salammbo-第3章

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Carthage；　in　another　garden　full　of　trimmed　vegetation。　Lines　of　white

flowers　all　following　one　another　in　regular　succession　formed　long

parabolas　like　star…rockets　on　the　azure…coloured　earth。　The　gloomy

bushes　exhaled　warm　and　honied　odours。　There　were　trunks　of　trees

smeared　with　cinnabar；　which　resembled　columns　covered　with　blood。　In

the　centre　were　twelve　pedestals；　each　supporting　a　great　glass　ball；

and　these　hollow　globes　were　indistinctly　filled　with　reddish　lights；

like　enormous　and　still　palpitating　eyeballs。　The　soldiers　lighted

themselves　with　torches　as　they　stumbled　on　the　slope　of　the　deeply

laboured　soil。



But　they　perceived　a　little　lake　divided　into　several　basins　by　walls

of　blue　stones。　So　limpid　was　the　wave　that　the　flames　of　the　torches

quivered　in　it　at　the　very　bottom；　on　a　bed　of　white　pebbles　and

golden　dust。　It　began　to　bubble；　luminous　spangles　glided　past；　and

great　fish　with　gems　about　their　mouths；　appeared　near　the　surface。



With　much　laughter　the　soldiers　slipped　their　fingers　into　the　gills

and　brought　them　to　the　tables。　They　were　the　fish　of　the　Barca

family；　and　were　all　descended　from　those　primordial　lotes　which　had

hatched　the　mystic　egg　wherein　the　goddess　was　concealed。　The　idea　of

committing　a　sacrilege　revived　the　greediness　of　the　Mercenaries；　they

speedily　placed　fire　beneath　some　brazen　vases；　and　amused　themselves

by　watching　the　beautiful　fish　struggling　in　the　boiling　water。



The　surge　of　soldiers　pressed　on。　They　were　no　longer　afraid。　They

commenced　to　drink　again。　Their　ragged　tunics　were　wet　with　the

perfumes　that　flowed　in　large　drops　from　their　foreheads；　and　resting

both　fists　on　the　tables；　which　seemed　to　them　to　be　rocking　like

ships；　they　rolled　their　great　drunken　eyes　around　to　devour　by　sight

what　they　could　not　take。　Others　walked　amid　the　dishes　on　the　purple

table　covers；　breaking　ivory　stools；　and　phials　of　Tyrian　glass　to

pieces　with　their　feet。　Songs　mingled　with　the　death…rattle　of　the

slaves　expiring　amid　the　broken　cups。　They　demanded　wine；　meat；　gold。

They　cried　out　for　women。　They　raved　in　a　hundred　languages。　Some

thought　that　they　were　at　the　vapour　baths　on　account　of　the　steam

which　floated　around　them；　or　else；　catching　sight　of　the　foliage；

imagined　that　they　were　at　the　chase；　and　rushed　upon　their　companions

as　upon　wild　beasts。　The　conflagration　spread　to　all　the　trees；　one

after　another；　and　the　lofty　mosses　of　verdure；　emitting　long　white

spirals；　looked　like　volcanoes　beginning　to　smoke。　The　clamour

redoubled；　the　wounded　lions　roared　in　the　shade。



In　an　instant　the　highest　terrace　of　the　palace　was　illuminated；　the

central　door　opened；　and　a　woman；　Hamilcar's　daughter　herself；　clothed

in　black　garments；　appeared　on　the　threshold。　She　descended　the　first

staircase；　which　ran　obliquely　along　the　first　story；　then　the　second；

and　the　third；　and　stopped　on　the　last　terrace　at　the　head　of　the

galley　staircase。　Motionless　and　with　head　bent；　she　gazed　upon　the

soldiers。



Behind　her；　on　each　side；　were　two　long　shadows　of　pale　men；　clad　in

white；　red…fringed　robes；　which　fell　straight　to　their　feet。　They　had

no　beard；　no　hair；　no　eyebrows。　In　their　hands；　which　sparkled　with

rings；　they　carried　enormous　lyres；　and　with　shrill　voice　they　sang　a

hymn　to　the　divinity　of　Carthage。　They　were　the　eunuch　priests　of　the

temple　of　Tanith；　who　were　often　summoned　by　Salammbo　to　her　house。



At　last　she　descended　the　galley　staircase。　The　priests　followed　her。

She　advanced　into　the　avenue　of　cypress；　and　walked　slowly　through　the

tables　of　the　captains；　who　drew　back　somewhat　as　they　watched　her

pass。



Her　hair；　which　was　powdered　with　violet　sand；　and　combined　into　the

form　of　a　tower；　after　the　fashion　of　the　Chanaanite　maidens；　added　to

her　height。　Tresses　of　pearls　were　fastened　to　her　temples；　and　fell

to　the　corners　of　her　mouth；　which　was　as　rosy　as　a　half…open

pomegranate。　On　her　breast　was　a　collection　of　luminous　stones；　their

variegation　imitating　the　scales　of　the　murena。　Her　arms　were　adorned

with　diamonds；　and　issued　naked　from　her　sleeveless　tunic；　which　was

starred　with　red　flowers　on　a　perfectly　black　ground。　Between　her

ankles　she　wore　a　golden　chainlet　to　regulate　her　steps；　and　her　large

dark　purple　mantle；　cut　of　an　unknown　material；　trailed　behind　her；

making；　as　it　were；　at　each　step；　a　broad　wave　which　followed　her。



The　priests　played　nearly　stifled　chords　on　their　lyres　from　time　to

time；　and　in　the　intervals　of　the　music　might　be　heard　the　tinkling　of

the　little　golden　chain；　and　the　regular　patter　of　her　papyrus

sandals。



No　one　as　yet　was　acquainted　with　her。　It　was　only　known　that　she　led

a　retired　life；　engaged　in　pious　practices。　Some　soldiers　had　seen　her

in　the　night　on　the　summit　of　her　palace　kneeling　before　the　stars

amid　the　eddyings　from　kindled　perfuming…pans。　It　was　the　moon　that

had　made　her　so　pale；　and　there　was　something　from　the　gods　that

enveloped　her　like　a　subtle　vapour。　Her　eyes　seemed　to　gaze　far　beyond

terrestrial　space。　She　bent　her　head　as　she　walked；　and　in　her　right

hand　she　carried　a　little　ebony　lyre。



They　heard　her　murmur：



〃Dead！　All　dead！　No　more　will　you　come　obedient　to　my　voice　as　when；

seated　on　the　edge　of　the　lake；　I　used　to　through　seeds　of　the

watermelon　into　your　mouths！　The　mystery　of　Tanith　ranged　in　the

depths　of　your　eyes　that　were　more　limpid　than　the　globules　of

rivers。〃　And　she　called　them　by　their　names；　which　were　those　of　the

months〃Siv！　Sivan！　Tammouz；　Eloul；　Tischri；　Schebar！　Ah！　have　pity

on　me；　goddess！〃



The　soldiers　thronged　about　her　without　understanding　what　she　said。

They　wondered　at　her　attire；　but　she　turned　a　long　frightened　look

upon　them　all；　then　sinking　her　head　beneath　her　shoulders；　and　waving

her　arms；　she　repeated　several　times：



〃What　have　you　done？　what　have　you　done？



〃Yet　you　had　bread；　and　meats　and　oil；　and　all　the　malobathrum　of　the

granaries　for　your　enjoyment！　I　had　brought　oxen　from　Hecatompylos；　I

had　sent　hunters　into　the　desert！〃　Her　voice　swelled；　her　cheeks

purpled。　She　added；　〃Where；　pray；　are　you　now？　In　a　conquered　town；　or

in　the　palace　of　a　master？　And　what　master？　Hamilcar　the　Suffet；　my

father；　the　servant　of　the　Baals！　It　was　he　who　withheld　from　Lutatius

those　arms　of　yours；　red　now　with　the　blood　of　his　slaves！　Know　you　of

any　in　your　own　lands　more　skilled　in　the　conduct　of　battles？　Look！

our　palace　steps　are　encumbered　with　our　victories！　Ah！　desist　not！

burn　it！　I　will　carry　away　with　me　the　genius　of　my　house；　my　black

serpent　slumbering　up　yonder　on　lotus　leaves！　I　will　whistle　and　he

will　follow　me；　and　if　I　embark　in　a　galley　he　will　speed　in　the　wake

of　my　ship　over　the　foam　of　the　waves。〃



Her　delicate　nostrils　were　quivering。　She　crushed　her　nails　against

the　gems　on　her　bosom。　Her　eyes　drooped；　and　she　resumed：



〃Ah！　poor　Carthage！　lamentable　city！　No　longer　hast　thou　for　thy

protection　the　strong　men　of　former　days　who　went　beyond　the　oceans　to

build　temples　on　their　shores。　All　the　lands　laboured　about　thee；　and

the　sea…plains；　ploughed　by　thine　oars；　rocked　with　thy　harvests。〃

Then　she　began　to　sing　the　adventures　of　Melkarth；　the　god　of　the

Sidonians；　and　the　father　of　her　family。



She　told　of　the　ascent　of　the　mountains　of　Ersiphonia；　the　journey　to

Tartessus；　and　the　war　against　Masisabal　to　avenge　the　queen　of　the

serpents：



〃He　pursued　the　female　monster；　whose　tail　undulated　over　the　dead

leaves　like　a　silver　brook；　into　the　forest；　and　came　to　a　plain　where

women　with　dragon…croups　were　round　a　great　fire；　standing　erect　on

the　points　of　their　tails。　The　blood…coloured　moon　was　shining　within

a　pale　circle；　and　their　scarlet　tongues；　cloven　like　the　harpoons　of

fishermen；　reached　curling　forth　to　the　very　edge　of　the　flame。〃



Then　Salammbo；　without　pausing；　related　how　Melkarth；　after

vanquishing