salammbo-第14章

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their　walls。　Matho　expected　to　die　at　every　step。



However　a　light　was　flickering　far　back　in　the　darkness；　and　they　went

up　to　it。　It　was　a　lamp　burning　in　a　shell　on　the　pedestal　of　a　statue

which　wore　the　cap　of　the　Kabiri。　Its　long　blue　robe　was　strewn　with

diamond　discs；　and　its　heels　were　fastened　to　the　ground　by　chains

which　sank　beneath　the　pavement。　Matho　suppressed　a　cry。　〃Ah！　there

she　is！　there　she　is！〃　he　stammered　out。　Spendius　took　up　the　lamp　in

order　to　light　himself。



〃What　an　impious　man　you　are！〃　murmured　Matho；　following　him

nevertheless。



The　apartment　which　they　entered　had　nothing　in　it　but　a　black

painting　representing　another　woman。　Her　legs　reached　to　the　top　of

the　wall；　and　her　body　filled　the　entire　ceiling；　a　huge　egg　hung　by　a

thread　from　her　navel；　and　she　fell　head　downwards　upon　the　other

wall；　reaching　as　far　as　the　level　of　the　pavement；　which　was　touched

by　her　pointed　fingers。



They　drew　a　hanging　aside；　in　order　to　go　on　further；　but　the　wind

blew　and　the　light　went　out。



Then　they　wandered　about；　lost　in　the　complications　of　the

architecture。　Suddenly　they　felt　something　strangely　soft　beneath

their　feet。　Sparks　crackled　and　leaped；　they　were　walking　in　fire。

Spendius　touched　the　ground　and　perceived　that　it　was　carefully

carpeted　with　lynx　skins；　then　it　seemed　to　them　that　a　big　cord；　wet；

cold；　and　viscous；　was　gliding　between　their　legs。　Through　some

fissures　cut　in　the　wall　there　fell　thin　white　rays；　and　they　advanced

by　this　uncertain　light。　At　last　they　distinguished　a　large　black

serpent。　It　darted　quickly　away　and　disappeared。



〃Let　us　fly！〃　exclaimed　Matho。　〃It　is　she！　I　feel　her；　she　is　coming。〃



〃No；　no；〃　replied　Spendius；　〃the　temple　is　empty。〃



Then　a　dazzling　light　made　them　lower　their　eyes。　Next　they　perceived

all　around　them　an　infinite　number　of　beasts；　lean；　panting；　with

bristling　claws；　and　mingled　together　one　above　another　in　a

mysterious　and　terrifying　confusion。　There　were　serpents　with　feet；

and　bulls　with　wings；　fishes　with　human　heads　were　devouring　fruit；

flowers　were　blooming　in　the　jaws　of　crocodiles；　and　elephants　with

uplifted　trunks　were　sailing　proudly　through　the　azure　like　eagles。

Their　incomplete　or　multiplied　limbs　were　distended　with　terrible

exertion。　As　they　thrust　out　their　tongues　they　looked　as　though　they

would　fain　give　forth　their　souls；　and　every　shape　was　to　be　found

among　them　as　if　the　germ…receptacle　had　been　suddenly　hatched　and　had

burst；　emptying　itself　upon　the　walls　of　the　hall。



Round　the　latter　were　twelve　globes　of　blue　crystal；　supported　by

monsters　resembling　tigers。　Their　eyeballs　were　starting　out　of　their

heads　like　those　of　snails；　with　their　dumpy　loins　bent　they　were

turning　round　towards　the　background　where　the　supreme　Rabbet；　the

Omnifecund；　the　last　invented；　shone　splendid　in　a　chariot　of　ivory。



She　was　covered　with　scales；　feathers；　flowers；　and　birds　as　high　as

the　waist。　For　earrings　she　had　silver　cymbals；　which　flapped　against

her　cheeks。　Her　large　fixed　eyes　gazed　upon　you；　and　a　luminous　stone；

set　in　an　obscene　symbol　on　her　brow；　lighted　the　whole　hall　by　its

reflection　in　red　copper　mirrors　above　the　door。



Matho　stood　a　step　forward；　but　a　flag　stone　yielded　beneath　his　heels

and　immediately　the　spheres　began　to　revolve　and　the　monsters　to　roar；

music　rose　melodious　and　pealing；　like　the　harmony　of　the　planets；　the

tumultuous　soul　of　Tanith　was　poured　streaming　forth。　She　was　about　to

arise；　as　lofty　as　the　hall　and　with　open　arms。　Suddenly　the　monsters

closed　their　jaws　and　the　crystal　globes　revolved　no　more。



Then　a　mournful　modulation　lingered　for　a　time　through　the　air　and　at

last　died　away。



〃And　the　veil？〃　said　Spendius。



Nowhere　could　it　be　seen。　Where　was　it　to　be　found？　How　could　it　be

discovered？　What　if　the　priests　had　hidden　it？　Matho　experienced

anguish　of　heart　and　felt　as　though　he　had　been　deceived　in　his

belief。



〃This　way！〃　whispered　Spendius。　An　inspiration　guided　him。　He　drew

Matho　behind　Tanith's　chariot；　where　a　cleft　a　cubit　wide　ran　down　the

wall　from　top　to　bottom。



Then　they　penetrated　into　a　small　and　completely　circular　room；　so

lofty　that　it　was　like　the　interior　of　a　pillar。　In　the　centre　there

was　a　big　black　stone；　of　semispherical　shape　like　a　tabourine；　flames

were　burning　upon　it；　an　ebony　cone；　bearing　a　head　and　two　arms；　rose

behind。



But　beyond　it　seemed　as　though　there　were　a　cloud　wherein　were

twinkling　stars；　faces　appeared　in　the　depths　of　its　foldsEschmoun

with　the　Kabiri；　some　of　the　monsters　that　had　already　been　seen；　the

sacred　beasts　of　the　Babylonians；　and　others　with　which　they　were　not

acquainted。　It　passed　beneath　the　idol's　face　like　a　mantle；　and

spread　fully　out　was　drawn　up　on　the　wall　to　which　it　was　fastened　by

the　corners；　appearing　at　once　bluish　as　the　night；　yellow　as　the

dawn；　purple　as　the　sun；　multitudinous；　diaphanous；　sparkling　light。

It　was　the　mantle　of　the　goddess；　the　holy　zaimph　which　might　not　be

seen。



Both　turned　pale。



〃Take　it！〃　said　Matho　at　last。



Spendius　did　not　hesitate；　and　leaning　upon　the　idol　he　unfastened　the

veil；　which　sank　to　the　ground。　Matho　laid　his　hand　upon　it；　then　he

put　his　head　through　the　opening；　then　he　wrapped　it　about　his　body；

and　he　spread　out　his　arms　the　better　to　view　it。



〃Let　us　go！〃　said　Spendius。



Matho　stood　panting　with　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　pavement。　Suddenly　he

exclaimed：



〃But　what　if　I　went　to　her？　I　fear　her　beauty　no　longer！　What　could

she　do　to　me？　I　am　now　more　than　a　man。　I　could　pass　through　flames　or

walk　upon　the　sea！　I　am　transported！　Salammbo！　Salammbo！　I　am　your

master！〃



His　voice　was　like　thunder。　He　seemed　to　Spendius　to　have　grown　taller

and　transformed。



A　sound　of　footsteps　drew　near；　a　door　opened；　and　a　man　appeared；　a

priest　with　lofty　cap　and　staring　eyes。　Before　he　could　make　a　gesture

Spendius　had　rushed　upon　him；　and　clasping　him　in　his　arms　had　buried

both　his　daggers　in　his　sides。　His　head　rang　upon　the　pavement。



Then　they　stood　for　a　while；　as　motionless　as　the　corpse；　listening。

Nothing　could　be　heard　but　the　murmuring　of　the　wind　through　the　half…

opened　door。



The　latter　led　into　a　narrow　passage。　Spendius　advanced　along　it；

Matho　followed　him；　and　they　found　themselves　almost　immediately　in

the　third　enclosure；　between　the　lateral　porticoes；　in　which　were　the

dwellings　of　the　priests。



Behind　the　cells　there　must　be　a　shorter　way　out。　They　hastened　along。



Spendius　squatted　down　at　the　edge　of　the　fountain　and　washed　his

bloodstained　hands。　The　women　slept。　The　emerald　vine　shone。　They

resumed　their　advance。



But　something　was　running　behind　them　under　the　trees；　and　Matho；　who

bore　the　veil；　several　times　felt　that　it　was　being　pulled　very　gently

from　below。　It　was　a　large　cynocephalus；　one　of　those　which　dwelt　at

liberty　within　the　enclosure　of　the　goddess。　It　clung　to　the　mantle　as

though　it　had　been　conscious　of　the　theft。　They　did　not　dare　to　strike

it；　however；　fearing　that　it　might　redouble　its　cries；　suddenly　its

anger　subsided；　and　it　trotted　close　beside　them　swinging　its　body

with　its　long　hanging　arms。　Then　at　the　barrier　it　leaped　at　a　bound

into　a　palm　tree。



When　they　had　left　the　last　enclosure　they　directed　their　steps

towards　Hamilcar's　palace；　Spendius　understanding　that　it　would　be

useless　to　try　to　dissuade　Matho。



They　went　by　the　street　of　the　Tanners；　the　square　of　Muthumbal；　the

green　market　and　the　crossways　of　Cynasyn。　At　the　angle　of　a　wall　a

man　drew　back　frightened　by　the　sparkling　thing　which　pierced　the

darkness。



〃Hide　the　zaimph！〃　said　Spendius。



Other　people　passed　them；　but　without　perceiving　them。



At　last　they　recognised　the　houses　of　Megara。



The　pharos；　which　was　built　behind　them　on　the　summit　of　the　cliff；

lit　up　the　heavens　with　a　great　red　brightness；　and　the　shadow　of　the

palace；　with　its　rising　terraces；　projected　a　monstrous　pyramid；　as　it

were；　upon　the　gardens。　They　entered　through　the　hedge　of　jujube…

trees；　beating　down　the　branches　with　blows　of　the　dagger。



The　traces　of　the　feast　of　the　Mercenaries　were　everywhere　still

manifest。　The　parks　were　broken　up；　the　trenches　drained；　the　doors　of

the　ergastulum　open。　No　one　was　to　be　seen　about　the　kitchens　or

cellars。　They　wondered　at　the　silence；　which　was　occasionally　broken

by　the　hoarse　breathing　of　the　elephants　moving　in　their　shackles；　and

the　crepitation　of　the　pharos；　in　which　a　pile　of　aloes　was　burning。




Matho；　however；　kept　repeating：



〃But　where　is　she？　I　wish　to　see　her！　Lead　me！〃



〃It　is　a　piece　of　insanity！〃　Spendius　kept　saying。　〃She　will　call；　her

slaves　will　run　up；　and　in　spite　of　your　strength　you　will　die！〃



They　reached　thus　the　galley　staircase。　Matho　raised　his　head；　and

thought　that　he　could　perceive　far　above　a　vague　brightness；　radiant

and　soft。　Spendius　sought　to　restrain　him；　but　he　dashed　up　the　steps。



As　he　found　himself　again　in　places　where　he　had　already　seen　her；　the

interval　of　the　days　that　had　passed　was　obliterated　from　his　memory。

But　now　had　she　been　singing　among　the　tables；　she　had　disappeared；

and　he　had　since　been　continually　ascending　this　staircase。　The　sky

above　his　head　was　covered　with　fires；　the　sea　filled　the　horizon；　at

each　step　he　was　surrounded　by　a　still　greater　immensity；　and　he

continued　to　climb　upward　with　that　strange　facility　which　we

experience　in　dreams。



The　rustling　of　the　veil　as　it　brushed　against　the　stones　recalled　his

new　power　to　him；　but　in　the　excess　of　his　hope　he　could　no　longer

tell　what　he　was　to　do；　this　uncertainty　alarmed　him。



From　time　to　time　he　would　press　his　face　against　the　quadrangular

openings　in　the　closed　apartments；　and　he　thought　that　in　several　of

the　latter　he　could　see　persons　asleep。



The　last　story；　which　was　narrower；　formed　a　sort　of　dado　on　the

summit　of　the　terraces。　Matho　walked　round　it　slowly。



A　milky　light　filled　the　sheets　of　talc　which　closed　the　little

apertures　in　the　wall；　and　in　their　symmetrical　arrangement　they

looked　in　the　darkness　like　rows　of　delicate　pearls。　He　recognised　the

red　door　with　the　black　cross。　The　throbbing　of　his　heart　increased。

He　would　fain　have　fled。　He　pushed　the　door　and　it　opened。



A　galley…shaped　lamp　hung　burning　in　the　back　part　of　the　room；　and

three　rays；　emitted　from　its　silver　keel；　trembled　on　the　lofty

wainscots；　which　were　painted　red　with　black　bands。　The　ceiling　was　an

assemblage　of　small　beams；　with　amethysts　and　topazes　amid　their

gilding　in　the　knots　of　the　wood。　On　both　the　great　sides　of　the

apartment　there　stretched　a　very　low　bed　made　with　white　leathern

straps；　while　above；　semi…circles　like　shells；　opened　in　the　thickness

of　the　wall；　suffered