Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

has a mortal apprehension of small-pox, having lost one of her slaves by that distemper some years ago: the fear of infection has never ceased to haunt her from that blessed hour. The slave was my patient-the disease was a hot one—I prescribed accordingly; but in spite of all the warmth we could apply, both within and without, she died, poor thing, a terrible object.

"So much for the pearl, now for the oystershell. In the event of your falling in love with the widow, it were well you had some idea of her person before you woo her, and her impenetrable amsak. Figure to yourself, Effendi, a face the size of the full-moon, mounted on a neck thicker than the ox Balaams, terminating on a mountain, like El Caf, of solid flesh, and the whole gigantic structure supported by two such pillows as sustain the enormous bulk of the great Simorg. Allah defend you from her claws, when you come to rifle the hasnah ! Rustam himself, the most valiant of heroes, might tremble at the encounter.

66

Further, be it known to you, this light of the harem, this little fawn of beauty, has a

daughter, an only child. Half a dozen women

make up the rest of the haren: as to male relatives, you hate no opposition to apprehend, Before you stir in the business make a friend of the Cadi: a reasonable man cannot expect to purchase 1justice, in a case like yours, under five

th

hundred piastres. A virtuous Cadi cannot take less, with any satisfaction to his conscience. Leave the judge to me; I will tell him your story, and make the words of persuasion jingle in his ear at the proper moment: he will expedite your business. If he hints at another purse, I had best not stickle at the bribe: the coffers of the dead miser are full of yellowness. In the meantime be the first to inform the Sittee Zahira that she is a widow: if any thing can procure you a decent reception, it will be this intelligence. Leave not the house, if you can, without taking an inventory of the effects; as to getting your lawful due without the strong enforcement of the law, that is impossible; you need not expect she will give you a single paras."

"Leave the widow to my management, my good friend," exclaimed Mourad; "I have not read the seven elegies to no purpose. A soft

tongue, says the poet, is half the body—a firm heart the other portion; to your especial care I leave the Cadi; tell him a day's dispatch in my affair is worth a couple of doubloons in gold. Away, my friend; tell him, in the words of Ferdousi, The dew of my generosity fall

[ocr errors]

ing on his house, shall render its precincts like the flowery garden of Irem.'”

125

CHAPTER VIII.

"O, daughter of Mabed, sing my praises, if I am slain, according to my desert, and rend thy breast with sincere affliction."

Tarafa.

The information of Hassan enlightened the brain of our hero so much, that he resolved on visiting the widow of Achmet that evening.

Stephenaki was now in his service; the cou

rage of the Greek sailor in the hour of danger had gained him the confidence of Mourad, and wherever his master went, there he swore by an oath, excepting that most binding on his conscience, namely, the bones of his ancestors, to follow him faithfully.

Mourad was too much occupied at the time in making the necessary preparations for carry

ing his scheme into effect, to have any suspicion excited at hearing a Greek talking of faith: he knew he was a brave man, and therefore be lieved he must be an honest man. It was an

[ocr errors]

unpardonable error in opinion, and betrayed as great a want of knowledge of human nature, as if he had chosen for his servant a man who was more than ordinarily loud in his devout ejaculations in the mosque.

[ocr errors]

The fault was committed, however: and the occupation of the servant was to watch the arrival of every ship from the Dardanelles, and to give immediate intelligence to his master. He was directed to have the boat ready at a moment's notice, with provisions enough for a three or four day's trip.bg off

The widow of the Armenian was not altogether ignorant of the probability of our hero's sudden departure from Canea, and her only prayer was, to accompany her preserver. The prayer of a widow is generally irresistible, especially when the supplicant is an object to lo look upon with complacency, as well as with compassion.

Now, the widow Miriam was a comely, buxom

« FöregåendeFortsätt »