ali pacha-第6章
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！
eeps； but envy never does。〃 These steps were prudent； and whilst his credit increased at court； order was reestablished from the defiles of the Perrebia of Pindus to the vale of Tempe and to the pass of Thermopylae。
These exploits of the provost…marshal； amplified by Oriental exaggeration； justified the ideas which were entertained of the capacity of Ali Pacha。 Impatient of celebrity； he took good care himself to spread his fame； relating his prowess to all comers； making presents to the sultan's officers who came into his government； and showing travellers his palace courtyard festooned with decapitated heads。 But what chiefly tended to consolidate his power was the treasure which he ceaselessly amassed by every means。 He never struck for the mere pleasure of striking； and the numerous victims of his proscriptions only perished to enrich him。 His death sentences always fell on beys and wealthy persons whom he wished to plunder。 In his eyes the axe was but an instrument of fortune； and the executioner a tax…gatherer。
CHAPTER III
Having governed Thessaly in this manner during several years； Ali found himself in a position to acquire the province of Janina； the possession of which； by making him master of Epirus； would enable him to crush all his enemies and to reign supreme over the three divisions of Albania。
But before he could succeed in this； it was necessary to dispose of the pacha already in possession。 Fortunately for Ali； the latter was a weak and indolent man； quite incapable of struggling against so formidable a rival； and his enemy speedily conceived and put into execution a plan intended to bring about the fulfilment of his desires。 He came to terms with the same Armatolians whom he had formerly treated so harshly； and let them loose； provided with arms and ammunition； on the country which he wished to obtain。 Soon the whole region echoed with stories of devastation and pillage。 The pacha； unable to repel the incursions of these mountaineers； employed the few troops he had in oppressing the inhabitants of the plains； who； groaning under both extortion and rapine； vainly filled the air with their despairing cries。 Ali hoped that the Divan； which usually judged only after the event； seeing that Epirus lay desolate； while Thessaly flourished under his own administration； would； before long； entrust himself with the government of both provinces； when a family incident occurred； which for a time diverted the course of his political manoeuvres。
For a long time his mother Kamco had suffered from an internal cancer； the result of a life of depravity。 Feeling that her end drew near； she despatched messenger after messenger； summoning her son to her bedside。 He started； but arrived too late； and found only his sister Chainitza mourning over the body of their mother； who had expired in her arms an hour previously。 Breathing unutterable rage and pronouncing horrible imprecations against Heaven； Kamco had commanded her children； under pain of her dying curse； to carry out her last wishes faithfully。 After having long given way to their grief； Ali and Chainitza read together the document which contained these commands。 It ordained some special assassinations； mentioned sundry villages which； some day； were to be given to the flames； but ordered them most especially； as soon as possible； to exterminate the inhabitants of Kormovo and Kardiki； from whom she had endured the last horrors of slavery。
Then； after advising her children to remain united； to enrich their soldiers； and to count as nothing people who were useless to them； Kamco ended by commanding them to send in her name a pilgrim to Mecca； who should deposit an offering on the tomb of the Prophet for the repose of her soul。 Having perused these last injunctions； Ali and Chainitza joined hands； and over the inanimate remains of their departed mother swore to accomplish her dying behests。
The pilgrimage came first under consideration。 Now a pilgrim can only be sent as proxy to Mecca； or offerings be made at the tomb of Medina； at the expense of legitimately acquired property duly sold for the purpose。 The brother and sister made a careful examination of the family estates； and after long hunting； thought they had found the correct thing in a small property of about fifteen hundred francs income； inherited from their great…grandfather； founder of the Tepel…Enian dynasty。 But further investigations disclosed that even this last resource had been forcibly taken from a Christian； and the idea of a pious pilgrimage and a sacred offering had to be given up。 They then agreed to atone for the impossibility of expiation by the grandeur of their vengeance； and swore to pursue without ceasing and to destroy without mercy all enemies of their family。
The best mode of carrying out this terrible and self…given pledge was that Ali should resume his plans of aggrandizement exactly where he had left them。 He succeeded in acquiring the pachalik of Janina； which was granted him by the Porte under the title of 〃arpalik；〃 or conquest。 It was an old custom； natural to the warlike habits of the Turks； to bestow the Government provinces or towns affecting to despise the authority of the Grand Seigneur on whomsoever succeeded in controlling them； and Janina occupied this position。 It was principally inhabited by Albanians； who had an enthusiastic admiration for anarchy； dignified by them with the name of 〃Liberty；〃 and who thought themselves independent in proportion to the disturbance they succeeded in making。 Each lived retired as if in a mountain castle； and only went out in order to participate in the quarrels of his faction in the forum。 As for the pachas； they were relegated to the old castle on the lake； and there was no difficulty in obtaining their recall。
Consequently there was a general outcry at the news of Ali Pacha's nomination； and it was unanimously agreed that a man whose character and power were alike dreaded must not be admitted within the walls of Janina。 Ali； not choosing to risk his forces in an open battle with a warlike population； and preferring a slower and safer way to a short and dangerous one； began by pillaging the villages and farms belonging to his most powerful opponents。 His tactics succeeded； and the very persons who had been foremost in vowing hatred to the son of Kamco and who had sworn most loudly that they would die rather than submit to the tyrant； seeing their property daily ravaged； and impending ruin if hostilities continued； applied themselves to procure peace。 Messengers were sent secretly to Ali； offering to admit him into Janina if he would undertake to respect the lives and property of his new allies。 Ali promised whatever they asked； and entered the town by night。 His first proceeding was to appear before the cadi； whom he compelled to register and proclaim his firmans of investiture。
In the same year in which he arrived at this dignity； really the desire and object of Ali's whole life； occurred also the death of the Sultan Abdul Hamid； whose two sons； Mustapha and Mahmoud； were confined in the Old Seraglio。 This change of rulers； however； made no difference to Ali； the peaceful Selim； exchanging the prison to which his nephews were now relegated； for the throne of their father； confirmed the Pacha of Janina in the titles； offices； and privileges which had been conferred on him。
Established in his position by this double investiture； Ali applied himself to the definite settlement of his claims。 He was now fifty years of age； and was at the height of his intellectual development： experience had been his teacher； and the lesson of no single event had been lost upon him。 An uncultivated but just and penetrating mind enabled him to comprehend facts； analyse causes； and anticipate results； and as his heart never interfered with the deductions of his rough intelligence； he had by a sort of logical sequence formulated an inflexible plan of action。 This man； wholly ignorant； not only of the ideas of history but also of the great names of Europe； had succeeded in divining； and as a natural consequence of his active and practical character； in also realising Macchiavelli； as is amply shown in the e
