Читать книгу What 'Isa ibn Hisham Told Us - Muhammad al-Muwaylihi - Страница 20

Miṣbāḥ al-sharq 34, December 8, 1898

3.1

ʿĪsā ibn Hishām said: I left my companion in prison and went home. I lay awake all night, feeling restless and unable to sleep because I was so worried at the way fate had struck the Pāshā down with such a succession of blows. There he was, utterly baffled and bewildered, unaware that time had passed. He was completely unfamiliar with the present state of affairs, and had no idea that, with the passage of time since his own era and the decline of the dynasty of his time into the folds of decay, things had changed. I had intended to tell him about all this when I first met him by explaining the circumstances involved, but then fate had struck us a blow by landing us in the chain of events which had befallen us. Afterwards, I had thought for a while and decided that the best plan would be to let him remain ignorant about the way things were until his misfortunes were at an end. The fact that he had been unaware that conditions had changed would serve as a pretext in clearing him of the charge against him.

I decided not to leave his company until I had managed to show him the things he had not seen, tell him about the things he had not heard, and explain those aspects of modern history which he did not know or might find perplexing. In that way, I would discover what his opinion was of the present in comparison with the past, and learn which of the two was of greater worth and brought more benefits, and in what ways one was superior to the other.

Early the next day I went to the station, taking with me some suitable clothing for my companion to wear when he came out of prison. I found the policeman ready to take the Pāshā to the Register of Convictions in the Government Building. As soon as he spotted me, he started yelling at me:

3.2

PĀSHĀ What’s the meaning of all these misfortunes and calamities? I imagined that the sufferings I endured yesterday were the result of His Mighty Excellency’s anger at his obedient servant, that my enemies had managed to devise some kind of plot against me, or else that people who envy me had trumped up some false story. So I endured the things which necessity decreed I had to suffer and submitted myself to these indignities till such time as I would be able to present myself at the doorstep of the palace and appear before the master of all slaves. Then I would dispel all suspicions, banish any doubts, and show him that I was innocent of whatever charges slanderers and calumniators had trumped up against me. I would make clear to him how genuine was my devotion and loyalty to him. As a result he would be doubly pleased with me because of the dignified way in which I had submitted to this humiliation.

Long was my endurance.

I imagined I was grasping miseries hotter than coals.²⁶

Thereafter I would make it my business to inform everyone of the penalty of death and crucifixion that I proposed to wreak on those insolent wretches and ignorant scoundrels in recompense for the way they treated me and ignored my status in society. But I heard in prison—what a dreadful thing to hear!—that dynasties have succeeded one another, conditions have changed, and that you really are living in a different time from the days of old, and in a state of anarchy in which the Donkeyman’s assertion that both he and a Pāshā are of equal standing is true. This is something that:

Deafens the hearer, blinds the person who sees;

we ask deliverance from the like of it.²⁷

3.3

Oh God, by Your pardon and forgiveness, has the last day come, is this the Day of Gathering? Have classes disappeared and dynasties disintegrated? Is the mighty man on a par with the lowly, the powerful dignitary the equal of the small, the great man the equal of the despised, the servant the equal of the master? Has the Qurayshī no longer any superiority over the Abyssinian,²⁸ and is a Turkish amir not of higher status than a mere Egyptian? This cannot be true! It is quite beyond the powers of comprehension.

And as for you, my good fellow, I want you to know that, compared with your outrageous conduct, I consider the crime those insolent wretches have committed against me to be nothing more than a grain of mustard seed as compared with a rock, a mere drop in the ocean. You have kept me in the dark and even introduced me to a country where this is the state of affairs. So God protect me from the likes of you and all the devil’s demons.

ʿĪSĀ «Don’t blame me for my forgetfulness, nor burden me with any difficulty in my affairs.»²⁹ When you emerged from the grave, I was so scared and bewildered that I behaved stupidly. I wasn’t able to tell you about present conditions and the way in which things have changed since your own lifetime. I hardly had an opportunity to tell you about it before the Donkeyman started bothering us, and we were beset by these misfortunes. I’ve done nothing wrong, and you should accept my excuse. Endure whatever you may encounter and put up with the situation in which you find yourself. Accept fate with a good face and don’t grieve over the past in order to atone for your present misdeeds.

POLICEMAN (to the Pāshā) Come on, we’re going to the Register of Convictions.

PĀSHĀ The Lord be praised! I do believe my suffering is over and my misfortunes have been driven away. I have regained my former status, and they have brought me my retinue and horse!³⁰

ʿĪSĀ That word doesn’t mean rearing steeds and neighing thoroughbreds. It’s a department where they record the features and characteristics of the accused and find out if he has committed any previous offences.

POLICEMAN (to the Pāshā, as he drags him along) Stop all this chatter. Come with me quietly and in an orderly fashion.

PĀSHĀ (holding back) What can one do in the face of predestined fate? How can I escape? Who will dispatch me to death a second time and return me to my grave?

ʿĪSĀ (pleading) I beg you, in the name of the one who is buried in the Citadel and by the clash of your swords in battle, please take my advice and behave as I suggest. Don’t resist or object. Reluctance will serve no purpose and only make our misfortunes worse. When we have no choice in the matter, the sensible thing to do is to resign ourselves to fate and to wear the appropriate garments for every situation, whether cheerful or miserable.

3.4

ʿĪsā ibn Hishām said: The Pāshā heard what I had to say and reluctantly accepted the decree of fate. We duly accompanied the Policeman until we reached the Register of Convictions and Substantiation of Identity. There the Pāshā endured enough identity procedures to give anyone heart failure and turn his hair white. They stripped him of his clothes, examined him limb by limb, measured his face and body, stared into his eyes, and did all kinds of things to him. He just kept sighing deeply until they had finished with him. They asked about bail and discovered that he had none because the Adjutant—God curse him!—had refused to accept the verification of his bail which the Shaykh of the Quarter had provided, so that he could legally keep him in prison for the night.

With that, they sent us over to the Parquet with the Policeman. When we entered, we found the Parquet Attorney with a load of cases on his hands and hordes of litigants waiting their turn. So we went over to one side to wait our turn as well. My companion turned to me.

PĀSHĀ Where are we now? Who’s this young fellow? What’s this mob of people?

ʿĪSĀ We’re in the Parquet office. This man’s a member of the Parquet, and all these people are litigants.

PĀSHĀ What is this “Parquet?”

ʿĪSĀ In this new legal system, it’s the judicial authority responsible for bringing criminal charges against offenders, acting on behalf of society. It was introduced so that no crime should go unpunished. Its duties are to uphold the truth and prove the guilt of the guilty and the innocence of the innocent.

PĀSHĀ What is this “society” on whose behalf it acts as deputy?

ʿĪSĀ The people as a whole.

PĀSHĀ Who is this mighty person whom the people agree to act as their deputy?

ʿĪSĀ The man you see in front of you is not a man of enormous importance. He’s just a peasant’s son whose father has sent him to schools where he’s obtained the certificate. He’s thus entitled to act as an attorney of the Parquet. His authority to deal with people covers matters of homicide, property, and finance.

PĀSHĀ In God’s eyes the martyr has an exalted status; in heaven, he occupies the very highest position.³¹ But you seem to have lost your mind! How can you suppose that martyrdom in the way of God and life here on earth can both apply to one man at the same time? What is even stranger and more confusing is that a peasant can have authority over people, and a farmer is the community’s deputy! I’ve gone from one misfortune to another but still remained calm and patient. But I can’t do so any longer in the face of this incredible state of affairs. What an utter disaster! What a terrible catastrophe! I’ve no patience left. Will someone help me return to the oblivion of the grave?

3.5

ʿĪSĀ You must realize that this “certificate” does not mean the same thing as martyrdom in holy war. It’s a piece of paper received by students at the end of their studies to confirm that they have studied and achieved excellence in the various branches of learning. Sometimes people who want to get one have to pay one thousand five hundred francs.

PĀSHĀ Oh, I see! You mean the certificate awarded by scholars at al-Azhar to the students who have studied with them and achieved distinction. But I never heard of such expenses in my time, nor have I heard of the noble al-Azhar dealing in francs.

ʿĪSĀ The subjects they study are not the traditional al-Azhar ones, but Western ones which they learn in Europe. The franc is the French unit of currency, and they call that amount the fee for the certificate. It is a trifling sum when you bear in mind the many advantages it brings. In this system, the basic principle is that “a certificate without any learning is better than learning without any certificate.” Anyone with a certificate can present it to the government department and have the right to receive a salary and continuing increments.

PĀSHĀ I almost follow you now. I think this certificate corresponds to the tax-farm lists and ledgers of treasury officials in the time of our government.

3.6

ʿĪsā ibn Hishām said: While we were chatting, two young men suddenly appeared. They looked very suave and elegant as they strutted their way through the crowd. Their sleeves exuded perfume into the air. Conversing volubly with each other, they managed to ignore everyone around them. One of them kept cleaving the air with his cane, while the other fiddled with his spectacles. Everyone stared at them agog. The Policeman walked ahead of them, pushing people out of their way. Eventually they reached the door of the Attorney’s office. He told the litigants in the various cases to leave, whereupon the usher proceeded to force them all out, cursing and swearing as he did so. Meanwhile the Attorney himself set about finishing up the minutes and removing the inkwells. Having cleared the entire place, he made ready to welcome the two young men. The Pāshā asked me:

PĀSHĀ (to ʿĪsā) It looks to me as if these two young men must be the sons of very important princes, or else they are inspectors of the Parquet like the police station Inspector whom we saw earlier.

ʿĪSĀ No, I think they’re just friends of the Attorney from his college days paying him a visit. That’s clear enough from their general appearance.

I wanted to find out more about the two of them. So, while everyone else was milling around, I took the opportunity to sneak up close to the door behind the curtain from where I could both see and hear. This is the conversation I heard:

3.7

FIRST VISITOR (after greeting the Attorney and sitting down) Why did you leave us yesterday before the game was over?

ATTORNEY It was long past midnight, and I had so many cases to deal with that I had to get up early.

SECOND VISITOR Whoever heard of cases keeping anyone away from his friends’ company? That excuse is only handy when you’re talking to people who aren’t familiar with the Parquet’s business! I personally am acquainted with a colleague who only spends an hour a day on cases! He’s satisfied just to look them over for a moment. He doesn’t bother to peruse them, but relies instead on a combination of his sheer mental acumen, his alert intellect, and his wide experience in order to discover the relevant facts. Not only that, but now that there’s no longer any disagreement or bad feeling between the Parquet and the police, the best idea is to make do with police evidence or else send it back it to them for completion. There’s no point in reopening inquiries and wasting time on something which may lead to more bad feelings and arguments all over again.

ATTORNEY That’s exactly what I do, but one has to adhere to outward appearances as far as possible.

FIRST VISITOR Haven’t you got a secretary who can take over and save you all the bother?

ATTORNEY You’re right. The secretary can do it perfectly well. The real reason why I stopped playing and left yesterday was that I’d already lost the month’s salary I had with me, and it’s still only the beginning of the month.

FIRST VISITOR You’re always claiming to have lost, however much you’ve won. In my entire life the only thing I’ve ever heard you say is that you’ve lost. Didn’t you win five pounds off me on the last hand we played?

ATTORNEY I swear to you on my honor, conscience, and future career, that I’d lost money when I left yesterday.

SECOND VISITOR Never mind! Tell me, are you still going to keep your appointment with us to go to our friend’s house to see that famous belly dancer?

ATTORNEY I can’t make it. In the first place, I don’t like that type of dancing. Only locals and peasants enjoy that sort of thing. Secondly, I’ve invited Mademoiselle X, the opera star, and two of her colleagues to dine with me at “Santé” in the Ezbekiyyah Quarter. Afterwards, we’re going to have some fun and visit Khān al-Khalīlī, Qaṣbat Ruḍwān, the Tombs of the Caliphs, and other ancient sites in the city.

3.8

FIRST VISITOR You were just claiming you didn’t have any of your month’s salary left. How are you going to afford such expenses?

ATTORNEY I forgot to mention that a lawyer and his friend, the ʿumdah,³² are coming with us.

SECOND VISITOR How can two such people make any pretense of liking French soirées or getting the slightest enjoyment out of them? They don’t know a word of the language or any European phrases.

ATTORNEY My dear friend, don’t you realize that lawyers want to keep the company of the judiciary, and peasants want to brush shoulders with us? But both alike dearly want to attend French soirées, even though the cost is so high and they get no benefit or enjoyment whatsoever.

SECOND VISITOR (tersely) Where did you get that cravat?

ATTORNEY I didn’t buy it, monsieur. It came with my clothes from my tailor in Paris.

FIRST VISITOR Did you hear that X has resigned?

SECOND VISITOR Have you seen those electric carriages?

ATTORNEY I’ve found out for you why Suarez’s son committed suicide.

FIRST VISITOR I know—love!

ATTORNEY No.

VISITOR Money?

ATTORNEY No.

VISITOR Was he ill?

ATTORNEY No, the poor chap was copying the latest rage in Paris!

FIRST VISITOR And I’ve found out for you why ʿUthmān Bey Ghālib was fired from his post.

ATTORNEY Was it his conduct?

VISITOR No.

ATTORNEY His job?

VISITOR No.

ATTORNEY His French?

VISITOR No, his English!

3.9

ʿĪsā ibn Hishām said:³³ I found this terse and vacuous conversation boring, so I took advantage of the guard’s entry to leave my hiding place and return to my companion, the Pāshā. I found a lawyer’s agent beside him. He had come over and was talking to him. So I stood at a distance. Here is some of what I heard him say:

AGENT You should realize that the lawyer can direct the judiciary exactly as he wishes, punishing and acquitting anyone according to whim. The members of the Parquet, the courts, and judges merely follow his instructions. No decision can be made unless he says so and no verdict can be reached without his instructions. You’re a stranger here, someone who deserves sympathy and forbearance. Mere human decency forbids me to let you fall into the clutches of some low-class lawyers who regularly use deceitful and crafty methods and make false promises that raise all kinds of hopes, and all that merely to rob people of their money. My colleague on the other hand is honest and reliable, a well-known man of principle who is highly regarded by princes and government officials alike. He’s the inspector’s friend, the counselor’s companion, the judge’s intimate companion, the attorney’s confidant, and the prince’s agent. If only you could see him just once, my dear Sir, when he meets them for a late-night chat. You would immediately notice the informal atmosphere they share as they enjoy themselves in each other’s company and watch him as he eats and drinks with them, chats and jokes, debates and gambles. You would then be convinced that every request he makes is granted and no one would refuse to do what he orders. As a result, the guilty man can be innocent in accordance with his wishes, and the innocent man guilty. So tell me, how much can you afford to pay in advance?

PĀSHĀ I know nothing about advance or arrears. My friend didn’t mention this powerful arbiter you describe. So once I’ve asked him about it—

AGENT (interrupting) There’s no need to ask anyone! Here comes the lawyer now.

3.10

(The Agent greets the Lawyer with the lavish respect due to a prince. As he clears a path toward the Pāshā, he is whispering in the Lawyer’s ear.)

LAWYER (raising his voice) I cannot possibly take on anybody else’s brief these days. I have piles of work and a colossal number of cases. There’s no time left to eat and drink. (Maybe the truth of the matter was that he had nothing left at all, not just time.) How can you expect me to take on your friend’s brief in such a trifling case, when I’ve already turned down five major cases this very morning?

AGENT For humanitarian reasons and in the name of the sanctity of chivalry and your inborn sympathy and pity for the weak, I beg you to allow one of your office staff to handle this case. Even if you cannot demean yourself so far as to handle it yourself, all that’s needed is the influence that your name brings to the court.

LAWYER Out of regard for you and sympathy for your friend, I can see no objection.

(The Lawyer shakes hands with the Pāshā, then turns away and leaves.)

AGENT (to the Pāshā) Come on, that’ll be twenty pounds.

PĀSHĀ I haven’t a single dirham on me.

AGENT Then give me a check from a relative or acquaintance.

PĀSHĀ I don’t understand what you mean. Go away, I’m fed up with you!

AGENT How can I leave when you have just reached an agreement with the Lawyer right in front of me?

PĀSHĀ I made no agreement with anyone. Go away!

AGENT How can you possibly deny shaking hands with the Lawyer and reaching an agreement with him?

PĀSHĀ How can anyone tolerate this situation? I gestured while talking to my friend, and that resulted in the disaster with the Donkeyman. Now I shake the Lawyer’s hand, and I’m twenty pounds in debt! What kind of world am I in?

3.11

ʿĪsā ibn Hishām said: I noticed signs of anger on the Pāshā’s face and was afraid there would be another disaster, this time with the Agent. I rushed over. After reprimanding the Agent for his trickery, I proceeded to threaten him, saying that I would raise the matter with the Public Attorney. He went away and left us alone.

The usher who was supervising plaintiffs gave a shout. We went inside and found the Attorney still chatting merrily with his two visitors. They indicated that we should go to talk to his secretary, so I went along and began to explain the case on my companion’s behalf. I told him about the bad treatment we had received from the police and the shocking way they had trumped up the charges. The Attorney turned to his secretary and told him not to allow any statement against the police; he should accept their statements and investigation. With that, he looked at his watch, found that it was the time for his appointment, grabbed his stick, put on his tarboosh, and left in a hurry with his two colleagues.

I must go now, I told my companion, and look for one of my friends who is an honest lawyer.

3.12

PĀSHĀ Tell me, what’s a lawyer in this system of yours?

ʿĪSĀ He’s the one who speaks on your behalf on matters in which you have no competence. He will defend you in areas you know nothing about, and testify for you about things which normally would not occur to you. His is a noble profession practiced today by many excellent people. However, certain other people have entered the profession who aren’t worthy of it and who use deceit and trickery as a means of making a profit, like this lawyer and his agent. It is people like them whom ʿAlāʾ al-dīn ʿAlī ibn Muẓaffar al-Kindī has in mind when he says:

Whenever they litigate, legal attorneys

are simply all-powerful Satans.

They are a people who find they have evil to spare,

so they sell it off to mankind.