salammbo-第17章

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a　considerable　work；　afterwards　enlarged　by　the　Romans。　In　spite　of

her　disdain　of　other　nations；　Carthage　had　awkwardly　borrowed　this

novel　invention　from　them；　just　as　Rome　herself　had　built　Punic

galleys；　and　five　rows　of　superposed　arches；　of　a　dumpy　kind　of

architecture；　with　buttresses　at　their　foot　and　lions'　heads　at　the

top；　reached　to　the　western　part　of　the　Acropolis；　where　they　sank

beneath　the　town　to　incline　what　was　nearly　a　river　into　the　cisterns

of　Megara。



Spendius　met　Matho　here　at　the　hour　agreed　upon。　He　fastened　a　sort　of

harpoon　to　the　end　of　a　cord　and　whirled　it　rapidly　like　a　sling；　the

iron　instrument　caught　fast；　and　they　began　to　climb　up　the　wall；　the

one　after　the　other。



But　when　they　had　ascended　to　the　first　story　the　cramp　fell　back

every　time　that　they　threw　it；　and　in　order　to　discover　some　fissure

they　had　to　walk　along　the　edge　of　the　cornice。　At　every　row　of　arches

they　found　that　it　became　narrower。　Then　the　cord　relaxed。　Several

times　it　nearly　broke。



At　last　they　reached　the　upper　platform。　Spendius　stooped　down　from

time　to　time　to　feel　the　stones　with　his　hand。



〃Here　it　is；〃　he　said；　〃let　us　begin！〃　And　leaning　on　the　pick　which

Matho　had　brought　they　succeeded　in　dislodging　one　of　the　flagstones。



In　the　distance　they　perceived　a　troop　of　horse…men　galloping　on

horses　without　bridles。　Their　golden　bracelets　leaped　in　the　vague

drapings　of　their　cloaks。　A　man　could　be　seen　in　front　crowned　with

ostrich　feathers；　and　galloping　with　a　lance　in　each　hand。



〃Narr'　Havas！〃　exclaimed　Matho。



〃What　matter？〃　returned　Spendius；　and　he　leaped　into　the　hole　which

they　had　just　made　by　removing　the　flagstone。



Matho　at　his　command　tried　to　thrust　out　one　of　the　blocks。　But　he

could　not　move　his　elbows　for　want　of　room。



〃We　shall　return；〃　said　Spendius；　〃go　in　front。〃　Then　they　ventured

into　the　channel　of　water。



It　reached　to　their　waists。　Soon　they　staggered；　and　were　obliged　to

swim。　Their　limbs　knocked　against　the　walls　of　the　narrow　duct。　The

water　flowed　almost　immediately　beneath　the　stones　above；　and　their

faces　were　torn　by　them。　Then　the　current　carried　them　away。　Their

breasts　were　crushed　with　air　heavier　than　that　of　a　sepulchre；　and

stretching　themselves　out　as　much　as　possible　with　their　heads　between

their　arms　and　their　legs　close　together；　they　passed　like　arrows　into

the　darkness；　choking；　gurgling；　and　almost　dead。　Suddenly　all　became

black　before　them；　and　the　speed　of　the　waters　redoubled。　They　fell。



When　they　came　to　the　surface　again；　they　remained　for　a　few　minutes

extended　on　their　backs；　inhaling　the　air　delightfully。　Arcades；　one

behind　another；　opened　up　amid　large　walls　separating　the　various

basins。　All　were　filled；　and　the　water　stretched　in　a　single　sheet

throughout　the　length　of　the　cisterns。　Through　the　air…holes　in　the

cupolas　on　the　ceiling　there　fell　a　pale　brightness　which　spread　upon

the　waves　discs；　as　it　were；　of　light；　while　the　darkness　round　about

thickened　towards　the　walls　and　threw　them　back　to　an　indefinite

distance。　The　slightest　sound　made　a　great　echo。



Spendius　and　Matho　commenced　to　swim　again；　and　passing　through　the

opening　of　the　arches；　traversed　several　chambers　in　succession。　Two

other　rows　of　smaller　basins　extended　in　a　parallel　direction　on　each

side。　They　lost　themselves；　they　turned；　and　came　back　again。　At　last

something　offered　a　resistance　to　their　heels。　It　was　the　pavement　of

the　gallery　that　ran　along　the　cisterns。



Then；　advancing　with　great　precautions；　they　felt　along　the　wall　to

find　an　outlet。　But　their　feet　slipped；　and　they　fell　into　the　great

centre…basins。　They　had　to　climb　up　again；　and　there　they　fell　again。

They　experienced　terrible　fatigue；　which　made　them　feel　as　if　all

their　limbs　had　been　dissolved　in　the　water　while　swimming。　Their　eyes

closed；　they　were　in　the　agonies　of　death。



Spendius　struck　his　hand　against　the　bars　of　a　grating。　They　shook　it；

it　gave　way；　and　they　found　themselves　on　the　steps　of　a　staircase。　A

door　of　bronze　closed　it　above。　With　the　point　of　a　dagger　they　moved

the　bar；　which　was　opened　from　without；　and　suddenly　the　pure　open　air

surrounded　them。



The　night　was　filled　with　silence；　and　the　sky　seemed　at　an

extraordinary　height。　Clusters　of　trees　projected　over　the　long　lines

of　walls。　The　whole　town　was　asleep。　The　fires　of　the　outposts　shone

like　lost　stars。



Spendius；　who　had　spent　three　years　in　the　ergastulum；　was　but

imperfectly　acquainted　with　the　different　quarters。　Matho　conjectured

that　to　reach　Hamilcar's　palace　they　ought　to　strike　to　the　left　and

cross　the　Mappalian　district。



〃No；〃　said　Spendius；　〃take　me　to　the　temple　of　Tanith。〃



Matho　wished　to　speak。



〃Remember！〃　said　the　former　slave；　and　raising　his　arm　he　showed　him

the　glittering　planet　of　Chabar。



Then　Matho　turned　in　silence　towards　the　Acropolis。



They　crept　along　the　nopal　hedges　which　bordered　the　paths。　The　water

trickled　from　their　limbs　upon　the　dust。　Their　damp　sandals　made　no

noise；　Spendius；　with　eyes　that　flamed　more　than　torches；　searched　the

bushes　at　every　step；and　he　walked　behind　Matho　with　his　hands

resting　on　the　two　daggers　which　he　carried　on　his　arms；　and　which

hung　from　below　the　armpit　by　a　leathern　band。







CHAPTER　V



TANITH



After　leaving　the　gardens　Matho　and　Spendius　found　themselves　checked

by　the　rampart　of　Megara。　But　they　discovered　a　breach　in　the　great

wall　and　passed　through。



The　ground　sloped　downwards；　forming　a　kind　of　very　broad　valley。　It

was　an　exposed　place。



〃Listen；〃　said　Spendius；　〃and　first　of　all　fear　nothing！　I　shall

fulfil　my　promise〃



He　stopped　abruptly；　and　seemed　to　reflect　as　though　searching　for

words；〃Do　you　remember　that　time　at　sunrise　when　I　showed　Carthage

to　you　on　Salammbo's　terrace？　We　were　strong　that　day；　but　you　would

listen　to　nothing！〃　Then　in　a　grave　voice：　〃Master；　in　the　sanctuary

of　Tanith　there　is　a　mysterious　veil；　which　fell　from　heaven　and　which

covers　the　goddess。〃



〃I　know；〃　said　Matho。



Spendius　resumed：　〃It　is　itself　divine；　for　it　forms　part　of　her。　The

gods　reside　where　their　images　are。　It　is　because　Carthage　possesses

it　that　Carthage　is　powerful。〃　Then　leaning　over　to　his　ear：　〃I　have

brought　you　with　me　to　carry　it　off！〃



Matho　recoiled　in　horror。　〃Begone！　look　for　some　one　else！　I　will　not

help　you　in　this　execrable　crime！〃



〃But　Tanith　is　your　enemy；〃　retorted　Spendius；　〃she　is　persecuting　you

and　you　are　dying　through　her　wrath。　You　will　be　revenged　upon　her。

She　will　obey　you；　and　you　will　become　almost　immortal　and

invincible。〃



Matho　bent　his　head。　Spendius　continued：



〃We　should　succumb；　the　army　would　be　annihilated　of　itself。　We　have

neither　flight；　nor　succour；　nor　pardon　to　hope　for！　What　chastisement

from　the　gods　can　you　be　afraid　of　since　you　will　have　their　power　in

your　own　hands？　Would　you　rather　die　on　the　evening　of　a　defeat；　in

misery　beneath　the　shelter　of　a　bush；　or　amid　the　outrages　of　the

populace　and　the　flames　of　funeral　piles？　Master；　one　day　you　will

enter　Carthage　among　the　colleges　of　the　pontiffs；　who　will　kiss　your

sandals；　and　if　the　veil　of　Tanith　weighs　upon　you　still；　you　will

reinstate　it　in　its　temple。　Follow　me！　come　and　take　it。〃



Matho　was　consumed　by　a　terrible　longing。　He　would　have　liked　to

possess　the　veil　while　refraining　from　the　sacrilege。　He　said　to

himself　that　perhaps　it　would　not　be　necessary　to　take　it　in　order　to

monopolise　its　virtue。　He　did　not　go　to　the　bottom　of　his　thought　but

stopped　at　the　boundary；　where　it　terrified　him。



〃Come　on！〃　he　said；　and　they　went　off　with　rapid　strides；　side　by

side；　and　without　speaking。



The　ground　rose　again；　and　the　dwellings　were　near。　They　turned　again

into　the　narrow　streets　amid　the　darkness。　The　strips　of　esparto…grass

with　which　the