n
their misery, plunged into a drunkenness which simulated pleasure.
Disorderly bands of mountebanks from the depths of Roumelia traversed the
streets, the bazaars and public places; flocks and herds, with fleeces
dyed scarlet, and gilded horns, were seen on all the roads driven to the
court by peasants under the guidance of their priests. Bishops, abbots,
ecclesiastics generally, were compelled to drink, and to take part in
ridiculous and indecent dances, Ali apparently thinking to raise himself
by degrading his more respectable subjects. Day and night these
spectacles succeeded each other with increasing rapidity, the air
resounded with firing, songs, cries, music, and the roaring of wild
beasts in shows. Enormous spits, loaded with meat, smoked before huge
braziers, and wine ran in floods at tables prepared in the palace courts.
Troops of brutal soldiers drove workmen from their labour with whips, and
compelled them to join in the entertainments; dirty and impudent jugglers
invaded private houses, and pretending that they had orders from the
pacha to display their skill, carried boldly off whatever they could lay
their hands upon. Ali saw the general demoralization with pleasure,
especially as it tended to the gratification of his avarice, Every guest
was expected to bring to the palace gate a gift in proportion to his
means, and foot officers watched to see that no one forgot this
obligation. At length, on the nineteenth day, Ali resolved to crown the
feast by an orgy worthy of himself. He caused the galleries and halls of
his castle by the lake to be decorated with unheard-of splendour, and
fifteen hundred guests assembled for a solemn banquet. The pacha appeared
in all his glory, surrounded by his noble attendants and courtiers, and
seating himself on a dais raised above this base crowd which trembled at
his glance, gave the signal to begin. At his voice, vice plunged into
its most shameless diversions, and the wine-steeped wings of debauchery
outspread themselves over the feast. All tongues were at their freest,
all imaginations ran wild, all evil passions were at their height, when
suddenly the noise ceased, and the guests clung together in terror. A man
stood at the entrance of the hall, pale, disordered, and wild-eyed,
clothed in torn and blood-stained garments. As everyone made way at his
approach, he easily reached the pacha, and prostrating himself at his
feet, presented a letter. Ali opened and rapid