human
Yes, it is a fair scene, sister, he continued, as she drew closer to him.
gpt
Yet, even now, men are plotting villany and treachery. There is no peace in it.
human
No peace, brother! she said, echoing his words;
gpt
Why, Zyna? because of ambition, which, with the hot thirst it begets, dries up men's hearts; because of avarice, driving them to barter kingdoms and honour for gold; because of fraud, and deceit, and lies, and profligacy. Alas, girl, where ends the catalogue? Even now I fear the evil thoughts and treacherous plots of our fair city.
human
Why is thy speech so sad to-night, Fazil? she said timidly;
gpt
Listen, sister, and judge, he returned.
human
I cannot help these fancies. Ah, Zyna! if I had one like thee to be with me always--to be more to me even than thou art--perhaps the world, fair as it lies there, would have few charms for me.
gpt
She would be forgotten before a bright sword or a gallant horse, brother,
human
Not so, by the Prophet!--by your head and eyes; no, Zyna, cried her brother earnestly.
gpt
Let such an one come, and thou wilt see what she would be to me.
human
Would it were so, brother! and yet I know of no one--not one as yet--whom thou couldst love like me. None of the maidens of this city are worthy of thee; no, not one, Fazil.
gpt
Ah! nothing less than one of the blessed houris of Paradise would content thee for me, returned the young man, laughing;
human
as she shook her head and laughed incredulously,--
gpt
What of him? she returned, so abruptly that her tone of alarm startled her brother.
human
Yes, she continued, correcting herself,
gpt
Nay, go not, Zyna. I will not tease thee, he replied,
human
for he perceived the confusion his last words had occasioned:
gpt
Hush, brother! said Zyna, again blushing, for she knew that she had been sought in marriage by the Wuzeer for his son;
human
Alas, who can say? replied her brother sadly.
gpt
Who can tell to what crimes pride and ambition may not urge a man? Truly, sister, it will not be marvellous if the Wuzeer, seeing the danger of the Moghuls on the one hand, of Sivaji Bhóslay on the other, and knowing better than we do the divisions among our own nobles, should forget his faith, and try to strike in for himself. 'Twas thus, so writes the historian of honoured memory, Mahomed Kasim Ferishta, that our own kingly house rose into existence, and the Nizam Shahy and Kootub Shahy dynasties also; what wonder, then, that Khan Mahomed--the rich, the honoured, the powerful--should be tempted to follow examples so successful and so prosperous?
human
What! and forget his King, who has raised him from--from---- she could not add slavery;
gpt
Ah, Zyna, returned Fazil, sighing,
human
I would I had not known of this, brother, from thy lips, said Zyna sadly.
gpt
True, it seems to have a terrible distinctness: and his son?