classic mystery and detective stories-第39章
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my wealth for a simple permission to quit this infernal city with
my poor female relations safe and undishonored。 But far other were
the intentions of that incensed magistracy。 My mother was
arrested； charged with some offense equal to petty treason； or
scandalum magnatum； or the sowing of sedition； and； though what she
said was true； where； alas！ was she to look for evidence？ Here was
seen the want of gentlemen。 Gentlemen； had they been even equally
tyrannical； would have recoiled with shame from taking vengeance on
a woman。 And what a vengeance！ O heavenly powers！ that I should
live to mention such a thing！ Man that is born of woman； to
inflict upon woman personal scourging on the bare back； and through
the streets at noonday！ Even for Christian women the punishment
was severe which the laws assigned to the offense in question。 But
for Jewesses； by one of the ancient laws against that persecuted
people； far heavier and more degrading punishments were annexed to
almost every offense。 What else could be looked for in a city
which welcomed its Jewish guests by valuing them at its gates as
brute beasts？ Sentence was passed； and the punishment was to be
inflicted on two separate days； with an interval between each
doubtless to prolong the tortures of mind； but under a vile
pretense of alleviating the physical torture。 Three days after
would come the first day of punishment。 My mother spent the time
in reading her native Scriptures； she spent it in prayer and in
musing； while her daughters clung and wept around her day and
nightgroveling on the ground at the feet of any people in
authority that entered their mother's cell。 That same interval
how was it passed by me？ Now mark； my friend。 Every man in
office； or that could be presumed to bear the slightest influence；
every wife； mother； sister； daughter of such men； I besieged
morning； noon； and night。 I wearied them with my supplications。 I
humbled myself to the dust； I； the haughtiest of God's creatures；
knelt and prayed to them for the sake of my mother。 I besought
them that I might undergo the punishment ten times over in her
stead。 And once or twice I DID obtain the encouragement of a few
natural tearsgiven more； however； as I was told； to my piety than
to my mother's deserts。 But rarely was I heard out with patience；
and from some houses repelled with personal indignities。 The day
came： I saw my mother half undressed by the base officials； I heard
the prison gates expand； I heard the trumpets of the magistracy
sound。 She had warned me what to do； I had warned myself。 Would I
sacrifice a retribution sacred and comprehensive； for the momentary
triumph over an individual？ If not； let me forbear to look out of
doors； for I felt that in the selfsame moment in which I saw the
dog of an executioner raise his accursed hand against my mother；
swifter than the lightning would my dagger search his heart。 When
I heard the roar of the cruel mob； I pausedenduredforbore。 I
stole out by by…lanes of the city from my poor exhausted sisters；
whom I left sleeping in each other's innocent arms； into the
forest。 There I listened to the shouting populace； there even I
fancied that I could trace my poor mother's route by the course of
the triumphant cries。 There； even then； even then； I madeO
silent forest！ thou heardst me when I madea vow that I have kept
too faithfully。 Mother； thou art avenged： sleep； daughter of
Jerusalem！ for at length the oppressor sleeps with thee。 And thy
poor son has paid； in discharge of his vow； the forfeit of his own
happiness； of a paradise opening upon earth； of a heart as innocent
as thine； and a face as fair。
〃I returned； and found my mother returned。 She slept by starts；
but she was feverish and agitated； and when she awoke and first saw
me； she blushed； as if I could think that real degradation had
settled upon her。 Then it was that I told her of my vow。 Her eyes
were lambent with fierce light for a moment； but； when I went on
more eagerly to speak of my hopes and projects； she called me to
herkissed me； and whispered： 'Oh； not so； my son！ think not of
methink not of vengeancethink only of poor Berenice and
Mariamne。' Aye； that thought WAS startling。 Yet this magnanimous
and forbearing mother； as I knew by the report of our one faithful
female servant； had； in the morning； during her bitter trial；
behaved as might have become a daughter of Judas Maccabaeus： she
had looked serenely upon the vile mob； and awed even them by her
serenity； she had disdained to utter a shriek when the cruel lash
fell upon her fair skin。 There is a point that makes the triumph
over natural feelings of pain easy or not easythe degree in which
we count upon the sympathy of the bystanders。 My mother had it not
in the beginning； but； long before the end； her celestial beauty；
the divinity of injured innocence； the pleading of common womanhood
in the minds of the lowest class； and the reaction of manly feeling
in the men； had worked a great change in the mob。 Some began now
to threaten those who had been active in insulting her。 The
silence of awe and respect succeeded to noise and uproar； and
feelings which they scarcely understood； mastered the rude rabble
as they witnessed more and more the patient fortitude of the
sufferer。 Menaces began to rise toward the executioner。 Things
wore such an aspect that the magistrates put a sudden end to the
scene。
〃That day we received permission to go home to our poor house in
the Jewish quarter。 I know not whether you are learned enough in
Jewish usages to be aware that in every Jewish house； where old
traditions are kept up； there is one room consecrated to confusion；
a room always locked up and sequestered from vulgar use； except on
occasions of memorable affliction； where everything is purposely in
disorderbrokenshatteredmutilated： to typify； by symbols
appalling to the eye； that desolation which has so long trampled on
Jerusalem； and the ravages of the boar within the vineyards of
Judea。 My mother； as a Hebrew princess； maintained all traditional
customs。 Even in this wretched suburb she had her 'chamber of
desolation。' There it was that I and my sisters heard her last
words。 The rest of her sentence was to be carried into effect
within a week。 She； meantime； had disdained to utter any word of
fear； but that energy of self…control had made the suffering but
the more bitter。 Fever and dreadful agitation had succeeded。 Her
dreams showed sufficiently to us； who watched her couch； that
terror for the future mingled with the sense of degradation for the
past。 Nature asserted her rights。 But the more she shrank from
the suffering； the more did she proclaim how severe it had been；
and consequently how noble the self…conquest。 Yet； as her weakness
increased； so did her terror； until I besought her to take comfort；
assuring her that； in case any attempt should be made to force her
out again to public exposure； I would kill the man who came to
execute the orderthat we would all die togetherand there would
be a common end to her injuries and her fears。 She was reassured
by what I told her of my belief that no future attempt would be
made upon her。 She slept more tranquillybut her fever increased；
and slowly she slept away into the everlasting sleep which knows of
no to…morrow。
〃Here came a crisis in my fate。 Should I stay and attempt to
protect my sisters？ But； alas！ what power had I to do so among our
enemies？ Rachael and I consulted； and many a scheme we planned。
Even while we consulted； and the very night after my mother had
been committed to the Jewish burying ground； came an officer；
bearing an order for me to repair to Vienna。 Some officer in the
French army； having watched the transaction respecting my parents；
was filled with shame and grief。 He wrote a statement of the whole
to an Austrian officer of rank； my father's friend； w
