salammbo-第42节
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He rolled between his fingers the extremities of the bands which fell
from his tiara upon his shoulders； standing motionless with eyes cast
down。 At last seeing that she did not understand：
〃You will be alone with him。〃
〃Well？〃 she said。
〃Alone in his tent。〃
〃What then？〃
Schahabarim bit his lips。 He sought for some phrase； some
circumlocution。
〃If you are to die； that will be later；〃 he said； 〃later！ fear
nothing！ and whatever he may undertake to do； do not call out！ do not
be frightened！ You will be humble； you understand； and submissive to
his desire； which is ordained of heaven！〃
〃But the veil？〃
〃The gods will take thought for it；〃 replied Schahabarim。
〃Suppose you were to accompany me； O father？〃 she added。
〃No！〃
He made her kneel down； and keeping his left hand raised and his right
extended； he swore in her behalf to bring back the mantle of Tanith
into Carthage。 With terrible imprecations she devoted herself to the
gods； and each time that Schahabarim pronounced a word she falteringly
repeated it。
He indicated to her all the purifications and fastings that she was to
observe； and how she was to reach Matho。 Moreover； a man acquainted
with the routes would accompany her。
She felt as if she had been set free。 She thought only of the
happiness of seeing the zaimph again； and she now blessed Schahabarim
for his exhortations。
It was the period at which the doves of Carthage migrated to Sicily to
the mountain of Eryx and the temple of Venus。 For several days before
their departure they sought out and called to one another so as to
collect together； at last one evening they flew away； the wind blew
them along； and the big white cloud glided across the sky high above
the sea。
The horizon was filled with the colour of blood。 They seemed to
descend gradually to the waves； then they disappeared as though
swallowed up； and falling of themselves into the jaws of the sun。
Salammbo； who watched them retiring； bent her head； and then Taanach；
believing that she guessed her sorrow； said gently to her：
〃But they will come back； Mistress。〃
〃Yes！ I know。〃
〃And you will see them again。〃
〃Perhaps！〃 she said； sighing。
She had not confided her resolve to any one； in order to carry it out
with the greater discretion she sent Taanach to the suburb of Kinisdo
to buy all the things that she required instead of requesting them
from the stewards： vermilion； aromatics； a linen girdle； and new
garments。 The old slave was amazed at these preparations； without
daring； however； to ask any questions； and the day； which had been
fixed by Schahabarim； arrived when Salammbo was to set out。
About the twelfth hour she perceived； in the depths of the sycamore
trees； a blind old man with one hand resting on the shoulder of a
child who walked before him； while with the other he carried a kind of
cithara of black wood against his hip。 The eunuchs； slaves； and women
had been scrupulously sent away； no one might know the mystery that
was preparing。
Taanach kindled four tripods filled with strobus and cadamomum in the
corners of the apartment； then she unfolded large Babylonian hangings；
and stretched them on cords all around the room； for Salammbo did not
wish to be seen even by the walls。 The kinnor…player squatted behind
the door and the young boy standing upright applied a reed flute to
his lips。 In the distance the roar of the streets was growing feebler；
violet shadows were lengthening before the peristyles of the temples；
and on the other side of the gulf the mountain bases； the fields of
olive…trees； and the vague yellow lands undulated indefinitely； and
were blended together in a bluish haze； not a sound was to be heard；
and an unspeakable depression weighed in the air。
Salammbo crouched down upon the onyx step on the edge of the basin；
she raised her ample sleeves； fastening them behind her shoulders； and
began her ablutions in methodical fashion； according to the sacred
rites。
Next Taanach brought her something liquid and coagulated in an
alabaster phial； it was the blood of a black dog slaughtered by barren
women on a winter's night amid the rubbish of a sepulchre。 She rubbed
it upon her ears； her heels； and the thumb of her right hand； and even
her nail remained somewhat red； as if she had crushed a fruit。
The moon rose； then the cithara and the flute began to play together。
Salammbo unfastened her earrings； her necklace； her bracelets； and her
long white simar； she unknotted the band in her hair； shaking the
latter for a few minutes softly over her shoulders to cool herself by
thus scattering it。 The music went on outside； it consisted of three
notes ever the same； hurried and frenzied； the strings grated； the
flute blew； Taanach kept time by striking her hands； Salammbo； with a
swaying of her whole body； chanted prayers； and her garments fell one
after another around her。
The heavy tapestry trembled； and the python's head appeared above the
cord that supported it。 The serpent descended slowly like a drop of
water flowing along a wall； crawled among the scattered stuffs； and
then； gluing its tail to the ground； rose perfectly erect； and his
eyes； more brilliant than carbuncles； darted upon Salammbo。
A horror of cold； or perhaps a feeling of shame； at first made her
hesitate。 But she recalled Schahabarim's orders and advanced； the
python turned downwards； and resting the centre of its body upon the
nape of her neck； allowed its head and tail to hang like a broken
necklace with both ends trailing to the ground。 Salammbo rolled it
around her sides； under her arms and between her knees； then taking it
by the jaw she brought the little triangular mouth to the edge of her
teeth； and half shutting her eyes； threw herself back beneath the rays
of the moon。 The white light seemed to envelop her in a silver mist；
the prints of her humid steps shone upon the flag…stones； stars
quivered in the depth of the water； it tightened upon her its black
rings that were spotted with scales of gold。 Salammbo panted beneath
the excessive weight； her loins yielded； she felt herself dying； and
with the tip of its tail the serpent gently beat her thigh； then the
music becoming still it fell off again。
Taanach came back to her； and after arranging two candelabra； the
lights of which burned in crystal balls filled with water； she tinged
the inside of her hands with Lawsonia； spread vermilion upon her
cheeks； and antimony along the edge of her eyelids； and lengthened her
eyebrows with a mixture of gum； musk； ebony； and crushed legs of
flies。
Salammbo seated on a chair with ivory uprights； gave herself up to the
attentions of the slave。 But the touchings； the odour of the
aromatics； and the fasts that she had undergone； were enervating her。
She became so pale that Taanach stopped。
〃Go on！〃 said Salammbo； and bearing up against herself； she suddenly
revived。 Then she was seized with impatience； she urged Taanach to
make haste； and the old slave grumbled：
〃Well！ well！ Mistress！Besides； you have no one waiting for you！〃
〃Yes！〃 said Salammbo； 〃some one is waiting for me。〃
Taanach drew back in surprise； and in order to learn more about it；
said：
〃What orders to you give me； Mistress？ for if you are to remain
away〃
But Salammbo was sobbing； the slave exclaimed：
〃You are suffering！ what is the matter？ Do not go away！ take me！ When
you were quite little and used to cry； I took you to my heart and made
you laugh with the points of my breasts； you have drained them；
Mistress！〃 She struck herself upon her dried…up bosom。 〃Now I am old！
I can do nothing for you！ you no longer love me！ you hide your griefs
from me； you despise the nurse！〃 And tears of tenderness and vexation
flowed down her cheeks in the gashes of her tattooing。
〃No！〃 said Salammbo； 〃no； I love you！ be comforted！〃
With a smile like the grimace of an old ape； Taanach resumed her task。
In accordance with Schahabarim's recommendations； Salammbo had ordered
the slave to make her magnificent； and she was obeying her mistress
with barbaric taste full at once of refinement and ingenuity。
Over a first delicate and vinous…coloured tunic she passed a second
embroidered with birds' feathers。 Golden scales clung to her hips； and
from this broad girdle descended her blue flowing silver…starred
trousers。 Next Taanach put upon her a long robe made of the cloth of
the country of Seres； white and streaked with green lines。 On the edge
of her shoulder she fastened a square of purple weighted at the hem
with grains of sandastrum； and above all these garments she placed a
black mantle with a flowing train； then she gazed at her； and proud of
her work could not help saying：
〃You will not be more beautiful on the day of your bridal！〃
〃My bridal！〃 repeated Salam
