HAROUN ALRASCHID.
built up, and preserved that marvellous organisation of China, which still to a third of the human race seems unimprovably perfect, they know absolutely nothing,—not their names, not their distinctions, not their feats. They know that one of them built the mightiest wall in the world, a wall which is a wonder of engineering and of durability, and that is all they (definitely recollect, Of the group of dynasties which sprang from the loins of .lenghiz Khan—a man as original as Alexander, with Napoleon's capacity for organisation—they never heard a name, sinless it be that of Timour, and are as little aware that his descendants ruled Russia for 2-10 years, as well as China and all the countries between them, as that the standard of the Mutiny of 1857 was the name of the heir of one of the branches of his stock, The Great Mogul was but one of Jenghiz'e throned, descendants. Of the founders or legislators of great creeds, Confucius, Gautama, Munoo, Mahommed, the last only is more than a shadow to them; and of the successors of the latter, the long line of Caliphs who conquered the Roman world and broke up its civilisation, and so nearly re- duced Europe to hopeless slavery, they have retained but a single name,—that of the fifth of the Abbasides, Haroun Alraschid of Baghdad. Many of them were men of the first intellectual rank, almost men of genius, great captains, great rulers, great conquerors, but only this one's name—for Saladhs was not a Caliph—has struck root in Western memory. In a more shadowy, but equally magnificent way, he is as well known. as Solomon. There was, however, neither in his history or his character enough of separateness to account for the distinction. Haroun had no relation to Europe beyond a ceremonial correspondence which he kept up with Charlemagne. Ho never alarmed, or benefited, or inter, ested. the West. He was a vigorous ruler, but his victories over the slowly-dying Greek Empire wore no greater than the victories of many a predecessor and successor; and his triumphs in Africa, which were really important to Mahommedanism, and rivotted its chain on Egypt and the southern shore of the Medi- terranean, were probably scarcely known, except perhaps to Charlemagne's advisers. He made of Baghdad. a magnificent capital, the centre of Western Asia ; but Europeans scarcely went there, and of his buildings and his splendour only a vague tradition remains. The Mahommedan world. recalls him as a second Solomon, the most magnificent and wise of mankind; but except that he had a keen eye for ability, and, like all great Mahommedan sovereigns, sought it among the lowest, ho was very like many another Caliph,—a brave and audacious ruler, who did justice when it could be done dramatically and suddenly, but who was governed first of all by his own caprices, and became at last, like the early Ciesars and later Moguls, half mad with drink, voluptuousness, and the intoxication of his own power. He pardoned for the sake of a jest, and. executed to avenge a sarcasm, He was not exceptionally cruet enough to create a tradition, such as lingers even outside Russia round the name of Ivan the Terrible, for his one exceptional act, the slaughter of the Barmecide family, who bad done so much for him, though it horrified. his Court, has not dimmed. his name in Asiatic eyes, and was not an act of unusual atrocity. Professor Palmer, we see, in the admirable sketch he has just published. of the Caliph,* adheres to the idea that Haroun had received some indignity from his Vizier, Giaffar—we keep the popular spelling—and acted from wounded pride of family ; but he himself gives illustrations of the Barmecides' demeanour which no absolute sovereign in Asia would tolerate, more especially one who may have known that his great servant was in secret not only an" Infidel " as regards Mohammedanism, but a determined idolater, adhering always to the faith of the Fire-worshippers. That suspicion has always attached traditionally to the Barmecides, and would account for Haroun's otherwise unintelligible caprice in ordering that though Gioltar might he wedded to the Caliph's sister, the marriage must never be consummated. No sincere Mussulman —and Haman was that—can ever be quite so mad with family pride as Haroun is represented to have been, though he would. feel a deep, superstitious horror lest there should be one of his race with Infidel blood in his veins. The whole story of Giaffar's fate, admirably related by the Professor, shows a man moved by jealousy, indeed, of his subject's power and riches —as Henry VIII. was moved by Wolsey's—but struggling throughout, even while giving the orders for a series of murders, • Thu NOW Plata-Mt Serio—Haroun Alraechid. By Brofosgor E. H, Palmer. London ; Marcus Ward and Co, HBO.
with a deep affection and respect, overmastered by sonic secret of the " Arabian Nights " to have ordered the execution of impulse of greater force than jealousy. Indeed, while openly Giaffar, the Vizier, thus :-
expressing his vexation at the Barmecides' pomp and riches, "It was on a Thursday morning, and Hamm at there bolding his Haroun admitted afterwards that his motive was a secret to Council. Now, Thursday was Jaafor's cavalcade day. Presently he all but himself, and must remain one,—a remark which the said, ' Mesrnr, do not go far away from mo. Then the people came in and saluted him, and sat in their respective places, and Jaafor secret infidelity of the House of Barmek, a House of hereditary came too, and Haroun received him with the greatest cordiality, and guardians of the Sacred Fire, would exactly explain. Haroun welcomed him, and smiled upon him, and laughed and joked with dared not acknowledge to the Mahommeclan world that he had him, and he sat next the Caliph. Jaafer then brought out the letters so trusted and honoured Infidels. he had received from various quarters, and the Caliph listened to It is neither through his splendour, nor his originality of contained. Then Jaafer asked to be allowed to leave for Khorasan character, nor his capricious cruelty, that Haroun Alra.sehid that day, and the Caliph called for the astrologer, who was sitting has become immortal in Western Europe, nor even through his near, and asked him what o'clock it was. ' Half-past nine position as the original hero of the only Oriental legends o'clock,' answered the astrologer, and took the altitude of the sun for bim ; and Alraechid reckoned it up himself, and looked in his with which the European mind is • familiar. Without ' Nautical Almanack,' and said, ' To-day, my brother, is an unlucky the " Arabian Nights," ho would, of course, have remained one for you, and this is an unlucky hour, and I fancy something unknown ; but there are other heroes in those stories nearly as serious is going to happen in it. However, stay over the Friday prominent, who, nevertheless, are comparatively unregarded. prayers!, and go when the stars are more propitious ; then pass the night in Nahrawan, start early the next morning, and get on the It is because Haroun, as represented in those legends, realises road during the day—that is better than going now.' Jaafer would not more completely than any other human being the European agree to what the Caliph said, until ho had taken the astrolabe in his conception of what an Asiatic ruler must be and should be, own hands from the astrologer, and had taken the altitude and that he has obtained so personal a hold upon men's minds. reckoned it up for himself. Then he said, ' By Allah, you speak the truth, 0 Prince of the Faithful ! I never saw a star burning more fiercely, There is such a conception, little as Europe knows of the East, or a narrower course in the zodiac than to-day.' Then he went home, a conception so profound that it daily affects all French People of all ranks making much of him as ho wont. At last ho reached
him palace, surrounded by troops, transacted his business, end sent schemes for the government of Algeria, and English schemes
the crowds away. But ho had hardly retired to his apartments when for the government of India—where, to this hour, half the Alrasebid sent Mosritr, saying, ' Go to him at once and bring him officials clamour for the ruler who " sits in the gate," and hero, and say to him, "A letter has just come from Khorassan." remedies wrongs by pure volition, unshackled by any law— When he comes through the first door, post the soldiers there ; at and it is this which Haroun fulfils. He, with his vast wealth, the second, post the slaves. lie not let any of his people come in with him, but bring him in alone, and turn him aside to the Turkish and endless profusion, and innumerable slaves, and absolute tent I bade you sot up yesterday ; and when he is inside, behead him, power, and caprice so permanent that caprice seems in him and bring his head to me, and do not acquaint any one of God's ores- natural, and the rules of right and wrong inapplicable to him,— tures with what I have ordered, and do not trouble me again about Haroun, with the skilful Vizier, Giaffar, and the black execu- it.' But when Jaafer got through the first gate and saw the soldiers, and then through the second and saw the slaves, and then tioner, Mesrour, always by his side, and invested with the invisible through the third, he turned, and finding none of his own attendants, but resistless authority'before which, when he reveals himself, the and seeing that ho was alone in the court, lie blamed himself for greatest and the humblest alike tremble, is the ideal Caliph, and coming out as he did, but it was too late to retrace his steps. Then the Caliph is the ideal monarch of the East. His pomp and his Mesriir led him to the tent, and made him go inside and sit down as usual ; but seeing no one there, be perceived that some mischief was secret wanderings, his wild fits of cruelty and. wilder fits of mercy brewing, and said, ' ,]learnt, my brother, what is the matter ?" I am and justice ; his generosity, unburdened by considerations of your brother,' answered Mesrnr, ' and in your house, and you ask me policy ; his licence, which knows of no restraint, yet seems half- what's the matter. You know well onoughte--your time has come. innocent, from the total absence of possible law or limit,—are all The Prince of the Faithful has ordered me to out off your head, and. take it to him at once.' Jeerer wept a little, and then began to kiss in exact accord and harmony with a pre-existing conception, Mesr(ir's hands and feet, and say, ' Oh, my brother ! oh, lefesehr I' which his example has strengthened, but did not solely create, you know how good I have been to you more than to any of the, and are therefore all welcomed with such pleasure, that English- pages or members of the household, and that I always did:what yew asked me, day and night. You know what position I hold, and what. Men feel nothing absurd in the hero of the "Arabian Nights "—at influence I have with the Prince of the Faithful, and how he entrusts best, a half-mad despot, with some impulse, when not thwarted, me with all his secrets. Perhaps some one may have traduced me towards benevolence—being hymned by Tennyson, and repeat to him. I have here two hundred thousand dinars (about ;C100,000). to themselves the refrain," For it was in the golden prime of good I will produce them for you immediately, if you will only let me Haroun Alraschid," with an enjoyment not wholly due to melody. get away from here." I cnot do it,' said MesrAr
with kind words and soothing smiles, to the place of arrest. secret of his undying charm for the Western as well as the Oriental world, a.clirm which will have no limit in time, and
which is so strong that it is a positive pleasure to find a CORRESPONDENCE.
solemn Cambridge Professor of Arabic who tells us all lie . –`-
knows of the real, as well as .the legendary, Haroun—and he SWISS YEOMAN FARMER&
which, if he bad
tells us much of both—confirming the old ideal, Enos. A OORELSPONDENtr a
thorn, and decided upon all the petitions and claims, &c., which they
And he kept un weeping and ail g him, and clinging so to They are conscious of a liking for this magnificent and bizarre life, that Mesrfir said, ' Well, it may be managed.' Se he took off figure, this Henri Quatro of Asia released from European the sword and sword-bolt, and set forty black slaves to guardHie
tent, and wont to the Caliph. The latter was sitting down, perspir- limitations, which is not wholly due, as Tennyson half suggests,
ing with rage, holding a cane in his hand, and digging it into the to the excited fancy of infancy, but in part, at least, arises from ground. When he saw Mesrdr, he said, ' May thy mother be a subtler source. The European has rooted the Asiatic strain bereaved of thee ! What hest then done in the matter of Jaafer ?' nearly out of his thought, but not out of his imagination, and ' I have done what you ordared.'—' Where is his head ?'—' in the Haroun of Baghdad occupies a grand place in the life he tent.'—' Fetch it me at once.' So Mearitr went back, and found Jaafer on his knees praying. He did net give him time to finish his loads in day-dreams. Who, good or bad, would not be prayer, but drew his sword and cut off his head, and took it by the Haman for a few days, and give for a few hours full beard and throw it before the Prince of the Faithful, all dripping as range to caprice, though the caprice were to wander, it was with blood. The Caliph heaved, a deep sigh, and wept tern. undetected but all-powerful, redressing all wrongs without bly, and dog his stick in the earth after each word that he spoke, and tedious discussion, or slow toil, or exhausting effort, testing gnashed his teeth on the walking-stick, and addressed the head, say. ing, ' Oh Jaafer, did I not put you on an equality with myself rOh, all' characters with sudden wealth or momentary misfortune, larder, how have you requited me ? You have neither observed my realising, every wish, be it for good or evil, by a whisper to rights nor kept' your pact with me. You have forgotten my bounty ; Giaffar or Mesrour P Let the friend be exalted and the enemy you have not looked to the results of actions. You have not refloated pass from earth, as we stroll through the moonlight, conscious on the vicissitudes of fortune. You have not counted on the revalue of a power at once irresistible and righteous; a power that thous of time and the changes of human circumstances. Oh, Jester, you have deceived me in my family ; disgraced me before.all wen. makes us drunk like wine with its more possession. Haroun Oh, Jaafer; you have done evil to me and to yourself.'" Alrasclud is to the day-dreams of men with imaginations, when It is all so true, and all occurred only three years ago, when the they give themselves the rein, what other--let us hope worthier Khedive ordered his Chancellor of the Exchequer,, his own —heroes are to their sober thoughts. It is Aladdin who foster-brother, to be slain, and drove him in his own.oarninge, attracts, and the great Caliph is Aladdin crowned. That is the
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