It was the eve of 1666. In a few days the first sun of the great year
would rise upon the world. The Jews were winding up their affairs,
Israel was strung to fever pitch. The course of the exchanges,
advices, markets, all was ignored, and letters recounting miracles
replaced commercial correspondence.
Elijah the Prophet, in his ancient mantle, had been seen everywhere
simultaneously, drinking the wine-cups left out for him, and sometimes
filling them with oil. He was seen at Smyrna on the wall of a festal
chamber, and welcomed with compliments, orations, and thanksgivings.
At Constantinople a Jew met him in the street, and was reproached for
neglecting to wear the fringed garment and for shaving. At once
fringed garments were reintroduced throughout the Empire, and heads,
though always shaven after the manner of Turks and the East, now
became overgrown incommodiously with hair--even the _Piyos_, or
earlock, hung again down the side of the face, and its absence served
to mark off the _Kofrim_.
Sabbataï Zevi, happy in the love of Melisselda, rapt in heavenly joy,
now confidently expecting the miracle that would crown the miracle of
his career, prepared to set out for Constantinople to take the Crown
from the Sultan's head to the sound of music. He held a last solemn
levée at Smyrna, and there, surrounded by his faithful followers, with
Melisselda radiantly enthroned at his side, he proceeded to parcel out
the world among his twenty-six lieutenants.
Of these all he made kings and princes. His brothers came first. Elias
Zevi he named King of Kings, and Joseph Zevi King of the Kings of
Judah.
"Into thee, O Isaac Silvera," said he, "has the soul of David, King of
Israel, migrated. Therefore shalt thou be called King David and shalt
have dominion over Persia. Thou, O Chayim Inegna, art Jeroboam, and
shalt rule over Araby. Thou, O Daniel Pinto, art Hilkiah, and thy
kingdom shall be Italia. To thee, O Matassia Aschenesi, who
reincarnatest Asa, shall be given Barbary, and thou, Mokiah Gaspar, in
whom lives the soul of Zedekiah, shalt reign over England." And so the
partition went on, Elias Azar being appointed Vice-King or Vizier of
Elias Zevi, and Joseph Inernuch Vizier of Joseph Zevi.
"And for me?" eagerly interrupted Abraham Rubio, the beggar from the
Morea.
"I had not forgotten thee," answered Sabbataï. "Art thou not Josiah?"
"True--I had forgotten," murmured the beggar.
"To thee I give Turkey, and the seat of thine empire shall be Smyrna."
"May thy Majesty be exalted for ever and ever," replied King Josiah
fervently. "Verily shall I sit under my own fig-tree."
Portugal fell to a Marrano physician who had escaped from the
Inquisition. Even Sabbataï's old enemy, Chayim Penya, was
magnanimously presented with a kingdom.
"To thee, my well-beloved Raphael Joseph Chelebi of Cairo," wound up
Sabbataï, "in whose palace Melisselda became my Queen, to thee, under
the style of King Joash, I give the realm of Egypt."
The Emperor of the World rose, and his Kings prostrated themselves at
his feet.
"Prepare yourselves," said he. "On the morning of the New Year we set
out."
When he had left the chamber a great hubbub broke out. Wealthy men who
had been disappointed of kingdoms essayed to purchase them from their
new monarchs. The bidding for the Ottoman Empire was particularly
high.
"Away! Flaunt not your money-bags!" cried Abraham Rubio, flown with
new-born majesty. "Know ye not that this Smyrna is our capital city,
and we could confiscate your gold to our royal exchequer? Josiah is
King here." And he took his seat upon the throne vacated by Sabbataï.
"Get ye gone, or the bastinado and the bowstring shall be your
portion."