the blue flower-第19节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


shining　flutter　of　innumerable　wings　and　shrill　cries　of
surprise。

He　traversed　the　fertile　fields　of　Concabar；　where　the
dust　from　the　threshing…floors　filled　the　air　with　a　golden
mist；　half　hiding　the　huge　temple　of　Astarte　with　its　four
hundred　pillars。

At　Baghistan；　among　the　rich　gardens　watered　by　fountains
from　the　rock；　he　looked　up　at　the　mountain　thrusting　its
immense　rugged　brow　out　over　the　road；　and　saw　the　figure　of
King　Darius　trampling　upon　his　fallen　foes；　and　the　proud　list
of　his　wars　and　conquests　graven　high　upon　the　face　of　the
eternal　cliff。

Over　many　a　cold　and　desolate　pass；　crawling　painfully
across　the　wind…swept　shoulders　of　the　hills；　down　many　a
black　mountain…gorge；　where　the　river　roared　and　raced　before
him　like　a　savage　guide；　across　many　a　smiling　vale；　with
terraces　of　yellow　limestone　full　of　vines　and　fruit…trees；
through　the　oak…groves　of　Carine　and　the　dark　Gates　of　Zagros；
walled　in　by　precipices；　into　the　ancient　city　of　Chala；　where
the　people　of　Samaria　had　been　kept　in　captivity　long　ago；　and
out　again　by　the　mighty　portal；　riven　through　the　encircling
hills；　where　he　saw　the　image　of　the　High　Priest　of　the　Magi
sculptured　on　the　wall　of　rock；　with　hand　uplifted　as　if　to　bless
the　centuries　of　pilgrims；　past　the　entrance　of　the　narrow
defile；　filled　from　end　to　end　with　orchards　of　peaches　and　figs；
through　which　the　river　Gyndes　foamed　down　to　meet　him；　over
the　broad　rice…fields；　where　the　autumnal　vapours　spread　their
deathly　mists；　following　along　the　course　of　the　river；　under
tremulous　shadows　of　poplar　and　tamarind；　among　the　lower
hills；　and　out　upon　the　flat　plain；　where　the　road　ran
straight　as　an　arrow　through　the　stubble…fields　and　parched
meadows；　past　the　city　of　Ctesiphon；　where　the　Parthian
emperors　reigned；　and　the　vast　metropolis　of　Seleucia　which
Alexander　built；　across　the　swirling　floods　of　Tigris　and　the
many　channels　of　Euphrates；　flowing　yellow　through　the
corn…landsArtaban　pressed　onward　until　he　arrived；　at
nightfall　on　the　tenth　day；　beneath　the　shattered　walls　of
populous　Babylon。

Vasda　was　almost　spent；　and　Artaban　would　gladly　have
turned　into　the　city　to　find　rest　and　refreshment　for　himself
and　for　her。　　But　he　knew　that　it　was　three　hours'　journey　yet
to　the　Temple　of　the　Seven　Spheres；　and　he　must　reach　the
place　by　midnight　if　he　would　find　his　comrades　waiting。　　So
he　did　not　halt；　but　rode　steadily　across　the　stubble…fields。

A　grove　of　date…palms　made　an　island　of　gloom　in　the　pale
yellow　sea。　　As　she　passed　into　the　shadow　Vasda　slackened　her
pace；　and　began　to　pick　her　way　more　carefully。

Near　the　farther　end　of　the　darkness　an　access　of　caution
seemed　to　fall　upon　her。　　She　scented　some　danger　or
difficulty；　it　was　not　in　her　heart　to　fly　from　itonly　to　be
prepared　for　it；　and　to　meet　it　wisely；　as　a　good　horse　should
do。　　The　grove　was　close　and　silent　as　the　tomb；　not　a　leaf
rustled；　not　a　bird　sang。

She　felt　her　steps　before　her　delicately；　carrying　her
head　low；　and　sighing　now　and　then　with　apprehension。　　At　last
she　gave　a　quick　breath　of　anxiety　and　dismay；　and　stood
stock…still；　quivering　in　every　muscle；　before　a　dark　object　in
the　shadow　of　the　last　palm…tree。

Artaban　dismounted。　　The　dim　starlight　revealed　the　form
of　a　man　lying　across　the　road。　　His　humble　dress　and　the
outline　of　his　haggard　face　showed　that　he　was　probably　one　of
the　Hebrews　who　still　dwelt　in　great　numbers　around　the　city。
His　pallid　skin；　dry　and　yellow　as　parchment；　bore　the　mark　of
the　deadly　fever　which　ravaged　the　marsh…lands　in　autumn。　　The
chill　of　death　was　in　his　lean　hand；　and；　as　Artaban　released
it；　the　arm　fell　back　inertly　upon　the　motionless　breast。

He　turned　away　with　a　thought　of　pity；　leaving　the　body　to
that　strange　burial　which　the　Magians　deemed　most　fittingthe
funeral　of　the　desert；　from　which　the　kites　and　vultures　rise
on　dark　wings；　and　the　beasts　of　prey　slink　furtively　away。
When　they　are　gone　there　is　only　a　heap　of　white　bones　on　the
sand。

But；　as　he　turned；　a　long；　faint；　ghostly　sigh　came　from
the　man's　lips。　　The　bony　fingers　gripped　the　hem　of　the
Magian's　robe　and　held　him　fast。

Artaban's　heart　leaped　to　his　throat；　not　with　fear；　but
with　a　dumb　resentment　at　the　importunity　of　this　blind　delay。

How　could　he　stay　here　in　the　darkness　to　minister　to　a
dying　stranger？　　What　claim　had　this　unknown　fragment　of　human
life　upon　his　compassion　or　his　service？　　If　he　lingered　but
for　an　hour　he　could　hardly　reach　Borsippa　at　the　appointed
time。　　His　companions　would　think　he　had　given　up　the　journey。
They　would　go　without　him。　　He　would　lose　his　quest。

But　if　he　went　on　now；　the　man　would　surely　die。　　If
Artaban　stayed；　life　might　be　restored。　　His　spirit　throbbed
and　fluttered　with　the　urgency　of　the　crisis。　　Should　he　risk
the　great　reward　of　his　faith　for　the　sake　of　a　single　deed　of
charity？　　Should　he　turn　aside；　if　only　for　a　moment；　from　the
following　of　the　star；　to　give　a　cup　of　cold　water　to　a　poor；
perishing　Hebrew？

〃God　of　truth　and　purity；〃　he　prayed；　〃direct　me　in　the
holy　path；　the　way　of　wisdom　which　Thou　only　knowest。〃

Then　he　turned　back　to　the　sick　man。　　Loosening
the　grasp　of　his　hand；　he　carried　him　to　a　little　mound　at　the
foot　of　the　palm…tree。

He　unbound　the　thick　folds　of　the　turban　and　opened　the
garment　above　the　sunken　breast。　　He　brought　water　from　one　of
the　small　canals　near　by；　and　moistened　the　sufferer's　brow
and　mouth。　　He　mingled　a　draught　of　one　of　those　simple　but
potent　remedies　which　he　carried　always　in　his　girdlefor　the
Magians　were　physicians　as　well　as　astrologersand　poured　it
slowly　between　the　colourless　lips。　　Hour　after　hour　he
laboured　as　only　a　skilful　healer　of　disease　can　do。　　At　last
the　man's　strength　returned；　he　sat　up　and　looked　about　him。

　〃Who　art　thou？〃　he　said；　in　the　rude　dialect　of　the
country；　〃and　why　hast　thou　sought　me　here　to　bring　back　my
life？〃

〃I　am　Artaban　the　Magian；　of　the　city　of　Ecbatana；　and　I
am　going　to　Jerusalem　in　search　of　one　who　is　to　be　born　King
of　the　Jews；　a　great　Prince　and　Deliverer　of　all　men。　　I　dare
not　delay　any　longer　upon　my　journey；　for　the　caravan　that　has
waited　for　me　may　depart　without　me。　　But　see；　here　is　all　that　I
have　left　of　bread　and　wine；　and　here　is　a　potion　of　healing
herbs。　　When　thy　strength　is　restored　thou　canst　find　the
dwellings　of　the　Hebrews　among　the　houses　of　Babylon。〃

The　Jew　raised　his　trembling　hand　solemnly　to　heaven。

〃Now　may　the　God　of　Abraham　and　Isaac　and　Jacob　bless　and
prosper　the　journey　of　the　merciful；　and　bring　him　in　peace　to
his　desired　haven。　　Stay！　　I　have　nothing　to　give　thee　in
returnonly　this：　that　I　can　tell　thee　where　the　Messiah　must
be　sought。　　For　our　prophets　have　said　that　he　should　be　born
not　in　Jerusalem；　but　in　Bethlehem　of　Judah。　　May　the　Lord
bring　thee　in　safety　to　that　place；　because　thou　hast　had　pity
upon　the　sick。〃

It　was　already　long　past　midnight。　　Artaban　rode　in　haste；
and　Vasda；　restored　by　the　brief　rest；　ran　eagerly　through　the
silent　plain　and　swam　the　channels　of　the　river。　　She　put
forth　the　remnant　of　her　strength；　and　fled　over　the　ground
like　a　gazelle。

But　the　first　beam　of　the　rising　sun　sent　a　long　shadow　before
her　as　she　entered　upon　the　final　stadium　of　the　journey；　and　the
eyes　of　Artaban；　anxiously　scanning　the　great　mound　of　Nimrod　and
the　Temple　of　the　Seven　Spheres；　could　discern　no　trace　of　his
friends。

The　many…coloured　terraces　of　black　and　orange　and　red　and
yellow　and　green　and　blue　and　white；　shattered　by　the
convulsions　of　nature；　and　crumbling　under　the　repeated　blows
of　human　violence；　still　glittered　like　a　ruined　rainbow　in
the　morning　light。

Artaban　rode　swiftly　around　the　hill。　　He　dismounted　and
climbed　to　the　highest　terrace；　looking　out　toward　the　west。

The　huge　desolation　of　the　marshes　stretched　away　to　the
horizon　and　the　border　of　the　desert。　　Bitterns　stood　by　the
stagnant　pools　and　jackals　skulked　through　the　low　bushes；　but
there　was　no　sign　of　the　caravan　of　the　Wise　Men；　far　or　near。

At　the　edge　of　the　terrace　he　saw　a　little　cairn　of　broken
bricks；　and　under　them　a　piece　of　papyrus。　　He　caught　it　up
and　read：　　〃We　have　waited　past　the　midnight；　and　can　delay　no
longer。　　We　go　to　find　the　King。　　Follow　us　across　the　desert。〃

Artaban　sat　down　upon　the　ground　and　covered　his　head　in
despair。

〃How　can　I　cross　the　desert；〃　said　he；　〃with　no　food　and
with　a　spent　horse？　　I　must　return　to　Babylon；　sell　my
sapphire；　and　buy　a　train　of　camels；　and　provision　for　the
journey。　　I　may　never　overtake　my　friends。　　Only　God　the
merciful　knows　whether　I　shall　not　lose　the　sight　of　the　King
because　I　tarried　to　show　mercy。〃



III

There　was　a　silence　in　the　Hall　of　Dreams；　where　I　was
listening　to　the　story　of　the　Other　Wise　Man。　　Through　this
silence　I　saw；　but　very　dimly；　his　figure　passing　over　the
dreary　undulations　of　the　desert；　high　upon　the　back　of　his
camel；　rocking　steadily　onward　like　a　ship　over　the　waves。

The　land　of　death　spread　its　cruel　net　around　him。　　The
stony　waste　bore　no　fruit　but　briers　and　thorns。　　The　dark
le