frederick the great and his family-第115部分

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The　king　and　his　generals　and　attendants；　were　scarcely　able　to　retain　their　composure　during　this　performance。

When　Mustapha　had　finished；　he　signed　to　one　of　the　interpreters　to　approach；　and　as　he　kneeled　before　him　he　wiped　the　foam　from　his　razor　on　the　back　of　his　uplifted　hand。　Then　thrusting　it　in　his　belt；　he　bowed　deeply　and　solemnly　to　the　king。

〃May　Allah　keep　the　heart　of　this　king　as　pure　as　his　chin　now　is！〃　he　said。　〃May　the　knife　which　Allah　employs　to　prune　away　the　faults　of　this　king；　pass　over　him　as　gently　and　painlessly　as　the　knife　of　your　unworthy　servant　has　done！　Mighty　king　and　lord；　the　all…　powerful　Khan　Krimgirai；　the　lion　of　the　desert；　the　dread　of　his　enemies；　sends　me　to　you　and　offers　you　his　aid　and　friendship。　The　renown　of　your　deeds　has　reached　his　ears；　and　he　is　lost　in　astonishment　that　a　prince；　of　whose　kingdom　and　existence　he　was　in　ignorance；　should　so　long　successfully　resist　the　great　German　sultan；　whose　power　we　know；　without　fearing。　The　eagle　eye　of　my　master　now　sees　clearly　that　he　who　was　so　insignificant　is　now　great　enough　to　overshadow　the　land　of　the　powerful　German　sultan；　and　to　make　the　proud　and　unbending　czarina　of　the　north　tremble。　He　sends　me　to　report　to　you　his　profound　admiration；　but　first；　will　you　allow　me；　O　eagle　king　of　the　north！　to　present　the　gifts　which　he　offers　you？〃

〃I　shall　be　delighted　to　receive　these　gifts；〃　said　the　king；　smiling；　〃as　they　are　a　proof　of　the　friendship　of　the　great　Khan。〃

Mustapha　Aga　made　a　signal　in　the　direction　of　the　door；　and　spoke　a　few　words　aloud。　Immediately　there　appeared　the　two　men　who　were　so　richly　dressed　in　Turkish　costumes；　and　had　been　at　the　head　of　the　cavalcade。　They　stationed　themselves　on　either　side　of　the　entrance；　and　were　followed　by　the　lower　officers　and　servants　attached　to　the　embassy；　who　entered；　bearing　baskets　delicately　woven　and　lined　with　rich　stuffs。

Mustapha　signed　to　the　first　two　to　approach　him；　and　then；　before　opening　the　basket；　he　turned　once　more　to　the　king。

〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃before　a　Tartar　gives　a　promise　of　love　and　friendship　to　any　one；　he　invites　him　to　his　house；　and　begs　him　to　eat　of　his　bread　and　drink　of　his　wine。　Sire；　my　great　and　respected　master　makes　use　of　his　unworthy　servant　to　entreat　your　majesty　to　descend　from　your　throne　and　to　enter　his　house；　where　he　is　present　in　spirit；　and　bids　the　eagle　king　of　the　north　welcome。〃

〃I　should　be　delighted　to　grant　this　request；〃　returned　the　king；　smiling；　〃were　the　distance　not　so　great　between　my　house　and　that　of　the　Khan。〃

〃Sire；　the　house　of　my　great　master　is　before　your　door；〃　said　Mustapha　Aga；　bowing　deeply。　〃On　the　day　of　our　departure；　the　Khan　walked　through　it　and　kissed　its　walls；　and　exclaimed：　'Be　greeted；　my　great　and　royal　brother；　you　eagle　of　the　north！　Be　welcome；　you　hero…king；　the　hated　enemy　of　the　czarina；　Krimgirai　offers　you　his　heart；　and　would　be　your　friend　for　all　time。'　Sire；　thus　spoke　my　lord　the　Khan；　the　air　in　his　house　is　still　vibrating　with　the　words　he　uttered。　Will　your　majesty　condescend　to　leave　your　throne　and　visit　my　great　master；　the　Khan　Krimgirai？〃

The　king　arose　instantly　and　said；　〃I　am　well　pleased　to　do　so。　Lead　me　to　the　palace　of　your　Khan。〃

Mustapha　Aga　signed　to　the　basket…carriers　and　to　the　other　attendants　to　leave　the　room；　and　then　spoke　a　few　rapid　and　emphatic　words　to　the　interpreters；　who　followed　them。　Then　bowing　to　the　ground　before　the　king；　he　turned　and　passed　out　of　the　house。

Before　the　door　a　wonderful　spectacle　presented　itself　to　the　astonished　view　of　the　king。　Immediately　opposite　the　house；　on　the　open　square；　a　high　tent；　of　considerable　size；　appeared；　around　which　was　a　wall　of　fur；　well　calculated　to　protect　it　from　the　cold　air　and　rough　winds。　A　carpet　covered　the　way　from　the　door　of　the　tent　to　the　king's　house；　and　from　within　the　tent　could　be　heard　the　gentle　notes　of　a　peculiar　music。

〃Really；〃　said　the　king　to　his　ambassador；　Von　Rexin；　〃I　seem　to　be　living　in　the　'Arabian　Nights。'　There　is　nothing　wanting　but　the　beautiful　Scheherezade。〃

〃Sire；　perhaps　she　also　is　here；〃　said　Von　Rexin；　〃we　were　accompanied　by　a　close　chariot；　guarded　by　four　of　the　khan's　eunuchs。〃

The　king　laughed；　and　said；　〃We　will　see；〃　and　he　rapidly　approached　the　hut。　As　he　reached　it；　the　door　flew　open；　and　Mustapha　Aga　received　him　kneeling；　while　his　attendants　threw　themselves　to　the　ground；　touching　it　with　their　foreheads。

The　king　entered　and　examined　with　great　curiosity　the　house　of　the　Khan。　The　interior　of　this　immense　tent　was　hung　with　crimson　draperies；　amongst　which　arose　twenty　golden　pillars　which　supported　the　tent。　At　the　top　of　these　was　an　immense　golden　ring　from　which　the　crimson　draperies　hung；　and　above　this　ring　were　twenty　golden　pillars　which；　uniting　in　the　centre　at　the　top；　formed　the　dome　of　the　tent。　From　the　centre　hung　a　golden　vase；　in　which　burned　the　rarest　incense。　The　floor　was　covered　by　a　great　Turkish　carpet；　and　against　the　walls　stood　several　divans；　such　as　are　generally　used　in　the　dwellings　of　the　wealthy　Turks。　In　the　centre　of　the　tent；　just　under　the　suspended　vase；　stood　a　low；　gilt　table；　decked　with　a　service　of　glittering　porphyry。　One　side　of　the　tent　was　separated　from　the　rest　by　heavy　curtains　of　a　costly　material；　and　from　hence　came　the　sound　of　music；　which　now　arose　in　loud；　triumphant　tones；　as　if　greeting　the　king。

His　majesty　moved　rapidly　to　the　middle　of　the　tent；　while　his　attendants　stood　against　the　walls；　and　Mustapha　Aga　and　his　interpreter　stood　near　the　king。

Mustapha　then　took　a　sword　which　was　on　the　table；　and；　after　kissing　it；　handed　it　to　the　king。　〃Sire；〃　he　said；　〃the　great　Krimgirai　first　offers　you　his　sword；　as　a　sign　of　his　love　and　goodwill。　He　begs　that　on　the　day　of　the　great　victory　which　you　and　he　will　undoubtedly　gain　over　the　hated　czarina　of　the　north；　you　will　wear　this　sword　at　your　side。　A　sword　like　thistempered　in　the　same　fire　and　ornamented　with　the　same　designis　worn　by　the　Khan。　When　these　two　swords　cut　the　air；　Russia　will　tremble　as　if　shaken　by　an　earthquake。〃

The　king　received　the　sword　from　Mustapha　Aga；　and　looked　at　it　attentively。　Then　pointing　to　the　golden　letters　which　ornamented　the　blade；　he　asked　the　significance　of　the　motto。

〃Sire；〃　replied　Mustapha；　solemnly；　〃it　is　the　battle…cry　of　the　Tartar：　'Death　is　preferable　to　defeat。'〃

〃I　accept　the　sword　with　great　pleasure；〃　said　the　king。　〃This　motto　embodies　in　a　few　words　the　history　of　a　war；　and　discloses　more　of　its　barbarity；　than　many　learned　and　pious　expositions　could　do。　I　thank　the　Khan　for　his　beautiful　gift。〃

〃The　Khan　hears　your　words；　sire；　for　his　spirit　is　among　us。〃

Mustapha；　after　begging　the　king　to　seat　himself　upon　the　large　divan；　drew　aside　the　opening　of　the　tent；　when　the　servants　with　the　covered　baskets　immediately　appeared；　and　placed　themselves　in　a　double　row　around　the　tent。　Mustapha　then　took　the　basket　from　the　first　couple；　and　throwing　back　the　cover；　said：　〃Sire；　will　you　condescend　to　eat　of　the　bread　and　drink　of　the　favorite　beverage　of　the　Khan；　that　the　ties　of　your　friendship　may　be　strengthened？　The　Khan　sends　you　a　costly　hama　proof　of　his　unselfish　friendship。　He　had　his　favorite　horse　killed；　the　one　that　he　has　ridden　for　years；　that　he　might　offer　you　a　ham　from　this　noble　animal。〃

As　the　interpreter　translated　these　words；　the　Prussian　generals　and　officers　glanced　smiling　and　mockingly　at　one　another。

The　king　alone　remained　grave；　and　turning　to　the　generals；　he　said　in　German：

〃Ah；　gentlemen！　how　happy　we　would　have　been；　had　any　one　brought　us　this　meat　at　the　siege　of　Bunzelwitz；　and　how　ravenously　we　would　have　eaten　it！〃

He　then　turned　again　to　the　ambassador；　who；　taking　from　the　other　baskets　Carian　dates　and　almonds；　and　other　Eastern　dainties　in　silver　dishes；　placed　them　before　the　king。　Mustapha　then　uttered　a　loud；　commanding　cry；　and　the　door　of　the　tent　was　again　opened；　and　there　appeared　a　Tartar；　dressed　in　white　wolf…skin；　bearing　a　golden　dish；　which　contained　a　steaming；　white　liquid。　He　took　it；　and　kneeled　with　it　before　Frederick。

〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃my　master　begs　you　to　drink　with　him　of　his　favorite　beverage。　He　pressed　his　lips　to　the　rim　of　this　dish　before　sending　it　to　you；　and　if　you　will　now　do　the　same；　the　eagle　and　hero　of　the　north　will　receive　the　brotherly　kiss　of　the　eagle　and　hero　of　the　south。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　the　king；　in　a　low　voice；　of　Baron　von　Rexin；　who　stood　near　the　divan。

〃Sire；　it　is　mare's　milk！〃　whispered　Rexin。

The　king　shuddered；　and　almost　overturned　the　contents　of　the　dish　which　he　had　just　received　from　the　hands　of　Mustapha　Aga；　but　quickly　overcoming　this　feeling；　he　raised　the　bowl　smilingly　to　his　mouth。　After　placing　his　lips　upon　the　rim；　he　returned　the　bowl　to　the　ambassador。

〃I　have　received　the　kiss　of　my　friend。　May　our　friendship　be　eternal！〃

〃Allah　grant　this　prayer！〃　cried　Mustapha。　〃Sire；　Krimgirai　dares；　as　this　beverage　is　such　a　favorite　with　all　Turks；　to　hope　that　it　may　please　you；　he　therefore　offers　you　the　animal　from　which　it　was　procured。〃　He　then　pointed　to　the　opening　in　the　tent；　where　now　appeared　a　noble　Arabian　horse；　wearing　a　costly　saddle　and　bridle；　and　a　crimson　saddle…cloth　richly　worked　with　pearls　and　precious　stones。

The　eyes　of　the　king　beamed　with　pleasure；　and　as　he　hurried　through　the　tent　and　approached　the　horse；　the　animal　seemed　to　wish　to　greet　his　new　master；　for　it　neighed　loudly；　and　pawed　the　sand　with　its　well…shaped　feet。　The　king　gently　stroked　its　slender；　shining　neck　and　its　full；　fluttering　mane；　and　looked　in　the　great；　flashing　eyes。

〃You　are　welcome；　my　battle…horse！〃　he　said；　〃may　you　bear　me　in　the　next　engagement　either　to　victory　or　death！〃

He　then　returned　to　his　seat；　in　order　to　receive　the　remaining　presents　of　the　Khan；　consisting　of　costly　weapons　and　furs。

〃And　now；　sire；　the　Khan　begs　that　you　will　repose　in　his　tent；　and　listen　to　the　music　that　he　loves；　and　look　at　the　dances　which　give　him　pleasure。　My　master　knows　that　the　great　King　of　Prussia　loves　music　as　he　does；　and　that　it　gladdens　your