"Can we call back the Theocracy? Is"t possible?"
"But say the word, and it is done, Jabaster. Nay, stare not. Dost thou think there are no true hearts in Israel? Dost thou suppose thy children have beheld, without a thought, the foul insults poured on thee; thee, their priest, their adored high priest, one who recalls the best days of the past, the days of their great Judges? But one word, one single movement of that mitred head, and---- But I speak unto a mind that feels more than I can express. Be silent, tongue, thou art a babbling counsellor. Jabaster"s patriot soul needs not the idle schooling of a child. If he be silent, "tis that his wisdom deems that the hour is not ripe, but when her leader speaks, Israel will not be slack."
"The Moslemin in council! We know what must come next. Our national existence is in its last agony. Methinks the time is very ripe, Abidan."
"Why, so we think, great sir; and say the word, and twenty thousand spears will guard the Ark. I"ll answer for my men. Stout Scherirah looks grimly on the Moabites. A word from thee, and the whole Syrian army will join our banner, the Lion of Judah, that shall be our flag. The tyrant and his satraps, let them die, and then the rest must join us. We"ll proclaim the covenant, and, leaving Babylon to a b.l.o.o.d.y fate, march on to Zion!"
"Zion, his youthful dream, Zion!"
"You muse!"
"King or no king, he is the Lord"s anointed. Shall this hand, that poured the oil on his hallowed head, wash out the balmy signet with his blood? Must I slay him? Shall this kid be seethed even in its mother"s milk?"
"His voice is low, and yet his face is troubled. How now, sir?"
"What art thou? Ah! Abidan, trusty, stanch Abidan! You see, Abidan, I was thinking, my good Abidan, all this may be the frenzy of a revel.
Tomorrow"s dawn may summon cooler counsels. The tattle of the table, it is sacred. Let us forget it; let us pa.s.s it over. The Lord may turn his heart. Who knows, who knows, Abidan!"
"n.o.ble sir, a moment since your mind was like your faith, firm and resolved, and now----"
"School me not, school me not, good Abidan. There is that within my mind you cannot fathom; some secret sorrows which are all my own. Leave me, good friend, leave me awhile. When Israel calls me I shall not be wanting. Be sure of that, Abidan, be sure of that. Nay, do not go; the night is very rough, and the fair prophetess should not again stem the swelling river. I"ll to my closet, and will soon return."
Jabaster quitted the gallery, and entered a small apartment. Several large volumes, unclasped and open, were lying on various parts of the divan. Before them stood his brazen cabalistic table. He closed the chamber with a cautious air. He advanced into the centre of the apartment. He lifted up his hands to heaven, and clasped them with an expression almost of agony.
"Is it come to this?" he muttered in a tone of deep oppression. "Is it come to this? What is"t I have heard? what done? Down, tempting devil, down! O life! O glory! O my country, my chosen people, and my sacred creed! why do we live, why act? Why have we feeling for aught that"s famous, or for aught that"s holy? Let me die! let, let me die! The torture of existence is too great."
He flung himself upon the couch; he buried his awful countenance in his robes. His mighty heart was convulsed with pa.s.sion. There did he lie, that great and solemn man, prostrate and woe-begone.
"The noisy banquet lingers in my ear; I love to be alone."
"With me?"
"Thou art myself; I have no other life."
"Sweet bird! It is now a caliph."
"I am what thou wiliest, soul of my sweet existence! Pomp and dominion, fame and victory, seem now but flawed and dimly-shaded gems compared with thy bright smile!"
"My plaintive nightingale, shall we hunt to-day?"
"Alas! my rose, I would rather lie upon this lazy couch, and gaze upon thy beauty!"
"Or sail upon the cool and azure lake, in some bright barque, like to a sea-nymph"s sh.e.l.l, and followed by the swans?"
"There is no lake so blue as thy deep eye; there is no swan so white as thy round arm!"
"Or shall we launch our falcons in the air, and bring the golden pheasant to our feet?"
"I am the golden pheasant at thy feet; why wouldst thou richer prey?"
"Rememberest thou thy earliest visit to this dear kiosk, my gentle mute?
There thou stoodst with folded arms and looks demure as day, and ever and anon with those dark eyes stealing a glance which made my cheek quite pale. Methinks I see thee even yet, shy bird. Dost know, I was so foolish when it quitted me, dost know I cried?"
"Ah, no! thou didst not cry?"
"Indeed, I think I did."
"Tell me again, my own Schirene, indeed didst cry?"
"Indeed I did, my soul!"
"I would those tears were in some crystal vase, I"d give a province for the costly urn."
She threw her arms around his neck and covered his face with kisses.
Sunset sounded from the minarets. They arose and wandered together in the surrounding paradise. The sky was tinted with a pale violet flush, a single star floating by the side of the white moon, that beamed with a dim l.u.s.tre, soft and shapely as a pearl.
"Beautiful!" exclaimed the pensive Schirene, as she gazed upon the star.
"O, my Alroy, why cannot we ever live alone, and ever in a paradise?"
"I am wearied of empire," replied Alroy with a smile, "let us fly!"
"Is there no island, with all that can make life charming, and yet impervious to man? How little do we require! Ah! if these gardens, instead of being surrounded by hateful Bagdad, were only encompa.s.sed by some beautiful ocean!"
"My heart, we live in a paradise, and are seldom disturbed, thanks to Honain!"
"But the very consciousness that there are any other persons existing besides ourselves is to me painful. Every one who even thinks of you seems to rob me of a part of your being. Besides, I am weary of pomp and palaces. I should like to live in a sparry grot, and sleep upon a couch of sweet leaves!"
This interesting discussion was disturbed by a dwarf, who, in addition to being very small and very ugly, was dumb. He bowed before the Princess; and then had recourse to a great deal of pantomimic action, by which she discovered that it was dinnertime. No other person could have ventured to disturb the royal pair, but this little being was a privileged favourite.
So Alroy and Schirene entered the serail. An immense cresset-lamp, fed with perfumed oil, threw a soft light round the sumptuous chamber. At the end stood a row of eunuchs in scarlet dresses, and each holding a tall silver staff. The Caliph and the Sultana threw themselves upon a couch covered with a hundred cushions; on one side stood a group consisting of the captain of the guard and other officers of the household, on the other, of beautiful female slaves magnificently attired.
The line of domestics at the end of the apartment opened, and a body of slaves advanced, carrying trays of ivory and gold, and ebony and silver, covered with the choicest dainties, curiously prepared. These were in turn offered to the Caliph and the Sultana by their surrounding attendants. The Princess accepted a spoon made of a single pearl, the long, thin golden handle of which was studded with rubies, and condescended to partake of some saffron soup, of which she was fond.
Afterwards she regaled herself with the breast of a cygnet, stuffed with almonds, and stewed with violets and cream. Having now a little satisfied her appet.i.te, and wishing to show a mark of her favour to a particular individual, she ordered the captain of the guard instantly to send him the whole of the next course[74] with her compliments. Her attention was then engaged with a dish of those delicate ortolans that feed upon the vine-leaves of Schiraz, and with which the Governor of Nishapur took especial care that she should be well provided. Tearing the delicate birds to pieces with her still more delicate fingers, she insisted upon feeding Alroy, who of course yielded to her solicitations.
In the meantime, they refreshed themselves with their favourite sherbet of pomegranates, and the golden wine of Mount Lebanon.[76] The Caliph, who could eat no more ortolans, although fed by such delicate fingers, was at length obliged to call for "rice," which was synonymous to commanding the banquet to disappear. The attendants now brought to each basins of gold, and ewers of rock crystal filled with rose water, with towels of that rare Egyptian linen which can be made only of the cotton that grows upon the banks of the Nile. While they amused themselves with eating sugar-plums, and drinking coffee flavoured with cinnamon, the female slaves danced before them in the most graceful att.i.tudes to the melody of invisible musicians.
"My enchanting Schirene," said the Caliph, "I have dined, thanks to your attention, very well. These slaves of yours dance admirably, and are exceedingly beautiful. Your music, too, is beyond all praise; but, for my own part, I would rather be quite alone, and listening to one of your songs."
"I have written a new one to-day. You shall hear it." So saying, she clapped her little white hands, and all the attendants immediately withdrew.
"The stars are stealing forth, and so will I. Sorry sight! to view Jabaster, with a stealthy step, skulk like a thing dishonoured! Oh! may the purpose consecrate the deed! the die is cast."
So saying, the High Priest, m.u.f.fled up in his robe, emerged from his palace into the busy streets. It is at night that the vitality of Oriental life is most impressive. The narrow winding streets, crowded with a population breathing the now sufferable air, the illuminated coffee-houses, the groups of gay yet sober revellers, the music, and the dancing, and the animated recitals of the poet and the story-teller, all combine to invest the starry hours with a beguiling and even fascinating character of enjoyment and adventure.
It was the night after the visit of Abidan and the prophetess. Jabaster had agreed to meet Abidan in the square of the great mosque two hours after sunset, and thither he now repaired.
"I am somewhat before my time," he said, as he entered the great square, over which the rising moon threw a full flood of light. A few dark shadows of human beings alone moved in the distance. The world was in the streets and coffee-houses. "I am somewhat before my time," said Jabaster. "Conspirators are watchful. I am anxious for the meeting, and yet I dread it. Since he broke this business, I have never slept. My mind is a chaos. I will not think. If "tis to be done, let it be done at once. I am more tempted to sheathe this dagger in Jabaster"s breast than in Alroy"s. If life or empire were the paltry stake, I would end a life that now can bring no joy, and yield authority that hath no charm; but Israel, Israel, thou for whom I have endured so much, let me forget Jabaster had a mother!