salammbo-第20章

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ambassadors　arrived；　they　had　to　proceed　between　two　walls　through　a

passage　which　had　its　outlet　on　the　left　in　front　of　the　temple　of

Khamon。　This　great　expanse　of　water　was　as　round　as　a　cup；　and　was

bordered　with　quays　on　which　sheds　were　built　for　sheltering　the

ships。　Before　each　of　these　rose　two　pillars　bearing　the　horns　of

Ammon　on　their　capitals　and　forming　continuous　porticoes　all　round　the

basin。　On　an　island　in　the　centre　stood　a　house　for　the　marine　Suffet。



The　water　was　so　limpid　that　the　bottom　was　visible　with　its　paving　of

white　pebbles。　The　noise　of　the　streets　did　not　reach　so　far；　and

Hamilcar　as　he　passed　recognised　the　triremes　which　he　had　formerly

commanded。



Not　more　than　twenty　perhaps　remained；　under　shelter　on　the　land；

leaning　over　on　their　sides　or　standing　upright　on　their　keels；　with

lofty　poops　and　swelling　prows；　and　covered　with　gildings　and　mystic

symbols。　The　chimaeras　had　lost　their　wings；　the　Pataec　Gods　their

arms；　the　bulls　their　silver　horns；and　half…painted；　motionless；　and

rotten　as　they　were；　yet　full　of　associations；　and　still　emitting　the

scent　of　voyages；　they　all　seemed　to　say　to　him；　like　mutilated

soldiers　on　seeing　their　master　again；　〃'Tis　we！　'tis　we！　and　YOU　too

are　vanquished！〃



No　one　excepting　the　marine　Suffet　might　enter　the　admiral's　house。　So

long　as　there　was　no　proof　of　his　death　he　was　considered　as　still　in

existence。　In　this　way　the　Ancients　avoided　a　master　the　more；　and

they　had　not　failed　to　comply　with　the　custom　in　respect　to　Hamilcar。



The　Suffet　proceeded　into　the　deserted　apartments。　At　every　step　he

recognised　armour　and　furniturefamiliar　objects　which　nevertheless

astonished　him；　and　in　a　perfuming…pan　in　the　vestibule　there　even

remained　the　ashes　of　the　perfumes　that　had　been　kindled　at　his

departure　for　the　conjuration　of　Melkarth。　It　was　not　thus　that　he　had

hoped　to　return。　Everything　that　he　had　done；　everything　that　he　had

seen；　unfolded　itself　in　his　memory：　assaults；　conflagrations；

legions；　tempests；　Drepanum；　Syracuse；　Lilybaeum；　Mount　Etna；　the

plateau　of　Eryx；　five　years　of　battles；until　the　fatal　day　when　arms

had　been　laid　down　and　Sicily　had　been　lost。　Then　he　once　more　saw　the

woods　of　citron…trees；　and　herdsmen　with　their　goats　on　grey

mountains；　and　his　heart　leaped　at　the　thought　of　the　establishment　of

another　Carthage　down　yonder。　His　projects　and　his　recollections

buzzed　through　his　head；　which　was　still　dizzy　from　the　pitching　of

the　vessel；　he　was　overwhelmed　with　anguish；　and；　becoming　suddenly

weak；　he　felt　the　necessity　of　drawing　near　to　the　gods。



Then　he　went　up　to　the　highest　story　of　his　house；　and　taking　a　nail…

studded　staple　from　a　golden　shell；　which　hung　on　his　arm；　he　opened　a

small　oval　chamber。



It　was　softly　lighted　by　means　of　delicate　black　discs　let　into　the

wall　and　as　transparent　as　glass。　Between　the　rows　of　these　equal

discs；　holes；　like　those　for　the　urns　in　columbaria；　were　hollowed

out。　Each　of　them　contained　a　round　dark　stone；　which　appeared　to　be

very　heavy。　Only　people　of　superior　understanding　honoured　these

abaddirs；　which　had　fallen　from　the　moon。　By　their　fall　they　denoted

the　stars；　the　sky；　and　fire；　by　their　colour　dark　night；　and　by　their

density　the　cohesion　of　terrestrial　things。　A　stifling　atmosphere

filled　this　mystic　place。　The　round　stones　lying　in　the　niches　were

whitened　somewhat　with　sea…sand　which　the　wind　had　no　doubt　driven

through　the　door。　Hamilcar　counted　them　one　after　another　with　the　tip

of　his　finger；　then　he　hid　his　face　in　a　saffron…coloured　veil；　and；

falling　on　his　knees；　stretched　himself　on　the　ground　with　both　arms

extended。



The　daylight　outside　was　beginning　to　strike　on　the　folding　shutters

of　black　lattice…work。　Arborescences；　hillocks；　eddies；　and　ill…

defined　animals　appeared　in　their　diaphanous　thickness；　and　the　light

came　terrifying　and　yet　peaceful　as　it　must　be　behind　the　sun　in　the

dull　spaces　of　future　creations。　He　strove　to　banish　from　his　thoughts

all　forms；　and　all　symbols　and　appellations　of　the　gods；　that　he　might

the　better　apprehend　the　immutable　spirit　which　outward　appearances

took　away。　Something　of　the　planetary　vitalities　penetrated　him；　and

he　felt　withal　a　wiser　and　more　intimate　scorn　of　death　and　of　every

accident。　When　he　rose　he　was　filled　with　serene　fearlessness　and　was

proof　against　pity　or　dread；　and　as　his　chest　was　choking　he　went　to

the　top　of　the　tower　which　overlooked　Carthage。



The　town　sank　downwards　in　a　long　hollow　curve；　with　its　cupolas；　its

temples；　its　golden　roofs；　its　houses；　its　clusters　of　palm　trees　here

and　there；　and　its　glass　balls　with　streaming　rays；　while　the　ramparts

formed；　as　it　were；　the　gigantic　border　of　this　horn　of　plenty　which

poured　itself　out　before　him。　Far　below　he　could　see　the　harbours；　the

squares；　the　interiors　of　the　courts；　the　plan　of　the　streets；　and　the

people；　who　seemed　very　small　and　but　little　above　the　level　of　the

pavement。　Ah！　if　Hanno　had　not　arrived　too　late　on　the　morning　of　the

Aegatian　islands！　He　fastened　his　eyes　on　the　extreme　horizon　and

stretched　forth　his　quivering　arms　in　the　direction　of　Rome。



The　steps　of　the　Acropolis　were　occupied　by　the　multitude。　In　the

square　of　Khamon　the　people　were　pressing　forwards　to　see　the　Suffet

come　out；　and　the　terraces　were　gradually　being　loaded　with　people；　a

few　recognised　him；　and　he　was　saluted；　but　he　retired　in　order　the

better　to　excite　the　impatience　of　the　people。



Hamilcar　found　the　most　important　men　of　his　party　below　in　the　hall：

Istatten；　Subeldia；　Hictamon；　Yeoubas　and　others。　They　related　to　him

all　that　had　taken　place　since　the　conclusion　of　the　peace：　the　greed

of　the　Ancients；　the　departure　of　the　soldiers；　their　return；　their

demands；　the　capture　of　Gisco；　the　theft　of　the　zaimph；　the　relief　and

subsequent　abandonment　of　Utica；　but　no　one　ventured　to　tell　him　of

the　events　which　concerned　himself。　At　last　they　separated；　to　meet

again　during　the　night　at　the　assembly　of　the　Ancients　in　the　temple

of　Moloch。



They　had　just　gone　out　when　a　tumult　arose　outside　the　door。　Some　one

was　trying　to　enter　in　spite　of　the　servants；　and　as　the　disturbance

was　increasing　Hamilcar　ordered　the　stranger　to　be　shown　in。



An　old　Negress　made　her　appearance；　broken；　wrinkled；　trembling；

stupid…looking；　wrapped　to　the　heels　in　ample　blue　veils。　She　advanced

face　to　face　with　the　Suffet；　and　they　looked　at　each　other　for　some

time；　suddenly　Hamilcar　started；　at　a　wave　of　his　hand　the　slaves

withdrew。　Then；　signing　to　her　to　walk　with　precaution；　he　drew　her　by

the　arm　into　a　remote　apartment。



The　Negress　threw　herself　upon　the　floor　to　kiss　his　feet；　he　raised

her　brutally。



〃Where　have　you　left　him；　Iddibal？〃



〃Down　there；　Master；〃　and　extricating　herself　from　her　veils；　she

rubbed　her　face　with　her　sleeve；　the　black　colour；　the　senile

trembling；　the　bent　figure　disappeared；　and　there　remained　a　strong

old　man　whose　skin　seemed　tanned　by　sand；　wind；　and　sea。　A　tuft　of

white　hair　rose　on　his　skull　like　the　crest　of　a　bird；　and　he

indicated　his　disguise；　as　it　lay　on　the　ground；　with　an　ironic

glance。



〃You　have　done　well；　Iddibal！　'Tis　well！〃　Then　piercing　him；　as　it

were；　with　his　keen　gaze：　〃No　one　yet　suspects？〃



The　old　man　swore　to　him　by　the　Kabiri　that　the　mystery　had　been　kept。

They　never　left　their　cottage；　which　was　three　days'　journey　from

Hadrumetum；　on　a　shore　peopled　with　turtles；　and　with　palms　on　the

dune。　〃And　in　accordance　with　your　command；　O　Master！　I　teach　him　to

hurl　the　javelin　and　to　drive　a　team。〃



〃He　is　strong；　is　he　not？〃



〃Yes；　Master；　and　intrepid　as　well！　He　has　no　fear　of　serpents；　or

thunder；　or　phantoms。　He　runs　bare…footed　like　a　herdsman　along　the

brinks　of　precipices。〃



〃Speak！　speak！〃



〃He　invents　snares　for　wild　beasts。　Would　you　believe　it；　that　last

moon　he　surprised　an　eagle；　he　dragged　it　away；　and　the　bird's　blood

and　the　child's　were　scattered　in　the　air　in　large　drops　like　driven

roses。　The　animal　in　its　fury　enwrapped　him　in　the　beating　of　its

wings；　he　strained　it　against　his　breast；　and　as　it　died　his　laughter

increased；　piercing　and　proud　like　the　clashing　of　swords。〃



Hamilcar　bent　his　head；　dazzled　by　such　presages　of　greatness。



〃But　he　has　been　for　some　time　restless　and　disturbed。　He　gazes　at　the

sails　passing　far　out　at　sea；　he　is　melancholy；　he　rejects　bread；　he

inquires　about　the　gods；　and　he　wishes　to　become　acquainted　with

Carthage。〃



〃No；　no！　not　yet！〃　exclaimed　the　Suffet。



The　old　slave　seemed　to　understand　the　peril　which　alarmed　Hamilcar；

and　he　resumed：



〃How　is　he　to　be　restrained？　Already　I　am　obliged　to　make　him

promises；　and　I　have　come　to　Carthage　only　to　buy　him　a　dagger　with　a

silver　handle　and　pearls　all　around　it。〃　Then　he　told　how；　having

perceived　the　Suffet　on　the　terrace；　he　had　passed　himself　off　on　the

warders　of　the　harbour　as　one　of　Salammbo's　women；　so　as　to　make　his

way　in　to　him。



Hamilcar　remained　for　a　long　time　apparently　lost　in　deliberation；　at

last　he　said：



〃To…morrow　you　will　present　yourself　at　sunset　behind　the　purple

factories　in　Megara；　and　imitate　a　jackal's　cry　three　times。　If　you　do

not　see　me；　you　will　return　to　Carthage　on　the　first　day　of　every

moon。　Forget　nothing！　Love　him！　You　may　speak　to　him　now　about

Hamilcar。〃



The　slave　resumed　his　costume；　and　they　left　the　house　and　the　harbour

together。



Hamilcar　went　on　his　way　alone　on　foot　and　without　an　escort；　for　the

meetings　of　the　Ancients　were；　under　extraordinary　circumstances；

always　secret；　and　were　resorted　to　mysteriously。



At　first　he　went　along　the　western　front　of　the　Acropolis；　and　then

passed　through　the　Green　Market；　the　galleries　of　Kinisdo；　and　the

Perfumers'　suburb。　The　scattered　lights　were　being　extinguished；　the

broader　streets　grew　still；　then　shadows　glided　through　the　darkness。

They　followed　him；　others　appeared；　and　like　him　they　all　directed

their　course　towards　the　Mappalian　district。



The　temple　of　Moloch　was　built　at　the　foot　of　a　steep　defile　in　a

sinister　spot。　From　below　nothing　could　be　seen　but　lofty　walls　rising

indefinitely　like　those　of　a　monstrous　tomb。　The　night　was　gloomy；　a

greyish　fog　seemed　to　weigh　upon　the　sea；　which　beat　against　the　cliff

with　a　noise　as　of　death…rattles　and　sobs；　and　the　shadows　gradually

vanished　as　if　they　had　passed　through　the　walls。



But　as　soon　as　the　doorway　was　crossed　one　found　oneself　in　a　vast

quadrangular　court　bordered　by　arcades。　In　the　centre　rose　a　mass　of

architecture　with　eight　equal　faces。　It　was　surmounted　by　cupolas

which　thronged　around　a　second　story　supporting　a　kind　of　rotunda；

from　which　sprang　a　cone　with　a　re…entrant　curve　and　terminating　in　a

ball　on　the　summit。



Fires　were　burning　in　cy