salammbo-第23节
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presently！〃
He was breathing like a hippopotamus and rolling his eyes。 The
perfumed oil overflowed beneath the mass of his body； and clinging to
the scales on his skin； made it look pink in the light of the torches。
He resumed：
〃For four days we suffered greatly from the sun。 Some mules were lost
in crossing the Macaras。 In spite of their position； the extraordinary
courage Ah！ Demonades！ how I suffer！ Have the bricks reheated； and
let them be red…hot！〃
A noise of rakes and furnaces was heard。 The incense smoked more
strongly in the large perfuming pans； and the shampooers； who were
quite naked and were sweating like sponges； crushed a paste composed
of wheat； sulphur； black wine； bitch's milk； myrrh； galbanum and
storax upon his joints。 He was consumed with incessant thirst； but the
yellow…robed man did not yield to this inclination； and held out to
him a golden cup in which viper broth was smoking。
〃Drink！〃 said he； 〃that strength of sun…born serpents may penetrate
into the marrow of your bones； and take courage； O reflection of the
gods！ You know； moreover； that a priest of Eschmoun watches those
cruel stars round the Dog from which your malady is derived。 They are
growing pale like the spots on your skin； and you are not to die from
them。〃
〃Oh！ yes； that is so； is it not？〃 repeated the Suffet； 〃I am not to
die from them！〃 And his violaceous lips gave forth a breath more
nauseous than the exhalation from a corpse。 Two coals seemed to burn
in the place of his eyes； which had lost their eyebrows； a mass of
wrinkled skin hung over his forehead； both his ears stood out from his
head and were beginning to increase in size； and the deep lines
forming semicircles round his nostrils gave him a strange and
terrifying appearance； the look of a wild beast。 His unnatural voice
was like a roar； he said：
〃Perhaps you are right； Demonades。 In fact there are many ulcers here
which have closed。 I feel robust。 Here！ look how I am eating！〃
And less from greediness than from ostentation； and the desire to
prove to himself that he was in good health； he cut into the
forcemeats of cheese and marjoram； the boned fish； gourds； oysters
with eggs； horse…radishes； truffles； and brochettes of small birds。 As
he looked at the prisoners he revelled in the imagination of their
tortures。 Nevertheless he remembered Sicca； and the rage caused by all
his woes found vent in the abuse of these three men。
〃Ah！ traitors！ ah！ wretches！ infamous； accursed creatures！ And you
outraged me！me！ the Suffet！ Their services； the price of their
blood； say they！ Ah！ yes！ their blood！ their blood！〃 Then speaking to
himself：〃All shall perish！ not one shall be sold！ It would be better
to bring them to Carthage！ I should be seenbut doubtless； I have not
brought chains enough？ Write： Send meHow many of them are there？ go
and ask Muthumbal！ Go！ no pity！ and let all their hands be cut off and
brought to me in baskets！〃
But strange cries at once hoarse and shrill penetrated into the hall
above Hanno's voice and the rattling of the dishes that were being
placed around him。 They increased； and suddenly the furious trumpeting
of the elephants burst forth as if the battle were beginning again。 A
great tumult was going on around the town。
The Carthaginians had not attempted to pursue the Barbarians。 They had
taken up their quarters at the foot of the walls with their baggage；
mules； serving men； and all their train of satraps； and they made
merry in their beautiful pearl…bordered tents； while the camp of the
Mercenaries was now nothing but a heap of ruins in the plain。 Spendius
had recovered his courage。 He dispatched Zarxas to Matho； scoured the
woods； rallied his men （the losses had been inconsiderable）；and they
were re…forming their lines enraged at having been conquered without a
fight； when they discovered a vat of petroleum which had no doubt been
abandoned by the Carthaginians。 Then Spendius had some pigs carried
off from the farms； smeared them with bitumen； set them on fire； and
drove them towards Utica。
The elephants were terrified by the flames and fled。 The ground sloped
upwards； javelins were thrown at them； and they turned back；and with
great blows of ivory and trampling feet they ripped up the
Carthaginians； stifled them； flattened them。 The Barbarians descended
the hill behind them； the Punic camp； which was without entrenchments
was sacked at the first rush； and the Carthaginians were crushed
against the gates； which were not opened through fear of the
Mercenaries。
Day broke； and Matho's foot…soldiers were seen coming up from the
west。 At the same time horsemen appeared； they were Narr' Havas with
his Numidians。 Leaping ravines and bushes they ran down the fugitives
like greyhounds pursuing hares。 This change of fortune interrupted the
Suffet。 He called out to be assisted to leave the vapour bath。
The three captives were still before him。 Then a Negro （the same who
had carried his parasol in the battle） leaned over to his ear。
〃Well？〃 replied the Suffet slowly。 〃Ah！ kill them！〃 he added in an
abrupt tone。
The Ethiopian drew a long dagger from his girdle and the three heads
fell。 One of them rebounded among the remains of the feast； and leaped
into the basin； where it floated for some time with open mouth and
staring eyes。 The morning light entered through the chinks in the
wall； the three bodies streamed with great bubbles like three
fountains； and a sheet of blood flowed over the mosaics with their
powdering of blue dust。 The Suffet dipped his hand into this hot mire
and rubbed his knees with it： it was a cure。
When evening had come he stole away from the town with his escort； and
made his way into the mountain to rejoin his army。
He succeeded in finding the remains of it。
Four days afterward he was on the top of a defile at Gorza； when the
troops under Spendius appeared below。 Twenty stout lances might easily
have checked them by attacking the head of their column； but the
Carthaginians watched them pass by in a state of stupefaction。 Hanno
recognised the king of the Numidians in the rearguard； Narr' Havas
bowed to him； at the same time making a sign which he did not
understand。
The return to Carthage took place amid all kinds of terrors。 They
marched only at night； hiding in the olive woods during the day。 There
were deaths at every halting…place； several times they believed
themselves lost。 At last they reached Cape Hermaeum； where vessels
came to receive them。
Hanno was so fatigued； so desperatethe loss of the elephants in
particular overwhelmed himthat he demanded poison from Demonades in
order to put an end to it all。 Moreover he could already feel himself
stretched upon the cross。
Carthage had not strength enough to be indignant with him。 Its losses
had amounted to one hundred thousand nine hundred and seventy…two
shekels of silver； fifteen thousand six hundred and twenty…three
shekels of gold； eighteen elephants； fourteen members of the Great
Council； three hundred of the rich； eight thousand citizens； corn
enough for three moons； a considerable quantity of baggage； and all
the engines of war！ The defection of Narr' Havas was certain； and both
sieges were beginning again。 The army under Autaritus now extended
from Tunis to Rhades。 From the top of the Acropolis long columns of
smoke might be seen in the country ascending to the sky； they were the
mansions of the rich； which were on fire。
One man alone could have saved the Republic。 People repented that they
had slighted him； and the peace party itself voted holocausts for
Hamilcar's return。
The sight of the zaimph had upset Salammbo。 At night she thought that
she could hear the footsteps of the goddess； and she would awake
terrified and shrieking。 Every day she sent food to the temples。
Taanach was worn out with executing her orders； and Schahabarim never
left her。
CHAPTER VII
HAMILCAR BARCA
The Announcer of the Moons； who watched on the summit of the temple of
Eschmoun every night in order to signal the disturbances of the planet
with his trumpet； one morning perceived towards the west something
like a bird skimming the surface of the sea with its long wings。
It was a ship with three tiers of oars and with a horse carved on the
prow。 The sun was rising； the Announcer of the Moons put up his hand
before his eyes； and then grasping his clarion with outstretched arms
sounded a loud brazen cry over Carthage。
People came out of every house； they would not believe what was said；
they disputed with one another； the mole was covered with people。 At
last they recognised Hamilcar's trireme。
It advanced in fierce and haughty fashion； cleaving the foam around
it； the lateen…yard quite square and the sail bulging down the whole
length of the mast； its gigantic oars kept time as they beat
