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Authors: Jeffrey Hantover
Tags: Historical
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close enough to cause the king any harm but close enough to speak without rais-ing our voices. We bowed, stretched out our arms, and kissed the ground three more times.
I confess I had thought this bowing and scraping would offend me. I have long bent my head and stood silent before those no better than I, who hold me in contempt because I wear the yellow hat. No one likes to bow before his equal, especially when others command that he must. But all men, Israelite, Christian, Muslim, and heathen, bow before the king and so, dear cousin, I felt in some strange way, which I had not foreseen, a freer man, a man equal to all, when I bowed and kissed the ground before this heathen king.
At a soft word from Win, I took the carved amber box with the three emeralds from the leather pouch around my waist and gave it to Win, who lifted the box above his head and bowed and kissed the earth again before giving it to the king’s interpreter. He in ser-vile mimicry bowed his head and with outstretched arms passed it to a royal retainer, who in turn passed the box with exaggerated deliberateness to the king. I thank the Holy One, blessed be He, for Uncle’s wisdom in having me bring this gift. The king was much impressed with the fine workmanship of the box: its paper-thin amber shone like liquid gold in the raking sunlight. His eyes lit up, and his hands caressed the emeralds, stones rare and highly valued in this land.
Nandabayin struck me a strange mix of a man, softness and hard-ness intertwined like veined marble. He looks like someone who has never touched a door handle and never heard a word in dispute of his own. Some men in common cloth have the look of nobility: you can see in their bearing why others would risk their lives to follow them. This king, I think, rules by command only.
The king first wanted to know who had made the fine box and where the jewels were from, and only then did he ask my name, what country I was from, and how long I had been away from my home. He seemed saddened that I had traveled such a great distance and had been gone so long. He asked how many wives I had and took on an even graver face when I said I had none. Peguans often ask me that question, and I have grown accustomed to their prying; but I thought, what a strange question for a king to ask a foreigner, and for a moment I was afraid he would turn matchmaker to save my poor soul. Others have come to the kingdom from Italy, especially in the time of his father, but I was the first from Venice to come before this king. Nandabayin wanted to know what king governed Venice. When I said it was a republic, not governed by any king, but by the freemen of the city—I of course did not say we Israelites were not among these freemen—there was a long silence.
Then the king began to laugh. He paused as he struggled to stifle his mirth, and then burst out laughing even more violently. He was so overcome by laughter that he coughed and spluttered and could not speak for several moments. Recovering his royal composure, he asked if Venice was warlike, and I said we feared no country but sought friendship with all. At least you are not a country of women, he said. I thought it best to say no more.
Joseph, what irony that an Israelite stood before the king of Pegu speaking on behalf of the Republic that tolerates our people in small numbers, from charter to charter
.
I spoke for the very Gentiles who oblige me to walk quietly in the shadows behind heavy gates and have bricked our windows facing their world, so that we do not pollute their sacraments with even our silhouettes. I think God has a sense of humor and may not always be the stern ruler that the rabbis proclaim.
Our audience ended when the king gave me a small gold cup and five pieces of Chinese damask in shades of red and blue. Win was much pleased, as it is not the king’s custom to give gifts to foreigners. Win believes Nandabayin was moved by the quality of the emeralds and amber. For my
I confess I had thought this bowing and scraping would offend me. I have long bent my head and stood silent before those no better than I, who hold me in contempt because I wear the yellow hat. No one likes to bow before his equal, especially when others command that he must. But all men, Israelite, Christian, Muslim, and heathen, bow before the king and so, dear cousin, I felt in some strange way, which I had not foreseen, a freer man, a man equal to all, when I bowed and kissed the ground before this heathen king.
At a soft word from Win, I took the carved amber box with the three emeralds from the leather pouch around my waist and gave it to Win, who lifted the box above his head and bowed and kissed the earth again before giving it to the king’s interpreter. He in ser-vile mimicry bowed his head and with outstretched arms passed it to a royal retainer, who in turn passed the box with exaggerated deliberateness to the king. I thank the Holy One, blessed be He, for Uncle’s wisdom in having me bring this gift. The king was much impressed with the fine workmanship of the box: its paper-thin amber shone like liquid gold in the raking sunlight. His eyes lit up, and his hands caressed the emeralds, stones rare and highly valued in this land.
Nandabayin struck me a strange mix of a man, softness and hard-ness intertwined like veined marble. He looks like someone who has never touched a door handle and never heard a word in dispute of his own. Some men in common cloth have the look of nobility: you can see in their bearing why others would risk their lives to follow them. This king, I think, rules by command only.
The king first wanted to know who had made the fine box and where the jewels were from, and only then did he ask my name, what country I was from, and how long I had been away from my home. He seemed saddened that I had traveled such a great distance and had been gone so long. He asked how many wives I had and took on an even graver face when I said I had none. Peguans often ask me that question, and I have grown accustomed to their prying; but I thought, what a strange question for a king to ask a foreigner, and for a moment I was afraid he would turn matchmaker to save my poor soul. Others have come to the kingdom from Italy, especially in the time of his father, but I was the first from Venice to come before this king. Nandabayin wanted to know what king governed Venice. When I said it was a republic, not governed by any king, but by the freemen of the city—I of course did not say we Israelites were not among these freemen—there was a long silence.
Then the king began to laugh. He paused as he struggled to stifle his mirth, and then burst out laughing even more violently. He was so overcome by laughter that he coughed and spluttered and could not speak for several moments. Recovering his royal composure, he asked if Venice was warlike, and I said we feared no country but sought friendship with all. At least you are not a country of women, he said. I thought it best to say no more.
Joseph, what irony that an Israelite stood before the king of Pegu speaking on behalf of the Republic that tolerates our people in small numbers, from charter to charter
.
I spoke for the very Gentiles who oblige me to walk quietly in the shadows behind heavy gates and have bricked our windows facing their world, so that we do not pollute their sacraments with even our silhouettes. I think God has a sense of humor and may not always be the stern ruler that the rabbis proclaim.
Our audience ended when the king gave me a small gold cup and five pieces of Chinese damask in shades of red and blue. Win was much pleased, as it is not the king’s custom to give gifts to foreigners. Win believes Nandabayin was moved by the quality of the emeralds and amber. For my
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