the ninth vibration-第26章

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（Ahi！　that　loveliness　is　also　illusion！）

Her　women　placed　about　the　Queen　…　that　Lotus　of　Women　…　a　robe　of　silk　of　which　none　could　say　that　it　was　green　or　blue；　the　noble　colours　so　mingled　into　each　other　under　the　latticed　gold　work　of　Kashi。　They　set　the　jewels　on　her　head；　and　wide　thin　rings　of　gold　heavy　with　great　pearls　in　her　ears。　Upon　the　swell　of　her　bosom　they　clasped　the　necklace　of　table　emeralds；　large；　deep；　and　full　of　green　lights；　which　is　the　token　of　the　Chitor　queens。　Upon　her　slender　ankles　they　placed　the　chooris　of　pure　soft　gold；　set　also　with　grass…green　emeralds；　and　the　delicate　souls　of　her　feet　they　reddened　with　lac。　Nor　were　her　arms　forgotten；　but　loaded　with　bangles　so　free　from　alloy　that　they　could　be　bent　between　the　hands　of　a　child。　Then　with　fine　paste　they　painted　the　Symbol　between　her　dark　brows；　and；　rising；　she　shone　divine　as　a　nymph　of　heaven　who　should　cause　the　righteous　to　stumble　in　his　austerities　and　arrest　even　the　glances　of　Gods。

（Ahi！　that　the　Transient　should　be　so　fair！）


II

Now　it　was　the　hour　that　the　Rana　should　visit　her；　for　since　the　coming　of　the　Lotus　Lady；　be　had　forgotten　his　other　women；　and　in　her　was　all　his　heart。　He　came　from　the　Hall　of　Audience　where　petitions　were　heard；　and　justice　done　to　rich　and　poor；　and　as　he　came；　the　Queen；　hearing　his　step　on　the　stone；　dismissed　her　women；　and　smiling　to　know　her　loveliness；　bowed　before　him；　even　as　the　Goddess　Uma　bows　before　Him　who　is　her　other　half。

Now　he　was　a　tall　man；　with　the　falcon　look　of　the　Hill　Rajputs；　and　moustaches　that　curled　up　to　his　eyes；　lion…waisted　and　lean　in　the　flanks　like　Arjoon　himself；　a　very　ruler　of　men；　and　as　he　came；　his　hand　was　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword　that　showed　beneath　his　gold　coat　of　khincob。　On　the　high　cushions　he　sat；　and　the　Rani　a　step　beneath　him；　and　she　said；　raising　her　lotus　eyes：…

〃Speak；　Aryaputra；　（son　of　a　noble　father）…what　hath　befallen？〃

And　he；　looking　upon　her　beauty　with　fear；　replied；…

〃It　is　thy　beauty；　0　wife；　that　brings　disaster。〃

〃And　how　is　this？〃　she　asked　very　earnestly。

For　a　moment　he　paused；　regarding　her　as　might　a　stranger；　as　one　who　considers　a　beauty　in　which　he　hath　no　part；　and；　drawn　by　this　strangeness；　she　rose　and　knelt　beside　him；　pillowing　her　head　upon　his　heart。

〃Say　on；〃　she　said　in　her　voice　of　music。

He　unfurled　a　scroll　that　he　had　crushed　in　his　strong　right　hand；　and　read　aloud：…

　〃‘Thus　says　Allah…u…Din；　Shadow　of　God；　Wonder　of　the　Age；　Viceregent　of　Kings。　We　have　heard　that　in　the　Treasury　of　Chitor　is　a　jewel；　the　like　of　which　is　not　in　the　Four　Seas　…　the　work　of　the　hand　of　the　Only　God；　to　whom　be　praise！　This　jewel　is　thy　Queen；　the　Lady　Padmini。　Now；　since　the　sons　of　the　Prophet　are　righteous；　I　desire　but　to　look　upon　this　jewel；　and　ascribing　glory　to　the　Creator；　to　depart　in　peace。　Granted　requests　are　the　bonds　of　friendship；　therefore　lay　the　head　of　acquiescence　in　the　dust　of　opportunity　and　name　an　auspicious　day。'〃

He　crushed　it　again　and　flung　it　furiously　from　him　on　the　marble。

〃The　insult　is　deadly。　The　soor！　son　of　a　debased　mother！　Well　he　knows　that　to　the　meanest　Rajput　his　women　are　sacred；　and　how　much　more　the　daughters　and　wives　of　the　Kings！　The　jackals　feast　on　the　tongue　that　speaks　this　shame！　But　it　is　a　threat；　Beloved　…　a　threat！　Give　me　thy　counsel　that　never　failed　me　yet。〃

For　the　Rajputs　take　counsel　with　their　women　who　are　wise。

They　were　silent；　each　weighing　the　force　of　resistance　that　could　be　made；　and　this　the　Rani　knew　even　as　he。

〃It　cannot　be；〃　she　said；　〃the　very　ashes　of　the　dead　would　shudder　to　hear。　Shall　the　Queens　of　India　be　made　the　sport　of　the　barbarians？〃

Her　husband　looked　upon　her　fair　face。　She　could　feel　his　heart　labor　beneath　her　ear。

〃True；　wife；　but　the　barbarians　are　strong。　Our　men　are　tigers；　each　one；　but　the　red　dogs　of　the　Dekkan　can　pull　down　the　tiger；　for　they　are　many；　and　he　alone。〃

Then　that　great　Lady；　accepting　his　words；　and　conscious　of　the　danger；　murmured　this；　clinging　to　her　husband：…

〃There　was　a　Princess　of　our　line　whose　beauty　made　all　other　women　seem　as　waning　moons　in　the　sun's　splendour。　And　many　great　Kings　sought　her；　and　there　was　contention　and　war。　And；　she；　fearing　that　the　Rajputs　would　be　crushed　to　powder　between　the　warring　Kings；　sent　unto　each　this　message：　‘Come　on　such　and　such　a　day；　and　thou　shalt　see　my　face　and　hear　my　choice。'　And　they；　coming；　rejoiced　exceedingly；　thinking　each　one　that　he　was　the　Chosen。　So　they　came　into　the　great　Hall；　and　there　was　a　table；　and　somewhat　upon　it　covered　with　a　gold　cloth；　and　an　old　veiled　woman　lifted　the　gold；　and　the　head　of　the　Princess　lay　there　with　the　lashes　like　night　upon　her　cheek；　and　between　her　lips　was　a　little　scroll；　saying　this：　‘I　have　chosen　my　Lover　and　my　Lord；　and　he　is　mightiest；　for　he　is　Death。'　…　So　the　Kings　went　silently　away。　And　there　was　Peace。〃

The　music　of　her　voice　ceased；　and　the　Rana　clasped　her　closer。

〃This　I　cannot　do。　Better　die　together。　Let　us　take　counsel　with　the　ancient　Brahman；　thy　guru　＇teacher＇；　for　he　is　very　wise。〃

She　clapped　her　hands；　and　the　maidens　returned；　and；　bowing；　brought　the　venerable　Prabhu　Narayan　into　the　Presence；　and　again　those　roses　retired。

Respectful　salutation　was　then　offered　by　the　King　and　the　Queen　to　that　saint；　hoary　with　wisdom　…　he　who　had　seen　her　grow　into　the　loveliness　of　the　sea…born　Shri；　yet　had　never　seen　that　loveliness；　for　he　had　never　raised　his　eyes　above　the　chooris　about　her　ankles。　To　him　the　King　related　his　anxieties；　and　he　sat　rapt　in　musing；　and　the　two　waited　in　dutiful　silence　until　long　minutes　had　fallen　away；　and　at　the　last　he　lifted　his　head；　weighted　with　wisdom；　and　spoke。

〃0　King；　Descendant　of　Rama！　this　outrage　cannot　be。　Yet；　knowing　the　strength　and　desire　of　this　obscene　one　and　the　weakness　of　our　power；　it　is　plain　that　only　with　cunning　can　cunning　be　met。　Hear；　therefore；　the　history　of　the　Fox　and　the　Drum。

〃A　certain　Fox　searched　for　food　in　the　jungle；　and　so　doing　beheld　a　tree　on　which　hung　a　drum；　and　when　the　boughs　knocked　upon　the　parchment；　it　sounded　aloud。　Considering；　he　believed　that　so　round　a　form　and　so　great　a　voice　must　portend　much　good　feeding。　Neglecting　on　this　account　a　fowl　that　fed　near　by；　he　ascended　to　the　drum。　The　drum　being　rent　was　but　air　and　parchment；　and　meanwhile　the　fowl　fled　away。　And　from　the　eye　of　folly　he　shed　the　tear　of　disappointment；　having　bartered　the　substance　for　the　shadow。　So　must　we　act　with　this　budmash　＇scoundrel＇。　First；　receiving　his　oath　that　he　will　depart　without　violence；　hid　him　hither　to　a　great　feast；　and　say　that　he　shall　behold　the　face　of　the　Queen　in　a　mirror。　Provide　that　some　fair　woman　of　the　city　show　her　face；　and　then　let　him　depart　in　peace；　showing　him　friendship。　He　shall　not　know　he　hath　not　seen　the　beauty　he　would　befoul。〃

After　consultation；　no　better　way　could　be　found；　but　the　heart　of　the　great　Lady　was　heavy　with　foreboding。

（A　hi！　that　Beauty　should　wander　a　pilgrim　in　the　ways　of　sorrow！）

To　Allah…u…Din　therefore　did　the　King　dispatch　this　letter　by　swift　riders　on　mares　of　Mewar。

After　salutations　…　〃Now　whereas　thou　hast　said　thou　wouldest　look　upon　the　beauty　of　the　Treasure　of　Chitor；　know　it　is　not　the　custom　of　the　Rajputs　that　any　eye　should　light　upon　their　treasure。　Yet　assuredly；　when　requests　arise　between　friends；　there　cannot　fail　to　follow　distress　of　mind　and　division　of　soul　if　these　are　ungranted。　So；　under　promises　that　follow；　I　bid　thee　to　a　feast　at　my　poor　house　of　Chitor；　and　thou　shalt　see　that　beauty　reflected　in　a　mirror；　and　so　seeing；　depart　in　peace　from　the　house　of　a　friend。〃

This　being　writ　by　the　Twice…Born；　the　Brahman；　did　the　Rana　sign　with　bitter　rage　in　his　heart。　And　the　days　passed。


III

On　a　certain　day　found　fortunate　by　the　astrologers　…　a　day　of　early　winter；　when　the　dawns　were　pure　gold　and　the　nights　radiant　with　a　cool　moon　…　did　a　mighty　troop　of　Moslems　set　their　camp　on　the　plain　of　Chitor。　It　was　as　if　a　city　had　blossomed　in　an　hour。　Those　who　looked　from　the　walls　muttered　prayers　to　the　Lord　of　the　Trident；　for　these　men　seemed　like　the　swarms　of　the　locust　…　people；　warriors　all；　fierce　fighting…men。　And　in　the　ways　of　Chitor；　and　up　the　steep　and　winding　causeway　from　the　plains；　were　warriors　also；　the　chosen　of　the　Rajputs；　thick　as　blades　of　corn　hedging　the　path。

（Ahi！　that　the　blossom　of　beauty　should　have　swords　for　thorns！）

Then；　leaving　his　camp；　attended　by　many　Chiefs；　…　may　the　mothers　and　sires　that　begot　them　be　accursed！　…　came　Allah…u…Din；　riding　toward　the　Lower　Gate；　and　so　upward　along　the　causeway；　between　the　two　rows　of　men　who　neither　looked　nor　spoke；　standing　like　the　carvings　of　war　in　the　Caves　of　Ajunta。　And　the　moon　was　rising　through　the　sunset　as　he　came　beneath　the　last　and　seventh　gate。　Through　the　towers　and　palaces　he　rode　with　his　following；　but　no　woman；　veiled　or　unveiled；　…　no；　not　even　an　outcast　of　the　city；　…　was　there　to　see　him　come；　only　the　men；　armed　and　silent。　So　he　turned　to　Munim　Khan　that　rode　at　his　bridle；　saying；…

〃Let　not　the　eye　of　watchfulness　close　this　night　on　the　pillow　of　forgetfulness！〃

And　thus　he　entered　the　palace。

Very　great　was　the　feast　in　Chitor；　and　the　wines　that　those　accursed　should　not　drink　（since　the　Outcast　whom　they　call　their　Prophet　forbade　them）　ran　like　water；　and　at　the　right　hand　of　Allah…u…Din　was　set　the　great　crystal　Cup　inlaid　with　gold　by　a　craft　that　is　now　perished；　and　he　filled　and　refilled　it　…　may　his　own　Prophet　curse　the　swine！

But　because　the　sons　of　Kings　eat　not　with　the　outcasts；　the　Rana　entered　after；　clothed　in　chain　armor　of　blue　steel；　and　having　greeted　him；　bid　him　to　the　sight　of　that　Treasure。　And　Allah…u…Din；　his　eyes　swimming　with　wine；　and　yet　not　drunken；　followed；　and　the　two　went　alone。

Purdahs　＇curtains＇　of　great　splendour　were　hung　in　the　great　Hall　that　is　called　the　Raja's　Hall；　exceeding　rich　with　gold；　and　in　front　of　the　opening　was　a　kneeling…cushion；　and　an　a　gold　stool　before　it　a　polished　mirror。

（Ahi！　for　gold　and　beauty；　the　scourges　of　the　world！）

And　the　Rana　was　pale　to　the　lips。

Now　as　the　Princes　stood　by　the　purdah；　a　veiled　woman；　shrouded　in　white　so　that　no　shape　could　he　seen　in　her；　came　forth　from　within；　and　kneeling　upon　the　cushion；　she　unveiled　her　face　bending　until　the　mirror；　like　a　pool　of　water；　held　it；　and　that　only。　And　the　King　motioned　his　guest　to　look；　and　he　looked　over　her　veiled　shoulder　and　saw。　Very　great　was　the　bowed　beauty　that　the　mirror　held；　but　Allah…u…Din　turned　to　the　Rana。

〃By　the　Bread　and　the　Salt；　by　the　Guest…Right；　by　the　Honour　of　thy　House；　I　ask　…　is　this　the　Treasure　of　Chitor？〃

And　since　the　Sun…Descended　cannot　lie；　no；　not　though　they　perish；　the　Rana　answered；　flushing　darkly；　…　〃This　is　not　the　Treasure。　Wilt　thou　spare？〃

But　he　would　not；　and　the　woman　slipped　like　a　shadow　behind　the　purdah　and　no　word　said。

Then　was　heard　the　tinkling　of　chooris；　and　the　little　noise　fell　upon　the　silence　like　a　fear；　and；　parting　the　curtains；　came　a　woman　veiled　like　the　other。　She　did　n