_Twelfth Trial of the Ring._
A Law Case.
Rapes were severely punished in Congo: and there happened a most
notorious one in Mangogul's reign. This prince, at his accession to the
crown, had sworn, like all his predecessors, never to grant a pardon
for that crime: but be laws ever so severe, they seldom curb those,
whom a considerable advantage urges to infringe them. The criminal was
condemned to lose that part of him, by which he had sinned; a cruel
operation, of which he generally died; as the person who performed it,
used less precaution than B----ll.
Kerfael, a young man of a good family, had now languished six months
in a dungeon, waiting for the day of execution. Fatme, a young
pretty woman, was his Lucretia and accuser. Every body knew, that
they had been very well together: Fatme's indulgent husband took no
exceptions against it: therefore it would be ungenteel in the public to
intermeddle in their affairs.
After an undisturbed commerce of two years, whether thro' inconstancy
or disgust, Kerfael took to a dancer at the opera of Banza, and grew
cold towards Fatme, yet without coming to an open rupture. He resolved
to make a decent retreat; which obliged him to continue his visits in
the house. Fatme enraged for being thus forsaken, meditated revenge,
and made use of this remnant of his assiduities to destroy her
unfaithful lover.
One day, that the convenient husband had left them _tête à tête_, and
that Kerfael, having ungirt his scymeter, was endeavouring to allay
Fatme's suspicions by protestations, which cost nothing to lovers,
but never surprize the credulity of a jealous woman; she assumed
an affrighted air, and having tore her dress at five or six pulls,
shriek'd out horridly, and call'd to her husband and domestics for
help; who ran immediately, and became witnesses to the injury, which
Fatme said she received from Kerfael; and shewing the scymeter, added:
"This the infamous villain lifted at my head ten times to make me
submit to his will."
The young man, struck dumb at the blackness of the accusation, had not
power either to answer or make his escape. He was seiz'd, dragg'd
to prison, and deliver'd up to justice and the prosecution of the
Cadilesker.
The laws ordained that Fatme should be visited. Accordingly she was;
and the report of the matrons proved very unfavourable to the accused.
They had an original standard, by which they could determine the
condition of a violated woman; and every circumstance concurred against
Kerfael. The judges examined him, Fatme was confronted with him, and
the evidence was heard. In vain did he plead innocence, deny the fact,
and demonstrate by the commerce which he held with his accuser above
two years, that she was not a woman to be ravished. The circumstance of
the scymeter, the _tête à tête_ solitude, Kerfael's confusion at the
sight of the husband and domestics; taken all together formed, in the
opinion of the judges, violent presumptions. Fatme on her side, far
from owning that she had granted him favors, would not even allow that
she gave him the least glimmering of hopes; and maintain'd that her
obstinate adherence to her duty, from which she had never flinch'd, was
without doubt what urged Kerfael to acquire by force, what he despair'd
obtaining by craft. The verbal process drawn up by the commissaries
was another terrible piece. Nothing more was requisite, than to run
it over, and compare it with the articles of the Criminal Code, to
read unhappy Kerfael's condemnation therein. He lost all expectations
of life either by his defence, or the credit of his family; the
magistrates had fixed the definitive sentence to the thirteenth of
the month of Rebeg: and this was even published by sound of trumpet,
according to custom.
This affair became the topic of conversations, and people were divided
upon it for a good while. Some old hags, who had always been very safe
from any apprehensions of a rape, ran about crying: "That Kerfael's
attack was enormous; that unless a severe example were made of him,
innocence would be no longer in security; and that an honest woman
would be exposed to insults, even at the horns of the Altar." Then
they cited instances of little impertinent puppies having attack'd the
virtue of several respectable ladies: and the circumstances left no
room to doubt, but that those respectable ladies mentioned by them were
themselves: and all these speeches were made to Bramins less innocent
than Kerfael, and by devotes as chaste as Fatme, by way of edifying
conversations.
The _Petits-Maitres_ on the contrary, and even some
_Petites-Maitresses_, asserted that a rape was a chimæra, that a
woman never surrendered but by capitulation; and that, if a fort was
defended, tho' ever so little, it was absolutely impossible to take
it by storm. Examples were alledged in support of this reasoning: the
women knew some; the _Petits-Maitres_ invented others; and there was
no end of quoting instances of women, who had not been ravished. "Poor
Kerfael," said they, "what the devil had he in his head, to take to
little Bimbreloqua," which was the dancer's name, "why did he not stick
to Fatme? They were extremely well together, and the husband left them
at full liberty: what a blessing----Those witches the matrons put on
their spectacles to no purpose, for they saw nothing. And indeed,
who is the person that can see clear in that place? And besides, the
senators are going to deprive him of his joy, for having burst an open
door. The poor lad will die of it, no doubt. After that, pray consider,
what will not dissatisfied women be authorized to do."----"If this
execution takes place," interrupted another, "I will make myself a free
mason."
Mirzoza, naturally compassionate, remonstrated to Mangogul, who was
joking her on Kerfael's case, that if the laws spoke against Kerfael,
good sense deposed against Fatme. "Moreover," added she, "it has never
been heard, that, in a wise government, the letter of the law should be
so closely adhered to, that the simple allegation of a female accuser
should be sufficient to endanger the life of a subject. The reality of
a rape cannot be too clearly proved; and you will allow, Sir, that
this fact is as much at least within the province of your ring as of
your senators. It would be very singular, that the matrons should be
more knowing on this head than the Toys themselves. Hitherto your
highness's ring has done little more than satisfy your curiosity. Might
not the Genius, from whom you had it, have intended some more important
end? If you employ it for the discovery of truth, and the happiness
of your subjects, can you think the Genius will be offended? Try. You
are in possession of an infallible method of drawing from Fatme a
confession of her crime, or a proof of her innocence." "You are in the
right," replied Mangogul, "and you shall be satisfied."
The Sultan departed immediately: and indeed there was no time to
lose: for it was the night of the twelfth of the moon Rebeg, and the
senate was to pronounce sentence on the thirteenth. Fatme was just
got into bed, the curtains were not quite closed. A night taper threw
a dull light on her countenance. The Sultan thought her beautiful,
notwithstanding the violent commotions which disfigured her. Compassion
and hatred, grief and revenge, audaciousness and shame were painted
in her eyes, according as they succeeded each other in her heart.
She uttered deep sighs, shed tears, wiped them off, shed fresh ones,
remained some moments with her head drooping and eyes dejected, then
suddenly raised them, and darted furious looks towards the heavens.
What was Mangogul doing all this time? He was talking to himself, and
saying. "These are the symptoms of despair. Her former tenderness
for Kerfael has revived in all its violence. She has lost sight of
the offence he committed, and has nothing in view but the punishment
reserved for her lover." As soon as he had finished these words, he
turned the fatal ring on Fatme, and her Toy cried out with vehemence.
"Twelve hours more, and we shall be revenged. The treacherous
ingrateful man shall perish, and his blood shall be shed." Fatme
affrighted at the extraordinary motion which she felt within her,
and shock'd at the buzzing voice of her Toy, clapt both hands on
it, and put herself upon duty to stop its mouth. But the powerful
ring continued to act, and the ungovernable Toy breaking thro' every
obstacle, added: "Yes, we shall be revenged. O! thou who hast betray'd
me, wretched Kerfael, dye, and thou, whom he has preferred to me, O
Bimbreloqua, despair!----Twelve hours more! Alas! how tedious will
this time appear to me. Hasten, sweet moments, when I shall see the
treacherous, the ingrateful Kerfael under the executioner's knife, his
blood trickling down----Ah! Wretch, what have I said? Can I without
horror see the dearest object of my love perish? Can I see the fatal
weapon lifted up?----Ah! far from me this cruel thought.--He hates me,
'tis true; he has quitted me for Bimbreloqua, but perhaps some time or
other----why do I say, perhaps? Love will certainly recall him under
my yoke. That little Bimbreloqua is a fancy that will fly off; he must
sooner or later be sensible of the injustice of his preference, and
the ridiculousness of his new choice. Comfort thyself, Fatme, thou
shalt see thy Kerfael again. Yes, thou shalt see him again. Arise
quickly, run, fly to remove the dreadful danger which threatens him.
Dost thou not tremble to come too late?--But whither shall I run, mean
wretch that I am. Does not Kerfael's disdain foretel me, that he has
abandoned me for ever. Bimbreloqua enjoys him, and 'tis for her that I
was going to save him: ah! let him rather dye a thousand deaths. If he
lives no more for me, why should I be concerned for his death?--Yes,
I am now convinced that my wrath is just. The ingrateful Kerfael has
deserved all my hatred. I no longer have any remorse. I had done
every thing to keep him, I will do every thing to destroy him. Yet
one day later, and my revenge was disappointed. But his evil genius
delivered him up to me, the very moment that he thought to escape me.
He is fallen into the snare which I laid for him. I have him fast. The
appointment, to which I contrived to bring thee, was the last which
thou intendedst for me: but thou wilt not so soon forget it.--With what
address did you bring him to your beck? Fatme, how well concerted was
your disorder? Your shrieks, your grief, your tears, your confusion,
every thing, even to your silence, has ruin'd Kerfael. Nothing can
snatch him from his impending fate. Kerfael is dead--You weep, wretched
woman. He loved another, of what consequence is his life to you."
Mangogul, filled with horror at this discourse, turned off his ring;
and while Fatme was recruiting her spirits, he flew back to the
Sultana. "Well, prince," said she, "what have you heard? Is Kerfael
still guilty, and the chast Fatme"--"I beseech you to excuse me,"
answered the Sultan, "from repeating the abominations which I come from
hearing. How an exasperated woman is to be dreaded! Who could believe,
that a body formed by the graces, sometimes enclosed a heart molded
by the furies? But the sun shall not set to-morrow on my dominions,
before they be purged of a monster more dangerous than those which are
produced in my deserts."
The Sultan immediately sent for the Seneschal, and commanded him to
seize Fatme, to remove Kerfael into one of the appartments of the
seraglio, and to inform the Senate, that he reserved to himself the
cognizance of his affair. His orders were executed that very night.
The next morning at dawn of day, the Sultan attended by the Seneschal
and an Effendi, went to Mirzoza's appartment, and had Fatme brought
thither. This unfortunate woman threw herself at Mangogul's feet,
confessed her crime with all its circumstances, and conjured Mirzoza
to intercede for her. Mean while Kerfael was conducted in. He expected
nothing but death: however he made his appearance with that composed
assurance, which innocence alone can give. Some ill-natured wags said,
that he would be in greater consternation, if what he was threaten'd
to lose, was worth preserving. The women were upon the tenters to know
the issue. He prostrated himself respectuously before his highness.
Mangogul made him a signal to arise, and giving him his hand, "You
are innocent," said he, "be free. Render thanks to Brama for your
preservation. In order to make amends for the misery you have suffered,
I grant you a pension of two thousand sequins on my exchequer, and the
first commandery that shall fall in the order of the Crocodile."
The more favors were bestowed on Kerfael, the more Fatme dreaded
punishment. The great Seneschal gave his opinion for death, grounded
upon the law: _Si foemina ff. de vi C. calumniatrix_. The Sultan was
inclined for perpetual imprisonment. Mirzoza finding too much rigor in
one of these judgments, and too much indulgence in the other, condemned
Fatme's Toy to the padlock. The Florentine machine was publickly
clapt on, upon the same scaffold that had been erected for Kerfael's
execution. Thence she was conducted to a house of correction, together
with the matrons who had given their decisive opinions with so much
knowledge.