the works of edgar allan poe-1-第32章
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forty…one degrees of elevation as I could do it by guess； I moved it
cautiously up or down； until my attention was arrested by a circular
rift or opening in the foliage of a large tree that overtopped its
fellows in the distance。 In the centre of this rift I perceived a
white spot； but could not； at first； distinguish what it was。
Adjusting the focus of the telescope； I again looked； and now made it
out to be a human skull。
〃Upon this discovery I was so sanguine as to consider the enigma
solved； for the phrase 'main branch； seventh limb； east side；' could
refer only to the position of the skull upon the tree； while 'shoot
from the left eye of the death's head' admitted； also； of but one
interpretation； in regard to a search for buried treasure。 I
perceived that the design was to drop a bullet from the left eye of
the skull； and that a bee…line； or； in other words； a straight line；
drawn from the nearest point of the trunk through 'the shot；' （or the
spot where the bullet fell；） and thence extended to a distance of
fifty feet； would indicate a definite point … and beneath this point
I thought it at least possible that a deposit of value lay
concealed。〃
〃All this；〃 I said； 〃is exceedingly clear； and； although
ingenious； still simple and explicit。 When you left the Bishop's
Hotel； what then？〃
〃Why； having carefully taken the bearings of the tree； I turned
homewards。 The instant that I left 'the devil's seat；' however； the
circular rift vanished； nor could I get a glimpse of it afterwards；
turn as I would。 What seems to me the chief ingenuity in this whole
business； is the fact （for repeated experiment has convinced me it is
a fact） that the circular opening in question is visible from no
other attainable point of view than that afforded by the narrow ledge
upon the face of the rock。
〃In this expedition to the 'Bishop's Hotel' I had been attended
by Jupiter； who had； no doubt； observed； for some weeks past； the
abstraction of my demeanor； and took especial care not to leave me
alone。 But； on the next day； getting up very early； I contrived to
give him the slip； and went into the hills in search of the tree。
After much toil I found it。 When I came home at night my valet
proposed to give me a flogging。 With the rest of the adventure I
believe you are as well acquainted as myself。〃
〃I suppose；〃 said I； 〃you missed the spot； in the first attempt
at digging； through Jupiter's stupidity in letting the bug fall
through the right instead of through the left eye of the skull。〃
〃Precisely。 This mistake made a difference of about two inches
and a half in the 'shot' … that is to say； in the position of the peg
nearest the tree； and had the treasure been beneath the 'shot；' the
error would have been of little moment； but 'the shot；' together with
the nearest point of the tree； were merely two points for the
establishment of a line of direction； of course the error； however
trivial in the beginning； increased as we proceeded with the line；
and by the time we had gone fifty feet； threw us quite off the scent。
But for my deep…seated impressions that treasure was here somewhere
actually buried； we might have had all our labor in vain。〃
〃But your grandiloquence； and your conduct in swinging the beetle
… how excessively odd！ I was sure you were mad。 And why did you
insist upon letting fall the bug； instead of a bullet； from the
skull？〃
〃Why； to be frank； I felt somewhat annoyed by your evident
suspicions touching my sanity； and so resolved to punish you quietly；
in my own way； by a little bit of sober mystification。 For this
reason I swung the beetle； and for this reason I let it fall it from
the tree。 An observation of yours about its great weight suggested
the latter idea。〃
〃Yes； I perceive； and now there is only one point which puzzles
me。 What are we to make of the skeletons found in the hole？〃
〃That is a question I am no more able to answer than yourself。
There seems； however； only one plausible way of accounting for them …
and yet it is dreadful to believe in such atrocity as my suggestion
would imply。 It is clear that Kidd … if Kidd indeed secreted this
treasure； which I doubt not … it is clear that he must have had
assistance in the labor。 But this labor concluded； he may have
thought it expedient to remove all participants in his secret。
Perhaps a couple of blows with a mattock were sufficient； while his
coadjutors were busy in the pit； perhaps it required a dozen … who
shall tell？〃
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FOUR BEASTS IN ONE
THE HOMO…CAMELEOPARD
Chacun a ses vertus。
_Crebillon's Xerxes。_
ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES is very generally looked upon as the Gog of the
prophet Ezekiel。 This honor is； however； more properly attributable
to Cambyses； the son of Cyrus。 And； indeed； the character of the
Syrian monarch does by no means stand in need of any adventitious
embellishment。 His accession to the throne； or rather his usurpation
of the sovereignty； a hundred and seventy…one years before the coming
of Christ； his attempt to plunder the temple of Diana at Ephesus； his
implacable hostility to the Jews； his pollution of the Holy of
Holies； and his miserable death at Taba； after a tumultuous reign of
eleven years； are circumstances of a prominent kind； and therefore
more generally noticed by the historians of his time than the
impious； dastardly； cruel； silly； and whimsical achievements which
make up the sum total of his private life and reputation。
Let us suppose； gentle reader； that it is now the year of the world
three thousand eight hundred and thirty； and let us； for a few
minutes； imagine ourselves at that most grotesque habitation of man；
the remarkable city of Antioch。 To be sure there were； in Syria and
other countries； sixteen cities of that appellation； besides the one
to which I more particularly allude。 But ours is that which went by
the name of Antiochia Epidaphne； from its vicinity to the little
village of Daphne； where stood a temple to that divinity。 It was
built （although about this matter there is some dispute） by Seleucus
Nicanor； the first king of the country after Alexander the Great； in
memory of his father Antiochus； and became immediately the residence
of the Syrian monarchy。 In the flourishing times of the Roman Empire；
it was the ordinary station of the prefect of the eastern provinces；
and many of the emperors of the queen city （among whom may be
mentioned； especially； Verus and Valens） spent here the greater part
of their time。 But I perceive we have arrived at the city itself。 Let
us ascend this battlement； and throw our eyes upon the town and
neighboring country。
〃What broad and rapid river is that which forces its way； with
innumerable falls； through the mountainous wilderness； and finally
through the wilderness of buildings？〃
That is the Orontes； and it is the only water in sight； with the
exception of the Mediterranean； which stretches； like a broad mirror；
about twelve miles off to the southward。 Every one has seen the
Mediterranean； but let me tell you； there are few who have had a peep
at Antioch。 By few； I mean； few who； like you and me； have had； at
the same time； the advantages of a modern education。 Therefore cease
to regard that sea； and give your whole attention to the mass of
houses that lie beneath us。 You will remember that it is now the year
of the world three thousand eight hundred and thirty。 Were it later
for example； were it the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and
forty…five； we should be deprived of this extraordinary spectacle。 In
the nineteenth century Antioch is that is to say； Antioch will be
in a lamentable state of decay。 It will have been； by that time；
totally destroyed； at three different periods； by three successive
earthquakes。 Indeed； to say the truth； what little of its former self
may then remain； will be found in so desolate and ruinous a state
that the patriarch shall h
