the works of edgar allan poe-5-第21节
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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 reddish。 The skin was hard；
smooth； and glossy。 The teeth and hair were in good condition。 The eyes
（it seemed） had been removed； and glass ones substituted； which were very
beautiful and wonderfully life…like； with the exception of somewhat too
determined a stare。 The fingers and the nails were brilliantly gilded。
Mr。 Gliddon was of opinion； from the redness of the epidermis； that the
embalmment had been effected altogether by asphaltum； but； on scraping the
surface with a steel instrument； and throwing into the fire some of the
powder thus obtained； the flavor of camphor and other sweet…scented gums
became apparent。
We searched the corpse very carefully for the usual openings through which
the entrails are extracted； but； to our surprise； we could discover none。
No member of the party was at that period aware that entire or unopened
mummies are not infrequently met。 The brain it was customary to withdraw
through the nose； the intestines through an incision in the side； the body
was then shaved； washed； and salted； then laid aside for several weeks；
when the operation of embalming； properly so called； began。
As no trace of an opening could be found； Doctor Ponnonner was preparing
his instruments for dissection； when I observed that it was then past two
o'clock。 Hereupon it was agreed to postpone the internal examination until
the next evening； and we were about to separate for the present； when some
one suggested an experiment or two with the Voltaic pile。
The application of electricity to a mummy three or four thousand years old
at the least； was an idea； if not very sage； still sufficiently original；
and we all caught it at once。 About one…tenth in earnest and nine…tenths
in jest； we arranged a battery in the Doctor's study； and conveyed thither
the Egyptian。
It was only after much trouble that we succeeded in laying bare some
portions of the temporal muscle which appeared of less stony rigidity than
other parts of the frame； but which； as we had anticipated； of course；
gave no indication of galvanic susceptibility when brought in contact with
the wire。 This； the first trial； indeed； seemed decisive； and； with a
hearty laugh at our own absurdity； we were bidding each other good night；
when my eyes； happening to fall upon those of the Mummy； were there
immediately riveted in amazement。 My brief glance； in fact； had sufficed
to assure me that the orbs which we had all supposed to be glass； and
which were originally noticeable for a certain wild stare； were now so far
covered by the lids； that only a small portion of the _tunica albuginea_
remained visible。
With a shout I called attention to the fact； and it became immediately
obvious to all。
I cannot say that I was alarmed at the phenomenon； because 〃alarmed〃 is；
in my case； not exactly the word。 It is possible； however； that； but for
the Brown Stout； I might have been a little nervous。 As for the rest of
the company； they really made no attempt at concealing the downright
fright which possessed them。 Doctor Ponnonner was a man to be pitied。 Mr。
Gliddon； by some peculiar process； rendered himself invisible。 Mr。 Silk
Buckingham； I fancy； will scarcely be so bold as to deny that he made his
way； upon all fours； under the table。
After the first shock of astonishment； however； we resolved； as a matter
of course； upon further experiment forthwith。 Our operations were now
directed against the great toe of the right foot。 We made an incision over
the outside of the exterior _os sesamoideum pollicis pedis；_ and thus got
at the root of the abductor muscle。 Readjusting the battery； we now
applied the fluid to the bisected nerves when； with a movement of
exceeding life…likeness； the Mummy first drew up its right knee so as to
bring it nearly in contact with the abdomen； and then； straightening the
limb with inconceivable force； bestowed a kick upon Doctor Ponnonner；
which had the effect of discharging that gentleman； like an arrow from a
catapult； through a window into the street below。
We rushed out _en masse_ to bring in the mangled remains of the victim；
but had the happiness to meet him upon the staircase； coming up in an
unaccountable hurry； brimful of the most ardent philosophy； and more than
ever impressed with the necessity of prosecuting our experiment with vigor
and with zeal。
It was by his advice； accordingly； that we made； upon the spot； a profound
incision into the tip of the subject's nose； while the Doctor himself；
laying violent hands upon it； pulled it into vehement contact with the
wire。
Morally and physically figuratively and literally was the effect
electric。 In the first place； the corpse opened its eyes and winked very
rapidly for several minutes； as does Mr。 Barnes in the pantomime； in the
second place； it sneezed； in the third； it sat upon end； in the fourth； it
shook its fist in Doctor Ponnonner's face； in the fifth； turning to
Messieurs Gliddon and Buckingham； it addressed them； in very capital
Egyptian；
