按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e who had us in their power。 We travelled the remaining part of the day through an unfrequented and pathless country； and came by moonlight to the side of a hill； where the rest of the troop was stationed。 Their tents were pitched and their fires kindled； and our chief was welcomed as a man much beloved by his dependents。
〃We were received into a large tent； where we found women who had attended their husbands in the expedition。 They set before us the supper which they had provided； and I ate it rather to encourage my maids than to comply with any appetite of my own。 When the meat was taken away； they spread the carpets for repose。 I was weary； and hoped to find in sleep that remission of distress which nature seldom denies。 Ordering myself； therefore； to be undressed； I observed that the women looked very earnestly upon me； not expecting； I suppose； to see me so submissively attended。 When my upper vest was taken off； they were apparently struck with the splendour of my clothes； and one of them timorously laid her hand upon the embroidery。 She then went out； and in a short time came back with another woman； who seemed to be of higher rank and greater authority。 She did； at her entrance； the usual act of reverence； and； taking me by the hand placed me in a smaller tent； spread with finer carpets； where I spent the night quietly with my maids。
〃In the morning； as I was sitting on the grass； the chief of the troop came towards me。 I rose up to receive him； and he bowed with great respect。 'Illustrious lady；' said he； 'my fortune is better than I had presumed to hope： I am told by my women that I have a princess in my camp。' 'Sir；' answered I； 'your women have deceived themselves and you； I am not a princess； but an unhappy stranger who intended soon to have left this country； in which I am now to be imprisoned for ever。' 'Whoever or whencesoever you are；' returned the Arab； 'your dress and that of your servants show your rank to be high and your wealth to be great。 Why should you； who can so easily procure your ransom； think yourself in danger of perpetual captivity？ The purpose of my incursions is to increase my riches； or； more property； to gather tribute。 The sons of Ishmael are the natural and hereditary lords of this part of the continent； which is usurped by late invaders and low…born tyrants； from whom we are compelled to take by the sword what is denied to justice。 The violence of war admits no distinction： the lance that is lifted at guilt and power will sometimes fall on innocence and gentleness。'
〃'How little；' said I； 'did I expect that yesterday it should have fallen upon me！'
〃'Misfortunes；' answered the Arab； 'should always be expected。 If the eye of hostility could learn reverence or pity； excellence like yours had been exempt from injury。 But the angels of affliction spread their toils alike for the virtuous and the wicked； for the mighty and the mean。 Do not be disconsolate； I am not one of the lawless and cruel rovers of the desert； I know the rules of civil life； I will fix your ransom； give a passport to your messenger； and perform my stipulation with nice punctuality。'
〃You will easily believe that I was pleased with his courtesy； and finding that his predominant passion was desire for money； I began now to think my danger less； for I knew that no sum would be thought too great for the release of Pekuah。 I told him that he should have no reason to charge me with ingratitude if I was used with kindness； and that any ransom which could be expected for a maid of common rank would be paid； but that he must not persist to rate me as a princess。 He said he would consider what he should demand； and then； smiling； bowed and retired。
〃Soon after the women came about me； each contending to be more officious than the other； and my maids themselves were served with reverence。 We travelled onward by short journeys。 On the fourth day the chief told me that my ransom must be two hundred ounces of gold； which I not only promised him； but told him that I would add fifty more if I and my maids were honourably treated。
〃I never knew the power of gold before。 From that time I was the leader of the troop。 The march of every day was longer or shorter as I commanded； and the tents were pitched where I chose to rest。 We now had camels and other conveniences for travel； my own women were always at my side； and I amused myself with observing the manners of the vagrant nations； and with viewing remains of ancient edifices； with which these deserted countries appear to have been in some distant age lavishly embellished。
〃The chief of the band was a man far from illiterate： he was able to travel by the stars or the compass； and had marked in his erratic expeditions such places as are most worthy the notice of a passenger。 He observed to me that buildings are always best preserved in places little frequented and difficult of access； for when once a country declines from its primitive splendour； the more inhabitants are left； the quicker ruin will be made。 Walls supply stones more easily than quarries； and palaces and temples will be demolished to make stables of granite and cottages of porphyry。'〃
CHAPTER XXXIX … THE ADVENTURES OF PEKUAH （CONTINUED）。
〃WE wandered about in this manner for some weeks； either； as our chief pretended； for my gratification； or； as I rather suspected； for some convenience of his own。 I endeavoured to appear contented where sullenness and resentment would have been of no use； and that endeavour conduced much to the calmness of my mind； but my heart was always with Nekayah； and the troubles of the night much overbalanced the amusements of the day。 My women； who threw all their cares upon their mistress； set their minds at ease from the time when they saw me treated with respect； and gave themselves up to the incidental alleviations of our fatigue without solicitude or sorrow。 I was pleased with their pleasure； and animated with their confidence。 My condition had lost much of its terror； since I found that the Arab ranged the country merely to get riches。 Avarice is a uniform and tractable vice： other intellectual distempers are different in different constitutions of mind； that which soothes the pride of one will offend the pride of another； but to the favour of the covetous there is a ready way … bring money； and nothing is denied。
〃At last we came to the dwelling of our chief； a strong and spacious house； built with stone in an island of the Nile； which lies； as I was told； under the tropic。 'Lady；' said the Arab； 'you shall rest after your journey a few weeks in this place； where you are to consider yourself as Sovereign。 My occupation is war： I have therefore chosen this obscure residence； from which I can issue unexpected； and to which I can retire unpursued。 You may now repose in security： here are few pleasures； but here is no danger。' He then led me into the inner apartments； and seating me on the richest couch； bowed to the ground。
〃His women； who considered me as a rival； looked on me with malignity； but being soon informed that I was a great lady detained only for my ransom； they began to vie with each other in obsequiousness and reverence。
〃Being again comforted with new assurances of speedy liberty； I was for some days diverted from impatience by the novelty of the place。 The turrets overlooked the country to a great distance； and afforded a view of many windings of the stream。 In the day I wandered from one place to another； as the course of the sun varied the splendour of the prospect； and saw many things which I had never seen before。 The crocodiles and river…horses are common in this unpeopled region； and I often looked upon them with terror； though I knew they could not hurt me。 For some time I expected to see mermaids and tritons； which； as Imlac has told me； the European travellers have stationed in the Nile； but no such beings ever appeared； and the Arab； when I inquired after them； laughed at my credulity。
〃At night the Arab always attended me to a tower set apart for celestial observations； where he endeavoured to teach me the names and courses of the stars。 I had no great inclination to this study； but an appearance of attention was necessary to please my instructor； who valued himself for his skill； and in a little while I found some employment requisite to beguile the tediousness of time； which was to be passed always amidst the same objects。 I was weary of looking in the morning on things from which I had turned away weary in the evening： I therefore was at last willing to observe the stars rather than do nothing； but could not always compose my thoughts； and was very often thinking on Nekayah when others imagined me contemplating the sky。 Soon after； the Arab went upon another expedition； and then my only pleasure was to talk with my maids about the accident by which we were carried away； and the happiness we should all enjoy at the end of our captivity。〃
〃There were women in your Arab's fortress；〃 said the Princess； 〃why did you not make them your companions； enjoy their conversation； and partake