gulliver of mars-第15节

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　deal　of　Heru　during　the　day。　　I　do　not　know　whether　I　actually　aspired　to　her　handthat　were　a　large　order；　even　if　there　had　been　no　suspicion　in　my　mind　she　was　already　bespoke　in　some　vague　way　by　the　invisible　Hath；　most　abortive　of　princes。　　But　she　was　undeniably　a　lovely　girl；　the　more　one　thought　of　her　the　more　she　grew　upon　the　fancy；　and　then　the　preference　she　had　shown　myself　was　very　gratifying。　　Yes；　I　would　certainly　see　this　quaint　ceremonial；　even　if　I　took　no　leading　part　in　it。

The　great　centre　hall　of　the　palace　was　full　of　a　radiant　light　bringing　up　its　ruined　columns　and　intruding　creepers　to　the　best　effect　when　I　entered。　　Dinner　also　was　just　being　served；　as　they　would　say　in　another；　and　alas！　very　distant　place；　and　the　whole　building　thronged　with　folk。　Down　the　centre　low　tables　with　room　for　four　hundred　people　were　ranged；　but　they　looked　quaint　enough　since　but　two　hundred　were　sitting　there；　all　brand…new　bachelors　about　to　be　turned　into　brand　new　Benedicts；　and　taking　it　mightily　calmly　it　seemed。　　Across　the　hall…top　was　a　raised　table　similarly　arranged　and　ornamented；　and　entering　into　the　spirit　of　the　thing；　and　little　guessing　how　stern　a　reality　was　to　come　from　the　evening；　I　sat　down　in　a　vacant　place　near　to　the　dais；　and　only　a　few　paces　from　where　the　pale；　ghost…eyed　Hath　was　already　seated。

Almost　immediately　afterwards　music　began　to　buzz　all　about　the　hallmusic　of　the　kind　the　people　loved　which　always　seemed　to　me　as　though　it　were　exuding　from　the　tables　and　benches；　so　disembodied　and　difficult　it　was　to　locate；　all　the　sleepy　gallants　raised　their　flower…encircled　heads　at　the　same　time；　seizing　their　wine…cups；　already　filled　to　the　brim；　and　the　door　at　the　bottom　of　the　hall　opening；　the　ladies；　preceded　by　one　carrying　a　mysterious　vase　covered　with　a　glittering　cloth；　came　in。

Now；　being　somewhat　thirsty；　I　had　already　drunk　half　the　wine　in　my　beaker；　and　whether　it　was　that　draught；　drugged　as　all　Martian　wines　are；　or　the　sheer　loveliness　of　the　maids　themselves；　I　cannot　say；　but　as　the　procession　entered；　and；　dividing；　circled　round　under　the　colonnades　of　the　hall；　a　sensation　of　extraordinary　felicity　came　over　mean　emotion　of　divine　contentment　purged　of　all　gross…　nessand　I　stared　and　stared　at　the　circling　loveliness；　gos…　samer…clad；　flower…girdled；　tripping　by　me　with　vapid　de…　light。　　Either　the　wine　was　budding　in　my　head；　or　there　was　little　to　choose　from　amongst　them；　for　had　any　of　those　ladies　sat　down　in　the　vacant　place　beside　me；　I　should　certainly　have　accepted　her　as　a　gift　from　heaven；　without　question　or　cavil。　　But　one　after　another　they　slipped　by；　modestly　taking　their　places　in　the　shadows　until　at　last　came　Princess　Heru；　and　at　the　sight　of　her　my　soul　was　stirred。

She　came　undulating　over　the　white　marble；　the　loveliness　of　her　fairy　person　dimmed　but　scarcely　hidden　by　a　robe　of　softest　lawn　in　colour　like　rose…petals；　her　eyes　aglitter　with　excitement　and　a　charming　blush　upon　her　face。

She　came　straight　up　to　me；　and；　resting　a　dainty　hand　upon　my　shoulder；　whispered；　〃Are　you　come　as　a　spectator　only；　dear　Mr。　Jones；　or　do　you　join　in　our　custom　tonight？〃

〃I　came　only　as　a　bystander；　lady；　but　the　fascination　of　the　opportunity　is　deadly〃

〃And　have　you　any　preference？〃this　in　the　softest　little　voice　from　somewhere　in　the　nape　of　my　neck。　　〃Strangers　sometimes　say　there　are　fair　women　in　Seth。〃

〃Nonetill　you　came；　and　now；　as　was　said　a　long　time　ago；　'All　is　dross　that　is　not　Helen。'　　Dearest　lady；〃　I　ran　on；　detaining　her　by　the　fingertips　and　gazing　up　into　those　shy　and　star…like　eyes；　〃must　I　indeed　put　all　the　hopes　your　kindness　has　roused　in　me　these　last　few　days　to　a　shuffle　in　yonder　urn；　taking　my　chance　with　all　these　lazy　fellows？　　In　that　land　whereof　I　was；　we　would　not　have　had　it　so；　we　loaded　our　dice　in　these　matters；　a　strong　man　there　might　have　a　willing　maid　though　all　heaven　were　set　against　him！　　But　give　me　leave；　sweet　lady；　and　I　will　ruffle　with　these　fellows；　give　me　a　glance　and　I　will　barter　my　life　for　your　billet　when　it　is　drawn；　but　to　stand　idly　by　and　see　you　won　by　a　cold　chance；　I　cannot　do　it。〃

That　lady　laughed　a　little　and　said；　〃Men　make　laws；　dear　Jones；　for　women　to　keep。　　It　is　the　rule；　and　we　must　not　break　it。〃　　Then；　gently　tugging　at　her　imprisoned　fingers　and　gathering　up　her　skirts　to　go；　she　added；　〃But　it　might　happen　that　wit　here　were　better　than　sword。〃　　Then　she　hesitated；　and　freeing　herself　at　last　slipped　from　my　side；　yet　before　she　was　quite　gone　half　turned　again　and　whispered　so　low　that　no　one　but　I　could　hear　it；　〃A　golden　pool；　and　a　silver　fish；　and　a　line　no　thicker　than　a　hair！〃　and　before　I　could　beg　a　meaning　of　her；　had　passed　down　the　hall　and　taken　a　place　with　the　other　expectant　damsels。

〃A　golden　pool；〃　I　said　to　myself；　〃a　silver　fish；　and　a　line　of　hair。〃　　What　could　she　mean？　　Yet　that　she　meant　something；　and　something　clearly　of　importance；　I　could　not　doubt。　　〃A　golden　pool；　and　a　silver　fish〃　I　buried　my　chin　in　my　chest　and　thought　deeply　but　without　effect　while　the　preparations　were　made　and　the　fateful　urn；　each　maid　having　slipped　her　name　tablet　within；　was　brought　down　to　us；　covered　in　a　beautiful　web　of　rose…coloured　tissue；　and　commenced　its　round；　passing　slowly　from　hand　to　hand　as　each　of　those　handsome；　impassive；　fawn…eyed　gallants　lifted　a　corner　of　the　web　in　turn　and　helped　themselves　to　fate。

〃A　golden　pool；〃　I　muttered；　〃and　a　silver　fish〃so　ab…　sorbed　in　my　own　thoughts　I　hardly　noticed　the　great　cup　begin　its　journey；　but　when　it　had　gone　three　or　four　places　the　glitter　of　the　lights　upon　it　caught　my　eye。　　It　was　of　pure　gold；　round…brimmed；　and　circled　about　with　a　string　of　the　blue　convolvulus；　which　implies　delight　to　these　people。　　Ay！　and　each　man　was　plunging　his　hand　into　the　dark　and　taking　in　his　turn　a　small　notch…edged　mother…of…　pearl　billet　from　it　that　flashed　soft　and　silvery　as　he　turned　it　in　his　hand　to　read　the　name　engraved　in　unknown　characters　thereon。　　〃Why；〃　I　said；　with　a　start；　〃surely　THIS　might　be　the　golden　pool　and　these　the　silver　fish　but　the　hair…fine　line？　　And　again　I　meditated　deeply；　with　all　my　senses　on　the　watch。

Slowly　the　urn　crept　round；　and　as　each　man　took　a　ticket　from　it；　and　passed　it；　smiling；　to　the　seneschal　behind　him；　that　official　read　out　the　name　upon　it；　and　a　blushing　damsel　slipped　from　the　crowd　above；　crossing　over　to　the　side　of　the　man　with　whom　chance　had　thus　lightly　linked　her　for　the　brief　Martian　year；　and　putting　her　hands　in　his　they　kissed　before　all　the　company；　and　sat　down　to　their　places　at　the　table　as　calmly　as　country　folk　might　choose　partners　at　a　village　fair　in　hay…time。

But　not　so　with　me。　　Each　time　a　name　was　called　I　started　and　stared　at　the　drawer　in　a　way　which　should　have　filled　him　with　alarm　had　alarm　been　possible　to　the　peace…soaked　triflers；　then　turned　to　glance　to　where；　amongst　the　women；　my　tender　little　princess　was　leaning　against　a　pillar；　with　drooping　head；　slowly　pulling　a　con…　volvulus　bud　to　pieces。　　None　drew；　though　all　were　thinking　of　her；　as　I　could　tell　in　my　fingertips。　　Keener　and　keener　grew　the　suspense　as　name　after　name　was　told　and　each　slim　white　damsel　skipped　to　the　place　allotted　her。　　And　all　the　time　I　kept　muttering　to　myself　about　that　〃golden　pool；〃　wondering　and　wondering　until　the　urn　had　passed　half　round　the　tables　and　was　only　some　three　men　up　from　meand　then　an　idea　flashed　across　my　mind。　　I　dipped　my　fingers　in　the　scented　water…basin　on　the　table；　drying　them　carefully　on　a　napkin；　and　waiting；　outwardly　as　calm　as　any；　yet　inwardly　wrung　by　those　tremors　which　beset　all　male　creation　in　such　circumstances。

And　now　at　last　it　was　my　turn。　　The　great　urn；　blazing　golden；　through　its　rosy　covering；　was　in　front；　and　all　eyes　on　me。　　I　clapped　a　sunburnt　hand　upon　its　top　as　though　I　would　take　all　remaining　in　it　to　myself　and　stared　round　at　that　companyonly　her　herself　I　durst　not　look　at！　　Then；　with　a　beating　heart；　I　lifted　a　corner　of　the　web　and　slipped　my　hand　into　the　dark　inside；　muttering　to　myself　as　I　did　so；　〃A　golden　pool；　and　a　silver　fish；　and　a　line　no　thicker　than　a　hair。〃　　I　touched　in　turn　twenty　perplexing　tablets　and　was　no　whit　the　wiser；　and　felt　about　the　sides　yet　came　to　nothing；　groping　here　and　there　with　a　rising　despair；　until　as　my　fingers；　still　damp　and　fine　of　touch；　went　round　the　sides　a　second　time；　yes！　there　was　some…　thing；　something　in　the　hollow　of　the　fluting；　a　thought；　a　thread；　and　yet　enough。　　I　took　it　unseen；　lifting　it　with　in…　finite　forbearance；　and　the　end　was　weighted；　the　other　tablets　slipped　and　rattled　as　from　their　midst；　hanging　to　that　one　fine　virgin　hair；　up　came　a　pearly　billet。　　I　doubted　no　longer；　but　snapped　the　thread；　and　showed　the　tablet；　heard　Heru's　name；　read　from　it　amongst　the　soft　applause　of　that　luxurious　company　with　all　the　unconcern　I　could　muster。

There　she　was　in　a　moment；　lip　to　lip　with　me；　before　them　all；　her　eyes　more　than　ever　like　planets　from　her　native　skies；　and　only　the　quick　heave　of　her　bosom；　slowly　subsiding　like　a　ground　swell　after　a　storm；　remain