ali pacha-第18节
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rates； coiners； renegades； assassins； whom he kept in his pay and regarded as his best support。 These he sought to attach to his person as men who might some day be found useful； for he did not allow the many favours of fortune to blind him to the real danger of his position。 A vizier；〃 he was answered； 〃resembles a man wrapped in costly furs； but he sits on a barrel of powder； which only requires a spark to explode it。〃 The Divan granted all the concessions which Ali demanded； affecting ignorance of his projects of revolt and his intelligence with the enemies of the State； but then apparent weakness was merely prudent temporising。 It was considered that Ali； already advanced in years； could not live much longer； and it was hoped that； at his death； Continental Greece； now in some measure detached from the Ottoman rule； would again fall under the sultan's sway。
Meanwhile； Pacho Bey； bent on silently undermining Ali's influence； had established himself as an intermediary for all those who came to demand justice on account of the pacha's exactions； and he contrived that both his own complaints and those of his clients； should penetrate to the ears of the sultan； who； pitying his misfortunes； made him a kapidgi…bachi； as a commencement of better things。 About this time the sultan also admitted to the Council a certain Abdi Effendi of Larissa； one of the richest nobles of Thessaly； who had been compelled by the tyranny of Veli Pacha to fly from his country。 The two new dignitaries； having secured Khalid Effendi as a partisan； resolved to profit by his influence to carry out their plans of vengeance on the Tepelenian family。 The news of Pacho Bey's promotion roused Ali from the security in which he was plunged； and he fell a prey to the most lively anxiety。 Comprehending at once the evil which this man；trained in his own school； might cause him； he exclaimed； 〃 Ah！ if Heaven would only restore me the strength of my youth； I would plunge my sword into his heart even in the midst of the Divan。〃
It was not long before Ali's enemies found an extremely suitable opportunity for opening their attack。 Veli Pacha； who had for his own profit increased the Thessalian taxation fivefold； had in doing so caused so much oppression that many of the inhabitants preferred the griefs and dangers of emigration rather than remain under so tyrannical a rule。 A great number of Greeks sought refuge at Odessa； and the great Turkish families assembled round Pacho Bey and Abdi Effendi at Constantinople； who lost no opportunity of interceding in their favour。 The sultan； who as yet did not dare to act openly against the Tepelenian family； was at least able to relegate Veli to the obscure post of Lepanto； and Veli； much disgusted； was obliged to obey。 He quitted the new palace he had just built at Rapehani； and betook himself to the place of exile； accompanied by actors； Bohemian dancers； bear leaders； and a crowd of prostitutes。
Thus attacked in the person of his most powerful son； Ali thought to terrify his enemies by a daring blow。 He sent three Albanians to Constantinople to assassinate Pacho Bey。 They fell upon him as he was proceeding to the Mosque of Saint…Sophia； on the day on which the sultan also went in order to be present at the Friday ceremonial prayer； and fired several shots at him。 He was wounded； but not mortally。
The assassins； caught red…handed； were hung at the gate of the Imperial Seraglio； but not before confessing that they were sent by the Pacha of Janina。 The Divan； comprehending at last that so dangerous a man must be dealt with at any cost； recapitulated all Ali's crimes； and pronounced a sentence against him which was confirmed by a decree of the Grand Mufti。 It set forth that Ali Tepelen； having many times obtained pardon for his crimes； was now guilty of high treason in the first degree； and that he would； as recalcitrant； be placed under the ban of the Empire if he did not within forty days appear at the Gilded Threshold of the Felicitous Gate of the Monarch who dispenses crowns to the princes who reign in this world； in order to justify himself。 As may be supposed； submission to such an order was about the last thing Ali contemplated。 As he failed to appear； the Divan caused the Grand Mufti to launch the thunder of excommunication against him。
Ali had just arrived at Parga； which he now saw for the third time since he had obtained it； when his secretaries informed him that only the rod of Moses could save him from the anger of Pharaoha figurative mode of warning him that he had nothing to hope for。 But Ali； counting on his usual luck； persisted in imagining that he could； once again； escape from his difficulty by the help of gold and intrigue。 Without discontinuing the pleasures in which he was immersed； he contented himself with sending presents and humble petitions to Constantinople。 But both were alike useless； for no one even ventured to transmit them to the sultan； who had sworn to cut off the head of anyone who dared mention the name of Ali Tepelen in his presence。
Receiving no answer to his overtures； Ali became a prey to terrible anxiety。 As he one day opened the Koran to consult it as to his future； his divining rod stopped at verse 82； chap。 xix。； which says； 〃He doth flatter himself in vain。 He shall appear before our tribunal naked and bare。〃 Ali closed the book and spat three times into his bosom。 He was yielding to the most dire presentiments； when a courier； arriving from the capital； informed him that all hope of pardon was lost。
He ordered his galley to be immediately prepared； and left his seraglio； casting a look of sadness on the beautiful gardens where only yesterday he had received the homage of his prostrate slaves。 He bade farewell to his wives； saying that he hoped soon to return； and descended to the shore； where the rowers received him with acclamations。 The sail was set to a favourable breeze； and Ali； leaving the shore he was never to see again； sailed towards Erevesa； where he hoped to meet the Lord High Commissioner Maitland。 But the time of prosperity had gone by； and the regard which had once been shown him changed with his fortunes。 The interview he sought was not granted。
The sultan now ordered a fleet to be equipped； which； after Ramadan； was to disembark troops on the coast of Epirus； while all the neighbouring pashas received orders to hold themselves in readiness to march with all the troops of their respective Governments against Ali； whose name was struck out of the list of viziers。 Pacho Bey was named Pasha of Janina and Delvino on condition of subduing them； and was placed in command of the whole expedition。
However； notwithstanding these orders； there was not at the beginning of April； two months after the attempted assassination of Pacho Bey； a single soldier ready to march on Albania。 Ramadan； that year； did not close until the new moon of July。 Had Ali put himself boldly at the head of the movement which was beginning to stir throughout Greece； he might have baffled these vacillating projects； and possibly dealt a fatal blow to the Ottoman Empire。 As far back as 1808； the Hydriotes had offered to recognise his son Veli； then Vizier of the Morea； as their Prince； and to support him in every way； if he would proclaim the independence pf the Archipelago。 The Moreans bore him no enmity until he refused to help them to freedom； and would have returned to him had he consented。
On the other side； the sultan； though anxious for war； would not spend a penny in order to wage it； and it was not easy to corrupt some of the great vassals ordered to march at their own expense against a man in whose downfall they had no special interest。 Nor were the means of seduction wanting to Ali； whose wealth was enormous； but he preferred to keep it in order to carry on the war which he thought he could no longer escape。 He made； therefore； a general appeal to all Albanian warriors； whatever their religion。 Mussulmans and Christians； alike attracted by the prospect of booty and good pay； flocked to his standard in crowds。
He organised all these adventurers on the plan of the Armatous； by companies； placing a captain of his own choice at the head of each； and giving each company a special post to defend。 Of all possible plans this was the best adapted to his country； where only a guerilla warfare can be carried on； and where a large army could not subsist。
In repairing to the posts assigned to them； these troops committed such terrible depredations that the provinces sent to Constantinople demanding their suppression。 The Divan answered the petitioners that it was their own business to suppress these disorders； and to induce the Klephotes to turn their arms against Ali； who had nothing to hope from the clemency of the Grand Seigneur。 At the same time circular letters were addressed to the Epirotes； warning them to abandon the cause of a rebel； and to consider the best means of freeing themselves from a traitor； who； having long oppressed them； now sought to draw down on their country all the terrors of war。 Ali； who every where maintained numerous and active spies； now redoubled his watchfulness； and not a single letter entered Epirus without being
