ali pacha-第17章
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the Turks hailed from afar with； ferocious cries。 The Parganiotes were landed in Corfu； where they suffered yet more injustice。 Under various pretexts the money promised them was reduced and withheld； until destitution compelled them to accept the little that was offered。 Thus closed one of the most odious transactions which modern history has been compelled to record。
The satrap of Janina had arrived at the fulfilment of his wishes。 In the retirement of his fairy…like palace by the lake he could enjoy voluptuous pleasures to the full。 But already seventy…eight years had passed over his head； and old age had laid the burden of infirmity upon him。 His dreams were dreams of blood； and vainly he sought refuge in chambers glittering with gold； adorned with arabesques； decorated with costly armour and covered with the richest of Oriental carpets； remorse stood ever beside him。 Through the magnificence which surrounded him there constantly passed the gale spectre of Emineh； leading onwards a vast procession of mournful phantoms； and the guilty pasha buried his face in his hands and shrieked aloud for help。 Sometimes； ashamed of his weakness； he endeavoured to defy both the reproaches of his conscience and the opinion of the multitude； and sought to encounter criticism with bravado。 If； by chance； he overheard some blind singer chanting in the streets the satirical verses which； faithful to the poetical and mocking genius of them ancestors； the Greeks frequently composed about him； he would order the singer to be brought； would bid him repeat his verses； and； applauding him； would relate some fresh anecdote of cruelty； saying； 〃Go； add that to thy tale； let thy hearers know what I can do； let them understand that I stop at nothing in order to overcome my foes！ If I reproach myself with anything； it is only with the deeds I have sometimes failed to carry out。〃
Sometimes it was the terrors of the life after death which assailed him。 The thought of eternity brought terrible visions in its train； and Ali shuddered at the prospect of Al…Sirat； that awful bridge； narrow as a spider's thread and hanging over the furnaces of Hell； which a Mussulman must cross in order to arrive at the gate of Paradise。 He ceased to joke about Eblis； the Prince of Evil； and sank by degrees into profound superstition。 He was surrounded by magicians and soothsayers； he consulted omens； and demanded talismans and charms from the dervishes； which he had either sewn into his garments； or suspended in the most secret parts of his palace； in order to avert evil influences。 A Koran was hung about his neck as a defence against the evil eye； and frequently he removed it and knelt before it； as did Louis XI before the leaden figures of saints which adorned his hat。 He ordered a complete chemical laboratory from Venice； and engaged alchemists to distill the water of immortality； by the help of which he hoped to ascend to the planets and discover the Philosopher's Stone。 Not perceiving any practical result of their labours； he ordered； the laboratory to be burnt and the alchemists to be hung。
Ali hated his fellow…men。 He would have liked to leave no survivors； and often regretted his inability to destroy all those who would have cause to rejoice at his death； Consequently he sought to accomplish as much harm as he could during the time which remained to him； and for no possible reason but that of hatred； he caused the arrest of both Ibrahim Pasha； who had already suffered so much at his hands； and his son； and confined them both in a dungeon purposely constructed under the grand staircase of the castle by the lake； in order that he might have the pleasure of passing over their heads each time he left his apartments or returned to them。
It was not enough for Ali merely to put to death those who displeased him； the form of punishment must be constantly varied in order to produce a fresh mode of suffering； therefore new tortures had to be constantly invented。 Now it was a servant； guilty of absence without leave； who was bound to a stake in the presence of his sister； and destroyed by a cannon placed six paces off； but only loaded with powder； in order to prolong the agony； now； a Christian accused of having tried to blow up Janina by introducing mice with tinder fastened to their tails into the powder magazine； who was shut up in the cage of Ali's favourite tiger and devoured by it。
The pasha despised the human race as much as he hated it。 A European having reproached him with the cruelty shown to his subjects； Ali replied：
〃You do not understand the race with which I have to deal。 Were I to hang a criminal on yonder tree； the sight would not deter even his own brother from stealing in the crowd at its foot。 If I had an old man burnt alive； his son would steal the ashes and sell them。 The rabble can be governed by fear only； and I am the one man who does it successfully。〃
His conduct perfectly corresponded to his ideas。 One great feast…day； two gipsies devoted their lives in order to avert the evil destiny of the pasha； and； solemnly convoking on their own heads all misfortunes which might possibly befall him； cast themselves down from the palace roof。 One arose with difficulty； stunned and suffering； the other remained on the ground with a broken leg。 Ali gave them each forty francs and an annuity of two pounds of maize daily； and considering this sufficient； took no further trouble about them。
Every year； at Ramadan； a large sum was distributed in alms among poor women without distinction of sect。 But Ali contrived to change this act of benevolence into a barbarous form of amusement。
As he possessed several palaces in Janina at a considerable distance from each other； the one at which a distribution was to take place was each day publicly announced； and when the women had waited there for an hour or two； exposed to sun； rain or cold； as the case might be； they were suddenly informed that they must go to some other palace； at the opposite end of the town。 When they got there； they usually had to wait for another hour； fortunate if they were not sent off to a third place of meeting。 When the time at length arrived； an eunuch appeared； followed by Albanian soldiers armed with staves； carrying a bag of money； which he threw by handfuls right into the midst of the assembly。 Then began a terrible uproar。 The women rushed to catch it； upsetting each other； quarreling； fighting； and uttering cries of terror and pain； while the Albanians； pretending to enforce order； pushed into the crowd； striking right and left with their batons。 The pacha meanwhile sat at a window enjoying the spectacle； and impartially applauding all well delivered blows； no matter whence they came。 During these distributions； which really benefitted no one； many women were always severely hurt； and some died from the blows they had received。
Ali maintained several carriages for himself and his family； but allowed no one else to share in this prerogative。 To avoid being jolted； he simply took up the pavement in Janina and the neighbouring towns； with the result that in summer one was choked by dust； and in winter could hardly get through the mud。 He rejoiced in the public inconvenience； and one day having to go out in heavy rain； he remarked to one of the officers of his escort； 〃How delightful to be driven through this in a carriage； while you will have the pleasure of following on horseback！ You will be wet and dirty； whilst I smoke my pipe and laugh at your condition。〃
He could not understand why Western sovereigns should permit their subjects to enjoy the same conveniences and amusements as themselves。 〃If I had a theatre；〃 he said； 〃I would allow no one to be present at performances except my own children； but these idiotic Christians do not know how to uphold their own dignity。〃
There was no end to the mystifications which it amused the pacha to carry out with those who approached him。
One day he chose to speak Turkish to a Maltese merchant who came to display some jewels。 He was informed that the merchant understood only Greek and Italian。 He none the less continued his discourse without allowing anyone to translate what he said into G
