Meeting XII

Kurroglou lavished his favours upon Buly Pasha, gave him a pelisse of honour, assigned separate apartments for him, and every day gave him money for board and drink, though he always entertained him at his own table. One day, during the banquet, when they were at their wine, Buly Pasha began to cry. “I did thee no harm, what is the reason of thy tears?” asked Kurroglou. “A sad recollection came to my mind, and I could not help crying.” “What is that?” “Warrior Kurroglou, I told thee already how strongly I am attached to Dunah Pasha. Her father promised her to me under this only condition: if I bring thee to Stambul dead or alive. And what shall I tell him now? What right have I to his daughter’s hand? This i® the reason of my tears.” Kurroglou’s heart melted with pity, and he said, “If thou bring me to Stambul, Hassan Pasha cannot refuse thee his daughter’s hand, Tell me, dost thou deserve the name of a man?” “Noble warrior, the result will show whether I deserve it. To boast now would be to anticipate.”

Kurroglou ordered Daly-Mehter to bring out. of the stables the strongest pony. “J low wilt thou take me to Hassan Pasha? If like a prisoner I’ll order my legs to be fettered here.” “No, warrior, no fetters are wanted.” Kurroglou said to his servants, “He feels an aversion to manacle me. Therefore you must do it.” They threw themselves at his feet; “Our master, what art thou going to do, reflect a little, thou givest thyself up rashly into the hands of thy mortal enemies.” But all their tears and prayers were fruitless. He only promised them faithfully to return in six months, and mounting on his pony, he followed Buly Pasha to Constantinople. On the road the pasha attended on him, so as never yet any servant served his master, till he perfectly convinced him of his gratitude and attachment.

When they had performed half their journey, Buly Pasha seeing that they were on the sultan’s land, and that Kurroglou could not here obtain any assistance, lagged a little behind, and then pushing his horse at full speed, inflicted such a blow on Kurroglou’s head that he fell to the ground. As all the pasha’s servants, who were spared by the sword, got permission to accompany their master and were present, they surrounded the poor victim. Kurroglou called to them, “Is it thou, Buly Pasha? Base bastard! such is thy reward for all the good offices I bestowed upon thee!” The pasha laughed at him, “Thy good offices! Thou wilt play again at Aushik Roushan! Thy exceedingly good offices indeed! Thou hast plundered Hassan Pasha’s money; thou hast exterminated almost to the last the twelve thousand men of my army. There is a benefactor for you!”

They bound the arms of poor Kurroglou, and drove him before their horses. He repented of his too confident rashness to the core of his heart, and thought to himself, “My magnanimity was quite misplaced. What a fool I was!” He then said aloud, “Buly Pasha! Let loose my arms, 1 will sing a song.” “Sing, bound as thou art, good-for-nothing wretch! Thou hast given me too good a lesson to be so soon forgotten.

Improvisation. —“Behold! what days has brought on me, that jade which is commonly called Fortune. Fame, pride, shame, torment me, waste the strength of my body, and kill me. What is that, O Begs, what is it? I hear a friendly voice reaching my ear. Fate gave me a box on the face, and sent me with a wallet to beg from door to door.”

So sang Kurroglou, and Buly Pasha listened. He bethought himself of the pleasures of Chamly-bill; he therefore sang on.

Improvisation.—“O Begs; The villains seized upon me, and keep me in their power. They will pierce my breast and head with arrows. Chamly-bill, my country, comes to my memory, and draws forth the tears from my eyes. I am Kurroglou, who robbed and famished the world; who imposed the haratch upon the capitals of many kingdoms. Did I ever solicit any favour from any body? and now capricious Fate has betrayed me!”

Having finished this song, Kurroglou went on. A Tatar courier from Constantinople was passing them. Kurroglou looked behind. The desire of seeing again Chamly-bill preyed on his mind. All disappeared in the distance, only a few of the tops of the mountains were visible. He said “Pasha! halt for a while, and allow me to sing a song, and then I will go on again.”

Improvisation. — “I perceive at a distance the sloping mountains covered with snow. My sweetheart remains behind them. O, my rose, thou bloomest so high that my hand cannot reach to pluck thee. My pomegranate was left on the jutting branch. The Begs of Buly seized me. An iron chain bends my neck. My beautiful sweethearts, each one more beautiful than the other, are now forsaken.”

Buly Pasha said, “Good cheer, thy sweethearts shall soon find a consolation in the arms of some younger lovers. Thou thief! thou hast ravaged the whole world, and now thou sighest like a lad in his teens.” Kurroglou thought to himself, ‘‘God will grant me yet the opportunity of disgracing thy bride. I shall have my revenge of all thy wickedness. And he sang on.

Improvisation.—“Which of my sweethearts am I sorrowing for? Affliction strikes its blows one after another. I am sorry I did not mow that rogue, like the useless weeds. Grief has branded my heart.”

Then recollecting the tears of Ayvaz and his other men, who cried and begged him not to set out on that journey, he sang:—

Improvisation.—“O my gardens! 1 used to gather your flowers, make nosegays of them, and send them as presents to my sweethearts. My friends standing on the road, cried and remained alone. Kurroglou, put thy confidence in God! He will be a shield against the misfortune that may befal thee unawares. Foe! do not step out before mine eyes, and do not conceal from me the last sight of Chamly-bill, left so far behind me.”

But he was obliged to proceed; and going from menzill to menzill, they drew nearer Constantinople. Buly Pasha hastened to inform Hassan Pasha by the following letter, “Fortune has befriended me. I have captured Kurroglou alive, and am bringing him to your feet.”

Hassan Pasha gave orders that all the male inhabitants of the metropolis, from a lad up to old men able to walk, should go out and meet the conqueror. On the day of his public entry into the capital, Buly Pasha ordered eight men to drag Kurroglou by the chain; and in that manner they brought him before Hassan Pasha.

His gigantic size and his manly carriage attracted the pasha’s eyes for a considerable time, his long mustachios and beard, that human mane, impressed the staring Turk with such awe, that he shut his eyes and said, “Buly Pasha! let him be taken from my presence, or my heart will burst.” Kurroglou thought to himself, “I will defile thy turban! I thought I should find thee a more sensible man.” And he added aloud, “Hassan Pasha, do not be afraid, I am not a div, or a sheytan; I am a man like thyself. I eat bread and drink water. Why art thou terrified, and why dost thou shrink from me?” Then he said to himself, “This man is not only a coward but a simpleton also. Indeed he is more fool than I, a madman. I must then take care of myself, and begin by praising Buly Pasha.” He therefore said aloud, “Hassan Pasha may live long! Why dost thou not ask me by what means has thy messenger apprehended me? Order to loosen my hands, and 1 will sing to thee about it.” Hassan Pasha answered, “Thou hast so terrified Buly Pasha, that it would be highly imprudent to break thy fetters. Sing as thou standest. Kurroglou then sang with his hands manacled.

Improvisation.—“The nekkara is sounding; the blast of trumpets strikes the ears. The Arabian steeds have no time to make water. The innumerable warriors bring heads severed from their enemies’ bodies. A scar ought to adorn a ram-hero’s forehead.”

Hassan Pasha said, “He who goes to the mill, and brings the mill-stone on his shoulders may boast, and the mob may shout that he has performed a miracle. My son-in-law, Buly Pasha, having brought here Kurroglou, accomplished a greater miracle. W ho loves me must give him precious gifts.”

The grandees and dignitaries of the Turkish court sent immediately to Buly Pasha so many costly things, that he could have hid himself over head under the heap. He began to feel himself elated with success, and looked proudly. Yet Kurroglou perceived that the enthusiasm on behalf of the traitor, was partly raised by his poetry. He thought to himself, “It goes well; I will once more praise Buly Pasha, and he is mine for ever.” He then sang again:_

Improvisation.—" He is the hero for me, who, stepping forward, will engage in fight in the presence of his agha. He unsheaths his sword; he wields his shield so skilfully before his head, that quivers of eighty arrows are emptied into it.”

Hassan Pasha again addressed his vizier, “Thou seest that even Kurroglou himself extols Buly Pasha’s valour. Whosoever of you love me must give a further reward to the gallant victor.” The’lords present began to untie their cashmire shawls, their hanjars, and yatagans set with precious stones, and raised with them a mound as high as Buly Pasha himself. “As to my own reward for him,” said Hassan Pasha, “I invite all of you to partake of my sweetmeats in honour of Buly Pasha’s betrothal with my daughter Dunah Pasha.” He sent his servants to the palace with necessary orders for the preparation of the festival. Kurroglou sang on.

Improvisation.—“Clouds of dust cover the field of battle; they rise higher and higher, till the summits of the mountains disappear in them. The Arabian steeds drag the dead bodies of warriors. The severed heads fall down in all directions. The blood flows in streams. Even the angels of heaven are struck with awe.”

One of the Turks present pushed Kurroglou, and whispered into his ear, “Foolish man, sing something in praise of Hassan Pasha, it is enough to praise his servant.” The push was so strong, that Kurroglou felt a colic in his side, and enraged, he said, “O might I disgrace the wife of Hassan Pasha, as well as Buly Pasha’s and thine own together!”_and gave him such a box on the face, that he swallowed four teeth, which were struck out by the blow.

Seeing this, Hassan Pasha exclaimed “The sooner that madman is consigned to death the better!” “May the Pasha live long! Allow me to sing a few more stanzas, and then dispose of me as thou pleasest.” “Sing then!”

Improvisation.—“The dreadful judges sit in divan. Let me see how the head of a base man is severed from his neck. I will raise a brave man to the rank of khan, beg. What is Buly, what is pasha, in the valley of death?”

Hassan Pasha ordered them to kill him. Buly Pasha thought to himself, “I did not capture him by force; I did not win the battle. He gave himself up into my hands of his own accord. He has many warriors stout as lions. Sooner or later they will take away my life in revenge. Go where I may, they will find me out. Were I to hide my soul in a basket, and hang it under the heaven, they will pull down the basket to the earth with a rope. Were I turn jinn and hide myself in the heart of the earth, they will pull me up with pincers. The wisest way for thee, will be to prevail upon Hassan Pasha, that he would entrust him to thy guard for half a year. If in the mean time his warriors come to claim their master, I will restore Kurroglou to them. If they do not come, I may kill him without fear. Now I shall make haste and wed Dunah Pasha. I will consign Kurroglou to the dungeon of Scutari, and will myself live there with my wife.

She will admire my valour, seeing what a tiger, what a lion I have subdued.”

Having conceived this plan, he exclaimed, “May the pasha live long! That villain has destroyed at least half a million of men. Killing him now, we will stain our hands with the blood’s right of all his victims, who have a better claim to his life than ourselves. Condescend therefore to give orders for throwing him into the prison of Scutari, let him die there with hunger and thirst.” Hassan Pasha answered, “Bravo, my son-in-law! God bless thee, wisely hast thou spoken, and valiantly fought. Take him to Scutari, and throw him into the pit of the dungeon”

Buly Pasha carried Kurroglou to Scutari in triumph, and threw him into a pit four yards wide, and God himself only knows how deep!

But hear the report of the maid-servants of Dunah Pasha. Seeing from the windows of the harem how Kurroglou was thrown into the pit, they hastened to inform their mistress of it. Dunah Pasha said to them, “You speak in riddles. Do not impose on my unexperienced heart. Buly Pasha, although my betrothed, is, 1 must confess, more like an old woman than anything else. Could he be able to conquer a man so valiant as Kurroglou? Like the sun which enlightens the whole world, Kurroglou’s glory is known to the whole earth. Every living soul sings his poetry or relates his actions. Is it then possible that such a warrior would allow himself to be taken up by the indolent Buly Pasha?” The maid-servants answered, “We swear that we have seen him with our own eyes. He was thrown into that well which you see there.” “It is impossible! I must go and convince myself of it.”

Dunah Pasha had forty maid-servants: attended by them, she went to the brink of the pit, and inclining her head over it, she called out. Her voice reached Kurroglou’s ears, but he never answered, though this was his characteristic, that whenever he heard a woman’s voice he used to lose his senses. But he could not withstand the repeated sound of the sweet voice of the pasha’s daughter. In answer he shouted so loud, that it seemed that a gun was fired from the well. The frightened girls took to their heels, leaving their mistress alone, who said, “Then even such a lion as he may be overpowered? Where are you flying, girls?:’ They came back, and said, “You are right, madam. The effeminate Buly Pasha could not overcome by force such a roaring tiger.”

Dunah Pasha inclining again her head over the well, said, “Art thou not ashamed for having tarnished thy renown in that way? After having spread the terror of thy name to the limits of the world, thou hast suffered thyself to be captured by Buly Pasha, \who is more indolent than a woman.”

Kurroglou said, “Begone from the well, you lazy hussies!” Dunah Pasha continued, “Why art thou angry, warrior?” Kurroglou then related all the particulars concerning himself and Buly Pasha. Hearing this tale the pasha’s daughter nearly lost her senses, and said, “Warrior! Buly Pasha has betrayed thee most infamously. Cheer up, henceforth,—T and thou. I shall be, believe me, ready to comply with all thy commands. I am Dunah Pasha.” Kurroglou said, “Fetch me down a saw, I beseech thee!” By order of their mistress, the girls fetched the saw and lowered it into the pit. Kurroglou sawed his chains and fetters asunder and sat disencumbered. Dunah Pasha said, “Warrior, what dishes are you most fond of? Tl order them to be prepared in my own kitchen and sent to thee.” “Thou will not be able to furnish me sufficient food.” “You trifle, warrior. 1, a daughter of a rich Ameer, not be able to do it!” “We shall see. Let me have some paper and ink, I will write it for fear thou mayest forget.”

The girls soon fetched the writing materials, and lowered them into the pit. Kurroglou’s bill of fare was as follows:—“Prepare for me every day, for breakfast, twenty-two pounds and a half of the best meat, fifteen pounds of the whitest bread, fifteen pounds of brandy, and fifteen pounds of wine. For luncheon, meat of the same kind fifteen pounds, bread ditto fifteen pounds; seven pounds and a half of brandy, and fifteen pounds of wine. For supper, twenty-two pounds and a half of rice emberbu for pillaw, over the rice put a whole baked unweaned lamb ( emlik ), twenty-two pounds and a half of wine, and fifteen pounds of brandy; besides game, preserves, sweetmeats, and other dainties, of which the more the better.”

They lifted up the bill tied to a thread. The pasha’s daughter, having read it through, shrugged her shoulders, and sent it to her major-domus ( hihlali ), with orders that, every day at the appointed hours, the required quantity of eatables should be sent down to the pit. The obedient lahlah, having prepared the dishes every day, did not fail to send them down, according to the bill of fare.

But now let us relate what befel Issa-Bally, son of the Pasha of Egypt, whom Kurroglou had stolen from his father in Cairo, and was very fond of. On a certain night that youth was sleeping at Chamly-bill, and dreamed that Kurroglou was swimming in a sea of blood. Having awoke from his sleep, he thought to himself, “Poor man! he gave himself up of his own accord into the hands of Buly Pasha, went to Constantinople, and does not return, or even write to us. Some misfortune must have befallen him. To-morrow, if I live, I will mount Kyrat, and ride to that city, i le went, therefore, early to the stables, and said to Daly- Mehter, “Saddle Kyrat, and bring here all the weapons and armour of Kurroglou. I had an ill-boding dream, and must take all those things to him at Stambul.” Issa-Bally was of noble birth and great accomplishments, so that Kurroglou very often appointed him his lieutenant during his absence from Chamly-bill. Daly-Mehter, then, made no objection in fulfilling his wishes. Issa-Bally said to himself, “I must propose to the banditti that they accompany me in that expedition. If any of them will consent to it, very well: if not, they will have no right to reproach me for not taking them with me.” Following his master’s example, as soon as he was ready to start he improvised the following stanza to his colleagues:—

Improvisation.—“I want to-day a warrior ready to follow me where I go. If I die, he must die on the same spot. Who will go with me?

That song made no impression upon the banditti. He sang on.

Improvisation.—“A warrior ought to be endowed with strength. He must be ready to clamber up the towers of a fortress# Who will follow me must, along with me, strike the foe with his sword. How sad it is to leave this place. Here the ponds are full of wild ducks: the gazelles are numerous upon the plains. It is sad to die afar from one’s family. I am going to a foreign country; who will follow me?”

Seeing that nobody paid any attention to him, he armed himself with Kurroglou’s arms, mounted Kyrat, and departed. It was not long before he reached Constantinople. He stopped in a certain caravanserai, and asked the host (udah-baushy), “Canst thou let me one of the untenanted shops?” at the same time slipping into his palm a golden ducat. Udah-baushy gave up one of the best tenements, having been promised a similar gift every day.

One week elapsed, and then another, and Issa- Bally could learn nothing about the fate of Kurroglou. He said then to himself, “I shall not learn anything as long as I do not turn aushik.” He went to the bath, washed his body, put on a neat Persian dress, and, with a guitar in hand, went to the town market. Crowds of Turks gathered round him, pleased with his singing and playing. Long before evening, Issa-Bally’s bag was full of money.

And so every day he repaired to the market, and returned with the profits.

But what has happened to the lahlah of Dunah Pasha’s harem? According to his custom, he went to the market to purchase provisions for Kurroglou. Hearing Issa-Bally’s singing, he stood gaping and listening, so that he forgot his errand. He did not recollect his duty till late in the evening; and having purchased, in a hurry, some rice, meat, and butter, returned to Scutari.

Now give ear to the doings of Dunah Pasha. She used to come once every day to the well, in order to salute Kurroglou. On the day of the above-mentioned event, she came as usual, and said, “I salute thee, warrior.” Kurroglou, having eaten or drunk nothing since morning, was very cross, and did not answer her. Astonished at this behaviour, she addressed him again: “Avaunt, beggar!” “Leave the well, and go from my sight!” he exclaimed. “Warrior! in what have I neglected my duties towards thee?” “Thou stuffest thy belly, while I am starving; even a corpse would die a second time. I have eaten nothing since morning. If thou wert unable to feed me sufficiently, why didst thou promise to do so the first day?” This was going on just at the moment when the lahlah returned from the bazaar.

“Villain! where hast thou rambled till now?” asked the incensed mistress. “Girls, bring here the rodsand in a twinkling of the eye the heels of the poor lahlah pointed towards the sky, and a shower of blows was falling upon them. “Pardon forgive me, gracious mistress!” supplicated the guilty man. “Were you to see what I have seen in the market you would never return home.” “Be more explicit.” “I saw a young aushik, who lately came from Persia. His playing, singing, performances, and conversation are so attractive, that the market is thronged with crowds anxious to hear him; nay, all the town gathered to witness the scene.”

Dunah Pasha ordered her people to leave off beating the culprit; and once more listening to the lahlah, who extolled the talents as well as the beautiful appearance of the youth, she fell in love with the aushik from the description given of him, and ordered him to be brought that evening to the harem.

The lahlah returned to the market; and having, with difficulty, squeezed himself through the crowd which surrounded the singer, he whispered to him, » Aushik, the pasha desires to have thee for his guest this evening.” Aushik Issa-Bally, having torn himself from the grasp of some Turk who was forcibly conducting him to his house, asked, “Who is thy pasha?” “That is to say, his daughter, Dunah Pasha.” “Begone, liar thou wishest to deceive me.” He however yielded to the lahlah’s persuasions, as he was in hopes of getting, thereby, some tidings of his master. He said, “It is far hence to Scutari, and I cannot leave my horse without attendance.” “Take him with thee; we have plenty of barley and straw.”

Having, therefore, taken Kyrat, his armour, and all that he had at the karavanserai, he followed the lahlah till they arrived at Scutari, where Issa Bally’s first care was to find a suitable stable for the horse. Having given him an abundance of barley and straw, he followed his guide to the yard of the harem.

Dunah Pasha looked at him, and what did she perceive? She saw a young man whom nothing could equal in the world. Enraptured with this sight, she remembered all the amorous lines she had learned from Saady and Hafiz. Issa-Bally came into the presence of the pasha’s daughter, bowed low, saluted her; and she, in answer, recited these lines from the poet:—

“Thou art welcome! Sweet is to me thy coming. O mav a thousand dear souls fall victims under each of thy steps! Thy image is henceforth nestling in my eyes. O, nearer! T beseech thee, come nearer! Thou hast come to thine own house.’

She added afterwards: “Son of Persia! sit down, play and sing something to us.” Issa-Bally was struck with the uncommon beauty of the pasha’s daughter; having gazed at her, be loved her with the force of a hundred thousand hearts, and sang: —

Improvisation.—“The bird of my soul is sporting with, the rose of thy flower-garden. The beauties with the jessamin breast look at thee in amazement. On the holy day of the offering I brought the bird of my soul to sacrifice him to thee. Thou hast spared his life, and he will be faithful to thee alone. Raise the veil; let the moon of thy face shine into the dazzled eyes of those beauties who are jealous of thee. Let the rising sun repent too late for having risen. Thy look on me has filled my heart with blood by dint of caresses. Let it swim in gore; it has indeed dared too much in falling in love with thee.”

Music, poetry, and wine amused the happy lovers till late in the night. Issa-Bally, in the midst of so many pleasures, did not forget Kurroglou, and, with the following song he tried to find out whether the pasha’s daughter knew anything about him.

Improvisation. — “I have got a crack-brained master; I do not know whether he lingers here or somewhere else. A sweetheart has kindled a fire in my soul: but where is my mad master? Where art thou, O daring fool?”

Dunah Pasha, hearing that her guest repeated the word “master,” thought to herself, “God grant that this lad might be one of Kurroglou’s attendants.”

She asked, “Who is thy master?” “My master’s name is warrior Kurroglou.” “What has become of him?” Here the young man related, from beginning to end, all the particulars of Buly Pasha’s expedition, and the purpose of his coming to Constantinople. The pasha’s daughter wished also to impart to him all she knew, but she was checked by the thought that Issa would immediately hasten to his master, and deprive her of the pleasure of listening to his playing and conversation. Issa sang on:

Improvisation.—“He disappeared from before our eyes as if sunk into a deep sea. He embittered his servants’ hearts with grief. He is kept in prison by some villain. O Agha, my daring fool Agha!”

Dunah Pasha did not implicitly believe Kurroglou’s tale; and, availing herself of this opportunity} she wished to learn whether he really, of his own accord, allowed himself to be brought to Constantinople. Issa thus sang:

Improvisation.—“Madman! he generously delivered himself to his foe. He filled with bitterness my breast and my head. My crack-brained Agha brought forth the bloody tears of joy from his foe’s eyes. The best of warriors, sweet as the branch of a rose tree. Issa-Bally’s master, crack-brained Agha!"

Dunah Pasha ordered a bed to be made. Her nurse brought three sets of bedding; she spread one of them on a sofa in the room, another near the threshold, and the third at the other end of the yard in the portico. “My dear nurse, how shall we sleep?” “Thou shalt sleep on that sofa, and 1, after having secured the door, near the threshold.” “And where will the aushik sleep?” “In the portico.” “Thou hast forgotten that he had a drop too much, and is a little tipsy; sleeping in the open air, he will catch cold, and will be ill. Poor stranger! he has nobody to take care of him. It will be better to lay his bed in the place thou hast chosen for thyself and go to sleep thyself under the portico.” “My lady! I shall never do such a thing. You both have drunk too freely, both of you are young; I am afraid the devil will play some trick to-night. Thy betrothed, after the wedding, will throw all the blame upon me.” The irritated mistress called the maid-servants, ordered them to give a good beating on the saucy nurse’s heels, and throw her out into the yard, without bedding.

Issa-Bally fell down on the cushions and slept where he sat. Dunah Pasha appeared to be musing. When, lo! a great noise arose, and the Buly Pasha’s voice was heard from without the fortress. However, lie dared not go inside, being afraid of Hassan Pasha’s anger.

These were the nurse’s doings. Having got out through the hole by which the kitchen slops were emptied into the street, she ran to her mistress’s betrothed, Buly Pasha, and told him that the pasha’s daughter had punished her because she did not allow a young Persian to remain the night with her. Buly Pasha surrounded the harem with five hundred men, and called for admittance. Dunah Pasha, terrified, sprung out of the bed, and awoke Issa Bally with the following song:—

Improvisation.— “He came from Stambul to Scutari. Rise up and depart, son of Persia! do not tarry. Before thee alone five hundred men will fly. Rise up, son of Persia.”

Issa awoke, and begged of Dunah Pasha permission to improvise a song in answer.

Improvisation.—“Yes, a son of Persia came from Constantinople to Scutari to see thee. He will die, but will not leave that place. Five hundred crows can do no harm to an eagle. The son of Persia will die, but will not leave that place.”

Dunah Pasha sang in answer:—

Improvisation.—“At break of day they will fire the guns and the muskets. They will bind thy manly arms. They will kill thee and torture me. O my Persian boy, arise and depart.

Issa Bally answered:—

Improvisation. —“I will ford the deep seas. I will take revenge upon my enemies. I will either remain with thee, or give blood for blood. The son of Persia will die, but he will not leave thee.”

Dunah Pasha said to herself, “He is servant of Kurroglou; tell him that thou shalt restore his master to him if he will depart.” She sang in consequence.

Improvisation.—“We will dive into deep seas, having put the sweetheart’s love into the dear soul, like as into a canoe. Rise up, let us go, I’ll restore thy master to thee. Rise up and depart, son of Persia. Do not tarry any longer.

Issa-Bally sang in answer:—

Improvisation.—“() happy day in which I have arrived at Scutari! It is now that I learn the price of the day gone by. God knows that this was my only object. Son of Persia will sooner die than retreat.”

Dunah Pasha answered him with the following lines:—

Improvisation.—“Do not refuse, my beloved! Depart without delay. If fate has destined me to thee I shall be thine; but do what Dunah Pasha begs of thee so earnestly. Rise up and depart, son of Persia; do not tarry any longer.”

Issa-Bally sang.

Improvisation. —“Issa-Bally says, ‘I had a bad dream. God himself guides my steps. I will either take my foe’s head off, or put my own under his sword. Persia’s son will die, but will not retreat.’”

When Issa-Bally finished that song, Dunah Pasha began to supplicate him. “My Issa-Bally! rise up and let us go. 1 will deliver Kurroglou to thee, take him and fly away. Buly Pasha has surrounded the fort of Scutari with five hundred soldiers. I know that the purpose of thy coming here was the liberation of Kurroglou.” Issa answered, “O my sweet lady, restore only Kurroglou to me, and we shall depart so gently as not to raise even the dust after us.”

After this they both went to the well. Issa- Bally whispered, “Hear me Dunah Pasha! I know Kurroglou’s pride. If I tell him that [ come to liberate him, he will not answer one word, and will never consent to being lifted up from the well. It would be better, therefore, if you ask him to get out of the pit; we shall see what will be his answer/

Kurroglou was already asleep; they were obliged to call him many times before he awoke. “Is it thy sweet voice, pasha’s daughter? If thou art so kind as to come down to me, jump down boldly and I will catch thee in the air, and receiving thee in my arms, I will prevent thee from falling to the ground.” “O no, my warrior, I cannot let myself down. There is already too little room for thee alone in the well. But, be persuaded, and let us lift thee up]). Thou shalt go to Chamly-bill.” Kurroglou was offended and said, “Begone! Kurroglou will never suffer himself to be laughed at, nor that it be said, a woman got him out of the well.”

Issa-Bally called him by his name. Kurroglou hearing so well-known a voice, nearly lost his senses “It is thou, my dearest! Thou contest to fetch me.

“Yes.’ “And who asked thee for it? good-for-nothing wretch! Not I, to be sure; begone!" “My lord, do not be angry with me.” “I am very comfortable here. By the liberality of Dunah Pasha I want for nothing. I have plenty of wine, brandy, and other necessaries. I live like a lord.” “Oh, my master! Buly Pasha has surrounded the fortress; to-morrow he will take up both of us, and what is still worse he will take the life of our benefactress, Dunah Pasha. For myself I do not fear death, and will die willingly for such a good cause. But what will become of that poor lady? She has served thee with so much zeal.” Kurroglou said, “1 have got very fat, you will not be able, two as you are, to lift me up out of the well” “Let us try, however; bring here some ropes.”

By order of the mistress, all the maid-servants come together They lowered into the well some dozen of ropes tied together, which cracked more than once under the enormous weight, which was slowly hoisted up by some forty hands. Issa-Bally and even Dunah Pasha were obliged to lend their aid, because Kurroglou, fed so liberally, had got as fat as a buffalo. Great was their joy when first his huge head appeared, and afterwards his giant elbows leaned upon the brink of the well. Issa kissed his master’s hands. They brought immediately Kyrat and his arms, and with the greatest difficulty buckled the armour upon the fattened limbs of the robber.

Kurroglou said, “Dunah Pasha! thou shalt go with us, thou art my daughter and I shall not give thee up to Buly Pasha for all the treasures of the world!” She made preparations in haste for the journey, filled two wallets with the most precious of her jewels, and did not forget to order the two best horses of her stables, one for herself, another for Issa Bally.

Having mounted their steeds they rode to the gate of the fort, but it was shut up. Kurroglou, with one blow of his club, broke the locks and the bolts. He first sent out of the fort, Issa-Bally and Dunah Pasha, saying, “Wait a moment for me, and see what I shall do. Let the pasha’s daughter witness how I fight. I must take now my revenge of the base Buly Pasha, and inform him of my presence by a song.” So saying, he sang with his stentorian voice:—

Improvisation.—“O Aghas! When the day of battle comes, a coward gets a head-ache and pretends to be ill The shaking of the horse makes his ears ring. He flies from mountain to mountain.”

Buly Pasha trembled with all his soul. He thought to himself, I am sure that the young man who slept in the harem, was one of Kurroglou’s band.” The song thundered again and was heard all over the fortress.

Improvisation.—“Hail warrior! Do not approach the infamous coward, and do not defile thyself with his presence. Confound his master and his sultan! A villain, as soon as he sees any one relying confidently on him, thinks himself a conqueror, and raises his silly neck like a naked knife.”

Kurroglou seeing that Buly Pasha did not make his appearance, said to himself, “Infamous wretch! I will drag thee from thy hole, and will give thy betrothed to somebody else.” He then sang:—

Improvisation.—“Kurroglou says, ‘I shall to-day crush my foe. I’ll tear asunder the resistance of this villain. Let the coward, in token of his submission, throw on his neck a halter, and wait for me with a rope hanging from it. He shall see to-day how brave men conquer.’”

Buly Pasha could no longer withstand so public an outrage; he unsheathed his sword, stepped forward, and called to his men, “Follow me! let us crush the robber!” and he attacked him first. Kurroglou parried with his club the blow aimed at him, and, drawing his sword, he let it fall upon Buly Pasha’s head with such force, that the edge plunged deep across the chief’s breast and belly, and stuck into the earth. Kurroglou said, “There is a lesson for thee how to cut with the sword.”

Kurroglou cut off the head of his victim, and threw it under the feet of Dunah Pasha’s horse. “Come here and hold my Kyrat,” he called out to Issa-Bally. So saying, he rushed upon the walls of the fort, and cutting to the right and left, he made a terrible slaughter. “Enough! enough! warrior Kurroglou!” shouted the pasha’s daughter; “Stop thy fury, do it for me. It is time for us to fly away.”

Kurroglou took her advice, inasmuch as it was dangerous to remain longer, for fear the report of the strife might reach the city. They rode away, therefore, and without any accident, arrived at Chamly-bill, where they were met by Daly-Mehter and Ayvaz at the head of all his band. Kurroglou ordered them to greet Dunah Pasha, and enjoined that all the women should come out to meet and to introduce her, with all solemnity, to Chamly-bill. Entering the harem, she found her way from the gate to her apartments, laid down with Cashmire shawls. Festivals followed one another during twenty days, as a thanksgiving for all Dunah Pasha had done to Kurroglou.

The next twenty days were consecrated to the celebration of her wedding with Issa-Bally. In this May that loving couple realized their most sanguine hopes. God grant that likewise may be fulfilled the desires of all those who buy this tale, as well as of those who read or relate it!