salammbo-第44节
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the walls。 There were some； too； of dromedaries and mules。 Half…gnawed
carrion blocked the streets。
Night fell。 The sky was lowering and cloudy。
They ascended again for two hours in a westerly direction； when
suddenly they perceived a quantity of little flames before them。
These were shining at the bottom of an ampitheatre。 Gold plates； as
they displaced one another； glanced here and there。 These were the
cuirasses of the Clinabarians in the Punic camp； then in the
neighbourhood they distinguished other and more numerous lights； for
the armies of the Mercenaries； now blended together； extended over a
great space。
Salammbo made a movement as though to advance。 But Schahabarim's man
took her further away； and they passed along by the terrace which
enclosed the camp of the Barbarians。 A breach became visible in it；
and the slave disappeared。
A sentry was walking upon the top of the entrenchment with a bow in
his hand and a pike on his shoulder。
Salammbo drew still nearer； the Barbarian knelt and a long arrow
pierced the hem of her cloak。 Then as she stood motionless and
shrieking； he asked her what she wanted。
〃To speak to Matho；〃 she replied。 〃I am a fugitive from Carthage。〃
He gave a whistle； which was repeated at intervals further away。
Salammbo waited； her frightened horse moved round and round； sniffing。
When Matho arrived the moon was rising behind her。 But she had a
yellow veil with black flowers over her face； and so many draperies
about her person； that it was impossible to make any guess about her。
From the top of the terrace he gazed upon this vague form standing up
like a phantom in the penumbrae of the evening。
At last she said to him：
〃Lead me to your tent！ I wish it！〃
A recollection which he could not define passed through his memory。 He
felt his heart beating。 The air of command intimidated him。
〃Follow me！〃 he said。
The barrier was lowered； and immediately she was in the camp of the
Barbarians。
It was filled with a great tumult and a great throng。 Bright fires
were burning beneath hanging pots； and their purpled reflections
illuminating some places left others completely in the dark。 There was
shouting and calling； shackled horses formed long straight lines amid
the tents； the latter were round and square； of leather or of canvas；
there were huts of reeds； and holes in the sand such as are made by
dogs。 Soldiers were carting faggots； resting on their elbows on the
ground； or wrapping themselves up in mats and preparing to sleep； and
Salammbo's horse sometimes stretched out a leg and jumped in order to
pass over them。
She remembered that she had seen them before； but their beards were
longer now； their faces still blacker； and their voices hoarser。
Matho； who walked before her； waved them off with a gesture of his arm
which raised his red mantle。 Some kissed his hands； others bending
their spines approached him to ask for orders； for he was now
veritable and sole chief of the Barbarians； Spendius； Autaritus； and
Narr' Havas had become disheartened； and he had displayed so much
audacity and obstinacy that all obeyed him。
Salammbo followed him through the entire camp。 His tent was at the
end； three hundred feet from Hamilcar's entrenchments。
She noticed a wide pit on the right； and it seemed to her that faces
were resting against the edge of it on a level with the ground； as
decapitated heads might have done。 However； their eyes moved； and from
these half…opened mouths groanings escaped in the Punic tongue。
Two Negroes holding resin lights stood on both sides of the door。
Matho drew the canvas abruptly aside。 She followed him。 It was a deep
tent with a pole standing up in the centre。 It was lighted by a large
lamp…holder shaped like a lotus and full of a yellow oil wherein
floated handfuls of burning tow； and military things might be
distinguished gleaming in the shade。 A naked sword leaned against a
stool by the side of a shield； whips of hippopotamus leather； cymbals；
bells； and necklaces were displayed pell…mell on baskets of esparto…
grass； a felt rug lay soiled with crumbs of black bread； some copper
money was carelessly heaped upon a round stone in a corner； and
through the rents in the canvas the wind brought the dust from
without； together with the smell of the elephants； which might be
heard eating and shaking their chains。
〃Who are you？〃 said Matho。
She looked slowly around her without replying； then her eyes were
arrested in the background； where something bluish and sparkling fell
upon a bed of palm…branches。
She advanced quickly。 A cry escaped her。 Matho stamped his foot behind
her。
〃Who brings you here？ why do you come？〃
〃To take it！〃 she replied； pointing to the zaimph； and with the other
hand she tore the veils from her head。 He drew back with his elbows
behind him； gaping； almost terrified。
She felt as if she were leaning on the might of the gods； and looking
at him face to face she asked him for the zaimph； she demanded it in
words abundant and superb。
Matho did not hear； he was gazing at her； and in his eyes her garments
were blended with her body。 The clouding of the stuffs； like the
splendour of her skin； was something special and belonging to her
alone。 Her eyes and her diamonds sparkled； the polish of her nails
continued the delicacy of the stones which loaded her fingers； the two
clasps of her tunic raised her breasts somewhat and brought them
closer together； and he in thought lost himself in the narrow interval
between them whence there fell a thread holding a plate of emeralds
which could be seen lower down beneath the violet gauze。 She had as
earrings two little sapphire scales； each supporting a hollow pearl
filled with liquid scent。 A little drop would fall every moment
through the holes in the pearl and moisten her naked shoulder。 Matho
watched it fall。
He was carried away by ungovernable curiosity； and； like a child
laying his hand upon a strange fruit； he tremblingly and lightly
touched the top of her chest with the tip of his finger： the flesh；
which was somewhat cold； yielded with an elastic resistance。
This contact； though scarcely a sensible one； shook Matho to the very
depths of his nature。 An uprising of his whole being urged him towards
her。 He would fain have enveloped her； absorbed her； drunk her。 His
bosom was panting； his teeth were chattering。
Taking her by the wrists he drew her gently to him； and then sat down
upon a cuirass beside the palm…tree bed which was covered with a
lion's skin。 She was standing。 He looked up at her； holding her thus
between his knees； and repeating：
〃How beautiful you are！ how beautiful you are！〃
His eyes； which were continually fixed upon hers； pained her； and the
uncomfortableness； the repugnance increased in so acute a fashion that
Salammbo put a constraint upon herself not to cry out。 The thought of
Schahabarim came back to her； and she resigned herself。
Matho still kept her little hands in his own； and from time to time；
in spite of the priest's command； she turned away her face and tried
to thrust him off by jerking her arms。 He opened his nostrils the
better to breathe in the perfume which exhaled from her person。 It was
a fresh； indefinable emanation； which nevertheless made him dizzy；
like the smoke from a perfuming…pan。 She smelt of honey； pepper；
incense； roses； with another odour still。
But how was she thus with him in his tent； and at his disposal？ Some
one no doubt had urged her。 She had not come for the zaimph。 His arms
fell； and he bent his head whelmed in sudden reverie。
To soften him Salammbo said to him in a plaintive voice：
〃What have I done to you that you should desire my death？〃
〃Your death！〃
She resumed：
〃I saw you one evening by the light of my burning gardens amid fuming
cups and my slaughtered slaves； and your anger was so strong that you
bounded towards me and I was obliged to fly！ Then terror entered into
Carthage。 There were cries of the devastation of the towns； the
burning of the country…seats； the massacre of the soldiery； it was you
who had ruined them； it was you who had murdered them！ I hate you！
Your very name gnaws me like remorse！ You are execrated more than the
plague； and the Roman war！ The provinces shudder at your fury； the
furrows are full of corpses！ I have followed the traces of your fires
as though I were travelling behind Moloch！〃
Matho leaped up； his heart was swelling with colossal pride； he was
raised to the stature of a god。
With quivering nostrils and clenched teeth she went on：
〃As if your sacrilege were not enough； you came to me in my sleep
covered with the zaimph！ Your words I did not understand； but I could
see that you wished to drag me to some terrible thing at the bottom of
an abyss。〃
Matho； writ
