The Pacha of Many Tales

by Frederick Marryat

  VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER ONE.

  The next morning the pacha observed to Mustapha, "I have been thinkingwhether, as we have no story, it would not be as well to let the Greekfinish the story of yesterday evening."

  "True, O pacha," replied Mustapha, "better is hard fare than no food--ifwe cannot indulge in the pillau, we must content ourselves with boiledrice."

  "It is well said, Mustapha, so let him proceed."

  The Greek slave was then ordered in, and re-commenced as follows:--

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  Freedom was obtained at last; I flew to the sea-coast, chartered a smallvessel, and chiding the winds as we scudded along, because they wouldnot blow with a force equal to my impetuous desires, arrived at Cadiz.It was late in the evening when I disembarked and repaired to theconvent; so exhausted was I by contending hopes and fears, that it waswith difficulty I could support my own weight. I tottered to thewicket, and demanded my Rosina.

  "Are you a near relation," inquired the portress, "that you request thepresence of a sister?" Her interrogation decided the point; Rosina hadtaken the veil, had abjured the world and me for ever. My brain reeled,and I fell senseless on the pavement. Alarmed at the circumstance, theportress ran to the Lady Abbess, informing her that a person had askedfor sister Rosina, and, receiving her answer, had fallen senseless atthe wicket. Rosina was present at the narration; her heart told her whoit was; also told her that I had not been faithless. Joy at myfidelity, and grief at her own precipitancy, which rendered itunavailing, overpowered her, and she was led to her cell in a state aspitiable as mine.

  When I recovered my senses, I found myself in bed. I had been there forweeks in a state of mental alienation. With reason and memory, miseryreturned; but I was no longer in the frenzy of excitement; my mind wasas exhausted as my body, and I felt a species of calm despair.Convinced that all was lost, that an insuperable bar was placed betweenRosina and me, I reasoned myself into a kind of philosophy; andresolved, as soon as I could recover my strength, to fly from a placewhich had been the scene of so much anticipated happiness, and of somuch real woe.

  One desire still remained; it was to see Rosina previous to mydeparture, that I might explain the cause of my delay. Conviction toldme that it was wrong; but the impulse I could not resist: had I notyielded to it, I should have been unfortunate, but not guilty.

  I wrote to her upbraiding her for her precipitation, and imploring afinal interview. Her answer was affecting--it brought showers of tearsfrom my eyes, and again inflamed my love. The interview was refused, asit could be productive of no benefit, and would only call forth feelingsin opposition to her duty; but it was so kindly, so gently negatived,that it was evident her inclination was at variance with her pen; and onmy repeating the request, as a proof that her affection had beensincere, she unwillingly acceded.

  We met--for our misery--for our guilt, we met.--From that moment, Iresolved never to abandon her--religion, virtue, morality, every feelingwas borne away by the re-appearance of the object of my adoration; andbefore the interview was over, I again dared to breathe vows of fidelityto one who had devoted herself to God. "This cannot be, Henrique," saidRosina; "we must meet no more: reflect, and you will be convinced of itsimpropriety. No dispensation from the vow will be permitted by myparents--all hopes of union in this world are over--Oh! may we meet inheaven!" and she clasped her hands in anguish as she disappeared.

  I returned home, every pulse beating to madness. Again I addressed her,imploring another meeting; but received a firm denial. So far frombeing baffled at this addition to the obstacles which presentedthemselves, it but increased my determination to surmount them. Toovercome her duty to her parents, to induce her to trample on her vowsto God, to defy the torments of the Inquisition, to release her frombolts and bars, to escape from a fortified and crowded city--each andevery difficulty but inflamed my ardour--every appeal of conscience butadded to my wilful determination.

  Although hitherto I had abhorred deceit, my first act was one ofduplicity. I wrote to her, stating that I had been permitted aninterview with her friends, and had made known to them what had passed;that they had listened to me, and were disposed to yield; and althoughit was kept a secret from her, in a few months her vows would bedispensed with.

  How cruel--how selfish was my conduct! but it answered my intention.Buoyed up with the prospect of future happiness, Rosina no longerstruggled against the fatal passion--no longer refused to see me, andlisten to my vows of eternal fidelity. Deeper and deeper did she drinkof the intoxicating draught, until it had effaced from her mind, as ithad already done from mine, every other sensation than that of love.Although I could have kissed the ground which she trod upon, and havesuffered the torments of a martyr for her sake, it was with the pleasureof a demon that I witnessed my success, and hailed her falling off fromreligion and from virtue.

  Six months had passed away, during which, by bribes to the portress, andthe yielding of my mistress, I had contrived to obtain admittance bynight into the convent garden. One evening I informed her that herparents, menaced by their confessor, had rescinded their promise to me,and had decided upon not obtaining her dispensation. Every thing hadbeen prepared, that she might have no time for reflection: hurried awayby her own feelings, my persuasions, and my protestations, she consentedto fly with me to my own country. I bore the trembling, fainting girlin my arms--effected my escape from the convent and the city--embarkedon board of a vessel which I had ready to weigh at a moment's warning,and was soon far distant from the port of Cadiz.

  It was near midnight when we embarked, and I bore my treasure down intothe cabin of the vessel, muffled up in my cloak. Her nun's dress hadnot been laid aside; for I had not provided myself with any other changeof raiment.

  Before morning it blew fresh. Rosina, who, as well as I, had abandonedherself to that powerful love which engrossed us, lay supported in myarms, when the captain of the vessel, coming down to speak to me,perceived that she was arrayed in the religious attire. He started whenhe viewed it, and hastily quitted the cabin. I had a presentiment thatall was not right, and, removing my arms from Rosina, repaired on deck,where I found him in consultation with the crew. The subject inagitation was their immediate return to Cadiz to deliver us to theInquisition. I resisted the suggestion; claimed the vessel as my own,having chartered her, and threatened immediate death to any one whoshould attempt to alter her course; but it was in vain. Their horror atthe sacrilege, and their fear of being implicated in, and suffering thedreadful penalties attending it, bore down all my arguments; my promisesand my threats were alike disregarded.

  I was seized, overpowered, and the vessel steered in for land. I raved,stamped, and imprecated in vain: at last I declared that we all shouldsuffer together, as I would denounce them as having been aware of myintentions, and state that it was only in consequence of my havingrefused to submit to farther extortion, that they had not fulfilledtheir agreement. This startled them; for they knew that the Inquisitiongladly seized upon all pretexts; and that even if not convicted, theirimprisonment would be long. Again they consulted; and heaving thevessel to the wind, they hoisted out the long boat. Having thrown intoher a scanty supply of provisions and water, with a few necessaries,they brought up the terrified Rosina from the cabin, and, placing her inthe boat, released and ordered me to follow. As soon as I was in theboat, they cut the rope by which it was towed, and we were soon left ata distance astern.

  Glad to escape from the cruelty of man, I cared little for the danger towhich we were subjected from the elements. I consoled my frightenedRosina; I stepped the mast, hoisted the sail, and steered in a southerlydirection, with the intention of landing on some part of the Africancoast. So far from being alarmed at my situation, I felt happy. I wasin a frail bark; but I had within it all that I cared for in this world.I sailed I knew not where, but Rosina was in my company; I felt theuncertainty of our fate, but was more than compe
nsated by the certaintyof possession. The wind rose, the sea ran high, and curled inthreatening foam; we darted with rapidity before it; and steering withone arm, while Rosina was clasped in the other, I delighted in ourromantic situation; and, pleased with the excitement which it created, Iwas blind to the danger which we encountered.

  For six days we ran before the wind, when an accumulation of clouds uponthe southern horizon indicated that we should have a change. I had nocompass in the boat, but had steered by the sun during the day, and bythe stars during the night. I now considered myself well to thesouthward, and determined upon running eastward, that I might gain theAfrican shore; but the gale was too strong to permit me to bring thebroadside of my small bark to the wind, and I was compelled to continuemy course in a southerly direction.

  For the first time, a sensation of alarm came over me: we had but twodays' more sustenance, and Rosina was worn out by constant exposure. Imyself felt the necessity of repose: it was with difficulty that I couldkeep my eyelids raised; every minute Nature demanded her rights, and Inodded at the helm.

  I was in a melancholy reverie, when I thought that I perceived, as theclouds on the horizon occasionally opened, something that had theappearance of the summit of a precipice. They closed again; I watchedthem with anxiety until they gradually rolled away, and discovered alofty island, covered with trees and verdure down to the water's edge.I shouted with delight, and pointed it out to Rosina, who answered myexultations with a faint smile. My blood curdled at the expression ofher countenance: for many hours she had been in deep thought; and Iperceived that the smile was forced to please me, the intelligence I hadimparted affording her but little pleasure. I ascribed it to wearinessand exhaustion; and hoping soon to be able to relieve her, I steereddirect for the only part of the shore which promised us a safe descent.In an hour I was close to it: and, anxious to land before dark, Isteered the boat, with the sail hoisted, through the surf, which wasmuch heavier than I expected. As soon as her bow struck the beach, theboat was thrown on her broadside, and it required all my exertion tosave my beloved, which I did not effect without our being completelywashed by the surf, which, in a few minutes, dashed the boat to pieces.I bore her to a cave at a short distance from where we landed; and,wrapping her up in a cloak which I had saved from the boat, took awayher nun's attire, and exposed it to dry in the powerful rays of the sun.I went in search of food, which I soon obtained: banana and cocoa-nutsgrew in profusion and in beauty, and fresh water ran down in noisyrills. I bore them to her, and congratulated her that we were nowbeyond all pursuit, and in a spot which promised to supply us with allthat we required. She smiled languidly; her thoughts were elsewhere.Her clothes were dry, and I brought them to her: she shuddered at thesight of them, and seemed to muster up her resolution before she couldput them on. Night closed in upon us, and we remained in the cave: ourbed was formed of the cloaks and the sail of the boat; and, locked ineach other's arms, separated from all the world, and living but for eachother, we fell asleep. The morning broke: not a cloud was to be seenthrough the blue expanse. We walked out, and dwelt in silent admirationupon the splendour of the scene. The island was clothed in beauty; thesun poured his genial rays upon the wild fertility of nature; the birdswere warbling forth their notes of joy; the sea was calm and clear as amirror, reflecting the steep hills which towered above each other."Here then, Rosina," cried I, at last, with rapture, "we have all thatwe require, blessed in each other's love."

  Rosina burst into tears: "All--all, Henrique, except an approvingconscience, without which I feel that I cannot live. I love you--loveyou dearly--dote upon you, Henrique: you cannot doubt it after all thathas occurred: but now that the delirium of passion has subsided,conscience has been busy--too busy, for it has embittered all; and Ifeel that happiness is flown for ever. I wedded myself to God; I chosemy Saviour as my spouse; I vowed myself to him--was received by him atthe altar; and I abandoned this world for that which is to come. Whathave I done?--I have been unfaithful to him--left him, to indulge aworldly passion, sacrificed eternity for perishable mortality, and thereis a solemn voice within that tells me I am an outcast from all heavenlyjoys. Bear with me, dear Henrique! I mean not to reproach you, but Imust condemn myself;--I feel that I shall not long remain here, but besummoned before an offended Lord.

  "Merciful Saviour!" cried she, falling on her knees, with imploring eyesto heaven, "punish him not--pardon him his faults; for what are they,compared to mine? he made no vows, he has committed no infidelity, he isnot the guilty one. Spare him, O Lord, and justly punish her who hasseduced him into crime!"

  My heart smote me; I threw myself on the ground, and wept bitterly. Ifelt that it had been my duplicity which had destroyed her virtuousresolutions; my selfishness which had ruined her peace of mind and hadplunged her into guilt. She knelt by me, persuading me to rise, curbingher own feelings as she kissed the tears from my cheeks, promising neverto wound my peace again. But it was gone--gone for ever; my crime burston me in all its magnitude; I felt that I had been guilty of a grievousand unpardonable sin, and had ruined the one I loved as well as myself.She was still on her knees; kneeling by her side, I prayed to offendedHeaven for mercy and forgiveness. She joined me in my ferventaspirations; and, with the tears of repentance flowing down our cheeks,we remained some time in the attitude of supplication. At last we rose."Do you not feel happier, Rosina?" inquired I; Rosina smiled mournfullyin reply, and we returned to the cave.

  For many hours we spoke not, but remained in sad communion with our ownthoughts. The night again closed in, and we lay down to repose; and, asI clasped her in my arms, I felt that she shuddered, and withdrew. Ireleased her, and retired to the other side of the cave, for I knew herfeelings and respected them. From that hour she was no more to me thana dear and injured sister; and, although her frame hourly wasted away,her spirits seemed gradually to revive. At the expiration of afortnight, she was too much reduced to rise from her bed, and I passedday and night sitting by her side in repentance and in tears, for I knewthat she was dying. A few hours before she breathed her last sheappeared to recover a little, and thus addressed me:--

  "Henrique, within this hour a balm has been poured into my breast, for avoice tells me we are both forgiven. Great is our crime; but ourrepentance has been sincere, and I feel assured that we shall meet inheaven. For your kindness--for your unceasing love, you have my thanks,and an attachment which Heaven does not forbid--for now it is pure. Wehave sinned, and we have pleaded, and obtained our pardon together:together shall we be, hereafter. Bless you, Henrique! pray for my soul,still clinging to its earthly love, but pardoned by him who knows ourimperfection. Pure Mother of God, plead for me! Holy Saviour, whodespised not the tears and contrition of the Magdalen, receive anunfaithful, but repentant spouse unto your bosom; for when I made myvow, thou knowest that my heart--"

  With what agony of grief did I hang over the body! with what bittertears did I wash the clay-cold face, so beautiful, so angelic in itsrepose! In the morning, I dug her grave; and cleansing my hands, whichwere bleeding, from the task, returned to the corpse, and bore it, inits nun's attire, to the receptacle which I had prepared. I laid it in;and, collecting the flowrets which blossomed round, strewed them over,and watched till sunset: when I covered her up, laying the earth, insmall handfuls, as lightly on her dear remains, as the mother would thecoverlid upon her sleeping babe. Long it was before I could prevail onmyself to soil that heavenly face, or hide it from my aching eyes. WhenI had, I felt that Rosina was indeed no more, and that I was indeedalone.

  For two years I remained in solitude. I erected a rude chapel over hergrave, and there passed my days in penance and contrition. Vesselsbelonging to other nations visited the island, and returning home withthe intelligence, it was taken possession of and colonised. To theirastonishment, they found me; and, when I narrated my story and mywishes, allowed me a passage to their country. Once more I embarked onthe trackless wave, no longer my delight; and as the sh
ore receded, Iwatched the humble edifice which I had raised over the remains of myRosina: it appeared to me as if a star had settled over the spot, and Ihailed it as an harbinger of grace. When I landed, I repaired to theconvent to which I now belong; and, taking the vows of abstinence andmortification, have passed the remainder of my days in masses for thesoul of my Rosina, and prayers for my own redemption.

  Such is the history of Henrique; and may it be a warning to those whoallow their reason to be seduced by passion, and check not the firstimpulse towards wrong, when conscience dictates that they are strayingfrom the paths of virtue!

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  "Holy Allah!" exclaimed the pacha, yawning; "is this the bulbul singingto the rose?--What is it all about, Mustapha? or what is it written for,but to send one asleep? Murakhas, you are dismissed," continued thepacha to the Greek slave, who retired.

  Mustapha, who perceived that the pacha was disappointed in theentertainment of the evening, immediately addressed him:--"The soul ofyour sublime highness is sad, and the mind is wearied.--What says thesage? and are not his words of more value than large pearls? `When thouart sick, and thy mind is heavy, send for wine. Drink, and thank Allahthat he has given relief.'"

  "Wallah thaib!--it is well said," replied the pacha: "Is not the`fire-water' of the Franks to be obtained?"

  "Is not the earth, and what the earth contains, made for your sublimehighness?" replied Mustapha, drawing from his vest a bottle of spirits.

  "God is great!" said the pacha, taking the bottle from his mouth, aftera long draught, and handing it to his vizier.

  "God is most merciful!" replied Mustapha, recovering his breath, andwiping down his beard with the sleeve of his kalaat, as he respectfullypassed the bottle over to his superior.