ali pacha-第16章
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l astonishment； the British standard floated over the Acropolis of Parga。
All Greece was then profoundly stirred by a faint gleam of the dawn of liberty； and shaken by a suppressed agitation。 The Bourbons again reigned in France； and the Greeks built a thousand hopes on an event which changed the basis of the whole European policy。 Above all； they reckoned on powerful assistance from Russia。 But England had already begun to dread anything which could increase either the possessions or the influence of this formidable power。 Above all； she was determined that the Ottoman Empire should remain intact； and that the Greek navy； beginning to be formidable； must be destroyed。 With these objects in view； negotiations with Ali Pacha were resumed。 The latter was still smarting under his recent disappointment； and to all overtures answered only； 〃Parga！ I must have Parga。〃And the English were compelled to yield it！
Trusting to the word of General Campbell； who had formally promised； on its surrender； that Parga should be classed along with the seven Ionian Isles； its grateful inhabitants were enjoying a delicious rest after the storm； when a letter from the Lord High Commissioner； addressed to Lieutenant…Colonel de Bosset； undeceived them； and gave warning of the evils which were to burst on the unhappy town。
On the 25th of March； 1817； notwithstanding the solemn promise made to the Parganiotes； when they admitted the British troops； that they should always be on the same footing as the Ionian Isles； a treaty was signed at Constantinople by the British Plenipotentiary； which stipulated the complete and stipulated cession of Parga and all its territory to； the Ottoman Empire。 Soon there arrived at Janine Sir John Cartwright； the English Consul at Patras； to arrange for the sale of the lands of the Parganiotes and discuss the conditions of their emigration。 Never before had any such compact disgraced European diplomacy； accustomed hitherto to regard Turkish encroachments as simple sacrilege。 But Ali Pacha fascinated the English agents； overwhelming them with favours； honours； and feasts； carefully watching them all the while。 Their correspondence was intercepted； and he endeavoured by means of his agents to rouse the Parganiotes against them。 The latter lamented bitterly； and appealed to Christian Europe； which remained deaf to their cries。 In the name of their ancestors； they demanded the rights which had been guaranteed them。 〃They will buy our lands；〃 they said； 〃have we asked to sell them？ And even if we received their value； can gold give us a country and the tombs of our ancestors？〃
Ali Pacha invited the Lord High Commissioner of Great Britain； Sir Thomas Maitland； to a conference at Prevesa； and complained of the exorbitant price of 1；500；000； at which the commissioners had estimated Parga and its territory； including private property and church furniture。 It had been hoped that Ali's avarice would hesitate at this high price； but he was not so easily discouraged。 He give a banquet for the Lord High Commissioner； which degenerated into a shameless orgy。 In the midst of this drunken hilarity the Turk and the Englishman disposed of the territory of Parga； agreeing that a fresh estimate should be made on the spot by experts chosen by both English and Turks。 The result of this valuation was that the indemnity granted to the Christians was reduced by the English to the sum of 276；075 sterling； instead of the original 500；000。 And as Ali's agents only arrived at the sum of 56；750； a final conference was held at Buthrotum between Ali and the Lord High Commissioner。 The latter then informed the Parganiotes that the indemnity allowed them was irrevocably fixed at 150；000！ The transaction is a disgrace to the egotistical and venal nation which thus allowed the life and liberty of a people to be trifled with； a lasting blot on the honour of England！
The Parganiotes at first could believe neither in the infamy of their protectors nor in their own misfortune； but both were soon confirmed by a proclamation of the Lord High Commissioner； informing them that the pacha's army was marching to take possession of the territory which； by May 10th； must be abandoned for ever。
The fields were then in full bearing。 In the midst of plains ripening for a rich harvest were 80；000 square feet of olive trees； alone estimated at two hundred thousand guineas。 The sun shone in cloudless azure； the air was balmy with the scent of orange trees； of pomegranates and citrons。 But the lovely country might have been inhabited by phantoms； only hands raised to heaven and brows bent to the dust met one's eye。 Even the very dust belonged no more to the wretched inhabitants； they were forbidden to take a fruit or a flower； the priests might not remove either relics or sacred images。 Church； ornaments； torches； tapers； pyxes； had by this treaty all become Mahommedan property。 The English had sold everything； even to the Host！ Two days more； and all must be left。 Each was silently marking the door of the dwelling destined so soon to shelter an enemy； with a red cross； when suddenly a terrible cry echoed from street to street； for the Turks had been perceived on the heights overlooking the town。 Terrified and despairing； the whole population hastened to fall prostrate before the Virgin of Parga； the ancient guardian of their citadel。 A mysterious voice； proceeding from the sanctuary； reminded them that the English had； in their iniquitous treaty； forgotten to include the ashes of those whom a happier fate had spared the sight of the ruin of Parga。 Instantly they rushed to the graveyards； tore open the tombs； and collected the bones and putrefying corpses。 The beautiful olive trees were felled； an enormous funeral pyre arose； and in the general excitement the orders of the English chief were defied。 With naked daggers in their hands； standing in the crimson light of the flames which were consuming the bones of their ancestors； the people of Parga vowed to slay their wives and children； and to kill themselves to the last man； if the infidels dared to set foot in the town before the appointed hour。 Xenocles； the last of the Greek poets； inspired by this sublime manifestation of despair； even as Jeremiah by the fall of Jerusalem； improvised a hymn which expresses all the grief of the exiles； and which the exiles interrupted by their tears and sobs。
A messenger； crossing the sea in all haste； informed the Lord High Commissioner of the terrible threat of the Parganiotes。 He started at once； accompanied by General Sir Frederic Adams； and landed at Parga by the light of the funeral pyre。 He was received with ill…concealed indignation； and with assurances that the sacrifice would be at once consummated unless Ali's troops were held back。 The general endeavoured to console and to reassure the unhappy people； and then proceeded to the outposts； traversing silent streets in which armed men stood at each door only waiting a signal before slaying their families； and then turning their weapons against the English and themselves。 He implored them to have patience； and they answered by pointing to the approaching Turkish army and bidding him hasten。 He arrived at last and commenced negotiations； and the Turkish officers； no less uneasy than the English garrison； promised to wait till the appointed hour。 The next day passed in mournful silence； quiet as death； At sunset on the following day； May 9； 1819； the English standard on the castle of Parga was hauled down； and after a night spent in prayer and weeping； the Christians demanded the signal of departure。
They had left their dwellings at break of day； and scattering on the shore； endeavoured to collect some relics of their country。 Some filled little bags with ashes withdrawn from the funeral pile； others took handfuls of earth； while the women and children picked up pebbles which they hid in their clothing and pressed to their bosoms； as if fearing to be deprived of them。 Meanwhile； the ships intended to transport them arrived； and armed English soldiers superintended the embarkation； which the Turks hailed from afar with； ferocious cries。 The Parganiotes were landed in Corfu； where they
