He knew, and he only, what he meant by them.
The projects he was hatching required centuries for their
fulfilment--what is the life of a mere man?
In thought he endowed the rejuvenescent Ottoman Empire with the energies
of a thousand years. Once more he perceived its conquering sword winning
fresh victories, and extending its dominions towards the East and the
South, but especially towards the North. He saw the most powerful of
nations do it homage; he saw the guardian-angels of Islam close their
eyes before the blinding flashes of the triumphant swords of the sons of
Osman, and hasten to record in the Book of the Future events very
different from those which had been written down before.
Ah, human hopes, human hopes!--the blast blows upon them and they
crumble away to nothing.
But Halil's breast beat with a still greater joy, with a still loftier
hope, when turning away from the tumult of the world, he opened the door
of his private room and entered therein.
What voices are those which it does his soul good to hearken to? Why
does he pause and stand listening before the curtain? What is he
listening to?
It is the feeble cry of a child, a little baby child. A few days before
Guel-Bejaze bore him a son, on the anniversary of the very day when he
made her his wife. This child was the purest part of Halil's joy, the
loftiest star of his hopes. Whithersoever I may one day rise, he would
reflect, this child shall rise with me. Whatever I shall not be able to
achieve, he will accomplish.
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