The Pacha of Many Tales Part 15

The inquisitors were for a moment staggered, but their surprise gave place to their cruelty, when they considered how long they had tortured thousands for doubting points to which they themselves had never for a moment given credence. I was remanded to my dungeon; and the gaoler, who had never before witnessed such boldness in the hall of justice, and was impressed with the conviction that I was supported as I had affirmed, treated me with kindness, affording me comforts, which, had it been known, would have cost him his situation.

In the meantime the cargo of the vessel was landed at the Custom-house, and she was hauled on sh.o.r.e to have her bottom caulked and pitched, when, to the astonishment of the captain and crew, the hole which had occasioned the leak was discovered with the head of the figure of the saint, which I had thrown overboard, so firmly wedged in, that it required some force to pull it out. "A miracle! a miracle!" was cried from the quays, and proclaimed through every part of the town. It was evident that the Virgin had instigated me to throw over the image, as the only means of stopping the leak. The friars of the nearest convent claimed the image from their propinquity, and came down to the ship in grand procession to carry it to their church. The grand inquisitor, hearing the circ.u.mstance, acknowledged to the bishop and heads of the clergy my intrepid behaviour in the hall of judgment: and not three hours after the ship had been hauled on sh.o.r.e, I was visited in my dungeon by the grand inquisitor, the bishop, and a long procession, my pardon requested, and the kiss of peace demanded and given. I was taken away with every mark of respect, and looked upon as one under special favour of the Virgin. "Did I not say, my lord, that I should leave my dungeon in honour?"

"You did, my friend," answered the inquisitor: and I heard him mutter, "either there is such a person as the Virgin Mary, or you are a most ready-witted scoundrel."

During my stay at Valencia, I was courted and feasted by every body, and sold my goods at an enormous price; for every one thought that to possess any thing that had belonged to me must bring them good fortune.

I received many handsome presents, had divers requests to become a member of the different fraternities of monks, and eventually quitted the town with a large sum of money, with which I proceeded to Toulon, with the intention of making some inquiry after my dear Cerise, whose image was still the object of my dreams, as well as of my waking thoughts.

"Stop," said the pacha; "I wish to know, whether you believe that the Virgin, as you call her, did thrust the head of the image into the hole in the bottom of the ship."

"May it please your highness, I do not. I believe it originated from nothing but cause and effect. It is the nature of a whirlpool to draw down all substances that come within its vortex. The water pouring into the bottom of the ship is but the vortex of a whirlpool reversed; and the image of the saint, when it was thrown overboard to leeward of the ship, which was pressed down upon it by the power of the wind, was forced under the water, until it was taken into the vortex of the leak, and naturally found its way into the hole."

"I dare say you are very right," answered the pacha, "but I don't understand a word you have said."

"Such, your highness, were the adventures attending my Second Voyage,"

concluded the renegade, with an inclination of his head.

"And a very good voyage too! I like it better than your first.

Mustapha, give him ten pieces of gold: you will bring him here to-morrow, and we will hear what happened in his third."

"You observe," said Mustapha, when the pacha had retired, "my advice was good."

"Most excellent!" replied the renegade, holding out his hand for the money: "To-morrow I'll lie like any barber."

VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER SEVEN.

"Keoda shefa midehed--G.o.d gives relief!" cried the pacha, as the divan closed: and, certainly, during its continuance many had been relieved of their worldly goods, and one or two from all future worldly thoughts or wanderings.--"What have we to-day, Mustapha?"

"May your highness's shadow never be less!" replied the vizier. "Have we not the slave who offered to lay his story at your sublime feet, on the same evening that we met those sons of s.h.i.tan--Ali and Hussan, who received the punishment merited by their enormous crimes? Have we not also the ma.n.u.script of the Spanish slave, now translated by my faithful Greek; who tells me that the words are flowing with honey, and their music is equal to that of the bulbul when singing to his favourite rose?"

"And the Giaour who relates his voyages and travels," interrupted the pacha--"where is he? No kessehgou of our own race tells stories like unto his."

"The Giaour is on the waters, your highness. He is a very _rustam_ on board of a ship, and brings wealth to the _hazneh_ of your sublime highness. He consulted the astrologers, and the stars were propitious.

To-morrow I expect he will return."

"Well, then, we must content ourselves with what is offered. Let the slave approach, and we will listen to his story, since we cannot have the wonderful tales of Huckaback."

"Whose dog was Lokman, to be compared to your sublime highness in wisdom?" replied Mustapha. "What are the words of Hafiz--'Every moment that you enjoy, count it gain. Who shall say what will be the event of any thing?'"

The slave, who had been detained by the orders of Mustapha, was ordered to appear. During his confinement, Mustapha had been informed by his people that he was "visited by Alla;" or in other words, that he was a madman. Nevertheless, Mustapha--who was afraid to release a man (or rather, a story) without the consent of the pacha, and could not send for the renegade to supply any defalcation--considered that, upon the whole, it was better that he should be admitted to the presence of the pacha.

"You asked me to hear your story," observed the pacha, "and I have consented,--not to please you, but to please myself, because I am fond of a good story: which I take it for granted yours will be, or you would not have presumed to make the request. Now you may go on."

"Pacha," replied the slave, who had seated himself in a corner, working his body backward and forward, "it is the misfortune of those who not aware--of the excitement which--as I before stated to your highness exceeds in alt.i.tude the lofty and snow-covered peak of Hebrus--and, nevertheless, cannot be worth more than four or five paras--"

"Holy Prophet! what is all this?" interrupted the pacha; "I cannot understand a word that you say. Do you laugh at our beard? Speak more intelligibly. Remember!"

"I remember it as if it were now," continued the maniac, "although years have rolled away. Never will it be effaced from my recollection while this heart, broken as it is, continues to beat, or this brain may be permitted to burn. The sun had just disappeared behind the rugged summits of the mountain which sheltered my abode from the unkind north-east wind: the leaves of the vines that hung in festoons on the trellis before my cottage, which, but a minute before, pierced by his glorious rays, had appeared so brilliant and transparent, had now a.s.sumed a browner shade, and, as far as the eye could reach, a thin blue vapour was descending the ravine: the distant sea had changed its intense blue for a sombre grey, while the surf rolled sullenly to the beach, as if in discontent that it could no longer reflect the colours of the prism as before, when it seemed to dance, with joy under the brilliant illumination of the G.o.d of day--"

"Poof!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the pacha, fanning himself.

"My boat was on the beach; my eyes were fixed upon it, in happy vacancy, until the shades of night prevented my discerning the nets which were spread upon its gunnel. I turned round at the soft voice of my Etana, who was seated near me with her infant in her arms, and watching the little one's impatience, as it would demand a more rapid flow of milk from that snowy breast, and the fond smile of the delighted mother, as she bent over the first dear pledge of our affection. I felt happy-- almost too happy: I had all I wished--yes I had,"--and the maniac paused and smote his forehead, "but it is past now."

After a second or two he resumed--

"For my part it has always been my opinion that when the wind backs to the south-east, the fish repair to the deep water; and if you will be careful when you gather the grapes not to throw in the stalks, that the wine will, as I before stated to your highness, only increase the extreme difficulty of ascertaining how far a man could conscientiously demand, that is to say, in proportion to the degree of intellect, stated at different intervals, and extending down the crags of the whole ravine."

"I cannot, positively, understand a word of all this!" exclaimed the pacha, with irritation; "can you, Mustapha?"

"How is it possible for your slave to comprehend that which is concealed from the wisdom of your highness?"

"Very true," replied the pacha.

"Your highness will understand it all by-and-bye," observed the maniac; "but it will be necessary that you wait until I have finished the story, when it will all reel off like a skein of silk, which at present but appears to be ravelled."

"Well then," replied the pacha, "I wish you would begin at the end of your story, and finish with the beginning. Now go on."

"There is nought under Heaven so interesting--so graceful--so pleasing to contemplate as a young mother with her first-born at her breast. The soft lisps and caresses of childhood--the expanding graces of the budding maiden--the blushing, smiling yet trembling bride, all lose in the comparison with woman in her beauty, fulfilling her destiny on earth; her countenance radiating with those intense feelings of delight, which more than repay her for her previous hours of sorrow and of anguish. But I'm afraid I tire your highness."

"Wallah el Nebi!--by G.o.d and his Prophet, you do indeed. Is it all to be like that?"

"No! pacha. I wish to Heaven that it had been. Merciful G.o.d!--why didst thou permit the blow? Was not I grateful?--Were not my eyes suffused with tears, springing from grat.i.tude and love, at the very moment when they rushed in--when their murdering weapons were pointed to my breast--when the mother shrieked as they tore away the infant as a useless inc.u.mbrance and dashed it to the ground--when I caught it up, and the pistol of the savage Turk put an end to its existence? I see it now, as I kissed the little ruby fountain which bubbled from its heart: I see her too, as they bore her away senseless in their arms. Pacha, in one short minute I was bereft of all--wife, child, home, liberty, and reason; and here I am, a madman and a slave!"

The maniac paused: then starting upon his feet, he commenced in a loud voice:--"But I know who they were--I know them all, and I know where she is too: and now, pacha, you shall do me justice. This is he who stole my wife; this is he who murdered my child; this is he who keeps her from my arms: and thus I beard him in your presence;" and as he finished his exclamations, he sprang upon the terrified Mustapha, seizing him by the beard with one hand, while, with the other, he beat his turban about his head.

The guards rushed in, and rescued the vizier from the awkward position in which he was placed by his own imprudence, in permitting the man to appear at the divan.

The rage of the pacha was excessive; and the head of the maniac would have been separated from his body, had it not been for the prudence of Mustapha, who was aware that the common people consider idiots and madmen to be under the special protection of Heaven, and that such an act would be sufficient to create an insurrection. At his intercession, the man was taken away by the guards, and not released until he was a considerable distance from the palace.

"Allah karim!--G.o.d is merciful!" exclaimed the pacha as soon as the maniac had been carried away. "I'm glad that he did not think it was me who had his wife."

"Allah forbid that your highness should have been so treated. He has almost ruined the beard of your slave," replied the vizier, adjusting the folds of his turban.

"Mustapha, make a memorandum never again to accept an offer. I'm convinced that a volunteer story is worth nothing."

"Your highness speaks the truth--no man parts readily with what is worth retaining--gold is not kicked up with the sandal, nor diamonds to be found glittering in the rays of the sun. If we would obtain them, we must search and labour in the dark mine.--Will your highness be pleased to hear the ma.n.u.script which had been translated by the Greek slave?"

"Be it so," replied the pacha, not in the very best of humours.

The Greek made his appearance and made his salutation, and then read as follows:--

Ma.n.u.sCRIPT OF THE MONK.

Recording the Discovery of the Island of Madeira.