frederick the great and his family-第143章

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great　and　noble　Mustapha　Aga；　the　ambassador　of　Krimgirai；　the　Khan　of　Tartary。　He　was　the　favorite　and　confidant　of　his　master；　and　was　sent　by　him　to　bear　his　greetings　and　good　wishes　to　the　King　of　Prussia。

As　soon　as　they　had　dismounted；　a　page　of　the　king　approached　and　invited　them　to　enter　the　house；　where　the　king　was　waiting　to　give　them　audience。　Baron　von　Rexin；　who　during　his　residence　in　Turkey　had　learned　the　Turkish　language；　informed　the　ambassador。　A　smile　appeared　upon　Mustapha　Aga's　thin；　paleface；　and　he　turned　to　the　four　men　in　black　robes；　who　wore　the　golden　pens　in　their　belts；　and　signed　to　them　to　follow　him；　and　then　taking　the　arm　of　Baron　von　Rexin；　they　both　entered　the　house；　followed　by　the　four　historians　and　interpreters；　the　generals　and　staff　officers　of　the　king　then　arranging　themselves　on　either　side　of　the　throne；　according　to　their　rank。

The　king　received　the　embassy　sitting　upon　his　throne。　His　eye　rested　smilingly　upon　Mustapha　Aga；　who　had　just　bent　to　the　earth　before　his　throne；　and　as　he　arose　signed　to　one　of　the　four　interpreters　to　approach。　The　interpreter　opened　the　costly　book；　which　he　held　in　his　hand；　and　handed　the　ambassador　a　large　document；　covered　with　seals；　which　Mustapha　Aga　pressed　respectfully　to　his　lips；　and　then　kneeling；　presented　it　respectfully　to　the　king。

〃Mustapha　Aga；　the　ambassador　of　the　high　and　mighty　Khan　of　Tartary；　Krimgirai；　has　the　unutterable　honor　to　present　his　credentials　to　the　King　of　Prussia；〃　said　the　interpreter；　in　the　purest　and　most　fluent　French。

The　king　broke　the　seal；　and　looked　hurriedly　over　the　document。　〃Mustapha　Aga；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　most　welcome；　and　I　greet　your　master；　the　hero　Krimgirai；　whom　I　am　proud　to　call　my　friend；　in　you。〃

After　the　interpreter　repeated　the　words　of　the　king；　Mustapha　Aga　threw　himself　upon　his　knees　before　the　throne；　and　spoke　rapidly　for　a　few　moments。

〃Mustapha　Aga；　the　ambassador　of　the　great　Khan；〃　said　the　interpreter；　〃entreats　your　majesty　to　allow　him　to　show　you　the　highest　proof　of　his　respect；　to　greet　you　in　the　manner　in　which　he　alone；　in　great　and　beautiful　Tartary；　is　permitted　to　greet　the　Khan。〃

〃I　grant　his　request；〃　said　the　king。

Mustapha　immediately　opened　the　pouch　which　hung　at　his　side；　and　took　from　it　a　crystal　flask；　from　which　he　poured　a　fluid　into　the　cup；　and　a　delightful　perfume　immediately　pervaded　the　room。　After　putting　a　small　quantity　of　white　powder　into　the　cup；　he　proceeded　to　stir　the　contents　with　a　brush；　of　which　the　handle　was　ornamented　with　three　diamonds　of　immense　size。　The　fluid　now　arose　into　a　sparkling　milk…white　foam。

The　king　looked　curiously　at　him　at　first；　and　then　turned　to　his　ambassador。　〃What　does　this　mean？〃　he　asked　in　German；　probably　because　he　did　not　wish　to　be　understood　by　the　interpreter。

〃Sire；　〃said　Rexin；　smiling；　〃that　means　that　the　noble　Mustapha　Aga　wishes　to　show　you　the　greatest　honor　in　his　power；　he　wishes　to　shave　you。〃

〃To　shave　me！〃　exclaimed　the　king。　〃Who　and　what　is　the　noble　Mustapha　Aga？〃

〃Sire；　he　is　one　of　the　greatest　dignitaries　of　Tartary；　he　is　the　barber　of　the　Khan！〃

The　king　could　scarcely　restrain　a　smile　at　this　explanation。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　not　a　bad　idea　to　make　a　diplomat　and　ambassador　of　a　barber。　The　gentlemen　of　the　diplomatic　corps　are　given　to　shaving　in　politics　and　frequently　put　soap　in　the　eyes　of　the　world。〃

Mustapha　Aga　now　approached　the　king　with　solemn　steps；　and　bending　forward；　he　thrust　his　forefinger　into　the　foam　in　the　golden　cup　and　passed　it　lightly　across　the　king's　chin。　He　then　drew　forth　the　golden　razor　from　his　belt。　But　before　opening　it；　he　raised　his　eyes　prayerfully　to　heaven；　and　spoke　a　few　solemn　words。　〃Allah　is　the　light　of　heaven　and　earth！　May　He　illuminate　me　in　my　great　work！〃　said　the　interpreter；　translating　Mustapha's　words。

Then　the　ambassador　began　his　dignified　work；　drawing　the　blade　of　his　knife　across　the　chin　of　the　king　with　a　rapid　movement。

The　king　and　his　generals　and　attendants；　were　scarcely　able　to　retain　their　composure　during　this　performance。

When　Mustapha　had　finished；　he　signed　to　one　of　the　interpreters　to　approach；　and　as　he　kneeled　before　him　he　wiped　the　foam　from　his　razor　on　the　back　of　his　uplifted　hand。　Then　thrusting　it　in　his　belt；　he　bowed　deeply　and　solemnly　to　the　king。

〃May　Allah　keep　the　heart　of　this　king　as　pure　as　his　chin　now　is！〃　he　said。　〃May　the　knife　which　Allah　employs　to　prune　away　the　faults　of　this　king；　pass　over　him　as　gently　and　painlessly　as　the　knife　of　your　unworthy　servant　has　done！　Mighty　king　and　lord；　the　all…　powerful　Khan　Krimgirai；　the　lion　of　the　desert；　the　dread　of　his　enemies；　sends　me　to　you　and　offers　you　his　aid　and　friendship。　The　renown　of　your　deeds　has　reached　his　ears；　and　he　is　lost　in　astonishment　that　a　prince；　of　whose　kingdom　and　existence　he　was　in　ignorance；　should　so　long　successfully　resist　the　great　German　sultan；　whose　power　we　know；　without　fearing。　The　eagle　eye　of　my　master　now　sees　clearly　that　he　who　was　so　insignificant　is　now　great　enough　to　overshadow　the　land　of　the　powerful　German　sultan；　and　to　make　the　proud　and　unbending　czarina　of　the　north　tremble。　He　sends　me　to　report　to　you　his　profound　admiration；　but　first；　will　you　allow　me；　O　eagle　king　of　the　north！　to　present　the　gifts　which　he　offers　you？〃

〃I　shall　be　delighted　to　receive　these　gifts；〃　said　the　king；　smiling；　〃as　they　are　a　proof　of　the　friendship　of　the　great　Khan。〃

Mustapha　Aga　made　a　signal　in　the　direction　of　the　door；　and　spoke　a　few　words　aloud。　Immediately　there　appeared　the　two　men　who　were　so　richly　dressed　in　Turkish　costumes；　and　had　been　at　the　head　of　the　cavalcade。　They　stationed　themselves　on　either　side　of　the　entrance；　and　were　followed　by　the　lower　officers　and　servants　attached　to　the　embassy；　who　entered；　bearing　baskets　delicately　woven　and　lined　with　rich　stuffs。

Mustapha　signed　to　the　first　two　to　approach　him；　and　then；　before　opening　the　basket；　he　turned　once　more　to　the　king。

〃Sire；〃　said　he；　〃before　a　Tartar　gives　a　promise　of　love　and　friendship　to　any　one；　he　invites　him　to　his　house；　and　begs　him　to　eat　of　his　bread　and　drink　of　his　wine。　Sire；　my　great　and　respected　master　makes　use　of　his　unworthy　servant　to　entreat　your　majesty　to　descend　from　your　throne　and　to　enter　his　house；　where　he　is　present　in　spirit；　and　bids　the　eagle　king　of　the　north　welcome。〃

〃I　should　be　delighted　to　grant　this　request；〃　returned　the　king；　smiling；　〃were　the　distance　not　so　great　between　my　house　and　that　of　the　Khan。〃

〃Sire；　the　house　of　my　great　master　is　before　your　door；〃　said　Mustapha　Aga；　bowing　deeply。　〃On　the　day　of　our　departure；　the　Khan　walked　through　it　and　kissed　its　walls；　and　exclaimed：　'Be　greeted；　my　great　and　royal　brother；　you　eagle　of　the　north！　Be　welcome；　you　hero…king；　the　hated　enemy　of　the　czarina；　Krimgirai　offers　you　his　heart；　and　would　be　your　friend　for　all　time。'　Sire；　thus　spoke　my　lord　the　Khan；　the　air　in　his　house　is　still　vibrating　with　the　words　he　uttered。　Will　your　majesty　condescend　to　leave　your　throne　and　visit　my　great　master；　the　Khan　Krimgirai？〃

The　king　arose　instantly　and　said；　〃I　am　well　pleased　to　do　so。　Lead　me　to　the　palace　of　your　Khan。〃

Mustapha　Aga　signed　to　the　basket…carriers　and　to　the　other　attendants　to　leave　the　room；　and　then　spoke　a　few　rapid　and　emphatic　words　to　the　interpreters；　who　followed　them。　Then　bowing　to　the　ground　before　the　king；　he　turned　and　passed　out　of　the　house。

Before　the　door　a　wonderful　spectacle　presented　itself　to　the　astonished　view　of　the　king。　Immediately　opposite　the　house；　on　the　open　square；　a　high　tent；　of　considerable　size；　appeared；　around　which　was　a　wall　of　fur；　well　calculated　to　protect　it　from　the　cold　air　and　rough　winds。　A　carpet　covered　the　way　from　the　door　of　the　tent　to　the　king's　house；　and　from　within　the　tent　could　be　heard　the　gentle　notes　of　a　peculiar　music。

〃Really；〃　said　the　king　to　his　ambassador；　Von　Rexin；　〃I　seem　to　be　living　in　the　'Arabian　Nights。'　There　is　nothing　wanting　but　the　beautiful　Scheherezade。〃

〃Sire；　perhaps　she　also　is　here；〃　said　Von　Rexin；　〃we　were　accomp