the ninth vibration-第28章

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n　she　looked　on　the　saint；　the　tears　fell　from　her　eyes　like　rain；　not　for　grief　for　her　son；　nor　for　death；　but　that　for　their　sake　the　pure　should　be　made　impure　and　the　glory　of　the　Brahman…hood　be　defiled。　And　she　fell　at　the　old　man's　feet　and　laid　her　head　on　the　ground　before　him。

〃Rise；　daughter！〃　he　said；　〃and　take　comfort！　Are　not　the　eyes　of　the　Gods　clear　that　they　should　distinguish？　…　and　this　day　we　stand　before　the　God　of　Gods。　Have　not　the　Great　Ones　said；　‘That　which　causes　life　causes　also　decay　and　death'？　Therefore　we　who　go　and　you　who　stay　are　alike　a　part　of　the　Divine。　Embrace　now　your　child　and　bless　him；　for　we　depart。　And　it　is　on　account　of　the　sacrifice　of　the　Twelve　that　he　is　saved　alive。〃

So；　controlling　her　tears；　she　rose；　and　clasping　the　child　to　her　bosom；　she　bade　him　be　of　good　cheer　since　he　went　with　the　Gods。　And　that　great　saint　took　his　hand　from　hers；　and　for　the　first　time　in　the　life　of　the　Queen　he　raised　his　aged　eyes　to　her　face；　and　she　gazed　at　him；　but　what　she　read；　even　the　ascetic　Visravas；　who　saw　all　by　the　power　of　his　yoga；　could　not　tell；　for　it　was　beyond　speech。　Very　certainly　the　peace　thereafter　possessed　her。

So　those　two　went　out　by　the　secret　ways　of　the　rocks；　and　wandering　far；　were　saved　by　the　favour　of　Durga。


VI

And　the　nights　went　by　and　the　days；　and　the　time　came　that　no　longer　could　they　hold　Chitor；　and　all　hope　was　dead。

On　a　certain　day　the　Rana　and　the　Rani　stood　for　the　last　time　in　her　bower；　and　looked　down　into　the　city；　and　in　the　streets　were　gathered　in　a　very　wonderful　procession　the　women　of　Chitor；　and　not　one　was　veiled。　Flowers　that　had　bloomed　in　the　inner　chambers；　great　ladies　jewelled　for　a　festival；　young　brides；　aged　mothers；　and　girl　children　clinging　to　the　robes　of　their　mothers　who　held　their　babes；　crowded　the　ways。　Even　the　low…caste　women　walked　with　measured　steps　and　proudly；　decked　in　what　they　had　of　best；　their　eyes　lengthened　with　soorma；　and　flowers　in　the　darkness　of　their　hair。

The　Queen　was　clothed　in　a　gold　robe　of　rejoicing；　her　bodice　latticed　with　diamonds　and　great　gems；　and　upon　her　bosom　the　necklace　of　table　emeralds；　alight　with　green　fire；　which　is　the　jewel　of　the　Queens　of　Chitor。　So　she　stood　radiant　as　a　vision　of　Shri；　and　it　appeared　that　rays　encircled　her　person。

And　the　Rana；　unarmed　save　for　his　sword；　had　the　saffron　dress　of　a　bridegroom　and　the　jeweled　cap　of　the　Rajput　Kings；　and　below　in　the　hall　were　the　Princes　and　Chiefs；　clad　even　as　he。

Then；　raising　her　lotus　eyes　to　her　lord；　the　Princess　said；…

〃Beloved；　the　time　is　come；　and　we　have　chosen　rightly；　for　this　is　the　way　of　honour；　and　it　is　but　another　link　forged　in　the　chain　of　existence；　for　until　existence　itself　is　ended　and　rebirth　destroyed；　still　shall　we　meet　in　lives　to　come　and　still　be　husband　and　wife。　What　room　then　for　despair？〃

And　he　answered；…

〃This　is　true。　Go　first；　wife；　and　I　follow。　Let　not　the　door　swing　to　behind　thee。　But　oh；　to　see　thy　beauty　once　more　that　is　the　very　speech　of　Gods　with　men！　Wilt　thou　surely　come　again　to　me　and　again　be　fair？〃

And　for　all　answer　she　smiled　upon　him；　and　at　his　feet　performed　the　obeisance　of　the　Rajput　wife　when　she　departs　upon　a　journey；　and　they　went　out　together；　the　Queen　unveiled。

As　she　passed　through　the　Princes；　they　lowered　their　eyes　so　that　none　saw　her；　but　when　she　stood　on　the　steps　of　the　palace；　the　women　all　turned　eagerly　toward　her　like　stars　about　the　moon；　and　lifting　their　arms；　they　began　to　sing　the　dirge　of　the　Rajput　women。

So　they　marched；　and　in　great　companies　they　marched；　company　behind　company；　young　and　old；　past　the　Queen；　saluting　her　and　drawing　courage　from　the　loveliness　and　kindness　of　her　unveiled　face。

In　the　rocks　beneath　the　palaces　of　Chitor　are　very　great　caves　…　league　long　and　terrible；　with　ways　of　darkness　no　eyes　have　seen；　and　it　is　believed　that　in　times　past　spirits　have　haunted　them　with　strange　wailings。　In　these　was　prepared　great　store　of　wood　and　oils　and　fragrant　matters　for　burning。　So　to　these　caves　they　marched　and；　company　by　company；　disappeared　into　the　darkness；　and　the　voice　of　their　singing　grew　faint　and　hollow；　and　died　away；　as　the　men　stood　watching　their　women　go。

Now；　when　this　was　done　and　the　last　had　gone；　the　Rani　descended　the　steps；　and　the　Rana；　taking　a　torch　dipped　in　fragrant　oils；　followed　her；　and　the　Princes　walked　after；　clad　like　bridegrooms　but　with　no　faces　of　bridal　joy。　At　the　entrance　of　the　caves；　having　lit　the　torch；　he　gave　it　into　her　hand；　and　she；　receiving　it　and　smiling；　turned　once　upon　the　threshold；　and　for　the　first　time　those　Princes　beheld　the　face　of　the　Queen；　but　they　hid　their　eyes　with　their　hands　when　they　had　seen。　So　she　departed　within；　and　the　Rana　shut　to　the　door　and　barred　and　bolted　it；　and　the　men　with　him　flung　down　great　rocks　before　it　so　that　none　should　know　the　way；　nor　indeed　is　it　known　to　this　day；　and　with　their　hands　on　their　swords　they　waited　there；　not　speaking；　until　a　great　smoke　rose　between　the　crevices　of　the　rocks；　but　no　sound　at　all。

（Ashes　of　roses　…　ashes　of　roses！　。　。　Ahi！　for　beauty　that　is　but　touched　and　remitted！）

The　sun　was　high　when　those　men　with　their　horses　and　on　foot　marched　down　the　winding　causeway　beneath　the　seven　gates；　and　so　forth　into　the　plains；　and　charging　unarmed　upon　the　Moslems；　they　perished　every　man。　After；　it　was　asked　of　one　who　had　seen　the　great　slaughter；…

〃Say　how　my　King　bore　himself。〃

And　he　who　had　seen　told　this：…

〃Reaper　of　the　harvest　of　battle；　on　the　bed　of　honour　he　has　spread　a　carpet　of　the　slain！　He　sleeps　ringed　about　by　his　enemies。　How　can　the　world　tell　of　his　deeds？　The　tongue　is　silent。〃

When　that　Accursed；　Allah…u…Din；　came　up　the　winding　height　of　the　hills；　he　found　only　a　dead　city；　and　his　heart　was　sick　within　him。

Now　this　is　the　Sack　of　Chitor；　and　by　the　Oath　of　the　Sack　of　Chitor　do　the　Rajputs　swear　when　they　bind　their　honour。

But　it　is　only　the　ascetic　Visravas　who　by　the　power　of　his　yoga　has　heard　every　word；　and　with　his　eyes　beheld　that　Flame　of　Beauty；　who；　for　a　brief　space　illuminating　the　world　as　a　Queen；　returns　to　birth　in　many　a　shape　of　sorrowful　loveliness　until　the　Blue…throated　God　shall　in　his　favour　destroy　her　rebirths。

Salutation　to　Ganesa　the　Elephant…Headed　One；　and　to　Shri　the　Lady　of　Beauty！



THE　BUILDING　OF　THE　TAJ　MAHAL

In　the　Name　of　God；　the　Compassionate；　the　Merciful…　the　Smiting！　A　day　when　the　soul　shall　know　what　it　has　sent　on　or　kept　back。　A　day　when　no　soul　shall　control　aught　for　another。　And　the　bidding　belongs　to　God。


THE　KORAN。

I

Now　the　Shah…in…Shah；　Shah　Jahan；　Emperor　in　India；　loved　his　wife　with　a　great　love。　And　of　all　the　wives　of　the　Mogul　Emperors　surely　this　Lady　Arjemand；　Mumtaz…i…Mahal　…　　the　Chosen　of　the　Palace　…　was　the　most　worthy　of　love。　In　the　tresses　of　her　silk…soft　hair　his　heart　was　bound；　and　for　none　other　had　he　so　much　as　a　passing　thought　since　his　soul　had　been　submerged　in　her　sweetness。　Of　her　he　said；　using　the　words　of　the　poet　Faisi；　…

〃How　shall　I　understand　the　magic　of　Love　the　Juggler？　For　he　made　thy　beauty　enter　at　that　small　gate　the　pupil　of　my　eye；　And　now　…　and　now　my　heart　cannot　contain　it！〃

But　who　should　marvel？　For　those　who　have　seen　this　Arjemand　crowned　with　the　crown　the　Padishah　set　upon　her　sweet　low　brows；　with　the　lamps　of　great　jewels　lighting　the　dimples　of　her　cheeks　as　they　swung　beside　them；　have　most　surely　seen　perfection。　lie　who　sat　upon　the　Peacock　Throne；　where　the　outspread　tail　of　massed　gems　is　centred　by　that　great　ruby；　〃The　Eye　of　the　Peacock；　the　Tribute　of　the　World；〃　valued　it　not　so　much　as　one　Jock　of　the　dark　and　perfumed　tresses　that　rolled　to　her　feet。　Less　to　him　the　twelve　throne　columns　set　close　with　pearls　than　the　little　pearls　she　showed　in　her　sweet　laughter。　For　if　this　lady　was　all　beauty；　so　too　she　was　all　goodness；　and　from　the　Shah…in…Shah　to　the　poorest；　all　hearts　of　the　world　knelt　in　adoration；　before　the　Chosen　of　the　Palace。　She　was；　indeed；　an　extraor…　dinary　beauty；　in　that　she　had　the　soul　of　a　child；　and　she　alone　remained　unconscious　of　her　power；　and　so　she　walked；　crowned　and　clothed　with　humility。

Cold；　haughty；　and　silent　was　the　Shah…in…Shah　before　she　blessed　his　arms　…　flattered；　envied；　but　loved　by　none。　But　the　gift　this　Lady　brought　with　her　was　love；　and　this；　shining　like　the　sun　upon　ice；　melted　his　coldness；　and　he　became　indeed　the　kingly　centre　of　a　kingly　court　May　the　Peace　be　upon　her！

Now　it　was　the　dawn　of　a　sorrowful　day　when　the　pains　of　the　Lady　Arjemand　came　strong　and　terrible；　and　she　travailed　in　agony。　The　hakims　（physicians）　stroked　their　beards　and　reasoned　one　with　another；　the　wise　women　surrounded　her；　and　remedies　many　and　great　were　tried；　and　still　her　anguish　grew；　and　in　the　hall　without　sat　the　Shah…in…Shah　upon　his　divan；　in　anguish　of　spirit　yet　greater。　The　sweat　ran　on　his　brows；　the　knotted　veins　were　thick　on　his　temples；　and　his　eyes；　sunk　in　their　caves；　showed　as　those　of　a　maddened　man。　He　crouched　on　his　cushions　and　stared　at　the　purdah　that　divided　him　from　the　Lady；　and　all　day　the　people　came　and　went　about　him；　and　there　was　silence　from　the　voice　he　longed　to　hear；　for　she　would　not　moan；　lest　the　sound　should　slay　the　Emperor。　Her　women　besought　her；　fearing　that　her　strong　silence　would　break　her　heart；　but　still　she　lay；　her　hands　clenched　in　one　another；　enduring；　and　the　Emperor　endured　without。　The　Day　of　the　Smiting！

So；　as　the　time　of　the　evening　prayer　drew　nigh；　a　child　was　born；　and　the　Empress；　having　done　with　pain；　began　to　sink　slowly　into　that　profound　sleep　that　is　the　shadow　cast　by　the　Last。　May　Allah　the　Upholder　have　mercy　on　our　weakness！　And　the　women；　white　with　fear　and　watching；　looked　upon　her；　and　whispered　one　to　another；　〃It　is　the　end。〃

And　the　aged　mother　of　Abdul　Mirza；　standing　at　her　head；　said；　〃She　heeds　not　the　cry　of　the　child。　She　cannot　stay。〃　And　the　newly　wed　wife　of　Saif　Khan；　standing　at　her　feet；　said；　〃The　voice　of　the　beloved　husband　is　as　the　Call　of　the　Angel。　Let　the　Padishah　be　summoned。〃

So；　the　evening　prayer　being　over　（but　the　Emperor　had　not　prayed）；　the　wisest　of　the　hakims；　Kazim　Sharif；　went　before　him　and　spoke：…

〃Inhallah！　May　the　will　of　the　Issuer　of　Decrees　in　all　things　be　done！　Ascribe　unto　the　Creator　glory；　bowing　before　his　Throne。〃

And　he　remained　silent；　but　the　Padishah；　haggard　in　his　jewels；　with　his　face　hidden；　answered　thickly；　〃The　truth！　For　Allah　has　forgotten　his　slave。〃

And　Kazim　Sharif；　bowing　at　his　feet　and　veiling　his　face　with　his　hands；　replied：

〃The　voice　of　the　child　cannot　reach　her；　and　the　Lady　of　Delight　departs。　He　who　would　speak　with　her　must　speak　quickly。〃

Then　the　Emperor　rose　to　his　feet　unsteadily；　like　a　man　drunk　with　the　forbidden　juice；　and　when　Kazim　Sharif　would　have　supported　him；　be　flung　aside　his　hands；　and　he　stumbled；　a　man　wounded　to　death；　as　it　were；　to　the　marble　chamber　where　she　lay。

In　that　white　chamber　it　was　dusk；　and　they　had　lit　the　little　cressets　so　that　a　very　faint　light　fell　upon　her　face。　A　slender　fountain