by Lew Wallace
CHAPTER IX
A FISHERMAN'S FETE
The breakfast to which Sergius addressed himself was in strictobservance of the Rules of the Brotherhood; and being plain, it wasquickly despatched. Returning to his cell, he let his hair loose, andcombed it with care; then rolling it into a glistening mass, he tuckedit under his hat. Selecting a fresher veil next, he arranged that tofall down his back and over the left shoulder. He also swept the darkgown free of dust, and cleansing the crucifix and large black hornbeads of his rosary, lingered a moment while contemplating the fivesublime mysteries allotted to the third chaplet, beginning with theResurrection of Christ and ending with the Coronation of the BlessedVirgin. In a calmness of spirit such as follows absolution, he finallysallied from the Monastery, and ere long arrived at the landing outsidethe Fish Market Gate on the Golden Horn. The detentions had been long;so for speed he selected a two-oared boat.
"To Therapia--by noon," he said to the rower, and, dropping into thepassenger's box, surrendered himself to reflection.
The waterway by which the monk proceeded is not unfamiliar to thereader, a general idea of it having been given in the chapter devotedto the adventures of the Prince of India in his outing up the Bosphorusto the Sweet Waters of Asia. The impression there sought to beconveyed--how feebly is again regretfully admitted--was of a panoramaremarkable as a composition of all the elements of scenic beauty blenttogether in incomparable perfection. Now, however, it failed thetribute customary from such as had happily to traverse it.
The restfulness of the swift going; the shrinking of the flood underthe beating of the oars; the sky and the wooded heights, and thestretches of shore, town and palace lined; the tearing through the blueveil hanging over the retiring distances; the birds, the breezes, theships hither coming and yonder going, and the sparkles shooting up inmyriad recurrence on the breaking waves--all these pleasures of themost delicate of the receiving senses were tyrannically forbidden him.
The box in which he sat half reclining was wide enough for anotherpassenger side by side with him, and it seemed he imagined the vacantplace occupied now by Demedes, and now by Lael, and that he wasspeaking to them; when to the former, it was with dislike, and adisposition to avoid the touch of his red cloak, though on the sleeveever so lightly; when to the latter, his voice would lower, his eyessoften, and the angry spots on his brow and cheeks go out--not morecompletely could they have disappeared had she actually exorcised themwith some of the sweet confessions lovers keep for emergencies, and atouch of finger besides.
"So," he would say, Demedes for the time on the seat, "thou deniestGod, and hast a plot against Christ. Shameful in the son of a goodfather!... What is thy Academy but defiance of the Eternal Majesty? Aswell curse the Holy Ghost at once, for why should he who of preferenceseeketh a bed with the damned he disappointed? Or is thy audacity ablasphemous trial of the endurance of forgiveness?".... Exit Demedes,enter Lael.... "The child--she is a child! By such proof as there is ininnocence, and in the loveliness of blushing cheeks, and eyes whichanswer the Heavenly light they let in by light as Heavenly let out, sheis a child! What does evil see in her to set it hungering after her? Oris there in virtue a signal to its enemies--Lo, here! A light to beblown out, lest it disperse our darkness!".... Reenter Demedes...."Abduct her!--How?--When? To that end is it thou keepest her alwaysunder eye? The Princess Irene gives a Fisherman's Fete--the child willbe there--thou wilt be there. Is this the day of the attempt? Bravos asfishermen, to seize her--boats to carry her off--the Bosphorus wide anddeep, and the hills beyond a hiding-place, and in the sky over them theawful name Turk. The crime and the opportunity hand in hand! Let themprosper now, and I who have from the cradle's side despatched my soulfaith in hand to lay it at Heaven's gate may never again deny a meritin the invocation of Sin virtuous as prayer".... To Lael in theseat.... "But be not afraid. I will be there also. I"... A sudden fearfell upon him. If the abduction were indeed arranged for the afternoon,to what might he not be led by an open attempt to defeat it?Bloodshed--violence! He whose every dream had been of a life in whichhis fellow-men might find encouragement to endure their burdens, and ofwalking before them an example of love and forbearance, submissive andmeek that he might with the more unanswerable grace preach obedienceand fraternity to them--Merciful Heaven! And he shuddered and drew theveil hastily over his face, as if, in a bloody tumult, the ideal life,so the ultimate happiness, were vanishing before his eyes. Taking theconfessions of such as have been greatly tried, few men, few even ofthose renowned for courage and fine achievement, ever pass theircritical moments of decision unassailed by alternative suggestions dueto fear. Sergius heard them now. "Return to thy cell, and to thy beads,and prayer," they seemed to say. "What canst thou, a stranger in astrange land, if once the Academy of which thou wert this morninginformed, becomes thy enemy? Ay, return to thy cell! Who is she forwhom thou art putting thyself in the way of temptation? The daughter ofa booth-keeper in the bazaar--a Jew, who hath no princely blood tospare a descendant--a dog of a Jew, who maketh profit by lending hischild to an impostor."
The suggestion was powerful. In the heat of the debate, however, analmost forgotten voice reached him, reciting one of the consolations ofFather Hilarion: "Temptations are for all of us; nor shall any man befree of them. The most we can hope is to be delivered from them. Whatvanity to think we can travel threescore and ten years from ourcradles, if so long we live, without an overture of some kind from thecommon enemy! On the other side, what a triumph to put hisblandishments by! The Great Exemplar did not fly from Satan; he stayed,and overcame him."
"Be not afraid," Sergius said, as if to Lael, and firmly, like oneresolved of fear and hesitation. "I will be there also."
Then looking about him, at his left hand he beheld the village ofEmirghian, bent round a mountain's base, in places actually invadingthe water. In face of such a view a susceptible nature must needs bevery sick of soul to go blindly on. The brightly painted houses casttremulous reflections to a vast depth in the limpid flood, and wherethey ceased, down immeasurably, the vivid green of the verdure on themountain's breast suggested the beginning of the next of the sevenMohammedan earths. Above this borrowed glory he seemed afloat; and tohelp the impression, the sound of many voices singing joyously wasborne to him. He waved his hand, and the rowers, resting from theirlabor, joined him in listening.
The little gulf of Stenia lies there landlocked, and out of it a boatappeared, skimming around the intervening promontory. In a mass offlowers, in a shade of garlands hanging from a low mast, its arms andshrouds wreathed with roses, the singers sat timing their song withtheir oars. The refrain was supported by zitheras, flutes and horns.The vessel turned northwardly when fairly out in the strait; and thenanother boat came round the point--and another--and another--and manyothers, all decorated, and filled with men, women and children makingmusic.
Sergius' boatmen recognized the craft, deep in the water, black andlong, and with graceful upturned ends.
"Fishermen!" they said.
And he rejoined: "Yes. The Princess Irene gives them a fete. Makehaste. I will go with them. Fall in behind."
"Yes, yes--a good woman! Of such are the Saints!" they said, signingthe cross on breast arid brow.
The singing and the gala air of the party put Sergius in his wontedspirits; and as here and there other boats fell into the line,similarly decorated, their occupants adding to the volume of thesinging, by the time Therapia was sighted the good-natured, happyfishermen had given him of their floral abundance, and adopted him.
What a scene the Therapian bay presented! Boats, boats, boats--hundredsof them in motion, hundreds lining the shore, the water faithfullyrepeating every detail of ornature, and apparently a-quiver withpleasure. The town was gay with colors; while on the summit and sidesof the opposite promontory every available point answered flaunt withflaunt. And there were song and shouting, gladsome cries of children,responses of mothers, and merriment of youth and maiden. Byzantiummight be in decadence, her province
s falling away, her glory wasting;the follies of the court and emperors, the best manhood of the empirelost in cloisters and hermitages, the preference of the nobility forintrigue and diplomacy might be all working their deplorableresults--nay, the results might be at hand! Still the passion of thepeople for fetes and holidays remained. Tastes are things of heredity.In nothing is a Byzantine of this day so nearly a classic Greek as inhis delicacy and appreciation where permitted to indulge in thebeautiful.
The boatmen passed through the gay entanglement of the bay slowly andskilfully, and finally discharged their passengers on the marble quay alittle below the regular landing in front of the red pavilion over theentrance to the Princess' grounds. The people went in and out of thegate without hindrance; nor was there guard or policeman visible. Theiramiability attested their happiness.
The men were mostly black-bearded, sunburned, large-handed, brawnyfellows in breeches black and amply bagged, with red sashes and lightblue jackets heavily embroidered. The legs below the knees wereexposed, and the feet in sandals. White cloths covered their heads.Their eyes were bright, their movements agile, their air animated. Manyof them sported amulets of shell or silver suspended by ribbons orsilken cords around their bare necks. The women wore little veilssecured by combs, but rather as a headdress, and for appearances. Theyalso affected the sleeveless short jacket over a snowy chemise; andwhat with bright skirts bordered with worsted chenille, and sandalstraps carried artfully above the ankles, they were not wanting inpicturesqueness. Some of the very young amongst them justified theloveliness traditionally ascribed to the nymphs of Hellas and the fairCycladean Isles. Much the greater number, however, were in outwardseeming prematurely old, and by their looks, their voices ungovernablyshrill, and the haste and energy with which they flung themselves intothe amusement of the hour unconsciously affirmed that fishermen's wivesare the same everywhere. One need not go far to find the frontiers ofsociety--too frequently they are close under the favorite balcony ofthe king.
Something on the right cheek of the gate under the pavilion furnishedan attraction to the visitors. When Sergius came up, he was detained bya press of men and women in eager discussion; and following their eyesand the pointing of their fingers, he observed a brazen plate overheadcuriously inscribed. The writing was unintelligible to him as to hisneighbors. It looked Turkish--or it might have been Arabic--or it mightnot have been writing at all. He stayed awhile listening to theconjectures advanced. Presently a gypsy approached leading a bear,which, in its turn, was drawing a lot of noisy boys. He stopped,careless of the unfriendly glances with which he was received, and atsight of the plate saluted it with a low salaam several timesunctuously repeated.
"Look at the hamari there. He can tell what the thing means."
"Then ask him."
"I will. See here, thou without a religion, consort of brutes! Canstthou tell what this"--pointing to the plate--"is for? Come and look atit!"
"It is not needful for me to go nearer. I see it well enough. Neitheram I without a religion. I do not merely profess belief in God--Ibelieve in Him," the bear-keeper replied.
The fisherman took the retort and the laugh it occasionedgood-humoredly, and answered: "Very well, we are even; and now perhapsthou canst tell me what I asked."
"Willingly, since thou canst be decent to a stranger.... The youngMahommed, son of Amurath, Sultan of Sultans"--the gypsy paused tosalute the title--"the young Mahommed, I say, is my friend." Thebystanders laughed derisively, but the man proceeded. "He has residedthis long time at Magnesia, the capital of a prosperous provinceassigned to his governorship. There never was one of such station socivil to his people, and much learning has had a good effect upon hisjudgment; it has taught him that the real virtue of amusement lies inits variety. Did he listen exclusively to his doctors discoursing ofphilosophy, or to his professor of mathematics, or to his poets andhistorians, he would go mad even as they are mad; wherefore, along withhis studies, he hunts with hawk and hound; he tilts and tourneys; heplays the wandering minstrel; and not seldom Joqard and I--hey, fellow,is it not so?" he gave the bear a tremendous jerk--"Joqard and I havebeen to audience with him in his palace."
"A wonderful prince no doubt; but I asked not of him. The plate,man--what of this plate? If nothing, then give way to Joqard."
"There are fools and fools--that is, there are plain fools and wisefools. The wise fool answering the plain fool, is always moreparticular with his premises than his argument."
The laugh was with the hamari again; after which he continued: "So,having done with explanation, now to satisfy you."
From the breast of his gown, he brought forth a piece of bronzeconsiderably less than the plate on the gate, but in every otherrespect its counterpart.
"See you this?" he said, holding the bronze up to view.
There was quick turning from plate to plate, and the conclusion was asquick.
"They are the same, but what of it?"
"This--Joqard and I went up one day and danced for the Prince, and atthe end he dismissed us, giving me a red silk purse fat with goldpieces, and to Joqard this passport. Mark you now. The evil minded usedto beat us with cudgels and stones--I mean among the Turk--but comingto a town now, I tie this to Joqard's collar, and we have welcome. Weeat and drink, and are given good quarters, and sped from morning tomorning without charge."
"There is some magic in the plate, then?"
"No," said the hamari, "unless there is magic in the love of a peoplefor the Prince to be their ruler. It certifies Joqard and I are ofPrince Mahommed's friends, and that is enough for Turks; and the sameyonder. By the sign, I know this gate, these grounds, and the owner ofthem are in his protection. But," said the bear-keeper, changing histone, "seeing one civil answer deserves another, when was PrinceMahommed here?"
"In person? Never."
"Oh, he must have been."
"Why do you say so?"
"Because of the brass plate yonder."
"What does it prove?"
"Ah, yes!" the man answered laughingly. "Joqard and I pick up many oddthings, and meet a world of people--don't we, fellow?" Another furiousjerk of the leading strap brought a whine from the bear, "But it isgood for us. We teach school as we go; and you know, my friend, forevery _solidus_ its equivalent in _noumia_ is somewhere."
"I will give you a _noumia_, if you will give me an answer."
"A bargain--a bargain, with witnesses!"
Then after a glance into the faces around, as if summoning attention tothe offer, the hamari proceeded.
"Listen. I say the brass up there proves Prince Mahommed was here inperson. Wishing to notify his people that he had taken in his careeverything belonging to this property, the owner included, the Princeput his signature to the proclamation."
"Proclamation?"
"Yes--you may call it plain brass, if you prefer; none the less thewriting on it is _Mahommed:_ and because such favors must bear his nameon them, they are reserved for his giving. No other man, except thegreat Sultan, his father, would bestow one of them. Joqard had his fromthe Prince's hand directly; wherefore--I hope, friend, you have the_noumia_ ready--the brass on this post must have been fixed there bythe Prince with his own hand."
The fishermen were satisfied; and it was wonderful how interesting thesafeguard then became to them. By report they knew Mahommed theprospective successor of the terrible Amurath; they knew him a soldierconspicuous in many battles; and from the familiar principle by whichwe admire or dread those possessed of qualities unlike and superior toour own, their ideas and speculations concerning him were wild andgenerally harsh. Making no doubt now that he had really been to thegate, they asked themselves, What could have been his object? To lookat the plate was next thing to looking at the man. Even Sergius partookof the feeling. To get a better view, he shifted his position, and wasbeset by inquietudes not in the understanding of the fishermen.
The Princess Irene, her property and dependents, were subjects ofprotection by the Moslem; that much was clear;
but did she know thefact? Had she seen the Prince? Then the Hegumen's criticism upon thepersistence with which she kept her residence here, a temptation to thebrutalized unbeliever on the other shore, derived a point altogethernew.
Sergius turned away, and passed into the well-tended grounds. While tooloyal to the little mother, as he tenderly called the Princess, toadmit a suspicion against her, with painful clearness, he perceived theopportunity the affair offered her enemies for the most extremeaccusations; and he resolved to speak to her, and, if necessary, toremonstrate.
Traversing the shelled roadway up to the portico of the palace, helooked back through the red pavilion, and caught a glimpse of Joqardperforming before a merry group of boys and elders male and female.
