messer marco polo-第10节

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n　his　throne；　with　his　eyes　half　closed。

〃'But　I　say　unto　you；　that　ye　resist　not　evil；　but　whoever　shall　smite　thee　on　the　right　cheek；　turn　to　him　the　other　also。'〃　　And　at　this　the　great　Khan　looked　up　puzzled；　and　a　movement　went　through　the　fighting　men　in　the　hall。　　But　wee　Golden　Bells　never　budged　a　minute；　and　Marco　Polo　went　on：

〃'Et　factum　est；　cum　consummasset　Jesus　verba　haec；　　And　it　came　to　pass　when　Jesus　had　ended　these　sayings；　the　people　were　astonished　at　his　doctrine。'

〃I　shall　now　tell　you　of　the　life　and　death　of　the　Lord　Jesus。　。　。〃

He　told　them　of　the　birth　in　Bethlehem；　and　of　the　teaching　on　the　hills；　and　the　poets　nodded　their　heads；　and　he　told　them　of　the　cleansing　of　the　lepers　and　of　the　casting　out　of　devils　and　the　raising　of　Lazarus　from　the　dead；　and　the　magicians　wondered；　and　he　told　them　of　the　betrayal　by　Judas　with　a　kiss；　and　the　captains…at…arms　shuffled　in　their　seats；　and　he　told　them　of　the　scourging；　and　of　the　crowning　with　thorns；　and　the　great　Khan　snicked　his　dagger　in　and　out　of　the　sheath。　　And　a　mist　of　tears　came　into　the　eyes　of　Golden　Bells。

And　he　told　them　of　the　crucifixion　between　two　thieves；　and　a　great　oath　ripped　from　the　beard　of　Kubla　Khan；　and　the　silver　tears　ran　from　the　eyes　of　Golden　Bells。

〃'And　on　the　third　day　He　arose　from　the　dead。　。　。'〃

And　a　great　shout　came　from　the　throat　of　Kubla　Khan；　and　he　stood　up。

〃He　arose　from　among　the　dead　men；　I'll　warrant；　He　showed　himself　to　the　Roman　Pilate　in　all　His　power　and　majesty　　〃

〃No；〃　said　Marco　Palo。

〃Then　He　showed　himself　to　the　thousands　who　had　seen　him　die　upon　the　gallows　tree！〃

〃No；〃　said　Marco　Polo。

〃Who　saw　Him；　then？〃

〃His　twelve　Apostles　and　they　in　a　little　room！〃

And　Kubla　Khan　sat　down　suddenly　and　said　no　more。　　There　was　a　moment's　murmur　of　wonder　among　the　assembly；　and　then　silence。　And　Marco's　heart　fell。　　And　he　was　aware　of　two　things；　of　the　great　politeness　of　the　Chinese　people　and　of　Golden　Bell's　pitying　eyes。　。　。



CHAPTER　XV

When　Kubla　Khan　dismissed　the　assembly；　and　he　took　Marco　Polo　into　a　sitting…room；　and　Golden　Bells　came　with　them。

〃And　what　did　you　think；　sir；　of　what　I　said？　　And　can　you　not　see；　sir；　the　truth　that's　in　me？〃

〃Well；　now；　laddie；〃　said　the　great　Khan；　〃when　we　come　to　examine　this　sermon　you　quoted　to　us；　what　is　there　in　it　but　the　rule　of　the　righteous　man？　　We've　had　a　great　thinker　and　pious　man　of　our　own；　Confucius。　　I'm　not　a　reading　man；〃　says　he；　〃but　I've　got　an　idea；〃　says　he；　〃that　there　isn't　a　thing　you　said　but　is　embraced　in　the　Analects。　　And　if　it　isn't　it'll　be　in　the　teachings　of　the　Lord　Buddha。〃

〃Ah；　but；　sir；〃　Marco　Polo　said；　〃You'll　have　to　admit　that　He　of　Whom　I　speak　was　the　true　God　made　man。〃

〃Now；　laddie；　remember　I'm　an　old　man；　set　in　my　head　and　my　ways；　and　I've　been　used　to　one　belief　so　long　it　would　be　hard　changing。　So　don't　press　me　now；　don't　press　me；　I　ask　you。〃

〃Ah；　sir；〃　pleaded　Marco　Polo；　〃it's　terrible　to　think　of；　as　great　a　prince　as　you　to　be　in　the　black　spaces　outside　of　heaven　because　you　wouldn't　accept　the　truth。〃

〃Well；　maybe　they　won't　be　so　hard　on　one；　my　dear　lad。　　When　my　time　comes　and　I　rap　on　the　gate　of　your　heaven；　maybe　they'll　say：　'It's　only　old　Kubla；　the　soldier；　is　in　it。　　He　knows　devil　and　all　about　religion；　but　his　fights　were　fair　fights；　and　he　never　hit　a　man　when　he　was　down。　　He　had　a　soft　heart　for　wee　children　and　he　was　easy　on　horses。　　Sure；　what's　the　difference？　　Let　him　in！'　　And　if　they　say　no；　I'll　tuck　the　old　nicked　claymore　under　my　arm；　and　be　off　to　where　the　other　old　fighters　are。〃

〃I　see；　sir；　that　there　was　little　success　to　my　message。〃

〃I　wouldn't　say　that；〃　said　Kubla　Khan。　　〃Wait　a　little　until　you　perform　miracles　before　the　people　to　prove　your　truth。　　You'll　know　better　then。〃

〃Ah；　sir；〃　said　Marco　Polo；　〃I　can　perform　no　miracles。　　'Tis　only　a　saint　can　perform　miracles；　and　I　couldn't　lace　a　saint's　shoes。　I　have　no　miracles。〃

〃Oh；　well；　now；　my　dear　boy；〃　said　Kubla　Khan；　〃I　hate　to　tell　you；　but　there's　no　use　going　further。　　Sure　you'd　be　up　against　the　sorcerers　of　the　world。　　They'd　ask　you　for　a　sign；　and　you'd　have　no　sign；　and　they'd　have　signs　in　abundance。　　I　wouldn't　think　of　letting　you　go　against　them。　　Fair　play's　a　jewel；　and　you　wouldn't　have　a　chance。　　There's　the　Red　Pope　from　Tibet　and　there's　the　Black　Magician　from　Korea　and　a　hundred　minor　ones；　and　the　Warlock　of　the　North；　from　the　Islands　of　Ice；　who　governs　the　hail　and　the　snow。　　Child；　I　wouldn't　let　you　get　into　the　same　ring　with　them。　They'd　ruin　you。〃

〃But；　sir；　wasn't　it　a　great　miracle　of　the　Lord's；　my　rescue　in　the　Gobi　Desert？〃

〃A　miracle　of　the　Lord's！　　A　miracle　of　Golden　Bells　here。　　It　was　her　magician　saw　you；　and　she　had　the　message　put　on　the　drums；　and　the　desert　patrols　went　to　seek　you。　　It　was　herself　here；　wee　Golden　Bells。〃　　And　Golden　Bells'　mouth　gave　a　smile　of　shame　that　his　thought　should　be　broken　in　his　mind。

〃A　long　way　I'm　after　coming；〃　said　Marco　Polo；　〃and　when　I　set　out　my　heart　was　high。〃

〃Now；　don't　be　taking　it　too　hard；〃　says　the　khan；　kindly。　　〃Sure；　there's　a　power　of　good　you　can　be　doing　here。　　Maybe　you　can　do　something　with　Li　Po；〃　says　he。　　〃I'd　like　fine　for　you　to　try。　The　man　is　worrying　the　life　out　of　me　with　his　drinking。　　I　never　know　when　he　goes　out　whether　he'll　come　back　all　right　or　feet　foremost　on　a　door。　　For　he's　got　the　bitter　tongue　when　the　drink's　in　him；　and　China　could　ill　afford　to　lose　him。　　And　there　are　some　of　my　captains；　and　the　tune　they're　always　piping　is　'War！　　War！　War！　　And　let's　show　up　this　Alexander　who　said　he　conquered　the　world。'　　And　I'm　past　the　age　when　you　make　war　for　devilment。　So　let　you　be　helping　me　out　with　them；　Marco　Polo。〃

But　Marco　Polo　knew　this　was　only　meant　in　kindness；　and　his　heart　was　broken。

〃Ah；　wee　lady；〃　　he　turned　to　Golden　Bells；　　〃wee　lady；　wee　lady；　why　didn't　you　let　me　die　in　the　desert？　　Why　didn't　I　die？〃

〃And　why　should　you　die；　Marco　Polo？〃　　Her　low；　sweet　voice　rang　in　the　heart　of　him。　　〃Didn't　you　come　here　to　give　your　message？　And　to　make　converts？　　And　didn't　I　hear　your　message？　　And　am　n't　I　your　convert；　Marco　Polo？〃



CHAPTER　XVI

And　now　the　place　of　Li　Po　was　usurped；　and　gone　Sanang　with　his　magic　glass；　and　in　the　jasmine　garden　by　the　Lake　of　Cranes　Marco　Polo　sat　and　instructed　Golden　Bells。　。　。



CHAPTER　XVII

And　he　told　of　the　flight　into　Egypt　when　savage　Herod　reigned；　and　of　the　Jewish　maid　and　her　child　sleeping　beneath　the　shadow　of　the　great　Sphinx；　while　the　shades　of　the　old　Afric　gods　looked　on　in　reverence；　Amenalk　and　Thoth　and　the　moon…horned　Io；　Isis；　and　Osiris。　　And　the　painted　kings　knelt　in　their　pyramids；　and　out　of　the　sluggish　Nile　came　the　strange　aquatic　population；　the　torpid　crocodiles　and　monstrous　water　lizards；　and　the　great　hippopotami　lumbered　to　bow　before　the　little　Lord　of　all　things。　。　。

And　he　told　her　how　Satan　had　tempted　Him　on　the　lonely；　black　craigs。　。　。

〃But　you　are　not　listening；　little　Golden　Bells　　〃

〃Indeed　I　am　listening；　Marco　Polo。　　Yes；　indeed　I　am。　　I　love　to　hear　your　voice；　Marco　Polo。　　You　are　so　earnest；　Marco　Polo；　there　is　such　a　light　in　your　eyes。　　Listen；　Marco　Polo；　Li　Po　once　wrote　a　poem；　'White　Gleam　the　Gulls；'　and　it　is　the　poem　by　which　he　is　best　known；　and　every　time　I　hear　it　there　is　an　echo　in　my　heart。　But；　Marco　Polo；　I　never　listened　to　Li　Po's　song　so　eagerly　as　I　am　listening　to　your　voice。〃

〃But　you　are　not　taking　it　in；　little　Golden　Bells。〃

〃It　is　very　hard　to　take　in；　Marco　Polo。　　It　happened　so　long　ago。　It　is　hard　to　think　of　a　tragedy　in　a　strange　country；　and　we　in　this　garden　on　the　second　moon　of　spring。　　And　it　was　so　very　long　ago。　　Do　you　hear　the　bees；　Marco　Polo　　the　bees　among　the　almond…blossoms？　　And　see　the　blue　heron　by　the　lotus　flowers？　And　do　you　see　the　little　tortoise；　Marco　Polo；　and　he　sunning　himself　on　a　leaf？　　If　I　throw　a　pebble；　Marco　Polo；　he　will　dive；　and　he　is　such　a　clumsy　diver；　Marco　Polo！〃

〃But　you　must　listen；　Golden　Bells；　and　believe　me。〃

〃I　do　believe；　Marco　Polo；　I　honestly　do。　　Don't　you　know　I　believe　you？　　Anything　you　say；　Marco　Polo；　I　believe。　　You　wouldn't　be　coming　all　the　way　over　the　world　to　be　telling　me　a　lie。　　Of　course　I　believe。〃

〃And　doesn't　it　make　you　happy；　Golden　Bells？〃

〃Once　I　was　unhappy；　Marco　Polo。　　I　used　sit　here；　and　on　my　lute　I　used　play　the　'Song　of　the　Willow　Branches；'　which　is　the　saddest　song　in　the　world。　　Under　the　moon　I　used　be　lonely；　and　the　droning　of　the　bees　meant　nothing　to　me；　and　now　it　is　a　sweet　brave　song。　I　cannot　play　'Willow　Branches'　any　more；　so　alien　is　sadness　to　me。　And　the　moon　smiles。　　I　am　very　happy；　Marco　Polo。〃

〃It　is　the　True　Religion；　little　Golden　Bells；　that　makes　you　happy。〃

〃Is　it；　Marco　Polo？　　Is　it？　　It　must　be；　I　suppose。　　I　don't　know　what　it　is；　but　I　am　very　happy。〃



CHAPTER　XVIII

And　he　told　her　of　Paul；　who　had　seen　a　vision　and　gone　preaching　through；　the　world；　who　was　persecuted；　who　was　shipwrecked；　who　was　bitten　by　a　viper；　and　who　survived　everything　that　he　might　preach　the　Lord　Je