CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE LAST OF THE CALIPHS.
ASTONISHED as the Caliph Musteazem might be at the audacity whichprompted a Frankish king to send ambassadors to the heir of the prophet,he did not venture to decline receiving the message of a prince who sorecently had threatened the empire of Egypt with destruction, and mighthave the power of doing so again. Besides, Musteazem was not in the mostcelestial humour with the Mamelukes, who seemed inclined to defy his andevery other person's authority; and, on hearing that the result of allthe disorders and revolutions had been the elevation of Bibars Bendocdarto the throne of Saladin, he remarked, in homely oriental phrase, 'whenthe pot boils, the scum rises to the top.' Above all, Musteazem was amiser, and covetous to the last degree; and when it was explained to himby his grand vizier, whom the Templar had already bribed with a purse ofgold, that the King of France was liberal in money matters, and wasready to pay handsomely for the ransom of his captive countrymen, thecaliph's ruling passion prevailed--his avarice got the better of hisdignity; and, without farther words, he consented to grant an audienceto the Franks.
Meanwhile, the ambassadors and their attendants were admitted within thegates of the palace, and conducted into an immense garden, there to waittill suitable apartments were assigned them. And this garden made themstare with wonder; its regal magnificence was so surprising as to makethem start and stop simultaneously, and to make Bisset exclaim--
'Of a truth, the lines of this pope of the infidels have fallen inpleasant places. None of King Henry's palaces can boast of anything likethis. Surely it must be the terrestrial paradise.'
Now, this garden might well surprise the ambassadors. In the centre wasa kiosk of the richest architecture, constructed entirely of marble andalabaster, with an arcade composed of countless marble pillars. In thecourt was a marble reservoir, surrounded with marble balustrades, whichat each angle opened on a flight of stairs, guarded by lions andcrocodiles sculptured of white marble; and alabaster baths with taps ofgold. On one side of the garden was a large aviary; on the other a hugeelephant, chained to a tree. The walks were set in mosaic of colouredpebbles, in all kinds of fanciful patterns; and around were groves,bowers, arbours, and trellis-covered paths, with streams, fountains,hedges of box and myrtle, flowers, cypresses, odoriferous plants, andtrees groaning under the weight of lemons, oranges, citrons, and fruitin great variety. It was more like such a scene as magicians aresupposed to conjure up, than reality; and the Crusaders gazed for awhile with silent admiration.
'On my faith,' said Bisset, at length breaking the silence, 'this ismarvellous to behold; and yet, had I the ear of the pope of theinfidels, I should recommend an addition which would be to the purpose.I mean such a statue of the goddess Minerva as once stood in the greatsquare of Constantinople.'
'And wherefore?'
'Because Minerva is the goddess who presides over prudence and valour;and my eyes have deceived me if, in this city, there is not a lack ofboth. Marked you not, as we rode along, that the place is well nighwithout defences and fighting men; and think you that, with such spoilin prospect, the Mamelukes, not to mention the Moguls, would hesitateabout seizing it?'
'You err,' replied the Templar: 'the caliph, as you say, is the pope ofthe infidels, and the Mamelukes hold everything he possesses as sacred.'
'So did they last century,' remarked Bisset, elevating his shoulders;'and yet Saladin killed a caliph with his mace; and as for the Moguls,you know they are almost Christians, and Father Rubruquis is now inTartary, completing their conversion. Beshrew me, sir Templar, if I deemnot this caliph foolhardy to run the risk of being attacked, withoutfighting men to defend him.'
As the English knight spoke, an officer of the caliph appeared toconduct the ambassadors to their lodgings; and they, having refreshedthemselves with the bath, and with food, were invited by the grandvizier to repair to the presence of the caliph.
It was not, however, without much ceremony, and some mystery, that theTemplar and the English knight were admitted into the interior of apalace within whose precincts no Christian, save as a captive, had everbefore set foot. First, they were guided through dark passages, guardedby armed Ethiopians, and then into open courts so richly and beautifullyadorned, that they could not refrain from expressing their admiration.
'Certes,' exclaimed Bisset, halting, 'the caliph must, of all princes,be the richest; and I should not much marvel to hear that he haddiscovered the philosopher's stone, which turns everything into gold,and of which my countryman, Roger Bacon, is said to be in search.Nevertheless, he does not seem to have studied the Roman poet, who tellsus that treasure is hardly worth having, unless it is properly used.'
'In truth, sir knight,' said the Templar, 'the farther we go, thegreater is the splendour and state.'
At length the ambassadors reached a magnificent chamber, where thecaliph awaited them. At first, however, he was concealed from them by acurtain wrought with pearls. But the grand vizier thrice prostratedhimself to the ground; and, as he did so, the traverse was drawn aside,and the caliph appeared arrayed in gorgeous robes, seated on a throne ofgold, and surrounded by his eunuchs, who seemed both surprised andgrieved to see Christians in that place and presence.
And now the grand vizier kissed the caliph's hand, and, presenting theambassadors, explained their errand. A long conversation, which wascarried on chiefly by the Templar and the grand vizier, followed; andthe caliph having expressed his willingness to treat, the grand vizierdesired him, in token of his good faith, to give the ambassadors hishand. Musteazem, however, shook his head, to indicate that he was notprepared to derogate so far from his dignity. At length, after somepersuasion, he consented to give them his hand, gloved.
'That will do,' said the grand vizier.
'I fear not,' replied the Templar, hesitating.
'Sir,' said Bisset, addressing the caliph--for by this time the Englishknight had recovered all his reckless audacity, and felt quite as muchat home as if he had been in the palace of Westminster, and speaking tothe good King Henry--'truth makes no holes to hide herself in; andprinces, if they will covenant, must deal fairly and openly. Give us,therefore, your hand, if you mean to treat; we will make no bargainswith your glove.'
But the caliph, still unsatisfied, stood upon his dignity, and refusedto be persuaded. However, at the instance of the grand vizier, heconsented to consider the subject, and promise the ambassadors anotheraudience on the morrow. But who can tell what a day may bring forth? Erethe morrow, an event occurred which raised more important questions thanwhether he could, without degradation, give his ungloved hand to aTemplar and an English knight.
Boy Crusaders: A Story of the Days of Louis IX. Page 37