃　cries　the　father；　in　solemn　tones；　his　head　bowed　down；　his　right　hand　uplifted。　〃I　will　firmly　establish　the　rule　of　my　house；　and　my　sons　have　sworn　to　become　good　and　just　rulers。　Then　be　thou；　also；　our　gracious　ruler；　and　with　thy　great　prophet；　Mohammed；　look　down　with　favor　upon　the　four　human　beings　who　stand　humbly　in　thy　presence！　Not　the　vassal　of　the　grand…sultan　at　Stamboul；　but　the　free；　independent　viceroy；　will　I　be；　and　after　me　shall　my　sons　rulethis　I　swear！　Seal　thou　my　resolve　with　thy　blessing；　O　Allah！〃







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