ali pacha-第28节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The Seraskier then ordered the unfortunate Basilissa； whose life had been spared； to be brought before him。 She threw herself at his feet； imploring him to spare； not her life； but her honour； and he consoled her； and assured her of the sultan's protection。 She burst into tears when she beheld Ali's secretaries； treasurers； and steward loaded with irons。 Only sixty thousand purses （about twenty…five million piastres） of Ali's treasure could be found； and already his officers had been tortured； in order to compel them to disclose where the rest might be concealed。 Fearing a similar fate； Basilissa fell insensible into the arms of her attendants； and she was removed to the farm of Bouila； until the Supreme Porte should decide on her fate。
The couriers sent in all directions to announce the death of Ali； having preceded the sword…bearer Mehemet's triumphal procession； the latter； on arriving at Greveno； found the whole population of that town and the neighbouring hamlets assembled to meet him； eager to behold the head of the terrible Ali Pacha。 Unable to comprehend how he could possibly have succumbed； they could hardly believe their eyes when the head was withdrawn from its casket and displayed before them。 It remained exposed to view in the house of the Mussulman Veli Aga whilst the escort partook of refreshment and changed horses； and as the public curiosity continued to increase throughout the journey； a fixed charge was at length made for its gratification； and the head of the renowned vizier was degraded into becoming an article of traffic exhibited at every post…house； until it arrived at Constantinople。
The sight of this dreaded relic； exposed on the 23rd of February at the gate of the seraglio； and the birth of an heir…presumptive to the sword of Othmanwhich news was announced simultaneously with that of the death of Ali； by the firing of the guns of the seraglioroused the enthusiasm of the military inhabitants of Constantinople to a state of frenzy； and triumphant shouts greeted the appearance of a document affixed to the head which narrated Ali's crimes and the circumstances of his death； ending with these words： 〃This is the Head of the above…named Ali Pacha； a Traitor to the Faith of Islam。〃
Having sent magnificent presents to Kursheed； and a hyperbolical despatch to his army； Mahmoud II turned his attention to Asia Minor； where Ali's sons would probably have been forgotten in their banishment； had it not been supposed that their riches were great。 A sultan does not condescend to mince matters with his slaves； when he can despoil them with impunity； His Supreme Highness simply sent them his commands to die。 Veli Pacha； a greater coward than a woman…slave born in the harem； heard his sentence kneeling。 The wretch who had； in his palace at Arta； danced to the strains of a lively orchestra； while innocent victims were being tortured around him； received the due reward of his crimes。 He vainly embraced the knees of his executioners； imploring at least the favour of dying in privacy； and he must have endured the full bitterness of death in seeing his sons strangled before his eyes； Mehemet the elder； remarkable； for his beauty； and the gentle Selim； whose merits might have procured the pardon of his family had not Fate ordained otherwise。 After next beholding the execution of his brother； Salik Pacha； Ali's best loved son； whom a Georgian slave had borne to him in his old age； Veli； weeping； yielded his guilty head to the executioners。
His women were then seized； and the unhappy Zobeide； whose scandalous story had even reached Constantinople； sewn up in a leather sack； was flung into the Pursaka river whose waters mingle with those of the Sagaris。 Katherin； Veli's other wife； and his daughters by various mothers； were dragged to the bazaar and sold ignominiously to Turcoman shepherds； after which the executioners at once proceeded to make an inventory of the spoils of their victims。
But the inheritance of Mouktar Pacha was not quite such an easy prey。 The kapidgi…bachi who dared to present him with the bowstring was instantly laid dead at his feet by a pistol…shot。 〃Wretch！〃 cried Mouktar； roaring like a bull escaped from the butcher； 〃dost thou think an Arnaout dies like an eunuch？ I also am a Tepelenian！ To arms； comrades！ they would slay us！〃 As he spoke； he rushed； sword in hand； upon the Turks； and driving them back； succeeded in barricading himself in his apartments。
Presently a troop of janissaries from Koutaieh； ordered to be in readiness； advanced； hauling up cannon； and a stubborn combat began。 Mouktar's frail defences were soon in splinters。 The venerable Metche…Bono； father of Elmas Bey； faithful to the end； was killed by a bullet； and Mouktar； having slain a host of enemies with his own hand and seen all his friends perish； himself riddled with wounds； set fire to the powder magazine； and died； leaving as inheritance for the sultan only a heap of smoking ruins。 An enviable fate； if compared with that of his father and brothers； who died by the hand of the executioner。
The heads of Ali's children； sent to Constantinople and exposed at the gate of the seraglio； astonished the gaping multitude。 The sultan himself； struck with the beauty of Mehemet and Selim； whose long eyelashes and closed eyelids gave them the appearance of beautiful youths sunk in peaceful slumber； experienced a feeling of emotion。 〃I had imagined them；〃 he said stupidly； 〃to be quite as old as their father；〃 and he expressed sorrow for the fate to which he had condemned them。
End
