the officers of the gate wore a sneering smile upon their faces
the postilions were laughing together； and this； too； in the
presence of three creatures whose exquisite beauty； in different
styles； agreeably to their different ages； would have caused
noblemen to have fallen down and worshiped。 My mother； who had
never yet met with any flagrant insult on account of her national
distinctions； was too much shocked to be capable of speaking。 I
whispered to her a few words； recalling her to her native dignity
of mind； paid the money； and we drove to the prison。 But the hour
was past at which we could be admitted； and； as Jewesses； my mother
and sisters could not be allowed to stay in the city； they were to
go into the Jewish quarter； a part of the suburb set apart for
Jews； in which it was scarcely possible to obtain a lodging
tolerably clean。 My father； on the next day； we found； to our
horror； at the point of death。 To my mother he did not tell the
worst of what he had endured。 To me he told that； driven to
madness by the insults offered to him； he had upbraided the court…
martial with their corrupt propensities； and had even mentioned
that overtures had been made to him for quashing the proceedings in
return for a sum of two millions of francs； and that his sole
reason for not entertaining the proposal was his distrust of those
who made it。 'They would have taken my money；' said he； 'and then
found a pretext for putting me to death； that I might tell no
secrets。' This was too near the truth to be tolerated； in concert
with the local authorities； the military enemies of my father
conspired against himwitnesses were suborned； and； finally； under
some antiquated law of the place； he was subjected； in secret； to a
mode of torture which still lingers in the east of Europe。
〃He sank under the torture and the degradation。 I； too；
thoughtlessly； but by a natural movement of filial indignation；
suffered the truth to escape me in conversing with my mother。 And
she；but I will preserve the regular succession of things。 My
father died； but he had taken such measures； in concert with me；
that his enemies should never benefit by his property。 Meantime my
mother and sisters had closed my father's eyes； had attended his
remains to the grave； and in every act connected with this last sad
rite had met with insults and degradations too mighty for human
patience。 My mother； now become incapable of self…command； in the
fury of her righteous grief； publicly and in court denounced the
conduct of the magistracytaxed some of them with the vilest
proposals to herselftaxed them as a body with having used
instruments of torture upon my father； and； finally； accused them
of collusion with the French military oppressors of the district。
This last was a charge under which they quailed； for by that time
the French had made themselves odious to all who retained a spark
of patriotic feeling。 My heart sank within me when I looked up at
the bench； this tribunal of tyrants； all purple or livid with rage；
when I looked at them alternately and at my noble mother with her
weeping daughtersthese so powerless； those so basely vindictive；
and locally so omnipotent。 Willingly I would have sacrificed all
my wealth for a simple permission to quit this infernal city with
my poor female relations safe and undishonored。 But far other were
the intentions of that incensed magistracy。 My mother was
arrested； charged with some offense equal to petty treason； or
scandalum magnatum； or the sowing of sedition； and； though what she
said was true； where； alas！ was she to look for evidence？ Here was
seen the want of gentlemen。 Gentlemen； had they been even equally
tyrannical； would have recoiled with shame from taking vengeance on
a woman。 And what a vengeance！ O heavenly powers！ that I should
live to mention such a thing！ Man that is born of woman； to
inflict upon woman personal scourging on the bare back； and through
the streets at noonday！ Even for Christian women the punishment
was severe which the laws assigned to the offense in question。 But
for Jewesses； by one of the ancient laws against that persecuted
people； far heavier and more degrading punishments were annexed to
almost every offense。 What else could be looked for in a city
which welcomed its Jewish guests by valuing them at its gates as
brute beasts？ Sentence was passed； and the punishment was to be
inflicted on two separate days； with an interval between each
doubtless to prolong the tortures of mind； but under a vile
pretense of alleviating the physical torture。 Three days after
would come the first day of punishment。 My mother spent the time
in reading her native Scriptures； she spent it in prayer and in
musing； while her daughters clung and wept around her day and
nightgroveling on the ground at the feet of any people in
authority that entered their mother's cell。 That same interval
how was it passed by me？ Now mark； my friend。 Every man in
office； or that could be presumed to bear the slightest influence；
every wife； mother； sister； daughter of such men； I besieged
morning； noon； and night。 I wearied them with my supplications。 I
humbled myself to the dust； I； the haughtiest of God's creatures；
knelt and prayed to them for the sake of my mother。 I besought
them that I might undergo the punishment ten times over in her
stead。 And once or twice I DID obtain the encouragement of a few
natural tearsgiven more； however； as I was told； to my piety than
to my mother's deserts。 But rarely was I heard out with patience；
and from some houses repelled with personal indignities。 The day
came： I saw my mother half undressed by the base officials； I heard
the prison gates expand； I heard the trumpets of the magistracy
sound。 She had warned me what to do； I had warned myself。 Would I
sacrifice a retribution sacred and comprehensive； for the momentary
triumph over an individual？ If not； let me forbear to look out of
doors； for I felt that in the selfsame moment in which I saw the
dog of an executioner raise his accursed hand against my mother；
swifter than the lightning would my dagger search his heart。 When
I heard the roar of the cruel mob； I pausedenduredforbore。 I
stole out by by…lanes of the city from my poor exhausted sisters；
whom I left sleeping in each other's innocent arms； into the
forest。 There I listened to the shouting populace； there even I
fancied that I could trace my poor mother's route by the course of
the triumphant cries。 There； even then； even then； I madeO
silent forest！ thou heardst me when I madea vow that I have kept
too faithfully。 Mother； thou art avenged： sleep； daughter of
Jerusalem！ for at length the oppressor sleeps with thee。 And thy
poor son has paid； in discharge of his vow； the forfeit of his own
happiness； of a paradise opening upon earth； of a heart as innocent
as thine； and a face as fair。
〃I returned； and found my mother returned。 She slept by starts；
but she was feverish and agitated； and when she awoke and first saw
me； she blushed； as if I could think that real degradation had
settled upon her。 Then it was that I told her of my vow。 Her eyes
were lambent with fierce light for a moment； but； when I went on
more eagerly to speak of my hopes and projects； she called me to
herkissed me； and whispered： 'Oh； not so； my son！ think not of
methink not of vengeancethink only of poor Berenice and
Mariamne。' Aye； that thought WAS startling。 Yet this magnanimous
and forbearing mother； as I knew by the report of our one faithful
female servant； had； in the morning； during her bitter trial；
behaved as might have become a daughter of Judas Maccabaeus： she
had looked serenely upon the vile mob； and awed even them by her
serenity； she had disdained to utter a shriek when the cruel lash
fell upon her fair skin。 There is a point that makes the triumph
over natural feelings of pain easy or not easythe degree in which
we count upon the sympathy of the bystanders。 My mother had it not
in the beginning； but； long before the end； her celestial beauty；
the divinity of injured innocence； the pleading of common womanhood
in the minds of the lowest class； and the reaction of manly feeling
in the men； had worked a great change in the mob。 Some began now
to threaten those who had been active in insulting her。 The
silence of awe and respect succeeded to noise and uproar； and
feelings which they scarcely understood； mastered the rude rabble
as they witnessed more and more the patient fortitude of the
sufferer。 Menaces began to rise toward the executioner。 Things
wore such an aspect that the magistrates put a sudden end to the
scene。
〃That day we received permission to go home to our poor house in
the Jewish quarter。 I know not whether you are learned enough in
Jewish usages to be aware that in every Jewish house； where old
traditions are kept up； there is one room consecrated to confusion；
a room always locked up and sequestered from vulgar use； except on
occasions of memorable affliction； where everything is purposely in
disorderbrokenshatteredmutilated： to typify； by symbols
appalling to the eye； that desolation which has so long trampled on
Jerusalem； and the ravages of the boar within the vineyards of
Judea。 My mother； as a Hebrew princess； maintained all traditional
customs。 Even in this wretched suburb she had her 'chamber of
desolation。' There it was that I and my sisters heard her last
words。 The rest of her sentence was to be carried into effect
within a week。 She； meantime； had disdained to utter any word of
fear； but that energy of self…control had made the suffering but
the more bitter。 Fever and dreadful agitation had succeeded。 Her
dreams showed sufficiently to us； who watched her couch； that
terror for the future mingled with the sense of degradation for the
past。 Nature asserted her rights。 But the more she shrank from
the suffering； the more did she proclaim how severe it had been；
and consequently how noble the self…conquest。 Yet； as her weakness
increased； so did her terror； until I besought her to take comfort；
assuring her that； in case any attempt should be made to force her
out again to pu