ali pacha- 第11部分

At　these　words；　which　the　black…cloaked　battalion　received　with　applause；　Ali　thought　himself　betrayed；　and　looked　around　with　doubt　and　mistrust。　　Fear　was　nearly　taking　the　place　of　mercy；　words　of　pardon　were　on　his　lips；　when　a　certain　Athanasius　Vaya；　a　Greek　schismatic；　and　a　favourite　of　the　pacha's；　whose　illegitimate　son　he　was　supposed　to　be；　advanced　at　the　head　of　the　scum　of　the　army；　and　offered　to　carry　out　the　death　sentence。　　Ali　applauded　his　zeal；　gave　him　full　authority　to　act；　and　spurred　his　horse　to　the　top　of　a　neighbouring　hill；　the　better　to　enjoy　the　spectacle。　　The　Christian　Mirdites　and　the　Mohammedan　guards　knelt　together　to　pray　for　the　miserable　Kardikiotes；　whose　last　hour　had　come。

The　caravanserai　where　they　were　shut　in　was　square　enclosure；　open　to　the　sky；　and　intended　to　shelter　herds　of　buffaloes。　　The　prisoners　having　heard　nothing　of　what　passed　outside；　were　astonished　to　behold　Athanasius　Vaya　and　his　troop　appearing　on　the　top　of　the　wall。　　They　did　not　long　remain　in　doubt。　　Ali　gave　the　signal　by　a　pistol…shot；　and　a　general　fusillade　followed。　　Terrible　cries　echoed　from　the　court；　the　prisoners；　terrified；　wounded；　crowded　one　upon　another　for　shelter。　　Some　ran　frantically　hither　and　thither　in　this　enclosure　with　no　shelter　and　no　exit；　until　they　fell；　struck　down　by　bullets。　　Some　tried　to　climb　the　walls；　in　hope　of　either　escape　or　vengeance；　only　to　be　flung　back　by　either　scimitars　or　muskets。　　It　was　a　terrible　scene　of　despair　and　death。

After　an　hour　of　firing；　a　gloomy　silence　descended　on　the　place；　now　occupied　solely　by　a　heap　of　corpses。　　Ali　forbade　any　burial　rites　on　pain　of　death；　and　placed　over　the　gate　an　inscription　in　letters　of　gold；　informing　posterity　that　six　hundred　Kardikiotes　had　there　been　sacrificed　to　the　memory　of　his　mother　Kamco。

When　the　shrieks　of　death　ceased　in　the　enclosure；　they　began　to　be　heard　in　the　town。　　The　assassins　spread　themselves　through　it；　and　having　violated　the　women　and　children；　gathered　them　into　a　crowd　to　be　driven　to　Libokovo。　　At　every　halt　in　this　frightful　journey　fresh　marauders　fell　on　the　wretched　victims；　claiming　their　share　in　cruelty　and　debauchery。　　At　length　they　arrived　at　their　destination；　where　the　triumphant　and　implacable　Chainitza　awaited　them。　　As　after　the　taking　of　Kormovo；　she　compelled　the　women　to　cut　off　their　hair　and　to　stuff　with　it　a　mattress　on　which　she　lay。　　She　then　stripped　them；　and　joyfully　narrated　to　them　the　massacre　of　their　husbands；　fathers；　brothers　and　sons；　and　when　she　had　sufficiently　enjoyed　their　misery　they　were　again　handed　over　to　the　insults　of　the　soldiery。　　Chainitza　finally　published　an　edict　forbidding　either　clothes；　shelter；　or　food　to　be　given　to　the　women　and　children　of　Kardiki；　who　were　then　driven　forth　into　the　woods　either　to　die　of　hunger　or　to　be　devoured　by　wild　beasts。　　As　to　the　seventy…two　hostages；　Ali　put　them　all　to　death　when　he　returned　to　Janina。　　His　vengeance　was　indeed　complete。

But　as；　filled　with　a　horrible　satisfaction；　the　pacha　was　enjoying　the　repose　of　a　satiated　tiger；　an　indignant　and　threatening　voice　reached　him　even　in　the　recesses　of　his　palace。　　The　Sheik　Yussuf；　governor　of　the　castle　of　Janina；　venerated　as　a　saint　by　the　Mohammedans　on　account　of　his　piety；　and　universally　beloved　and　respected　for　his　many　virtues；　entered　Ali's　sumptuous　dwelling　for　the　first　time。　　The　guards　on　beholding　him　remained　stupefied　and　motionless；　then　the　most　devout　prostrated　themselves；　while　others　went　to　inform　the　pacha；　but　no　one　dared　hinder　the　venerable　man；　who　walked　calmly　and　solemnly　through　the　astonished　attendants。　For　him　there　existed　no　antechamber；　no　delay；　disdaining　the　ordinary　forms　of　etiquette；　he　paced　slowly　through　the　various　apartments；　until；　with　no　usher　to　announce　him；　he　reached　that　of　Ali。　　The　latter；　whose　impiety　by　no　means　saved　him　from　superstitious　terrors；　rose　hastily　from　the　divan　and　advanced　to　meet　the　holy　sheik；　who　was　followed　by　a　crowd　of　silent　courtiers。　Ali　addressed　him　with　the　utmost　respect；　and　endeavoured　even　to　kiss　his　right　hand。　　Yussuf　hastily　withdrew　it；　covered　it　with　his　mantle；　and　signed　to　the　pacha　to　seat　himself。　　Ali　mechanically　obeyed；　and　waited　in　solemn　silence　to　hear　the　reason　of　this　unexpected　visit。

Yussuf　desired　him　to　listen　with　all　attention；　and　then　reproached　him　for　his　injustice　and　rapine；　his　treachery　and　cruelty；　with　such　vivid　eloquence　that　his　hearers　dissolved　in　tears。　　Ali；　though　much　dejected；　alone　preserved　his　equanimity；　until　at　length　the　sheik　accused　him　of　having　caused　the　death　of　Emineh。　　He　then　grew　pale；　and　rising；　cried　with　terror：

〃Alas！　my　father；　whose　name　do　you　now　pronounce？　　Pray　for　me；　or　at　least　do　not　sink　me　to　Gehenna　with　your　curses！〃

〃There　is　no　need　to　curse　thee；〃　answered　Yussuf。　　〃　Thine　own　crimes　bear　witness　against　thee。　　Allah　has　heard　their　cry。　　He　will　summon　thee；　judge　thee；　and　punish　thee　eternally。　　Tremble；　for　the　time　is　at　hand！　　Thine　hour　is　comingis　comingis　coming！〃

Casting　a　terrible　glance　at　the　pacha；　the　holy　man　turned　his　back　on　him；　and　stalked　out　of　the　apartment　without　another　word。

Ali；　in　terror；　demanded　a　thousand　pieces　of　gold；　put　them　in　a　white　satin　purse；　and　himself　hastened　with　them　to　overtake　the　sheik；　imploring　him　to　recall　his　threats。　　But　Yussuf　deigned　no　answer；　and　arrived　at　the　threshold　of　the　palace；　shook　off　the　dust　of　his　feet　against　it。

Ali　returned　to　his　apartment　sad　and　downcast；　and　many　days　elapsed　before　he　could　shake　off　the　depression　caused　by　this　scene。　　But　soon　he　felt　more　ashamed　of　his　inaction　than　of　the　reproaches　which　had　caused　it；　and　on　the　first　opportunity　resumed　his　usual　mode　of　life。

The　occasion　was　the　marriage　of　Moustai；　Pacha　of　Scodra；　with　the　eldest　daughter　of　Veli　Pacha；　called　the　Princess　of　Aulis；　because　she　had　for　dowry　whole　villages　in　that　district。　　Immediately　after　the　announcement　of　this　marriage　Ali　set　on　foot　a　sort　of　saturnalia；　about　the　details　of　which　there　seemed　to　be　as　much　mystery　as　if　he　had　been　preparing　an　assassination。

All　at　once；　as　if　by　a　sudden　inundation；　the　very　scum　of　the　earth　appeared　to　spread　over　Janina。　　The　populace；　as　if　trying　to　drown　their　misery；　plunged　into　a　drunkenness　which　simulated　pleasure。　Disorderly　bands　of　mountebanks　from　the　depths　of　Roumelia　traversed　the　streets；　the　bazaars　and　public　places；　flocks　and　herds；　with　fleeces　dyed　scarlet；　and　gilded　horns；　were　seen　on　all　the　roads　driven　to　the　court　by　peasants　under　the　guidance　of　their　priests。　Bishops；　abbots；　ecclesiastics　generally；　were　compelled　to　drink；　and　to　take　part　in　ridiculous　and　indecent　dances；　Ali　apparently　thinking　to　raise　himself　by　degrading　his　more　respectable　subjects。　Day　and　night　these　spectacles　succeeded　each　other　with　increasing　rapidity；　the　air　resounded　with　firing；　songs；　cries；　music；　and　the　roaring　of　wild　beasts　in　shows。　　Enormous　spits；　loaded　with　meat；　smoked　before　huge　braziers；　and　wine　ran　in　floods　at　tables　prepared　in　the　palace　courts。　　Troops　of　brutal　soldiers　drove　workmen　from　their　labour　with　whips；　and　compelled　them　to　join　in　the　entertainments；　dirty　and　impudent　jugglers　invaded　private　houses；　and　pretending　that　they　had　orders　from　the　pacha　to　display　their　skill；　carried　boldly　off　whatever　they　could　lay　their　hands　upon。　　Ali　saw　the　general　demoralization　with　pleasure；　especially　as　it　tended　to　the　gratification　of　his　avarice；　Every　guest　was　expected　to　bring　to　the　palace　gate　a　gift　in　proportion　to　his　means；　and　foot　officers　watched　to　see　that　no　one　forgot　this　obligation。　　At　length；　on　the　nineteenth　day；　Ali　resolved　to　crown　the　feast　by　an　orgy　worthy　of　himself。　　He　caused　the　galleries　and　halls　of　his　castle　by　the　lake　to　be　decorated　with　unheard…of　splendour；　and　fifteen　hundred　guests　assembled　for　a　solemn　banquet。　The　pacha　appeared　in　all　his　glory；　surrounded　by　his　noble　attendants　and　courtiers；　and　seating　himself　on　a　dais　raised　above　this　base　crowd　which　trembled　at　his　glance；　gave　the　signal　to　begin。　　At　his　voice；　vice　plunged　into　its　most　shameless　diversions；　and　the　wine…steeped　wings　of　debauchery　outspread　themselves　over　the　feast。　　All　tongues　were　at　their　freest；　all　imaginations　ran　wild；　all　evil　passions　were　at　their　height；　when　suddenly　the　noise　ceased；　and　the　guests　clung　together　in　terror。　A　man　stood　at　the　entrance　of　the　hall；　pale；　disordered；　and　wild…eyed；　clothed　in　torn　and　blood…stained　garments。　　As　everyone　made　way　at　his　approach；　he　easily　reached　the　pacha；　and　prostrating　himself　at　his　feet；　presented　a　letter。　　Ali　opened　and　rapidly　perused　it；　his　lips　trembled；　his　eyebrows　met　in　a　terrible　frown；　the　muscles　of　his　forehead　contracted　alarmingly。　　He　vainly　endeavoured　to　smile　and　to　look　as　if　nothing　had　happened；　his　agitation　betrayed　him；　and　he　was　obliged　to　retire；　after　desiring　a　herald　to　announce　that　he　wished　the　banquet　to　continue。

Now　for　the　subject　of　the　message；　and　the　cause　of　the　dismay　it　produced。




CHAPTER　VI

Ali　had　long　cherished　a　violent　passion　for　Zobeide；　the　wife　of　his　son　Veli　Pacha：　Having　vainly　attempted　to　gratify　it　after　his　son's　departure；　and　being　indignantly　repulsed；　he　had　recourse　to　drugs；　and　the　unhappy　Zobeide　remained　in　ignorance　of　her　misfortune　until　she　found　she　was　pregnant。　　Then；　half…avowals　from　her　women；　compelled　to　obey　the　pacha　from　fear　of　death；　mixed　with　confused　memories　of　her　own；　revealed　the　whole　terrible　truth。　　Not　knowing　in　her　despair　which　way　to　turn；　she　wrote　to　Ali；　entreating　him　to　visit　the　harem。　　As　head　of　the　family；　he　had　a　right　to　enter；　being　supposed　responsible　for　the　conduct　of　his　sons'　families；　no…　law…giver　having　hitherto　contemplated　the　possibility　of　so　disgraceful　a　crime。　　When　he　appeared；　Zobeide　flung　herself　at　his　feet；　speechless　with　grief。　　Ali　acknowledged　his　guilt；　pleaded　the　violence　of　his　passion；　wept　with　his　victim；　and　entreating　her　to　control　herself　and　keep　silence；　promised　that　all　should　be　made　right