the ninth vibration-第29章

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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　a　little　cooled　the　hot；　still　air　with　its　thin　music　and　its　sprinkled　diamonds；　and　outside；　the　summer　lightnings　were　playing　wide　and　blue　on　the　river；　but　so　still　was　it　that　the　dragging　footsteps　of　the　Emperor　raised　the　hair　on　the　flesh　of　those　who　heard；　So　the　women　who　should；　veiled　themselves；　and　the　others　remained　like　pillars　of　stone。

Now；　when　those　steps　were　heard；　a　faint　colour　rose　in　the　cheek　of　the　Lady　Arjemand；　but　she　did　not　raise　the　heavy　lashes；　or　move　her　hand。　And　he　came　up　beside　her；　and　the　Shadow　of　God；　who　should　kneel　to　none；　knelt；　and　his　head　fell　forward　upon　her　breast；　and　in　the　hush　the　women　glided　out　like　ghosts；　leaving　the　husband　with　the　wife　excepting　only　that　her　foster…nurse　stood　far　off；　with　eyes　averted。

So　the　minutes　drifted　by；　falling　audibly　one　by　one　into　eternity；　and　at　the　long　last　she　slowly　opened　her　eyes　and；　as　from　the　depths　of　a　dream；　beheld　the　Emperor；　and　in　a　voice　faint　as　the　fall　of　a　rose…leaf　she　said　the　one　word；　〃Beloved！〃

And　he　from　between　his　clenched　teeth；　answered；　〃Speak；　wife。〃

So　she；　who　in　all　things　had　loved　and　served　him；　…　she；　Light　of　all　hearts；　dispeller　of　all　gloom；　…　gathered　her　dying　breath　for　consolation；　and　raised　one　hand　slowly；　and　it　fell　across　his；　and　so　remained。

Now；　her　beauty　had　been　broken　in　the　anguish　like　a　rose　in　storm；　but　it　returned　to　her；　doubtless　that　the　Padishah　might　take　comfort　in　its　memory；　and　she　looked　like　a　houri　of　Paradise　who；　kneeling　beside　the　Zemzem　Well；　beholds　the　Waters　of　Peace。　Not　Fatmeh　herself；　the　daughter　of　the　Prophet　of　God；　shone　more　sweetly。　She　repeated　the　word；　〃Beloved〃；　and　after　a　pause　she　whispered　on　with　lips　that　scarcely　stirred；　〃King　of　the　Age；　this　is　the　end。〃

But　still　he　was　like　a　dead　man；　nor　lifted　his　face。

〃Surely　all　things　pass。　And　though　I　go；　in　your　heart　I　abide；　and　nothing　can　sever　us。　Take　comfort。〃

But　there　was　no　answer。

〃Nothing　but　Love's　own　hand　can　slay　Love。　Therefore；　remember　me；　and　I　shall　live。〃

And　he　answered　from　the　darkness　of　her　bosom；　〃The　whole　world　shall　remember。　But　when　shall　I　be　united　to　thee？　0　Allah；　how　long　wilt　thou　leave　me　to　waste　in　this　separation？〃

And　she：　〃Beloved；　what　is　time？　We　sleep　and　the　night　is　gone。　Now　put　your　arms　about　me；　for　I　sink　into　rest。　What　words　are　needed　between　us？　Love　is　enough。〃

So；　making　not　the　Profession　of　Faith；　…　and　what　need；　since　all　her　life　was　worship；　…　the　Lady　Arjemand　turned　into　his　arms　like　a　child。　And　the　night　deepened。

Morning；　with　its　arrows　of　golden　light　that　struck　the　river　to　splendour！　Morning；　with　its　pure　breath；　its　sunshine　of　joy；　and　the　koels　fluting　in　the　Palace　gardens！　Morning；　divine　and　new　from　the　hand　of　the　Maker！　And　in　the　innermost　chamber　of　marble　a　white　silence；　and　the　Lady；　the　Mirror　of　Goodness；　lying　in　the　Compassion　of　Allah；　and　a　broken　man　stretched　on　the　ground　beside　her。　For　all　flesh；　from　the　camel…driver　to　the　Shah…in…　Shah；　is　as　one　in　the　Day　of　the　Smiting。


II

For　weeks　the　Emperor　lay　before　the　door　of　death；　and　had　it　opened　to　him；　he　had　been　blessed。　So　the　months　went　by；　and　very　slowly　the　strength　returned　to　him；　but　his　eyes　were　withered　and　the　bones　stood　out　in　his　cheeks。　But　he　resumed　his　throne；　and　sat　upon　it　kingly；　black…bearded；　eagle…eyed；　terribly　apart　in　his　grief　and　his　royalty；　and　so　seated　among　his　Usbegs；　he　declared　his　will。

〃For　this　Lady　（upon　whom　be　peace）；　departed　to　the　mercy　of　the　Giver　and　Taker；　shall　a　tomb…palace　be　made；　the　Like　of　which　is　not　found　in　the　four　corners　of　the　world。　Send　forth　therefore　for　craftsmen　like　the　builders　of　the　Temple　of　Solomon　the　Wise；　for　I　will　build。〃

So；　taking　counsel；　they　sent　in　haste　into　Agra　for　Ustad　Isa；　the　Master…Builder；　a　man　of　Shiraz；　and　he；　being　presented　before　the　Padishah；　received　his　instructions　in　these　words：…

〃I　will　that　all　the　world　shall　remember　the　Flower　of　the　World；　that　all　hearts　shall　give　thanks　for　her　beauty；　which　was　indeed　the　perfect　Mirror　of　the　Creator。　And　since　it　is　abhorrent　of　Islam　that　any　image　be　made　in　the　likeness　of　anything　that　has　life；　make　for　me　a　palace…tomb；　gracious　as　she　was　gracious；　lovely　as　she　was　lovely。　Not　such　as　the　tombs　of　the　Kings　and　the　Conquerors；　but　of　a　divine　sweetness。　Make　me　a　garden　on　the　banks　of　Jumna；　and　build　it　there；　where；　sitting　in　my　Pavilion　of　Marble；　I　may　see　it　rise。〃

And　Ustad　Isa；　having　heard；　said；　〃Upon　my　head　and　eyes！〃　and　went　out　from　the　Presence。

So；　musing　upon　the　words　of　the　Padishah；　he　went　to　his　house　in　Agra；　and　there　pondered　the　matter　long　and　deeply；　and　for　a　whole　day　and　night　he　refused　all　food　and　secluded　himself　from　the　society　of　all　men；　for　he　said：…

〃This　is　a　weighty　thing；　for　this　Lady　（upon　whom　be　peace）　must　visibly　dwell　in　her　tomb…　palace　on　the　shore　of　the　river；　and　how　shall　I；　who　have　never　seen　her；　imagine　the　grace　that　was　in　her；　and　restore　it　to　the　world？　Oh；　had　I　but　the　memory　of　her　face！　Could　I　but　see　it　as　the　Shah…in…Shah　sees　it；　remembering　the　past！　Prophet　of　God；　intercede　for　me；　that　I　may　look　through　his　eyes；　if　but　for　a　moment！〃

That　night　he　slept；　wearied　and　weakened　with　fasting；　and　whether　it　were　that　the　body　guarded　no　longer　the　gates　of　the　soul；　I　cannot　say；　for；　when　the　body　ails；　the　soul　soars　free　above　its　weakness。　But　a　strange　marvel　happened。

For；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　he　awoke　at　the　mid…noon　of　the　night；　and　he　was　sitting；　not　in　his　own　house；　but　upon　the　roof　of　the　royal　palace；　looking　down　on　the　gliding　Jumna；　where　the　low　moon　slept　in　silver；　and　the　light　was　alone　upon　the　water；　and　there　were　no　boats；　but　sleep　and　dream；　hovering　hand…in…hand；　moved　upon　the　air；　and　his　heart　was　dilated　in　the　great　silence。

Yet　he　knew　well　that　he　waked　in　some　supernatural　sphere：　for　his　eyes　could　see　across　the　river　as　if　the　opposite　shore　lay　at　his　feet；　and　he　could　distinguish　every　leaf　on　every　tree；　and　the　flowers　moon…blanched　and　ghost…like。　And　there；　in　the　blackest　shade　of　the　pippala　boughs；　he　beheld　a　faint　light　like　a　pearl；　and　looking　with　unspeakable　anxiety；　he　saw　within　the　light；　slowly　growing；　the　figure　of　a　lady　exceedingly　glorious　in　majesty　and　crowned　with　a　rayed　crown　of　mighty　jewels　of　white　and　golden　splendour。　Her　gold　robe　fell　to　her　feet；　and　…　very　strange　to　tell　…　her　feet　touched　not　the　ground；　but　hung　a　span's　length　above　it；　so　that　she　floated　in　the　air。

But　the　marvel　of　marvels　was　her　face　…　not；　indeed；　for　its　beauty；　though　that　transcended　all；　but　for　its　singular　and　compassionate　sweetness；　wherewith　she　looked　toward　the　Palace　beyond　the　river　as　if　it　held　the　heart　of　her　heart；　while　death　and　its　river　lay　between。

And　Ustad　Isa　said：…　〃0　dream；　if　this　sweetness　be　but　a　dream；　let　me　never　wake！　Let　me　see　forever　this　exquisite　work　of　Allah　the　Maker；　before　whom　all　the　craftsmen　are　as　children！　For　my　knowledge　is　as　nothing；　and　I　am　ashamed　in　its　presence。〃

And　as　he　spoke；　she　turned　those　brimming　eyes　on　him；　and　he　saw　her　slowly　absorbed　into　the　glory　of　the　moonlight；　but　as　she　faded　into　dream；　he　beheld；　slowly　rising；　where　her　feet　had　hung　in　the　blessed　air；　a　palace　of　whiteness；　warm　as　ivory；　cold　as　chastity；　domes　and　cupolas；　slender　minars；　arches　of　marble　fretted　into　sea…foam；　screen　within　screen　of　purest　marble；　to　hide　the　sleeping　beauty　of　a　great　Queen　…　silence　in　the　heart　of　it；　and　in　every　line　a　harmony　beyond　all　music。　Grace　was　about　it　…　the　grace　of　a　Queen　who　prays　and　does　not　command；　who；　seated　in　her　royalty　yet　inclines　all　hearts　to　love。　Arid　he　saw　that　its　grace　was　her　grace；　and　its　soul　her　soul；　and　that　she　gave　it　for　the　consolation　of　the　Emperor。

And　he　fell　on　his　face　and　worshipped　the　Master…Builder　of　the　Universe；　saying；…　〃Praise　cannot　express　thy　Perfection。　Thine　Essence　confounds　thought。　Surely　I　am　but　the　tool　in　the　hand　of　the　Builder。〃

And　when　he　awoke；　he　was　lying　in　his　own　secret　chamber；　but　beside　him　was　a　drawing　such　as　the　craftsmen　make　of　the　work　they　have　imagined　in　their　hearts。　And　it　was　the　Palace　of　the　Tomb。

Henceforward；　how　should　he　waver？　He　was　as　a　slave　who　obeys　his　master；　and　with　haste　he　summoned　to　Agra　his　Army　of　Beauty。

Then　were　assembled　all　the　master　craftsmen　of　India　and　of　the　outer　world。　From　Delhi；　from　Shiraz；　even　from　Baghdad　and　Syria；　they　came。　Muhammad　Hanif；　the　wise　mason；　came　from　Kandahar；　Muhammad　Sayyid　from　Mooltan。　Amanat　Khan；　and　other　great　writers　of　the　holy　Koran；　who　should　make　the　scripts　of　the　Book　upon　fine　marble。　Inlayers　from　Kanauj；　with　fingers　like　those　of　the　Spirits　that　bowed　before　Solomon　the　King；　who　should　make　beautiful　the　pure　stone　with　inlay　of　jewels；　as　did　their　forefathers　for　the　Rajah　of　Mewar；　mighty　dealers　with　agate；　cornelian；　and　lapis　lazuli。　Came　also；　from　Bokhara；　Ata　Muhammad　and　Shakri　Muhammad；　that　they　might　carve　the　lilies　of　the　field；　very　glorious；　about　that　Flower　of　the　World。　Men　of　India；　men　of　Persia；　men　of　the　outer　lands；　they　came　at　the　bidding　of　Ustad　Isa；　that　the　spirit　of　his　vision　might　be　made　manifest。

And　a　great　council　was　held　among　these　servants　of　beauty。　so　they　made　a　model　in　little　of　the　glory　that　was　to　be；　and　laid　it　at　the　feet　of　the　Shah…in…Shah；　and　he　allowed　it；　though　not　as　yet　fully　discerning　their　intent。　And　when　it　was　approved；　Ustad　Isa　called　to　him　a　man　of　Kashmir；　and　the　very　hand　of　the　Creator　was　upon　this　man；　for　he　could　make　gardens　second　only　to　the　Gardens　of　Paradise；　having　been　born　by　that　Dal　Lake　where　are　those　roses　of　the　earth；　the　Shalimar　and　the　Nishat　Bagh；　and　to　him　said　Ustad　Isa；…

〃Behold；　Rain　Lal　Kashmiri；　consider　this　design！　Thus　and　thus　shall　a　white　palace；　exquisite　in　perfection；　arise　on　the　banks　of　Jumna。　Here；　in　little；　in　this　model　of　sandalwood；　see　what　shall　be。　Consider　these　domes；　rounded　as　the　Bosom　of　Beauty；　recalling　the　mystic　fruit　of　the　lotus　flower。　Consider　these　four　minars　that　stand　about　them　like　Spirits　about　the　Throne。　And　remembering　that　all　this　shall　stand　upon　a　great　dais　of　purest　marble；　and　that　the　river　shall　be　its　mirror；　repeating　to　everlasting　its　loveliness；　make　me　a　garden　that　shall　be　the　throne　room　to　this　Queen。〃

And　Ram　Lal　Kashmiri　salaamed　and　said；　〃Obedience！〃　and　went　forth　and　pondered　night　and　day；　journeying　even　over　the　snows　of　the　Pir　Panjal　to　Kashmir；　that　he　might　bathe　his　eyes　in　beauty　where　she　walks；　naked　and　divine；　upon　the　earth。　and　he　it　was　who　imagined　the　black　marble　and　white　that　made　the　way　of　approach。

So　grew　the　palace　that　should　murmur；　like　a　seashell；　in　the　ear　of　the　world　the　secret　of　love。

Veiled　had　that　loveliness　been　in　the　shadow　of　the　palace；　but　now　the　sun　should　rise　upon　it　and　turn　its　ivory　to　gold；　should　set　u