The Prince of India, Volume I

, all burning brightly. The illumination is enriched by the admirable blending of colors in the canopy of shawls. Within the space defined by the five lamps, on

tes the friends, leaving them face to face. In su

the gardens of Medina. A jar of honey, an assortment of dry biscuits, and two jugs, on

neither of the great narcotics was discovered. Nevertheless it should not be supposed the fruits, the honey, and the waters

they are talking easily and with freedom. Occasionally a movement of one or the other brings his head

been speaking

it had run its cours

its victims; now it attacks indiscriminately. Yesterday the guard I keep in the re

y have been

gold in large amount wa

other proper

reat

sition was

her stores in my tent; a law of ancient i

e of the Jew b

ew the law; but this scourge of Allah has its laws also, and by one of

ndly concern of his hos

s a higher l

king danger of any ki

Emir, fancying he discerned something on his mi

but as it also is personal I hesitate. Indeed

replied, "I will answer

ess suggestive of a land whose name is music-Italy. It is in my knowledge, O Emir, that the Sultan, thy master-may Allah keep him in countenance!-hath in his service many

did not embar

has been observed by others; and as they agreed with you in assigning it to Italy, I am nothing loath to account myself an Italian. The few shreds of circumstance which came

ere is no danger of our being overheard. Nilo,

terruption, the Emir changed h

ives distinctly in my memory; so does the color of the trees in the orchard which has since become familiar to me as the green of olives. Equally clear is the recollection that, returning in-doors, I was carried into a

interrupted

he west, and the description reminds me of the e

he wife of a renowned Pacha, governor of the city of Brousa. She called me Mirza. My childhood was spent in a harem, and I passed from it into a school to enter upon my training as a soldier. In good time I became a Janissary. An opportunity presented itself one day, and I distinguished myself. My master, the Sultan, rewarded me by promotion and tran

y of the narrative, and the speaker's freedom

, sympathetically, "and I cannot thi

remains is inferential. The castle was attacke

father an

er kne

," said the Prince, suggest

ut unbe

ection betrayed by the remark

lieved in Go

believed Mahomet

giving you

the fear,

cheme, the disputants must concede him room and hearing. Were all Mohammedans, from whom he hoped most, like this one born of Christians, then the two conditions would be sternly refused him. By the testimony of this witness, there was nothing in the heredity of faith; and it went to his soul incisive

the resignation with which you accept his judgment. I congratulate you upon the age in which he has cast your life. He who in a moment of uncertainty would inform himself of his future should not heed his intentions and hopes; by studying his present conditions, he will find himself an oracle unto himself. He shoul

seeing it, the host added with a

s clear, it is necessary that thou consent to my

Hadji, it is because I be

wer did not entirely hide the

lars, and his intelligence has compassed all knowledge. He is familiar with the supernatural as with the natural. On my way, I visited him.... Know thou next, O Emir, I too have had occasion to make inquiries of the future. The vulgar would call me an astrologer-not a professional practising for profit, but an adept seeking information because it lifts me so much nearer Allah and his sublimest mysteries. Very

reath. Understanding was

here-stopped, I mean, with the overthrow of the Christ

y Alla

g communicable yet, what would

had from them the name of him who

led at the you

ic of our human nature," he said. "Thy imperial master is ol

" answered the Emi

he not

he royal qualitie

not more th

t m

het hath lent

en

of the Emir from his gaze, whil

everything but the hero's name. He is to be of kingly birth, a

andatory. "Release me from my pledge of silence. Tell me who thou art, that I may repo

without apparently noticing the int

sting the horoscopes at Constantinople. Thou must know, O Emir, there is an astral alphabet which has its origin in the inter-relations of the heavenly bodies, represented by lines impalpable to the common eye; know also that the most favored adept cannot r

agerness of the Emir, the

s with sword and axe as I have taught him. Thou canst not name a quality characteristic of heroes he does not possess. Doth Allah permit me safe return from the Hajj,

ew an

fficient explanation; but his interests are paramount; at the same time it becomes me to be allegiant to the divinatory stars. What rivalries the story might awaken! It is not un

then becam

shining lights that are the life of the sky at night. Let me illustrate my meaning. Observe the lamps about us. The five on the uprigh

st, swift to understand the impulse, gav

his reasons for every creation, and his will concerning it. There the sands are numbered, and the plants and trees, and their leaves, and the birds, and everything animate; there is thy history, and mine, and all

said the Emir,

uch is the astral drawing between the five lamps. Henceforth in conflicts of interest, fortune again

wed lower t

her on lines never divergent, never crossing. Be not astonished, if, with

be viewed except as of mo

"consider how unfortunate my situation would be,

red simply, th

Emir, requiring me to make this

ir apo

appiness is to believe in Allah and Mahomet his Prophet; at the same time I concede we should h

hich the negro in waiting responded

"bring me the two malachite ring

ve disa

should advise thee that the revolution to which I referred is not ripe for publication to the world. A son might be excused for dishonoring his parents; bu

ent discontent. At length the

sing them both to his guest, "they a

ep green stone, cut so as to leave a drop of pure tur

me, O Prince," said the

waved

retain the other. Borne by messengers, they

pomegranate water. About midnight the Emir took his departure. When he was gone, the host walked to and fro a long time; once he halted, a

elf he laug

oot, every man, woman, and child clad in