murad the unlucky and other tales-第6部分

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the　seraglio　the　next　morning。　　It　stood　in　a　sort　of　ante…chamber
to　the　room　in　which　I　slept；　and　with　it　were　left　some　packages；
containing　glass　chandeliers　for　an　unfinished　saloon　in　my
brother's　house。　　Saladin　charged　all　his　domestics　to　be　vigilant
this　night；　because　he　had　money　to　a　great　amount　by　him；　and
there　had　been　frequent　robberies　in　our　neighbourhood。　　Hearing
these　orders；　I　resolved　to　be　in　readiness　at　a　moment's　warning。
I　laid　my　scimitar　beside　me　upon　a　cushion；　and　left　my　door　half
open；　that　I　might　hear　the　slightest　noise　in　the　ante…chamber　or
the　great　staircase。　　About　midnight　I　was　suddenly　awakened　by　a
noise　in　the　ante…chamber。　　I　started　up；　seized　my　scimitar；　and
the　instant　I　got　to　the　door；　saw；　by　the　light　of　the　lamp　which
was　burning　in　the　room；　a　man　standing　opposite　to　me；　with　a
drawn　sword　in　his　hand。　　I　rushed　forward；　demanding　what　he
wanted；　and　received　no　answer；　but　seeing　him　aim　at　me　with　his
scimitar；　I　gave　him；　as　I　thought；　a　deadly　blow。　　At　this　instant
I　heard　a　great　crash；　and　the　fragments　of　the　looking…glass；
which　I　had　shivered；　fell　at　my　feet。　　At　the　same　moment
something　black　brushed　by　my　shoulder：　　I　pursued　it；　stumbled
over　the　packages　of　glass；　and　rolled　over　them　down　the　stairs。

〃My　brother　came　out　of　his　room　to　inquire　the　cause　of　all　this
disturbance；　and　when　he　saw　the　fine　mirror　broken；　and　me　lying
amongst　the　glass　chandeliers　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　he　could
not　forbear　exclaiming；　'Well；　brother！　you　are　indeed　Murad　the
Unlucky。'

〃When　the　first　emotion　was　over；　he　could　not；　however；　forbear
laughing　at　my　situation。　　With　a　degree　of　goodness；　which　made　me
a　thousand　times　more　sorry　for　the　accident；　he　came　downstairs　to
help　me　up；　gave　me　his　hand；　and　said；　'Forgive　me　if　I　was　angry
with　you　at　first。　　I　am　sure　you　did　not　mean　to　do　me　any　injury；
but　tell　me　how　all　this　has　happened？'

〃Whilst　Saladin　was　speaking；　I　heard　the　same　kind　of　noise　which
had　alarmed　me　in　the　ante…chamber；　but；　on　looking　back；　I　saw
only　a　black　pigeon；　which　flew　swiftly　by　me；　unconscious　of　the
mischief　he　had　occasioned。　　This　pigeon　I　had　unluckily　brought
into　the　house　the　preceding　day；　and　had　been　feeding　and　trying
to　tame　it　for　my　young　nephews。　　I　little　thought　it　would　be　the
cause　of　such　disasters。　　My　brother；　though　he　endeavoured　to
conceal　his　anxiety　from　me；　was　much　disturbed　at　the　idea　of
meeting　the　favourite's　displeasure；　who　would　certainly　be
grievously　disappointed　by　the　loss　of　her　splendid　looking…glass。
I　saw　that　I　should　inevitably　be　his　ruin　if　I　continued　in　his
house；　and　no　persuasions　could　prevail　upon　me　to　prolong　my　stay。
My　generous　brother；　seeing　me　determined　to　go；　said　to　me；　'A
factor；　whom　I　have　employed　for　some　years　to　sell　merchandise　for
me；　died　a　few　days　ago。　　Will　you　take　his　place？　　I　am　rich
enough　to　bear　any　little　mistakes　you　may　fall　into　from　ignorance
of　business；　and　you　will　have　a　partner　who　is　able　and　willing　to
assist　you。'

〃I　was　touched　to　the　heart　by　this　kindness；　especially　at　such　a
time　as　this。　　He　sent　one　of　his　slaves　with　me　to　the　shop　in
which　you　now　see　me；　gentlemen。　　The　slave；　by　my　brother's
directions；　brought　with　us　my　china　vase；　and　delivered　it　safely
to　me；　with　this　message：　　'The　scarlet　dye　that　was　found　in　this
vase；　and　in　its　fellow；　was　the　first　cause　of　Saladin's　making
the　fortune　he　now　enjoys：　　he　therefore　does　no　more　than　justice
in　sharing　that　fortune　with　his　brother　Murad。'

〃I　was　now　placed　in　as　advantageous　a　situation　as　possible；　but
my　mind　was　ill　at　ease　when　I　reflected　that　the　broken　mirror
might　be　my　brother's　ruin。　　The　lady　by　whom　it　had　been　bespoken
was；　I　well　knew；　of　a　violent　temper；　and　this　disappointment　was
sufficient　to　provoke　her　to　vengeance。　　My　brother　sent　me　word
this　morning；　however；　that　though　her　displeasure　was　excessive；
it　was　in　my　power　to　prevent　any　ill　consequences　that　might
ensue。　　'In　my　power！'　I　exclaimed；　'then；　indeed；　I　am　happy！
Tell　my　brother　there　is　nothing　I　will　not　do　to　show　him　my
gratitude　and　to　save　him　from　the　consequences　of　my　folly。'

〃The　slave　who　was　sent　by　my　brother　seemed　unwilling　to　name　what
was　required　of　me；　saying　that　his　master　was　afraid　I　should　not
like　to　grant　the　request。　　I　urged　him　to　speak　freely；　and　he
then　told　me　the　favourite　declared　nothing　would　make　her　amends
for　the　loss　of　the　mirror　but　the　fellow…vase　to　that　which　she
had　bought　from　Saladin。　　It　was　impossible　for　me　to　hesitate；
gratitude　for　my　brother's　generous　kindness　overcame　my
superstitious　obstinacy；　and　I　sent　him　word　I　would　carry　the　vase
to　him　myself。

〃I　took　it　down　this　evening　from　the　shelf　on　which　it　stood；　it
was　covered　with　dust；　and　I　washed　it；　but；　unluckily；　in
endeavouring　to　clean　the　inside　from　the　remains　of　the　scarlet
powder；　I　poured　hot　water　into　it；　and　immediately　I　heard　a
simmering　noise；　and　my　vase；　in　a　few　instants；　burst　asunder　with
a　loud　explosion。　　These　fragments；　alas！　are　all　that　remain。　　The
measure　of　my　misfortunes　is　now　completed！　　Can　you　wonder；
gentlemen；　that　I　bewail　my　evil　destiny？　　Am　I　not　justly　called
Murad　the　Unlucky？　　Here　end　all　my　hopes　in　this　world！　　Better
would　it　have　been　if　I　had　died　long　ago！　　Better　that　I　had　never
been　born！　　Nothing　I　ever　have　done　or　attempted　has　prospered。
Murad　the　Unlucky　is　my　name；　and　ill…fate　has　marked　me　for　her
own。〃



CHAPTER　III



The　lamentations　of　Murad　were　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of
Saladin。　　Having　waited　in　vain　for　some　hours；　he　now　came　to　see
if　any　disaster　had　happened　to　his　brother　Murad。　　He　was
surprised　at　the　sight　of　the　two　pretended　merchants；　and　could
not　refrain　from　exclamations　on　beholding　the　broken　vase。
However；　with　his　usual　equanimity　and　good…nature；　he　began　to
console　Murad；　and；　taking　up　the　fragments；　examined　them
carefully；　one　by　one　joined　them　together　again；　found　that　none
of　the　edges　of　the　china　were　damaged；　and　declared　he　could　have
it　mended　so　as　to　look　as　well　as　ever。

Murad　recovered　his　spirits　upon　this。　　〃Brother；〃　said　he；　〃I
comfort　myself　for　being　Murad　the　Unlucky　when　I　reflect　that　you
are　Saladin　the　Lucky。　　See；　gentlemen；〃　continued　he；　turning　to
the　pretended　merchants；　〃scarcely　has　this　most　fortunate　of　men
been　five　minutes　in　company　before　he　gives　a　happy　turn　to
affairs。　　His　presence　inspires　joy：　　I　observe　your　countenances；
which　had　been　saddened　by　my　dismal　history；　have　brightened　up
since　he　has　made　his　appearance。　　Brother；　I　wish　you　would　make
these　gentlemen　some　amends　for　the　time　they　have　wasted　in
listening　to　my　catalogue　of　misfortunes　by　relating　your　history；
which；　I　am　sure；　they　will　find　rather　more　exhilarating。〃

Saladin　consented；　on　condition　that　the　strangers　would　accompany
him　home　and　partake　of　a　social　banquet。　　They　at　first　repeated
the　former　excuse　of　their　being　obliged　to　return　to　their　inn；
but　at　length　the　sultan's　curiosity　prevailed；　and　he　and　his
vizier　went　home　with　Saladin　the　Lucky；　who；　after　supper；　related
his　history　in　the　following　manner：…

〃My　being　called　Saladin　the　Lucky　first　inspired　me　with
confidence　in　myself；　though　I　own　that　I　cannot　remember　any
extraordinary　instances　of　good　luck　in　my　childhood。　　An　old　nurse
of　my　mother's；　indeed；　repeated　to　me　twenty　times　a　day　that
nothing　I　undertook　could　fail　to　succeed；　because　I　was　Saladin
the　Lucky。　　I　became　presumptuous　and　rash；　and　my　nurse's
prognostics　might　have　effectually　prevented　their　accomplishment
had　I　not；　when　I　was　about　fifteen；　been　roused　to　reflection
during　a　long　confinement；　which　was　the　consequence　of　my　youthful
conceit　and　imprudence。

〃At　this　time　there　was　at　the　Porte　a　Frenchman；　an　ingenious
engineer；　who　was　employed　and　favoured　by　the　sultan；　to　the　great
astonishment　of　many　of　my　prejudiced　countrymen。　　On　the　grand
seignior's　birthday　he　exhibited　some　extraordinarily　fine
fireworks；　and　I；　with　numbers　of　the　inhabitants　of
Constantinople；　crowded　to　see　them。　　I　happened　to　stand　near　the
place　where　the　Frenchman　was　stationed；　the　crowd　pressed　upon
him；　and　I　amongst　the　rest；　he　begged　we　would；　for　our　own　sakes；
keep　at　a　greater　distance；　and　warned　us　that　we　might　be　much
hurt　by　the　combustibles　which　he　was　using。　　I；　relying　upon　my
mood　fortune；　disregarded　all　these　cautions；　and　the　consequence
was　that；　as　I　touched　some　of　the　materials　prepared　for　the
fireworks；　they　exploded；　dashed　me　upon　the　ground　with　great
violence；　and　I　was　terribly　burnt。

〃This　accident；　gentlemen；　I　consider　as　one　of　the　most　fortunate
circumstances　of　my　life；　for　it　checked　and　corrected　the
presumption　of　my　temper。　　During　the　time　I　was　confined　to　my　bed
the　French　gentleman　came　frequently　to　see　me。　　He　was　a　very
sensible　man；　and　the　conversations　he　had　with　me　enlarged　my　mind
and　cured　me　of　many　foolish　prejudices；　especially　of　that　which　I
had　been　taught　to　entertain　concerning　the　predominance　of　what　is
called　luck　or　fortune　in　human　affairs。　　'Though　you　are　called
Saladin　the　Lucky；'　said　he；　'you　find　that　your　neglect　of
prudence　has　nearly　brought　you　to　the　grave　even　in　the　bloom　of
youth。　　Take　my　advice；　and　henceforward　trust　more　to　prudence
than　to　fortune。　　Let　the　multitude；　if　they　will；　call　you　Saladin
the　Lucky；　but　call　yourself；　and　make　yourself；　Saladin　the
Prudent。'

〃These　words　left　an　indelible　impression　on　my　mind；　and　gave　a
new　turn　to　my　thoughts　and　character。　　My　brother；　Murad；　his
doubtless　told　you　our　difference　of　opinion　on　the　subject　of
predestination　produced　between　us　frequent　arguments；　but　we　could
never　convince　one　another；　and　we　each　have　acted；　through　life；
in　consequence　of　our　different　beliefs。　　To　this　I　attribute　my
success　and　his　misfortunes。

〃The　first　rise　of　my　fortune；　as　you　have　probably　heard　from
Murad；　was　owing　to　the　scarlet　dye；　which　I　brought　to　perfection
with　infinite　difficulty。　　The　p