ali pacha-第27章
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ion of the past for all those who have served me until now。 And if these conditions are not accepted without modifications； I am prepared to defend myself to the last。
〃Given at the castle of Janina； March 7； 1821。〃
CHAPTER X
This mixture of arrogance and submission only merited indignation； but it suited Kursheed to dissemble。 He replied that； assenting to such propositions being beyond his powers； he would transmit them to Constantinople； and that hostilities might be suspended； if Ali wished； until the courier； could return。
Being quite as cunning as Ali himself； Kursheed profited by the truce to carry on intrigues against him。 He corrupted one of the chiefs of the garrison； Metzo…Abbas by name； who obtained pardon for himself and fifty followers； with permission to return to their homes。 But this clemency appeared to have seduced also four hundred Skipetars who made use of the amnesty and the money with which Ali provided them； to raise Toxis and the Tapygetae in the latter's favour。 Thus the Seraskier's scheme turned against himself； and he perceived he had been deceived by Ali's seeming apathy； which certainly did not mean dread of defection。 In fact； no man worth anything could have abandoned him； supported as he seemed to be by almost supernatural courage。 Suffering from a violent attack of gout； a malady he had never before experienced； the pacha； at the age of eighty…one； was daily carried to the most exposed place on the ramparts of his castle。 There； facing the hostile batteries； he gave audience to whoever wished to see him。 On this exposed platform he held his councils； despatched orders； and indicated to what points his guns should be directed。 Illumined by the flashes of fire； his figure assumed fantastic and weird shapes。 The balls sung in the air； the bullets hailed around him； the noise drew blood from the ears of those with him。 Calm and immovable； he gave signals to the soldiers who were still occupying part of the ruins of Janina； and encouraged them by voice and gesture。 Observing the enemy's movements by the help of a telescope； he improvised means of counteracting them。 Sometimes he amused himself by； greeting curious persons and new…comers after a fashion of his own。 Thus the chancellor of the French Consul at Prevesa； sent as an envoy to Kursheed Pacha； had scarcely entered the lodging assigned to him； when he was visited by a bomb which caused him to leave it again with all haste。 This greeting was due to Ali's chief engineer； Caretto； who next day sent a whole shower of balls and shells into the midst of a group of Frenchmen； whose curiosity had brought them to Tika； where Kursheed was forming a battery。 〃It is time；〃 said Ali； 〃that these contemptible gossip…mongers should find listening at doors may become uncomfortable。 I have furnished matter enough for them to talk about。 Frangistan （Christendom） shall henceforth hear only of my triumph or my fall； which will leave it considerable trouble to pacify。〃 Then； after a moment's silence； he ordered the public criers to inform his soldiers of the insurrections in Wallachia and the Morea； which news； proclaimed from the ramparts； and spreading immediately in the Imperial camp； caused there much dejection。
The Greeks were now everywhere proclaiming their independence； and Kursheed found himself unexpectedly surrounded by enemies。 His position threatened to become worse if the siege of Janina dragged on much longer。 He seized the island in the middle of the lake； and threw up redoubts upon it； whence he kept up an incessant fire on the southern front of the castle of Litharitza； and a practicable trench of nearly forty feet having been made； an assault was decided on。 The troops marched out boldly； and performed prodigies of valour； but at the end of an hour； Ali； carried on a litter because of his gout； having led a sortie； the besiegers were compelled to give way and retire to their intrenchments； leaving three hundred dead at the foot of the rampart。 〃The Pindian bear is yet alive；〃 said Ali in a message to Kursheed； 〃thou mayest take thy dead and bury them； I give them up without ransom； and as I shall always do when thou attackest me as a brave man ought。〃 Then； having entered his fortress amid the acclamations of his soldiers； he remarked on hearing of the general rising of Greece and the Archipelago； 〃It is enough！ two men have ruined Turkey！ 〃He then remained silent； and vouchsafed no explanation of this prophetic sentence。
Ali did not on this occasion manifest his usual delight on having gained a success。 As soon as he was alone with Basilissa； he informed her with tears of the death of Chainitza。 A sudden apoplexy had stricken this beloved sister； the life of his councils； in her palace of Libokovo； where she remained undisturbed until her death。 She owed this special favour to her riches and to the intercession of her nephew； Djiladin Pacha of Ochcrida； who was reserved by fate to perform the funeral obsequies of the guilty race of Tepelen。
A few months afterwards； Ibrahim Pacha of Berat died of poison； being the last victim whom Chainitza had demanded from her brother。
Ali's position was becoming daily more difficult； when the time of Ramadan arrived； during which the Turks relax hostilities； and a species of truce ensued。 Ali himself appeared to respect the old popular customs； and allowed his Mohammedan soldiers to visit the enemy's outposts and confer on the subject of various religious ceremonies。 Discipline was relaxed in Kursheed's camp； and Ali profited thereby to ascertain the smallest details of all that passed。
He learned from his spies that the general's staff； counting on the 〃Truce of God；〃 a tacit suspension of all hostilities during the feast of Bairam； the Mohammedan Easter； intended to repair to the chief mosque； in the quarter of Loutcha。 This building； spared by the bombs； had until now been respected by both sides。 Ali； according to reports spread by himself； was supposed to be ill； weakened by fasting； and terrified into a renewal of devotion； and not likely to give trouble on so sacred a day。 Nevertheless he ordered Caretto to turn thirty guns against the mosque； cannon； mortars and howitzers； intending； he said； to solemnise Bairam by discharges of artillery。 As soon as he was sure that the whole of the staff had entered the mosque； he gave the signal。
Instantly； from the assembled thirty pieces； there issued a storm of shells； grenades and cannon…balls。 With a terrific noise； the mosque crumbled together； amid the cries of pain and rage of the crowd inside crushed in the ruins。 At the end of a quarter of an hour the wind dispersed the smoke； and disclosed a burning crater； with the large cypresses which surrounded the building blazing as if they had been torches lighted for the funeral ceremonies of sixty captains and two hundred soldiers。
〃Ali Pacha is yet alive！ 〃cried the old Homeric hero of Janina； leaping with joy； and his words； passing from mouth to mouth； spread yet more terror amid Kursheed's soldiers； already overwhelmed by the horrible spectacle passing before their eyes。
Almost on the same day； Ali from the height of his keep beheld the standard of the Cross waving in the distance。 The rebellious Greeks were bent on attacking Kursheed。 The insurrection promoted by the Vizier of Janina had passed far beyond the point he intended； and the rising had become a revolution。 The delight which Ali first evinced cooled rapidly before this consideration； and was extinguished in grief when he found that a conflagration； caused by the besiegers' fire； had consumed part of his store in the castle by the lake。 Kursheed； thinking that this event must have shaken the old lion's resolution； recommenced negotiations； choosing the Kiaia of Moustai Pacha： as an envoy； who gave Ali a remarkable warning。 〃Reflect；〃 said he； 〃that these rebels bear the sign of the Cross on their standards。 You are now only an instrument in their hands。 Beware lest you become the victim of their policy。〃 Ali understood the danger； and had the sultan been better advised； he would have pardoned Ali on condition of again bringing Hellos under his iron yoke。 It is possible th
