salammbo-第15节
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body to solid stakes； and were offered food at the point of the
javelin。
Autaritus overwhelmed them with invectives as he inspected them； but
being quite ignorant of his language they made no reply； and the Gaul
from time to time threw pebbles at their faces to make them cry out。
The next day a sort of languor took possession of the army。 Now that
their anger was over they were seized with anxiety。 Matho was
suffering from vague melancholy。 It seemed to him that Salammbo had
indirectly been insulted。 These rich men were a kind of appendage to
her person。 He sat down in the night on the edge of the pit； and
recognised in their groanings something of the voice of which his
heart was full。
All； however； upbraided the Libyans； who alone had been paid。 But
while national antipathies revived； together with personal hatreds； it
was felt that it would be perilous to give way to them。 Reprisals
after such an outrage would be formidable。 It was necessary；
therefore； to anticipate the vengeance of Carthage。 Conventions and
harangues never ceased。 Every one spoke； no one was listened to；
Spendius； usually so loquacious； shook his head at every proposal。
One evening he asked Matho carelessly whether there were not springs
in the interior of the town。
〃Not one！〃 replied Matho。
The next day Spendius drew him aside to the bank of the lake。
〃Master！〃 said the former slave； 〃If your heart is dauntless； I will
bring you into Carthage。〃
〃How？〃 repeated the other； panting。
〃Swear to execute all my commands and to follow me like a shadow！〃
Then Matho； raising his arm towards the planet of Chabar； exclaimed：
〃By Tanith； I swear！〃
Spendius resumed：
〃To…morrow after sunset you will wait for me at the foot of the
aqueduct between the ninth and tenth arcades。 Bring with you an iron
pick； a crestless helmet； and leathern sandals。〃
The aqueduct of which he spoke crossed the entire isthmus obliquely；
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 t
