the works of edgar allan poe-5-第23章
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he was mistaken about the soul。 The soul a shadow； truly！ The soul a
shadow； Ha！ ha！ ha！ … he！ he！ he！ … hu！ hu！ hu！ Only think of a fricasseed
shadow！〃
〃Only think … hiccup！ … of a fricasseed shadow！〃 exclaimed our hero；
whose faculties were becoming much illuminated by the profundity of his
Majesty's discourse。
〃Only think of a hiccup！ … fricasseed shadow！！ Now； damme！ … hiccup！ …
humph！ If I would have been such a … hiccup！ … nincompoop！ My soul； Mr。 …
humph！〃
〃Your soul； Monsieur Bon…Bon？〃
〃Yes； sir … hiccup！ … my soul is…〃
〃What； sir？〃
〃No shadow； damme！〃
〃Did you mean to say…〃
〃Yes； sir； my soul is … hiccup！ … humph！ … yes； sir。〃
〃Did you not intend to assert…〃
〃My soul is … hiccup！ … peculiarly qualified for … hiccup！ … a…〃
〃What； sir？〃
〃Stew。〃
〃Ha！〃
〃Soufflee。〃
〃Eh！〃
〃Fricassee。〃
〃Indeed！〃
〃Ragout and fricandeau … and see here； my good fellow！ I'll let you
have it… hiccup！ … a bargain。〃 Here the philosopher slapped his Majesty
upon the back。
〃Couldn't think of such a thing；〃 said the latter calmly； at the same
time rising from his seat。 The metaphysician stared。
〃Am supplied at present；〃 said his Majesty。
〃Hiccup … e…h？〃 said the philosopher。
〃Have no funds on hand。〃
〃What？〃
〃Besides； very unhandsome in me …〃
〃Sir！〃
〃To take advantage of…〃
〃Hiccup！〃
〃Your present disgusting and ungentlemanly situation。〃
Here the visiter bowed and withdrew … in what manner could not
precisely be ascertained … but in a well…concerted effort to discharge a
bottle at 〃the villain；〃 the slender chain was severed that depended from
the ceiling； and the metaphysician prostrated by the downfall of the lamp。
~~~ End of Text ~~~
SOME WORDS WITH A MUMMY。
THE _symposium_ of the preceding evening had been a little too much
for my nerves。 I had a wretched headache； and was desperately drowsy。
Instead of going out therefore to spend the evening as I had proposed； it
occurred to me that I could not do a wiser thing than just eat a mouthful
of supper and go immediately to bed。
A light supper of course。 I am exceedingly fond of Welsh rabbit。 More than
a pound at once； however； may not at all times be advisable。 Still； there
can be no material objection to two。 And really between two and three；
there is merely a single unit of difference。 I ventured； perhaps； upon
four。 My wife will have it five； but； clearly； she has confounded two
very distinct affairs。 The abstract number； five； I am willing to admit；
but； concretely； it has reference to bottles of Brown Stout； without
which； in the way of condiment； Welsh rabbit is to be eschewed。
Having thus concluded a frugal meal； and donned my night…cap； with the
serene hope of enjoying it till noon the next day； I placed my head upon
the pillow； and； through the aid of a capital conscience； fell into a
profound slumber forthwith。
But when were the hopes of humanity fulfilled？ I could not have completed
my third snore when there came a furious ringing at the street…door bell；
and then an impatient thumping at the knocker； which awakened me at once。
In a minute afterward； and while I was still rubbing my eyes； my wife
thrust in my face a note； from my old friend； Doctor Ponnonner。 It ran
thus：
〃Come to me； by all means； my dear good friend； as soon as you
receive this。 Come and help us to rejoice。 At last； by long persevering
diplomacy； I have gained the assent of the Directors of the City Museum；
to my examination of the Mummy you know the one I mean。 I have
permission to unswathe it and open it； if desirable。 A few friends only
will be present you； of course。 The Mummy is now at my house； and we
shall begin to unroll it at eleven to…night。
〃Yours； ever；
PONNONNER。
By the time I had reached the 〃Ponnonner；〃 it struck me that I was as wide
awake as a man need be。 I leaped out of bed in an ecstacy； overthrowing
all in my way； dressed myself with a rapidity truly marvellous； and set
off； at the top of my speed； for the doctor's。
There I found a very eager company assembled。 They had been awaiting me
with much impatience； the Mummy was extended upon the dining…table； and
the moment I entered its examination was commenced。
It was one of a pair brought； several years previously； by Captain Arthur
Sabretash； a cousin of Ponnonner's from a tomb near Eleithias； in the
Lybian mountains； a considerable distance above Thebes on the Nile。 The
grottoes at this point； although less magnificent than the Theban
sepulchres； are of higher interest； on account of affording more numerous
illustrations of the private life of the Egyptians。 The chamber from which
our specimen was taken； was said to be very rich in such illustrations；
the walls being completely covered with fresco paintings and bas…reliefs；
while statues； vases； and Mosaic work of rich patterns； indicated the vast
wealth of the deceased。
The treasure had been deposited in the Museum precisely in the same
condition in which Captain Sabretash had found it； that is to say； the
coffin had not been disturbed。 For eight years it had thus stood； subject
only externally to public inspection。 We had now； therefore； the complete
Mummy at our disposal； and to those who are aware how very rarely the
unransacked antique reaches our shores； it will be evident； at once that
we had great reason to congratulate ourselves upon our good fortune。
Approaching the table； I saw on it a large box； or case； nearly seven feet
long； and perhaps three feet wide； by two feet and a half deep。 It was
oblong not coffin…shaped。 The material was at first supposed to be the
wood of the sycamore （_platanus_）； but； upon cutting into it； we found it
to be pasteboard； or； more properly； _papier mache_； composed of papyrus。
It was thickly ornamented with paintings； representing funeral scenes； and
other mournful subjects interspersed among which； in every variety of
position； were certain series of hieroglyphical characters； intended； no
doubt； for the name of the departed。 By good luck； Mr。 Gliddon formed one
of our party； and he had no difficulty in translating the letters； which
were simply phonetic； and represented the word _Allamistakeo_。
We had some difficulty in getting this case open without injury； but
having at length accomplished the task； we came to a second；
coffin…shaped； and very considerably less in size than the exterior one；
but resembling it precisely in every other respect。 The interval between
the two was filled with resin； which had； in some degree； defaced the
colors of the interior box。
Upon opening this latter （which we did quite easily）； we arrived at a
third case； also coffin…shaped； and varying from the second one in no
particular； except in that of its material； which was cedar； and still
emitted the peculiar and highly aromatic odor of that wood。 Between the
second and the third case there was no interval the one fitting
accurately within the other。
Removing the third case； we discovered and took out the body itself。 We
had expected to find it； as usual； enveloped in frequent rolls； or
bandages； of linen； but； in place of these； we found a sort of sheath；
made of papyrus； and coated with a layer of plaster； thickly gilt and
painted。 The paintings represented subjects connected with the various
supposed duties of the soul； and its presentation to different divinities；
with numerous identical human figures； intended； very probably； as
portraits of the persons embalmed。 Extending from head to foot was a
columnar； or perpendicular； inscription； in phonetic hieroglyphics； giving
again his name and titles； and the names and titles of his relations。
Around the neck thus ensheathed； was a collar of cylindrical glass beads；
diverse in color； and so arranged as to form images of deities； of the
scarabaeus； etc； with the winged globe。 Around the small of the waist was
a similar collar or belt。
Stripping off the papyrus； we found the flesh in excellent preservation；
with no perceptible odor。 The color was red
