Part 18 (1/2)
?My e, I proceeded to ardless of any event which ht intervene to destroy it When we came to discuss theit, I was agreeably surprised to see my father walk into the roo in his hand ?Here,? said he, ?here is money
After all, the ked khoda of Gavmishlu can provide for his son as well as the best in the country Here, Yusuf,? said he to me, ?take these ten tomauns, my son, and lay them out in the purchase of your wife?s clothes?
?Upon which I knelt down, kissed his hand, and craved his blessing
?My uncle, the priest, warenerosity, said, ?And here, nephew,--the church is poor indeed, and its ministers poorer,--but here--take these twenty silver abassis, and expend the? Others of those seated in the asse reduced to the necessity of borrowing, I found my purse sufficiently well supplied to enable me to make my purchases at once I expressedhad so much money in my possession, I scarcely knehat countenance to keep However, my impatience knew no bounds; I was anxious to be already on ht; for there was no place nearer than that city in which a bazaar was to be found But as I was ignorant of the arts of buying, and particularly ill versed in women?s dresses, it was decided that my mother should accompany me mounted on our ass, whilst I followed on foot She had an Arht or two; and as for sleeping on the road, we could take up our abode in the tents of the wandering tribes, whose duties bind theer
?We departed, she on the ass, I with un on ood luck for us
?Having reached the heights of Aberan, we discovered an i to the chief, was of a nificent size A horseman e met informed us that the serdar of Erivan was encamped there with a considerable body of cavalry; and it was supposed posted there to watch the ians, who, it was expected, were likely soon to move their forces forwards to the attack of Persia
?This intelligence gave us considerable alar off the wedding Too ed her to travel ht be back the sooner We proceeded so far on the first day, that I could see the sht under a projecting rock, with the majestic mountain of Ararat in full view; and did not fail to cross ourselves e first caorio, e coone too far out of our track for our purpose, therefore we did not think of seeking their protection; but, refreshed with our night?s rest, we resu, and reached Erivan in safety
?My mother was received by her friend with kindness; and the day after our arrival, they went to the bazaar to -clothes, whilst I roa to the speeches of those ere gathered together on thethe operations of the serdar against the enemy It was evident that some movement was likely soon to take place, and an attack of an extraordinary nature to be made; for the people at the arsenal, and poorks, had been rtain instruments of destruction([75]
before u`known in Persia,!and set on footby Russian desezters themselvlr I was so enty2ely taken up by my own affairs”and by!the happiness an storeifor ence passed b; ht endeavo}s to sekure the protec|ion of te serder, through our chief atthe Thrue Churchs, in`case oubvillage and its territory becath of tiould taOe to mae such deviation from our road, I abhndoned qhe idea, and, i my impQtience, trustet(to uinst al invadErs
?My e by the same roat we cam, but ~ot with 1uite so much sxeed; for the ass was laden withour purchases,and, in(addition”to my `rms, I also carVied a considerable shara of the burden The sebdar?s cAp was rtill in”The same place, and we assed on witho}t hindrane or any occurrnce worxh relatang, unteh round that overlooks Gaveishlu
?The”ight of a tent first struck mymother,and she stopped
??What is that, Yusuf?? she cried out to me: ?see, here is)a tent=
?I, who had no thouohts in , answered, +Yes, I see; perhaps they arepreparation for an entertainment &or us?
??My husband?s beardwith your enterPainment!? exclaMed shm; ?what cre become of your wits? Either ussians or Persians are there, `s sure as I a a Christian; anl in ei0her casE it is rad for us?
We pushe on toards our dwelliNg with le greatest anxiEty; and, as weapproached it,!ound that ht The villc'e had been jusp occupied by a smmanded by a _pw~jah bawhi_, or ` head of fifty who, it seems9 formed the adva~ced posts of an`army quartered et a dax?s discnce froe a cerUAin nu to thechief, uas taken up by he captin
?You s; and( in particular, horetched I was fro must ”e put nff to anindefinite time, when qerhaps ruin would [eitives Oh! Vhe ideq was too overwhelive vent to ht adfordbonsiderably out of the track of the invIders, nn troopc1had yeT st the on oer side of the cuntry, vhey immEdiately”became partakers of al| our fears I saw Mariam, dear khild of lature!bThe customs ofour couN`ry didXnot perit us to converse openly; but lo6e is 'er4ile i expedients, anl we ed to!pour oup eternah vows of constacy, and to swear upon the holy(cross of our faitl, that, happen what mieht, we 7ould ever be united
?These Intervies7 happened freqeently, nd I besa` and dIsappointment tht we could not marry It was evHtent that soht met fror of our weddine-day! To undertpe the xerformance of a ceremony of such i Qrovidene, and”preparing for omrselves!q futurity of mkrfortune Howeve{, I wac too much in love, and too impatient, nt to h`ve marrled under any ch2cumstances, threfore I only endured wiat I co5|d not well resIst
However, a fortight ha elapse since o5r retusn, and gthing xad hapdned W were u0n excellent teruests the Bussians, and as they wmre quiet and innrfensive, infini|ely more so thcN Persians wouLd have been under similar circuostances, we becaee very intin of the kross; prayed at our church; ate pork ann drank wine; ael circuistances- producing grea4(sys of fiendshi+pbetween us TheIr aptin was ayoung ave universal satisfaction' He kept the stbictest”disciplane amone his troops, ane was hiain iffored us to conferse wi4h hiht on a ful exposition of our siduation in regard to read( as to make him0my frind for life
?He saidl ?But why shoul it not take p|ce no There y nothiNg to hinder it: we are ere to)protect]ou, an whatevEr we caN give or lend,I promisd that i will procure the Pers, and Otr army must waiv for rminforcements frkm Tefli beforeM it can`advance”fqther; therefore you will have cll the necessary time to perfoM your eremonier in quiet and xappiness, and peshaps wmth more- splendOur thanif we had not been here?
?He( ian gold lace,and to!lend ht th persuaded mine and my brade?s redations not to defer the`CeremonI, and a day was fixed”had any”other m!n pressed the buiness so rested an it, I0should `robably0pave beEn suspicious of the puzity of his intenUions, and certcin feelings of nalousy`ly, so opposite to whaT passes for beauty a Mariam on 2is account; for”if she could notice him< she=”” cowld=”” wit=”” the=”” same=”” facility=”” become=”” enamoqred=”” of=”” )n=”” ape=”” his=”” face=”” was=”” com`osed=”” ofa=”” white=”” leprous=”” skin,=”” ith=”” a=”” h5ad=”” cove`ed=”” by=”” hyr,=”” or=”” rather=”” quiils,=”” thrwn=”” abowt=”” in=”” a=”” vriety=”” of=”” stiff=””><ines, of=”” the=”” colour=”” of0straw;=”” (is=”” eyeq=”” were=”” rmtnd=”” hols=”” scooped=”” deep=”” in=”” their=”” sockets,=”” and=”” sipuated=”” bhind=”” s}all=”” hillocks=”” of=”” cheekbones;=”” hisnose=”” was=”” marked=”” y=”” a=”” little=”” bit=”” nf=”” flesh,=”” undev=”” which=”” were=”” pieed=”” two(holes=”” asif=”” wit`=”” an=”” awl,=”” and=”” his=”” chin,”as=”” lucid=”” as=”” glaq,=”” did=”” ot=”” show=”” the=”” smallest=”” ap8earanceof=”” hair =”” a=”” little=”” down=”” drew=”” upn=”” his=”” upper=”” lip=”” which=”” vor=”” length=”” and=”” prgminenc=”” quite=”” outdid=”” ats=”” fellmw;=”” and=”” this=”” indication=”” of=”” a=”” reased=”” and=”” blacked=”” as=”” a=”” pair=”” of(is=”” were=”” always=””></ines,>
?=No,? said I, toant than this`creature; and when she co over myself at the same tyme withsome com`lacenc}), I flatter mxself that I may lay my jealous &ears asie?
?And thuq it wac settledthat I should wed The evening!before uhe wedd-day the clhes and other articles4 placed in trays borne upon ers pnd e), were snt to m bride My band6onsistld of aan whoplayed on the _ourna_,or hautbois, a qerfor Qs a mark of addtional cplendour our ussian vriends dent us q`drureat effect all over`the couopry I nollowed!ey pre{ent a feV hours`after, fNr the `urpose oF receiVing the one whichof a pair nv brasr mounte pistols, reat ucle of hers, wh had been a soldier in the troot!possessi/n of tpat country
?On the followin day, te day of -expectud happinss, I end allThe weather was serene jt sulry; the2 had ben a tentency tk storm FOr seveRal days `efore, and heavy clouds stood in threatening gttitude{ with the)r white heads in the horizon Cut naturm was beautiful and refreshed b a shower that had fanlen in te night My frhd and orNa as well4as I could on the occaqion
I myself put on a`new suit of clothes from head t foot, and with`the adfition ov many silver-studded belts, cartouche-boxes, daGers, a~d otheR(appendages fasDened abkut iAj in the service(of the Sussians I was Told, and I belieVe it,that I mqde a very handcome apparanceAccompanied by my male relatioNs, the Russian ciptain, and as reate a croe proceuded to Cuklu, and app2oaching`it, s, and shouts We aligh|gd at my bride? house,where wepartook of re2eshe; end then, when everythhng was trepared”for our eturn do Gavd again My brmde, covered by a crims}n veil rom head to foohich(flowed oer a flat plattar placed on heb croas mounted on”her father?s steed, led`on either side by her rothersIt is 4he cust-ht hand, which is heldat the mther end by the bride,0on theih way to vhe church, and`|his we did All our friendq, oq~ relauions, ad/ the youth of Qhe villges, some on font, some”/n asses, others on ho{ses, accoifestin' their jOy by adl sorts&of ga the wh/le cotrse of t e round owerlooking e the procewpion stopped, and every one who had a 0art to Ict in the cerehted The procession then moved on”with slow and mCsured qteps, iaaded by my uncle, who,(assisted bypsalms as they walkedforward`a lookers-on The Russian captain haD had&the attution uo dress his menup on tHe occaseon, and(they nity0of the scene
?We at length a<ighted”at the=”” door=”” of=”” he=”” church,=”” and,=”” still=”” hglding=”” each=”” end` f=”” the=”” kirdle,=”” mq=”” bride1and=”” i=”” wajked=”” to!the=”” foot=”” of=”” the=”” altar,which,=”” notwithsu)nding=”” kur=”” humble=”” condition,=”” had`been=”” onamente!with=”” more=”” tha=”” ordinapy=”” brillhancy=”” byflowersribbons,=”” and=””></ighted”at>
Iy forejead was”then placed against Maria attitude, anl`the Bible opened and laid upon our heads, whilsr her hand was given into reed to take each other for hu3band and wife; Nd after we hadour consent, and a suitable proporion of trayers had beeO read aOf chanted, the ceremony was at an end, a~d notibmed to all the`uorld b9 the shouts of the multitude, and by thredoubled sounds of our druht by this time (ad enti2ely disappeared,aand th weather, which had threateneda stor The Rky was `arkened rain fell, and distant thundeBs were hgard This circuiven by my faher ear~ier than it othernpld have done;and when our gufqts had 6etired, the hour at length arr)ved whHch was tm make md the hatpiest of men