_Second trial of the Ring._
The Altars.
The next evening there was to be a private supper in Mirzoza's
appartment. The persons invited came early. Before the prodigy of the
preceding day, people came by inclination; this night they came purely
out of politeness. All the ladies had an air of constraint, and spoke
in monosyllables. They were upon the watch, and expected every moment,
that some Toy would join in conversation. Notwithstanding their itch
of bringing Alcina's odd adventure on the carpet, none of them dared
to undertake opening the topic. Not that they were restrained by her
presence: tho' included in the supper-list, she did not appear; it
was judged that she had a swimming in her head. However, whether it
was that they became less apprehensive of danger, as the whole day
long they had heard no body speak but from the mouth; or whether they
affected to appear courageous, the conversation revived, the women most
suspected composed their countenances, put on an air of assurance, and
Mirzoza ask'd the courtier Zegris, if he knew any entertaining news.
"Madam," replied Zegris, "you have been informed of a match between
the Aga Chazour and young Siberina: I assure you it is broke off."
"Upon what account?" interrupted the favorite. "On account of a strange
voice," continued Zegris, "which Chazour says he heard at the toilet of
his princess. Since yesterday, the Sultan's court is full of people,
who go with their ears cock'd, in hopes of catching, I can't say how,
such declarations, as most certainly the persons concerned have no
inclination to make them."
"That is silly," replied the favorite. "Alcina's misfortune, if it be
one, is far from being averred. We have not got to the bottom----"
"Madam," interrupted Zelmaida, "I have heard her most distinctly. She
spoke without opening her mouth. The facts were well articulated, and
it was not very difficult to guess whence this extraordinary sound
issued. I assure you, that I should have died, were I in her place."
"Died!" replied Zegris. "Folks survive other sorts of accidents."
"How?" cried Zelmaida. "Can there be a more dreadful one than the
indiscretion of a Toy? Well, there is no medium left. One must either
renounce gallantry, or resolve to pass for a woman of pleasure."
"Indeed," said Mirzoza, "the option is severe." "No, no, madam,"
replied another lady, "you will see that women will fix their
resolution. They will allow Toys to prate as much as they please; and
will go their own way, without troubling themselves with what the world
shall say. And after all, what does it signify, whether it be a woman's
Toy or her lover that proves indiscreet? Are things less exposed?"
"Upon a serious consideration of the whole affair," continued a third,
"if a woman's adventures must be divulged, 'tis better it should happen
by her Toy than her lover."
"The notion is singular," said the favorite; "and true," replied she
who had broach'd it: "for, pray, observe that a lover is generally
dissatisfied, before he becomes indiscreet, and therefore tempted to
be revenged by exaggerating every thing: whereas a Toy talks without
passion, and adds nothing to the truth."
"For my part," said Zelmaida, "I am not of that opinion. In this case
it is not so much the importance of the depositions, as the strength of
the evidence, that ruins the criminal. A lover, who by his discourse
dishonours the Altar, on which he has sacrificed, is a kind of impious
person, who deserves no credit: but if the altar lifts up its voice,
what answer can be made."
"That the altar knows not what it says," replied the second. Monima,
hitherto mute, broke silence, in order to say in a dragging, lazy
tone: "Ah! let my Altar, since you call it so, speak or be silent, I
fear nothing from its talk."
Mangogul enter'd that very instant, and Monima's last words did not
escape him. He levell'd his Ring at her, and her Toy was heard to cry
out: "Do not believe her, she lies." Her female neighbours, gazing
at each other, ask'd whose Toy it was that made this answer. "'Tis
not mine," said Zelmaida; "nor mine," said another; "nor mine," said
Monima; "nor mine," said the Sultan. Every one, and the favorite among
the rest, persisted in the negative.
The Sultan, taking the advantage of this incertainty, and addressing
the ladies, said: "You have Altars then? Pray, how are they feasted?"
As he was speaking, he nimbly turn'd his Ring successively on all the
women except Mirzoza; and every one of their Toys answering in its
turn, these words were heard in different tones. "I am frequented,
batter'd, abandon'd, perfum'd, fatigu'd, ill serv'd, disgusted,
&c." They all spoke their word, but so precipitately, that no just
application could be made. Their jargon, sometimes rumbling, sometimes
yelping, accompanied with loud laughs of Mangogul and his courtiers,
made a noise of a new kind. The ladies agreed with a very grave air,
that it was very diverting. "How," said the Sultan, "sure we are too
happy, that the Toys deign to speak our language, and furnish half the
expence of the conversation. Society must be a considerable gainer by
this duplication of organs. Possibly we men shall speak also in our
turn, by something else besides our mouths. Who knows? What agrees so
perfectly well with Toys, may happen to be destin'd to make questions
and responses to them: nevertheless my anatomist is of a different
opinion."