THE LAST OF THE CALIPHS.
ASTONISHED as the Caliph Musteazem might be at the audacity which
prompted a Frankish king to send ambassadors to the heir of the prophet,
he did not venture to decline receiving the message of a prince who so
recently had threatened the empire of Egypt with destruction, and might
have the power of doing so again. Besides, Musteazem was not in the most
celestial humour with the Mamelukes, who seemed inclined to defy his and
every other person's authority; and, on hearing that the result of all
the disorders and revolutions had been the elevation of Bibars Bendocdar
to the throne of Saladin, he remarked, in homely oriental phrase, 'when
the pot boils, the scum rises to the top.' Above all, Musteazem was a
miser, and covetous to the last degree; and when it was explained to him
by his grand vizier, whom the Templar had already bribed with a purse of
gold, that the King of France was liberal in money matters, and was
ready to pay handsomely for the ransom of his captive countrymen, the
caliph's ruling passion prevailed--his avarice got the better of his
dignity; and, without farther words, he consented to grant an audience
to the Franks.
Meanwhile, the ambassadors and their attendants were admitted within the
gates of the palace, and conducted into an immense garden, there to wait
till suitable apartments were assigned them. And this garden made them
stare with wonder; its regal magnificence was so surprising as to make
them start and stop simultaneously, and to make Bisset exclaim--
'Of a truth, the lines of this pope of the infidels have fallen in
pleasant places. None of King Henry's palaces can boast of anything like
this. Surely it must be the terrestrial paradise.'
Now, this garden might well surprise the ambassadors. In the centre was
a kiosk of the richest architecture, constructed entirely of marble and
alabaster, with an arcade composed of countless marble pillars. In the
court was a marble reservoir, surrounded with marble balustrades, which
at each angle opened on a flight of stairs, guarded by lions and
crocodiles sculptured of white marble; and alabaster baths with taps of
gold. On one side of the garden was a large aviary; on the other a huge
elephant, chained to a tree. The walks were set in mosaic of coloured
pebbles, in all kinds of fanciful patterns; and around were groves,
bowers, arbours, and trellis-covered paths, with streams, fountains,
hedges of box and myrtle, flowers, cypresses, odoriferous plants, and
trees groaning under the weight of lemons, oranges, citrons, and fruit
in great variety. It was more like such a scene as magicians are
supposed to conjure up, than reality; and the Crusaders gazed for a
while with silent admiration.
'On my faith,' said Bisset, at length breaking the silence, 'this is
marvellous to behold; and yet, had I the ear of the pope of the
infidels, I should recommend an addition which would be to the purpose.
I mean such a statue of the goddess Minerva as once stood in the great
square of Constantinople.'
'And wherefore?'
'Because Minerva is the goddess who presides over prudence and valour;
and my eyes have deceived me if, in this city, there is not a lack of
both. Marked you not, as we rode along, that the place is well nigh
without defences and fighting men; and think you that, with such spoil
in prospect, the Mamelukes, not to mention the Moguls, would hesitate
about seizing it?'
'You err,' replied the Templar: 'the caliph, as you say, is the pope of
the infidels, and the Mamelukes hold everything he possesses as sacred.'
'So did they last century,' remarked Bisset, elevating his shoulders;
'and yet Saladin killed a caliph with his mace; and as for the Moguls,
you know they are almost Christians, and Father Rubruquis is now in
Tartary, completing their conversion. Beshrew me, sir Templar, if I deem
not this caliph foolhardy to run the risk of being attacked, without
fighting men to defend him.'
As the English knight spoke, an officer of the caliph appeared to
conduct the ambassadors to their lodgings; and they, having refreshed
themselves with the bath, and with food, were invited by the grand
vizier to repair to the presence of the caliph.
It was not, however, without much ceremony, and some mystery, that the
Templar and the English knight were admitted into the interior of a
palace within whose precincts no Christian, save as a captive, had ever
before set foot. First, they were guided through dark passages, guarded
by armed Ethiopians, and then into open courts so richly and beautifully
adorned, that they could not refrain from expressing their admiration.
'Certes,' exclaimed Bisset, halting, 'the caliph must, of all princes,
be the richest; and I should not much marvel to hear that he had
discovered the philosopher's stone, which turns everything into gold,
and of which my countryman, Roger Bacon, is said to be in search.
Nevertheless, he does not seem to have studied the Roman poet, who tells
us that treasure is hardly worth having, unless it is properly used.'
'In truth, sir knight,' said the Templar, 'the farther we go, the
greater is the splendour and state.'
At length the ambassadors reached a magnificent chamber, where the
caliph awaited them. At first, however, he was concealed from them by a
curtain wrought with pearls. But the grand vizier thrice prostrated
himself to the ground; and, as he did so, the traverse was drawn aside,
and the caliph appeared arrayed in gorgeous robes, seated on a throne of
gold, and surrounded by his eunuchs, who seemed both surprised and
grieved to see Christians in that place and presence.
And now the grand vizier kissed the caliph's hand, and, presenting the
ambassadors, explained their errand. A long conversation, which was
carried on chiefly by the Templar and the grand vizier, followed; and
the caliph having expressed his willingness to treat, the grand vizier
desired him, in token of his good faith, to give the ambassadors his
hand. Musteazem, however, shook his head, to indicate that he was not
prepared to derogate so far from his dignity. At length, after some
persuasion, he consented to give them his hand, gloved.
'That will do,' said the grand vizier.
'I fear not,' replied the Templar, hesitating.
'Sir,' said Bisset, addressing the caliph--for by this time the English
knight had recovered all his reckless audacity, and felt quite as much
at home as if he had been in the palace of Westminster, and speaking to
the good King Henry--'truth makes no holes to hide herself in; and
princes, if they will covenant, must deal fairly and openly. Give us,
therefore, your hand, if you mean to treat; we will make no bargains
with your glove.'
But the caliph, still unsatisfied, stood upon his dignity, and refused
to be persuaded. However, at the instance of the grand vizier, he
consented to consider the subject, and promise the ambassadors another
audience on the morrow. But who can tell what a day may bring forth? Ere
the morrow, an event occurred which raised more important questions than
whether he could, without degradation, give his ungloved hand to a
Templar and an English knight.