Those happier, more glorious times which I
shall never be able to see, he will rejoice in. Through him I shall
leave behind me in Ottoman history an eternal fame--a fame like to that
of the Kueprili family, which for a whole century and a half gave heroes
and saints and sages to the empire.
Guel-Bejaze wanted the child to be called Ferhad, or Sender, as so many
of the children of the poor were wont to be called; but Halil gave him
the name of Behram. "He is a man-child," said Halil, "who will one day
be called to great things."
Human calculations, human hopes, what are they? To-day the tree stands
full of blossoms, to-morrow it lies prone on the ground, cut down to the
very roots.
Who shall strive with the Almighty, and from what son of man does the
Lord God take counsel?
Halil stole on tip-toe to the bed of his wife who was playing with the
child; she did not perceive him till he was quite close to her. How they
rejoiced together! The baby wandered from hand to hand; how they
embraced and kissed it! Both of them seemed to live their lives over
again in the little child.
And now old Janaki also drew nigh. His face was smiling, but whenever he
opened his mouth his words were sad and gloomy. All joy vanished from
his life the moment he was made a voivode, just as if he felt that only
Death could relieve him of that dignity. He had a peculiar joy in
perpetually prophesying evil things.
"If only you could bring the child up!" he cried; "but you will not live
long enough to do that.
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