salammbo-第36章

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！





At　last　he　placed　a　dagger　which　he　had　in　his　girdle　beneath　her

throat。　Then；　trembling；　she　went　and　raised　a　large　stone；　and

brought　back　an　amphora　of　wine　with　fish　from　Hippo…Zarytus　preserved

in　honey。



Salammbo　turned　away　from　this　unclean　food；　and　fell　asleep　on　the

horses'　caparisons　which　were　spread　in　a　corner　of　the　hall。



He　awoke　her　before　daylight。



The　dog　was　howling。　The　slave　went　up　to　it　quietly；　and　struck　off

its　head　with　a　single　blow　of　his　dagger。　Then　he　rubbed　the　horses'

nostrils　with　blood　to　revive　them。　The　old　woman　cast　a　malediction

at　him　from　behind。　Salammbo　perceived　this；　and　pressed　the　amulet

which　she　wore　above　her　heart。



They　resumed　their　journey。



From　time　to　time　she　asked　whether　they　would　not　arrive　soon。　The

road　undulated　over　little　hills。　Nothing　was　to　be　heard　but　the

grating　of　the　grasshoppers。　The　sun　heated　the　yellowed　grass；　the

ground　was　all　chinked　with　crevices　which　in　dividing　formed；　as　it

were；　monstrous　paving…stones。　Sometimes　a　viper　passed；　or　eagles

flew　by；　the　slave　still　continued　running。　Salammbo　mused　beneath　her

veils；　and　in　spite　of　the　heat　did　not　lay　them　aside　through　fear　of

soiling　her　beautiful　garments。



At　regular　distances　stood　towers　built　by　the　Carthaginians　for　the

purpose　of　keeping　watch　upon　the　tribes。　They　entered　these　for　the

sake　of　the　shade；　and　then　set　out　again。



For　prudence　sake　they　had　made　a　wide　detour　the　day　before。　But　they

met　with　no　one　just　now；　the　region　being　a　sterile　one；　the

Barbarians　had　not　passed　that　way。



Gradually　the　devastation　began　again。　Sometimes　a　piece　of　mosaic

would　be　displayed　in　the　centre　of　a　field；　the　sole　remnant　of　a

vanished　mansion；　and　the　leafless　olive　trees　looked　at　a　distance

like　large　bushes　of　thorns。　They　passed　through　a　town　in　which

houses　were　burnt　to　the　ground。　Human　skeletons　might　be　seen　along

the　walls。　There　were　some；　too；　of　dromedaries　and　mules。　Half…gnawed

carrion　blocked　the　streets。



Night　fell。　The　sky　was　lowering　and　cloudy。



They　ascended　again　for　two　hours　in　a　westerly　direction；　when

suddenly　they　perceived　a　quantity　of　little　flames　before　them。



These　were　shining　at　the　bottom　of　an　ampitheatre。　Gold　plates；　as

they　displaced　one　another；　glanced　here　and　there。　These　were　the

cuirasses　of　the　Clinabarians　in　the　Punic　camp；　then　in　the

neighbourhood　they　distinguished　other　and　more　numerous　lights；　for

the　armies　of　the　Mercenaries；　now　blended　together；　extended　over　a

great　space。



Salammbo　made　a　movement　as　though　to　advance。　But　Schahabarim's　man

took　her　further　away；　and　they　passed　along　by　the　terrace　which

enclosed　the　camp　of　the　Barbarians。　A　breach　became　visible　in　it；

and　the　slave　disappeared。



A　sentry　was　walking　upon　the　top　of　the　entrenchment　with　a　bow　in

his　hand　and　a　pike　on　his　shoulder。



Salammbo　drew　still　nearer；　the　Barbarian　knelt　and　a　long　arrow

pierced　the　hem　of　her　cloak。　Then　as　she　stood　motionless　and

shrieking；　he　asked　her　what　she　wanted。



〃To　speak　to　Matho；〃　she　replied。　〃I　am　a　fugitive　from　Carthage。〃



He　gave　a　whistle；　which　was　repeated　at　intervals　further　away。



Salammbo　waited；　her　frightened　horse　moved　round　and　round；　sniffing。



When　Matho　arrived　the　moon　was　rising　behind　her。　But　she　had　a

yellow　veil　with　black　flowers　over　her　face；　and　so　many　draperies

about　her　person；　that　it　was　impossible　to　make　any　guess　about　her。

From　the　top　of　the　terrace　he　gazed　upon　this　vague　form　standing　up

like　a　phantom　in　the　penumbrae　of　the　evening。



At　last　she　said　to　him：



〃Lead　me　to　your　tent！　I　wish　it！〃



A　recollection　which　he　could　not　define　passed　through　his　memory。　He

felt　his　heart　beating。　The　air　of　command　intimidated　him。



〃Follow　me！〃　he　said。



The　barrier　was　lowered；　and　immediately　she　was　in　the　camp　of　the

Barbarians。



It　was　filled　with　a　great　tumult　and　a　great　throng。　Bright　fires

were　burning　beneath　hanging　pots；　and　their　purpled　reflections

illuminating　some　places　left　others　completely　in　the　dark。　There　was

shouting　and　calling；　shackled　horses　formed　long　straight　lines　amid

the　tents；　the　latter　were　round　and　square；　of　leather　or　of　canvas；

there　were　huts　of　reeds；　and　holes　in　the　sand　such　as　are　made　by

dogs。　Soldiers　were　carting　faggots；　resting　on　their　elbows　on　the

ground；　or　wrapping　themselves　up　in　mats　and　preparing　to　sleep；　and

Salammbo's　horse　sometimes　stretched　out　a　leg　and　jumped　in　order　to

pass　over　them。



She　remembered　that　she　had　seen　them　before；　but　their　beards　were

longer　now；　their　faces　still　blacker；　and　their　voices　hoarser。

Matho；　who　walked　before　her；　waved　them　off　with　a　gesture　of　his　arm

which　raised　his　red　mantle。　Some　kissed　his　hands；　others　bending

their　spines　approached　him　to　ask　for　orders；　for　he　was　now

veritable　and　sole　chief　of　the　Barbarians；　Spendius；　Autaritus；　and

Narr'　Havas　had　become　disheartened；　and　he　had　displayed　so　much

audacity　and　obstinacy　that　all　obeyed　him。



Salammbo　followed　him　through　the　entire　camp。　His　tent　was　at　the

end；　three　hundred　feet　from　Hamilcar's　entrenchments。



She　noticed　a　wide　pit　on　the　right；　and　it　seemed　to　her　that　faces

were　resting　against　the　edge　of　it　on　a　level　with　the　ground；　as

decapitated　heads　might　have　done。　However；　their　eyes　moved；　and　from

these　half…opened　mouths　groanings　escaped　in　the　Punic　tongue。



Two　Negroes　holding　resin　lights　stood　on　both　sides　of　the　door。

Matho　drew　the　canvas　abruptly　aside。　She　followed　him。　It　was　a　deep

tent　with　a　pole　standing　up　in　the　centre。　It　was　lighted　by　a　large

lamp…holder　shaped　like　a　lotus　and　full　of　a　yellow　oil　wherein

floated　handfuls　of　burning　tow；　and　military　things　might　be

distinguished　gleaming　in　the　shade。　A　naked　sword　leaned　against　a

stool　by　the　side　of　a　shield；　whips　of　hippopotamus　leather；　cymbals；

bells；　and　necklaces　were　displayed　pell…mell　on　baskets　of　esparto…

grass；　a　felt　rug　lay　soiled　with　crumbs　of　black　bread；　some　copper

money　was　carelessly　heaped　upon　a　round　stone　in　a　corner；　and

through　the　rents　in　the　canvas　the　wind　brought　the　dust　from

without；　together　with　the　smell　of　the　elephants；　which　might　be

heard　eating　and　shaking　their　chains。



〃Who　are　you？〃　said　Matho。



She　looked　slowly　around　her　without　replying；　then　her　eyes　were

arrested　in　the　background；　where　something　bluish　and　sparkling　fell

upon　a　bed　of　palm…branches。



She　advanced　quickly。　A　cry　escaped　her。　Matho　stamped　his　foot　behind

her。



〃Who　brings　you　here？　why　do　you　come？〃



〃To　take　it！〃　she　replied；　pointing　to　the　zaimph；　and　with　the　other

hand　she　tore　the　veils　from　her　head。　He　drew　back　with　his　elbows

behind　him；　gaping；　almost　terrified。



She　felt　as　if　she　were　leaning　on　the　might　of　the　gods；　and　looking

at　him　face　to　face　she　asked　him　for　the　zaimph；　she　demanded　it　in

words　abundant　and　superb。



Matho　did　not　hear；　he　was　gazing　at　her；　and　in　his　eyes　her　garments

were　blended　with　her　body。　The　clouding　of　the　stuffs；　like　the

splendour　of　her　skin；　was　something　special　and　belonging　to　her

alone。　Her　eyes　and　her　diamonds　sparkled；　the　polish　of　her　nails

continued　the　delicacy　of　the　stones　which　loaded　her　fingers；　the　two

clasps　of　her　tunic　raised　her　breasts　somewhat　and　brought　them

closer　together；　and　he　in　thought　lost　himself　in　the　narrow　interval

between　them　whence　there　fell　a　thread　holding　a　plate　of　emeralds

which　could　be　seen　lower　down　beneath　the　violet　gauze。　She　had　as

earrings　two　little　sapphire　scales；　each　supporting　a　hollow　pearl

filled　with　liquid　scent。　A　little　drop　would　fall　every　moment

through　the　holes　in　the　pearl　and　moisten　her　naked　shoulder。　Matho

watched　it　fall。



He　was　carried　away　by　ungovernable　curiosity；　and；　like　a　child

laying　his　hand　upon　a　strange　fruit；　he　tremblingly　and　lightly

touched　the　top　of　her　chest　with　the　tip　of　his　finger：　the　flesh；

which　was　somewhat　cold；　yielded　with　an　elastic　resistance。



This　contact；　though　scarcely　a　sensible　one；　shook　Matho　to　the　very

depths　of　his　nature。　An　uprising　of　his　whole　being　urged　him　towards

her。　He　would　fain　have　enveloped　her；　absorbed　her；　drunk　her。　His

bosom　was　panting；　his　teeth　were　chattering。



Taking　her　by　the　wrists　he　drew　her　gently　to　him；　and　then　sat　down

upon　a　cuirass　beside　the　palm…tree　bed　which　was　covered　with　a

lion's　skin。　She　was　standing。　He　looked　up　at　her；　holding　her　thus

between　his　knees；　and　repeating：



〃How　beautiful　you　are！　how　beautiful　you　are！〃



His　eyes；　which　were　continually　fixed　upon　hers；　pained　her；　and　the

uncomfortableness；　the　repugnance　increased　in　so　acute　a　fashion　that

Salammbo　put　a　constraint　upon　herself　not　to　cry　out。　The　thought　of

Schahabarim　came　back　to　her；　and　she　resigned　herself。



Matho　still　kept　her　little　hands　in　his　own；　and　from　time　to　time；

in　spite　of　the　priest's　command；　she　turned　away　her　face　and　tried

to　thrust　him　off　by　jerking　her　arms。　He　opened　his　nostrils　the

better　to　breathe　in　the　perfume　which　exhaled　from　her　person。　It　was

a　fresh；　indefinable　emanation；　which　nevertheless　made　him　dizzy；

like　the　smoke　from　a　perfuming…pan。　She　smelt　of　honey；　pepper；

incense；　roses；　with　another　odour　still。



But　how　was　she　thus　with　him　in　his　tent；　and　at　his　disposal？　Some

one　no　doubt　had　urged　her。　She　had　not　come　for　the　zaimph。　His　arms

fell；　and　he　bent　his　head　whelmed　in　sudden　reverie。



To　soften　him　Salammbo　said　to　him　in　a　plaintive　voice：



〃What　have　I　done　to　you　that　you　should　desire　my　death？〃



〃Your　death！〃



She　resumed：



〃I　saw　you　one　evening　by　the　light　of　my　burning　gardens　amid　fuming

cups　and　my　slaughtered　slaves；　and　your　anger　was　so　strong　that　you

bounded　towards　me　and　I　was　obliged　to　fly！　Then　terror　entered　into

Carthage。　There　were　cries　of　the　devastation　of　the　towns；　the

burning　of　the　country…seats；　the　massacre　of　the　soldiery；　it　was　you

who　had　ruined　them；　it　was　you　who　had　murdered　them！　I　hate　you！

Your　very　name　gnaws　me　like　remorse！　You　are　execrated　more　than　the

plague；　and　the　Roman　war！　The　provinces　shudder　at　your　fury；　the

furrows　are　full　of　corpses！　I　have　followed　the　traces　of　your　fires

as　though　I　were　travelling　behind　Moloch！〃



Matho　leaped　up；　his　heart　was　swelling　with　colossal　pride；　he　was

raised　to　the　stature　of　a　god。



With　quivering　nostrils　and　clenched　teeth　she　went　on：



〃As　if　your　sacrilege　were　not　enough；　you　came　to　me　in　my　sleep

covered　with　the　zaimph！　Your　words　I　did　not　understand；　but　I　could

see　that　you　wished　to　drag　me　to　some　terrible　thing　at　the　bottom　of

an　abyss。〃



Matho；　writhing　his　ar