salammbo-第10节

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CHAPTER　III



SALAMMBO



The　moon　was　rising　just　above　the　waves；　and　on　the　town　which　was

still　wrapped　in　darkness　there　glittered　white　and　luminous　specks：

the　pole　of　a　chariot；　a　dangling　rag　of　linen；　the　corner　of　a　wall；

or　a　golden　necklace　on　the　bosom　of　a　god。　The　glass　balls　on　the

roofs　of　the　temples　beamed　like　great　diamonds　here　and　there。　But

ill…defined　ruins；　piles　of　black　earth；　and　gardens　formed　deeper

masses　in　the　gloom；　and　below　Malqua　fishermen's　nets　stretched　from

one　house　to　another　like　gigantic　bats　spreading　their　wings。　The

grinding　of　the　hydraulic　wheels　which　conveyed　water　to　the　highest

storys　of　the　palaces；　was　no　longer　heard；　and　the　camels；　lying

ostrich　fashion　on　their　stomachs；　rested　peacefully　in　the　middle　of

the　terraces。　The　porters　were　asleep　in　the　streets　on　the　thresholds

of　the　houses；　the　shadows　of　the　colossuses　stretched　across　the

deserted　squares；　occasionally　in　the　distance　the　smoke　of　a　still

burning　sacrifice　would　escape　through　the　bronze　tiling；　and　the

heavy　breeze　would　waft　the　odours　of　aromatics　blended　with　the　scent

of　the　sea　and　the　exhalation　from　the　sun…heated　walls。　The

motionless　waves　shone　around　Carthage；　for　the　moon　was　spreading　her

light　at　once　upon　the　mountain…circled　gulf　and　upon　the　lake　of

Tunis；　where　flamingoes　formed　long　rose…coloured　lines　amid　the　banks

of　sand；　while　further　on　beneath　the　catacombs　the　great　salt　lagoon

shimmered　like　a　piece　of　silver。　The　blue　vault　of　heaven　sank　on　the

horizon　in　one　direction　into　the　dustiness　of　the　plains；　and　in　the

other　into　the　mists　of　the　sea；　and　on　the　summit　of　the　Acropolis；

the　pyramidal　cypress　trees；　fringing　the　temple　of　Eschmoun；　swayed

murmuring　like　the　regular　waves　that　beat　slowly　along　the　mole

beneath　the　ramparts。



Salammbo　ascended　to　the　terrace　of　her　palace；　supported　by　a　female

slave　who　carried　an　iron　dish　filled　with　live　coals。



In　the　middle　of　the　terrace　there　was　a　small　ivory　bed　covered　with

lynx　skins；　and　cushions　made　with　the　feathers　of　the　parrot；　a

fatidical　animal　consecrated　to　the　gods；　and　at　the　four　corners　rose

four　long　perfuming…pans　filled　with　nard；　incense；　cinnamomum；　and

myrrh。　The　slave　lit　the　perfumes。　Salammbo　looked　at　the　polar　star；

she　slowly　saluted　the　four　points　of　heaven；　and　knelt　down　on　the

ground　in　the　azure　dust　which　was　strewn　with　golden　stars　in

imitation　of　the　firmament。　Then　with　both　elbows　against　her　sides；

her　fore…arms　straight　and　her　hands　open；　she　threw　back　her　head

beneath　the　rays　of　the　moon；　and　said：



〃O　Rabetna！Baalet！Tanith！〃　and　her　voice　was　lengthened　in　a

plaintive　fashion　as　if　calling　to　some　one。　〃Anaitis！　Astarte！

Derceto！　Astoreth！　Mylitta！　Athara！　Elissa！　Tiratha！By　the　hidden

symbols；　by　the　resounding　sistra；by　the　furrows　of　the　earth；by

the　eternal　silence　and　by　the　eternal　fruitfulness；mistress　of　the

gloomy　sea　and　of　the　azure　shores；　O　Queen　of　the　watery　world；　all

hail！〃



She　swayed　her　whole　body　twice　or　thrice；　and　then　cast　herself　face

downwards　in　the　dust　with　both　arms　outstretched。



But　the　slave　nimbly　raised　her；　for　according　to　the　rites　someone

must　catch　the　suppliant　at　the　moment　of　his　prostration；　this　told

him　that　the　gods　accepted　him；　and　Salammbo's　nurse　never　failed　in

this　pious　duty。



Some　merchants　from　Darytian　Gaetulia　had　brought　her　to　Carthage　when

quite　young；　and　after　her　enfranchisement　she　would　not　forsake　her

old　masters；　as　was　shown　by　her　right　ear；　which　was　pierced　with　a

large　hole。　A　petticoat　of　many…coloured　stripes　fitted　closely　on　her

hips；　and　fell　to　her　ankles；　where　two　tin　rings　clashed　together。

Her　somewhat　flat　face　was　yellow　like　her　tunic。　Silver　bodkins　of

great　length　formed　a　sun　behind　her　head。　She　wore　a　coral　button　on

the　nostril；　and　she　stood　beside　the　bed　more　erect　than　a　Hermes；

and　with　her　eyelids　cast　down。



Salammbo　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　terrace；　her　eyes　swept　the　horizon

for　an　instant；　and　then　were　lowered　upon　the　sleeping　town；　while

the　sigh　that　she　heaved　swelled　her　bosom；　and　gave　an　undulating

movement　to　the　whole　length　of　the　long　white　simar　which　hung

without　clasp　or　girdle　about　her。　Her　curved　and　painted　sandals　were

hidden　beneath　a　heap　of　emeralds；　and　a　net　of　purple　thread　was

filled　with　her　disordered　hair。



But　she　raised　her　head　to　gaze　upon　the　moon；　and　murmured；　mingling

her　speech　with　fragments　of　hymns：



〃How　lightly　turnest　thou；　supported　by　the　impalpable　ether！　It

brightens　about　thee；　and　'tis　the　stir　of　thine　agitation　that

distributes　the　winds　and　fruitful　dews。　According　as　thou　dost　wax

and　wane　the　eyes　of　cats　and　spots　of　panthers　lengthen　or　grow

short。　Wives　shriek　thy　name　in　the　pangs　of　childbirth！　Thou　makest

the　shells　to　swell；　the　wine　to　bubble；　and　the　corpse　to　putrefy！

Thou　formest　the　pearls　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea！



〃And　every　germ；　O　goddess！　ferments　in　the　dark　depths　of　thy

moisture。



〃When　thou　appearest；　quietness　is　spread　abroad　upon　the　earth；　the

flowers　close；　the　waves　are　soothed；　wearied　man　stretches　his　breast

toward　thee；　and　the　world　with　its　oceans　and　mountains　looks　at

itself　in　thy　face　as　in　a　mirror。　Thou　art　white；　gentle；　luminous；

immaculate；　helping；　purifying；　serene！〃



The　crescent　of　the　moon　was　then　over　the　mountain　of　the　Hot

Springs；　in　the　hollow　formed　by　its　two　summits；　on　the　other　side　of

the　gulf。　Below　it　there　was　a　little　star；　and　all　around　it　a　pale

circle。　Salammbo　went　on：



〃But　thou　art　a　terrible　mistress！Monsters；　terrifying　phantoms；　and

lying　dreams　come　from　thee；　thine　eyes　devour　the　stones　of

buildings；　and　the　apes　are　ever　ill　each　time　thou　growest　young

again。



〃Whither　goest　thou？　Why　dost　thou　change　thy　forms　continually？　Now；

slender　and　curved　thou　glidest　through　space　like　a　mastless　galley；

and　then；　amid　the　stars；　thou　art　like　a　shepherd　keeping　his　flock。

Shining　and　round；　thou　dost　graze　the　mountain…tops　like　the　wheel　of

a　chariot。



〃O　Tanith！　thou　dost　love　me？　I　have　looked　so　much　on　thee！　But　no！

thou　sailest　through　thine　azure；　and　II　remain　on　the　motionless

earth。



〃Taanach；　take　your　nebal　and　play　softly　on　the　silver　string；　for　my

heart　is　sad！〃



The　slave　lifted　a　sort　of　harp　of　ebony　wood；　taller　than　herself；

and　triangular　in　shape　like　a　delta；　she　fixed　the　point　in　a　crystal

globe；　and　with　both　hands　began　to　play。



The　sounds　followed　one　another　hurried　and　deep；　like　the　buzzing　of

bees；　and　with　increasing　sonorousness　floated　away　into　the　night

with　the　complaining　of　the　waves；　and　the　rustling　of　the　great　trees

on　the　summit　of　the　Acropolis。



〃Hush！〃　cried　Salammbo。



〃What　ails　you；　mistress？　The　blowing　of　the　breeze；　the　passing　of　a

cloud；　everything　disquiets　you　just　now！〃



〃I　do　not　know；〃　she　said。



〃You　are　wearied　with　too　long　prayers！〃



〃Oh！　Tanaach；　I　would　fain　be　dissolved　in　them　like　a　flower　in

wine！〃



〃Perhaps　it　is　the　smoke　of　your　perfumes？〃



〃No！〃　said　Salammbo；　〃the　spirit　of　the　gods　dwells　in　fragrant

odours。〃



Then　the　slave　spoke　to　her　of　her　father。　It　was　thought　that　he　had

gone　towards　the　amber　country；　behind　the　pillars　of　Melkarth。　〃But

if　he　does　not　return；〃　she　said；　〃you　must　nevertheless；　since　it　was

his　will；　choose　a　husband　among　the　sons　of　the　Ancients；　and　then

your　grief　will　pass　away　in　a　man's　arms。〃



〃Why？〃　asked　the　young　girl。　All　those　that　she　had　seen　had　horrified

her　with　their　fallow…deer　laughter　and　their　coarse　limbs。



〃Sometimes；　Tanaach；　from　the　depths　of　my　being　there　exhale　as　it

were　hot　fumes　heavier　than　the　vapours　from　a　volcano。　Voices　call

me；　a　globe　of　fire　rolls　and　mounts　within　my　bosom；　it　stifles　me；　I

am　at　the　point　of　death；　and　then；　something　sweet；　flowing　from　my

brow　to　my　feet；　passes　through　my　fleshit　is　a　caress　enfolding　me；

and　I　feel　myself　crushed　as　if　some　god　were　stretched　upon　me。　Oh！

would　that　I　could　lose　myself　in　the　mists　of　the　night；　the　waters

of　the　fountains；　the　sap　of　the　trees；　that　I　could　issue　from　my

body；　and　be　but　a　breath；　or　a　ray；　and　glide；　mount　up　to　thee；　O

Mother！〃



She　raised　her　arms　to　their　full　length；　arching　her　form；　which　in

its　long　garment　was　as　pale　and　light　as　the　moon。　Then　she　fell

back；　panting；　on　the　ivory　couch；　but　Taanach　passed　an　amber

necklace　with　dolphin's　teeth　about　her　neck　to　banish　terrors；　and

Salammbo　said　in　an　almost　stifled　voice：　〃Go　and　bring　me

Schahabarim。〃



Her　father　had　not　wished　her　to　enter　the　college　of　priestesses；　nor

even　to　be　made　at　all　acquainted　with　the　popular　Tanith。　He　was

reserving　her　for　some　alliance　that　might　serve　his　political　ends；

so　that　Salammbo　lived　alone　in