salammbo-第31章

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asleep　as　they　stood；　those　who　had　any　baggage　trailing　after　them

were　obliged　to　get　rid　of　it；　everything　was　to　be　carried；　in　Roman

fashion；　on　the　back。　As　a　precaution　against　the　elephants　Matho

instituted　a　corps　of　cataphract　cavalry；　men　and　horses　being　hidden

beneath　cuirasses　of　hippopotamus　skin　bristling　with　nails；　and　to

protect　the　horses'　hoofs　boots　of　plaited　esparto…grass　were　made　for

them。



It　was　forbidden　to　pillage　the　villages；　or　to　tyrannise　over　the

inhabitants　who　were　not　of　Punic　race。　But　as　the　country　was

becoming　exhausted；　Matho　ordered　the　provisions　to　be　served　out　to

the　soldiers　individually；　without　troubling　about　the　women。　At　first

the　men　shared　with　them。　Many　grew　weak　for　lack　of　food。　It　was　the

occasion　of　many　quarrels　and　invectives；　many　drawing　away　the

companions　of　the　rest　by　the　bait　or　even　by　the　promise　of　their　own

portion。　Matho　commanded　them　all　to　be　driven　away　pitilessly。　They

took　refuge　in　the　camp　of　Autaritus；　but　the　Gaulish　and　Libyan　women

forced　them　by　their　outrageous　treatment　to　depart。



At　last　they　came　beneath　the　walls　of　Carthage　to　implore　the

protection　of　Ceres　and　Proserpine；　for　in　Byrsa　there　was　a　temple

with　priests　consecrated　to　these　goddesses　in　expiation　of　the

horrors　formerly　committed　at　the　siege　of　Syracuse。　The　Syssitia；

alleging　their　right　to　waifs　and　strays；　claimed　the　youngest　in

order　to　sell　them；　and　some　fair　Lacedaemonian　women　were　taken　by

New　Carthaginians　in　marriage。



A　few　persisted　in　following　the　armies。　They　ran　on　the　flank　of　the

syntagmata　by　the　side　of　the　captains。　They　called　to　their　husbands；

pulled　them　by　the　cloak；　cursed　them　as　they　beat　their　breasts；　and

held　out　their　little　naked　and　weeping　children　at　arm's　length。　The

sight　of　them　was　unmanning　the　Barbarians；　they　were　an　embarrassment

and　a　peril。　Several　times　they　were　repulsed；　but　they　came　back

again；　Matho　made　the　horsemen　belonging　to　Narr'　Havas　charge　them

with　the　point　of　the　lance；　and　on　some　Balearians　shouting　out　to

him　that　they　must　have　women；　he　replied：　〃I　have　none！〃



Just　now　he　was　invaded　by　the　genius　of　Moloch。　In　spite　of　the

rebellion　of　his　conscience；　he　performed　terrible　deeds；　imagining

that　he　was　thus　obeying　the　voice　of　a　god。　When　he　could　not　ravage

the　fields；　Matho　would　cast　stones　into　them　to　render　them　sterile。



He　urged　Autaritus　and　Spendius　with　repeated　messages　to　make　haste。

But　the　Suffet's　operations　were　incomprehensible。　He　encamped　at

Eidous；　Monchar；　and　Tehent　successively；　some　scouts　believed　that

they　saw　him　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Ischiil；　near　the　frontiers　of

Narr'　Havas；　and　it　was　reported　that　he　had　crossed　the　river　above

Tebourba　as　though　to　return　to　Carthage。　Scarcely　was　he　in　one　place

when　he　removed　to　another。　The　routes　that　he　followed　always

remained　unknown。　The　Suffet　preserved　his　advantages　without　offering

battle；　and　while　pursued　by　the　Barbarians　seemed　to　be　leading　them。



These　marches　and　counter　marches　were　still　more　fatiguing　to　the

Carthaginians；　and　Hamilcar's　forces；　receiving　no　reinforcements；

diminished　from　day　to　day。　The　country　people　were　now　more　backward

in　bringing　him　provisions。　In　every　direction　he　encountered　taciturn

hesitation　and　hatred；　and　in　spite　of　his　entreaties　to　the　Great

Council　no　succour　came　from　Carthage。



It　was　said；　perhaps　it　was　believed；　that　he　had　need　of　none。　It　was

a　trick；　or　his　complaints　were　unnecessary；　and　Hanno's　partisans；　in

order　to　do　him　an　ill　turn；　exaggerated　the　importance　of　his

victory。　The　troops　which　he　commanded　he　was　welcome　to；　but　they

were　not　going　to　supply　his　demands　continually　in　that　way。　The　war

was　quite　burdensome　enough！　it　had　cost　too　much；　and　from　pride　the

patricians　belonging　to　his　faction　supported　him　but　slackly。



Then　Hamilcar；　despairing　of　the　Republic；　took　by　force　from　the

tribes　all　that　he　wanted　for　the　wargrain；　oil；　wood；　cattle；　and

men。　But　the　inhabitants　were　not　long　in　taking　flight。　The　villages

passed　through　were　empty；　and　the　cabins　were　ransacked　without

anything　being　discerned　in　them。　The　Punic　army　was　soon　encompassed

by　a　terrible　solitude。



The　Carthaginians；　who　were　furious；　began　to　sack　the　provinces；　they

filled　up　the　cisterns　and　fired　the　houses。　The　sparks；　being　carried

by　the　wind；　were　scattered　far　off；　and　whole　forests　were　on　fire　on

the　mountains；　they　bordered　the　valleys　with　a　crown　of　flames；　and

it　was　often　necessary　to　wait　in　order　to　pass　beyond　them。　Then　the

soldiers　resumed　their　march　over　the　warm　ashes　in　the　full　glare　of

the　sun。



Sometimes　they　would　see　what　looked　like　the　eyes　of　a　tiger　cat

gleaming　in　a　bush　by　the　side　of　the　road。　This　was　a　Barbarian

crouching　upon　his　heels；　and　smeared　with　dust；　that　he　might　not　be

distinguished　from　the　colour　of　the　foliage；　or　perhaps　when　passing

along　a　ravine　those　on　the　wings　would　suddenly　hear　the　rolling　of

stones；　and　raising　their　eyes　would　perceive　a　bare…footed　man

bounding　along　through　the　openings　of　the　gorge。



Meanwhile　Utica　and　Hippo…Zarytus　were　free　since　the　Mercenaries　were

no　longer　besieging　them。　Hamilcar　commanded　them　to　come　to　his

assistance。　But　not　caring　to　compromise　themselves；　they　answered　him

with　vague　words；　with　compliments　and　excuses。



He　went　up　again　abruptly　into　the　North；　determined　to　open　up　one　of

the　Tyrian　towns；　though　he　were　obliged　to　lay　siege　to　it。　He

required　a　station　on　the　coast；　so　as　to　be　able　to　draw　supplies　and

men　from　the　islands　or　from　Cyrene；　and　he　coveted　the　harbour　of

Utica　as　being　the　nearest　to　Carthage。



The　Suffet　therefore　left　Zouitin　and　turned　the　lake　of　Hippo…Zarytus

with　circumspection。　But　he　was　soon　obliged　to　lengthen　out　his

regiments　into　column　in　order　to　climb　the　mountain　which　separates

the　two　valleys。　They　were　descending　at　sunset　into　its　hollow；

funnel…shaped　summit；　when　they　perceived　on　the　level　of　the　ground

before　them　bronze　she…wolves　which　seemed　to　be　running　across　the

grass。



Suddenly　large　plumes　arose　and　a　terrible　song　burst　forth；

accompanied　by　the　rhythm　of　flutes。　It　was　the　army　under　Spendius；

for　some　Campanians　and　Greeks；　in　their　execration　of　Carthage；　had

assumed　the　ensigns　of　Rome。　At　the　same　time　long　pikes；　shields　of

leopard's　skin；　linen　cuirasses；　and　naked　shoulders　were　seen　on　the

left。　These　were　the　Iberians　under　Matho；　the　Lusitanians；

Balearians；　and　Gaetulians；　the　horses　of　Narr'　Havas　were　heard　to

neigh；　they　spread　around　the　hill；　then　came　the　loose　rabble

commanded　by　AutaritusGauls；　Libyans；　and　Nomads；　while　the　Eaters

of　Uncleanness　might　be　recognised　among　them　by　the　fish　bones　which

they　wore　in　their　hair。



Thus　the　Barbarians；　having　contrived　their　marches　with　exactness；

had　come　together　again。　But　themselves　surprised；　they　remained

motionless　for　some　minutes　in　consultation。



The　Suffet　had　collected　his　men　into　an　orbicular　mass；　in　such　a　way

as　to　offer　an　equal　resistance　in　every　direction。　The　infantry　were

surrounded　by　their　tall；　pointed　shields　fixed　close　to　one　another

in　the　turf。　The　Clinabarians　were　outside　and　the　elephants　at

intervals　further　off。　The　Mercenaries　were　worn　out　with　fatigue；　it

was　better　to　wait　till　next　day；　and　the　Barbarians　feeling　sure　of

their　victory　occupied　themselves　the　whole　night　in　eating。



They　lighted　large　bright　fires；　which；　while　dazzling　themselves；

left　the　Punic　army　below　them　in　the　shade。　Hamilcar　caused　a　trench

fifteen　feet　broad　and　ten　cubits　deep　to　be　dug　in　Roman　fashion

round　his　camp；　and　the　earth　thrown　out　to　be　raised　on　the　inside

into　a　parapet；　on　which　sharp　interlacing　stakes　were　planted；　and　at

sunrise　the　Mercenaries　were　amazed　to　perceive　all　the　Carthaginians

thus　entrenched　as　if　in　a　fortress。



They　could　recognise　Hamilcar　in　the　midst　of　the　tents　walking　about

and　giving　orders。　His　person　was　clad　in　a　brown　cuirass　cut　in

little　scales；　he　was　followed　by　his　horse；　and　stopped　from　time　to

time　to　point　out　something　with　his　right　arm　outstretched。



Then　more　than　one　recalled　similar　mornings　when；　amid　the　din　of

clarions；　he　passed　slowly　before　them；　and　his　looks　strengthened

them　like　cups　of　wine。　A　kind　of　emotion　overcame　them。　Those；　on　the

contrary；　who　were　not　acquainted　with　Hamilcar；　were　mad　with　joy　at

having　caught　him。



Nevertheless　if　all　attacked　at　once　they　would　do　one　another　mutual

injury　in　the　insufficiency　of　space。　The　Numidians　might　dash

through；　but　the　Clinabarians；　who　were　protected　by　cuirasses；　would

crush　them。　And　then　how　were　the　palisades　to　be　crossed？　As　to　the

elephants；　they　were　not　sufficiently　well　trained。



〃You　are　all　cowards！〃　exclaimed　Matho。



And　with　the　best　among　them　he　rushed　against　the　entrenchment。　They

were　repulsed　by　a　volley　of　stones；　for　the　Suffet　had　taken　their

abandoned　catapults　on　the　bridge。



This　want　of　success　produced　an　abrupt　change　in　the　fickle　minds　of

the　Barbarians。　Their　extreme　bravery　disappeared；　they　wished　to

conquer；　but　with　the　smallest　possible　risk。　According　to　Spendius

they　ought　to　maintain　carefully　the　position　that　they　held；　and

starve　out　the　Punic　army。　But　the　Carthaginians　began　to　dig　wells；

and　as　there　were　mountains　surrounding　the　hill；　they　discovered

water。



From　the　summit　of　their　palisade　they　launched　arrows；　earth；　dung；

and　pebbles　which　they　gathered　from　the　ground；　while　the　six

catapults　rolled　incessantly　throughout　the　length　of　the　terrace。



But　the　springs　would　dry　up　of　themselves；　the　provisions　would　be

exhausted；　and　the　catapults　worn　out；　the　Mercenaries；　who　were　ten

times　as　numerous；　would　triumph　in　the　end。　The　Suffet　devised

negotiations　so　as　to　gain　time；　and　one　morning　the　Barbarians　found

a　sheep's　skin　covered　with　writing　within　their　lines。　He　justified

himself　for　his　victory：　the　Ancients　had　forced　him　into　the　war；　and

to　show　them　that　he　was　keeping　his　word；　he　offered　them　the

pillaging　of　Utica　or　Hippo…Zarytus　at　their　choice；　in　conclusion；

Hamilcar　declared　that　he　did　not　fear　them　because　he　had　won　over

some　traitors；　and　thanks　to　them　would　easily　manage　the　rest。



The　Barbarians　were　disturbed：　this　proposal　of　immediate　booty　made

them　consider；　they　were　apprehensive　of　treachery；　not　suspecting　a

snare　in　the　Suffet's　boasting；　and　they　began　to　look　upon　one

another　with　mistrust。　Words　and　steps　were　watched；　terrors　awaked

them　in　the　night。　Many　forsook　their　companions　and　chose　their　army

as　fancy　dictated；　and　the　Gauls　with　Autaritus　went　and　joined

themselves　with　the　men　of　Cisalpine　Gaul；　whose　language　they

understood。