the works of edgar allan poe-1-第33章
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may then remain； will be found in so desolate and ruinous a state
that the patriarch shall have removed his residence to Damascus。 This
is well。 I see you profit by my advice； and are making the most of
your time in inspecting the premises in
…satisfying your eyes
With the memorials and the things of fame
That most renown this city。…
I beg pardon； I had forgotten that Shakespeare will not flourish for
seventeen hundred and fifty years to come。 But does not the
appearance of Epidaphne justify me in calling it grotesque？
〃It is well fortified； and in this respect is as much indebted to
nature as to art。〃
Very true。
〃There are a prodigious number of stately palaces。〃
There are。
〃And the numerous temples； sumptuous and magnificent； may bear
comparison with the most lauded of antiquity。〃
All this I must acknowledge。 Still there is an infinity of mud huts；
and abominable hovels。 We cannot help perceiving abundance of filth
in every kennel； and； were it not for the over…powering fumes of
idolatrous incense； I have no doubt we should find a most intolerable
stench。 Did you ever behold streets so insufferably narrow； or houses
so miraculously tall？ What gloom their shadows cast upon the ground！
It is well the swinging lamps in those endless colonnades are kept
burning throughout the day； we should otherwise have the darkness of
Egypt in the time of her desolation。
〃It is certainly a strange place！ What is the meaning of yonder
singular building？ See！ it towers above all others； and lies to the
eastward of what I take to be the royal palace。〃
That is the new Temple of the Sun； who is adored in Syria under the
title of Elah Gabalah。 Hereafter a very notorious Roman Emperor will
institute this worship in Rome； and thence derive a cognomen；
Heliogabalus。 I dare say you would like to take a peep at the
divinity of the temple。 You need not look up at the heavens； his
Sunship is not there at least not the Sunship adored by the
Syrians。 That deity will be found in the interior of yonder building。
He is worshipped under the figure of a large stone pillar terminating
at the summit in a cone or pyramid； whereby is denoted Fire。
〃Hark behold！ who can those ridiculous beings be； half naked；
with their faces painted； shouting and gesticulating to the rabble？〃
Some few are mountebanks。 Others more particularly belong to the race
of philosophers。 The greatest portion； however those especially
who belabor the populace with clubs are the principal courtiers of
the palace； executing as in duty bound； some laudable comicality of
the king's。
〃But what have we here？ Heavens！ the town is swarming with wild
beasts！ How terrible a spectacle！ how dangerous a peculiarity！〃
Terrible； if you please； but not in the least degree dangerous。 Each
animal if you will take the pains to observe； is following； very
quietly； in the wake of its master。 Some few； to be sure； are led
with a rope about the neck； but these are chiefly the lesser or timid
species。 The lion； the tiger； and the leopard are entirely without
restraint。 They have been trained without difficulty to their present
profession； and attend upon their respective owners in the capacity
of valets…de…chambre。 It is true； there are occasions when Nature
asserts her violated dominions； but then the devouring of a
man…at…arms； or the throttling of a consecrated bull； is a
circumstance of too little moment to be more than hinted at in
Epidaphne。
〃But what extraordinary tumult do I hear？ Surely this is a loud noise
even for Antioch！ It argues some commotion of unusual interest。〃
Yes undoubtedly。 The king has ordered some novel spectacle some
gladiatorial exhibition at the hippodrome or perhaps the massacre
of the Scythian prisoners or the conflagration of his new palace
or the tearing down of a handsome temple or； indeed； a bonfire
of a few Jews。 The uproar increases。 Shouts of laughter ascend the
skies。 The air becomes dissonant with wind instruments； and horrible
with clamor of a million throats。 Let us descend； for the love of
fun； and see what is going on！ This way be careful！ Here we are in
the principal street； which is called the street of Timarchus。 The
sea of people is coming this way； and we shall find a difficulty in
stemming the tide。 They are pouring through the alley of Heraclides；
which leads directly from the palace； therefore the king is most
probably among the rioters。 Yes； I hear the shouts of the herald
proclaiming his approach in the pompous phraseology of the East。 We
shall have a glimpse of his person as he passes by the temple of
Ashimah。 Let us ensconce ourselves in the vestibule of the sanctuary；
he will be here anon。 In the meantime let us survey this image。 What
is it？ Oh！ it is the god Ashimah in proper person。 You perceive；
however； that he is neither a lamb； nor a goat； nor a satyr； neither
has he much resemblance to the Pan of the Arcadians。 Yet all these
appearances have been given I beg pardon will be given by
the learned of future ages； to the Ashimah of the Syrians。 Put on
your spectacles； and tell me what it is。 What is it？
〃Bless me！ it is an ape！〃
True a baboon； but by no means the less a deity。 His name is a
derivation of the Greek Simia what great fools are antiquarians！
But see！ see！ yonder scampers a ragged little urchin。 Where is
he going？ What is he bawling about？ What does he say？ Oh！ he says the
king is coming in triumph； that he is dressed in state； that he has
just finished putting to death； with his own hand； a thousand chained
Israelitish prisoners！ For this exploit the ragamuffin is lauding him
to the skies。 Hark！ here comes a troop of a similar description。 They
have made a Latin hymn upon the valor of the king； and are singing it
as they go：
Mille； mille； mille；
Mille； mille； mille；
Decollavimus； unus homo！
Mille； mille； mille； mille； decollavimus！
Mille； mille； mille；
Vivat qui mille mille occidit！
Tantum vini habet nemo
Quantum sanguinis effudit！｛*1｝
Which may be thus paraphrased：
A thousand； a thousand； a thousand；
A thousand； a thousand； a thousand；
We； with one warrior； have slain！
A thousand； a thousand； a thousand； a thousand。
Sing a thousand over again！
Soho！ let us sing
Long life to our king；
Who knocked over a thousand so fine！
Soho！ let us roar；
He has given us more
Red gallons of gore
Than all Syria can furnish of wine！
〃Do you hear that flourish of trumpets？〃
Yes： the king is coming！ See！ the people are aghast with admiration；
and lift up their eyes to the heavens in reverence。 He comes； he
is coming； there he is！
〃Who？ where？ the king？ do not behold him cannot say that
I perceive him。〃
Then you must be blind。
〃Very possible。 Still I see nothing but a tumultuous mob of idiots
and madmen； who are busy in prostrating themselves before a gigantic
cameleopard； and endeavoring to obtain a kiss of the animal's hoofs。
See！ the beast has very justly kicked one of the rabble over and
another and another and another。 Indeed； I cannot help admiring
the animal for the excellent use he is making of his feet。〃
Rabble； indeed！ why these are the noble and free citizens of
Epidaphne！ Beasts； did you say？ take care that you are not
overheard。 Do you not perceive that the animal has the visage of a
man？ Why； my dear sir； that cameleopard is no other than Antiochus
Epiphanes； Antiochus the Illustrious； King of Syria； and the most
potent of all the autocrats of the East！ It is true； that he is
entitled； at times； Antiochus Epimanes Antiochus the madman but
that is because all people have not the capacity to appreciate his
merits。 It is also certain that he is at present ensconced in the
hide of a beast； and is doing his best to play the part of a
cameleopard； but this is done for the better sustaining his dignity
as king。 Besides； the monarch is of gigantic stature； and the dress
is therefore neither unbecoming nor over large。 We may； however；
presume he would not have adopted it but for some occasion of
especial
