salammbo-第37章

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

an　abyss。〃



Matho；　writhing　his　arms；　exclaimed：




〃No！　no！　it　was　to　give　it　to　you！　to　restore　it　to　you！　It　seemed　to

me　that　the　goddess　had　left　her　garment　for　you；　and　that　it　belonged

to　you！　In　her　temple　or　in　your　house；　what　does　it　matter？　are　you

not　all…powerful；　immaculate；　radiant　and　beautiful　even　as　Tanith？〃

And　with　a　look　of　boundless　adoration　he　added：



〃Unless　perhaps　you　are　Tanith？〃



〃I；　Tanith！〃　said　Salammbo　to　herself。



They　left　off　speaking。　The　thunder　rolled　in　the　distance。　Some　sheep

bleated；　frightened　by　the　storm。



〃Oh！　come　near！〃　he　went　on；　〃come　near！　fear　nothing！



〃Formerly　I　was　only　a　soldier　mingled　with　the　common　herd　of　the

Mercenaries；　ay；　and　so　meek　that　I　used　to　carry　wood　on　my　back　for

the　others。　Do　I　trouble　myself　about　Carthage！　The　crowd　of　its

people　move　as　though　lost　in　the　dust　of　your　sandals；　and　all　its

treasures；　with　the　provinces；　fleets；　and　islands；　do　not　raise　my

envy　like　the　freshness　of　your　lips　and　the　turn　of　your　shoulders。

But　I　wanted　to　throw　down　its　walls　that　I　might　reach　you　to　possess

you！　Moreover；　I　was　revenging　myself　in　the　meantime！　At　present　I

crush　men　like　shells；　and　I　throw　myself　upon　phalanxes；　I　put　aside

the　sarissae　with　my　hands；　I　check　the　stallions　by　the　nostrils；　a

catapult　would　not　kill　me！　Oh！　if　you　knew　how　I　think　of　you　in　the

midst　of　war！　Sometimes　the　memory　of　a　gesture　or　of　a　fold　of　your

garment　suddenly　seizes　me　and　entwines　me　like　a　net！　I　perceive　your

eyes　in　the　flames　of　the　phalaricas　and　on　the　gilding　of　the

shields！　I　hear　your　voice　in　the　sounding　of　the　cymbals。　I　turn

aside；　but　you　are　not　there！　and　I　plunge　again　into　the　battle！〃



He　raised　his　arms　whereon　his　veins　crossed　one　another　like　ivy　on

the　branches　of　a　tree。　Sweat　flowed　down　his　breast　between　his

square　muscles；　and　his　breathing　shook　his　sides　with　his　bronze

girdle　all　garnished　with　thongs　hanging　down　to　his　knees；　which　were

firmer　than　marble。　Salammbo；　who　was　accustomed　to　eunuchs；　yielded

to　amazement　at　the　strength　of　this　man。　It　was　the　chastisement　of

the　goddess　or　the　influence　of　Moloch　in　motion　around　her　in　the

five　armies。　She　was　overwhelmed　with　lassitude；　and　she　listened　in　a

state　of　stupor　to　the　intermittent　shouts　of　the　sentinels　as　they

answered　one　another。



The　flames　of　the　lamp　kindled　in　the　squalls　of　hot　air。　There　came

at　times　broad　lightning　flashes；　then　the　darkness　increased；　and　she

could　only　see　Matho's　eyeballs　like　two　coals　in　the　night。　However；

she　felt　that　a　fatality　was　surrounding　her；　that　she　had　reached　a

supreme　and　irrevocable　moment；　and　making　an　effort　she　went　up　again

towards　the　zaimph　and　raised　her　hands　to　seize　it。



〃What　are　you　doing？〃　exclaimed　Matho。



〃I　am　going　back　to　Carthage；〃　she　placidly　replied。



He　advanced　folding　his　arms　and　with　so　terrible　a　look　that　her

heels　were　immediately　nailed；　as　it　were；　to　the　spot。



〃Going　back　to　Carthage！〃　He　stammered；　and；　grinding　his　teeth；

repeated：



〃Going　back　to　Carthage！　Ah！　you　came　to　take　the　zaimph；　to　conquer

me；　and　then　disappear！　No；　no！　you　belong　to　me！　and　no　one　now　shall

tear　you　from　here！　Oh！　I　have　not　forgotten　the　insolence　of　your

large　tranquil　eyes；　and　how　you　crushed　me　with　the　haughtiness　of

your　beauty！　'Tis　my　turn　now！　You　are　my　captive；　my　slave；　my

servant！　Call；　if　you　like；　on　your　father　and　his　army；　the　Ancients；

the　rich；　and　your　whole　accursed　people！　I　am　the　master　of　three

hundred　thousand　soldiers！　I　will　go　and　seek　them　in　Lusitania；　in

the　Gauls；　and　in　the　depths　of　the　desert；　and　I　will　overthrow　your

town　and　burn　all　its　temples；　the　triremes　shall　float　on　the　waves

of　blood！　I　will　not　have　a　house；　a　stone；　or　a　palm　tree　remaining！

And　if　men　fail　me　I　will　draw　the　bears　from　the　mountains　and　urge

on　the　lions！　Seek　not　to　fly　or　I　kill　you！〃



Pale　and　with　clenched　fists　he　quivered　like　a　harp　whose　strings　are

about　to　burst。　Suddenly　sobs　stifled　him；　and　he　sank　down　upon　his

hams。



〃Ah！　forgive　me！　I　am　a　scoundrel；　and　viler　than　scorpions；　than　mire

and　dust！　Just　now　while　you　were　speaking　your　breath　passed　across

my　face；　and　I　rejoiced　like　a　dying　man　who　drinks　lying　flat　on　the

edge　of　a　stream。　Crush　me；　if　only　I　feel　your　feet！　curse　me；　if

only　I　hear　your　voice！　Do　not　go！　have　pity！　I　love　you！　I　love　you！〃



He　was　on　his　knees　on　the　ground　before　her；　and　he　encircled　her

form　with　both　his　arms；　his　head　thrown　back；　and　his　hands

wandering；　the　gold　discs　hanging　from　his　ears　gleamed　upon　his

bronzed　neck；　big　tears　rolled　in　his　eyes　like　silver　globes；　he

sighed　caressingly；　and　murmured　vague　words　lighter　than　a　breeze　and

sweet　as　a　kiss。



Salammbo　was　invaded　by　a　weakness　in　which　she　lost　all　consciousness

of　herself。　Something　at　once　inward　and　lofty；　a　command　from　the

gods；　obliged　her　to　yield　herself；　clouds　uplifted　her；　and　she　fell

back　swooning　upon　the　bed　amid　the　lion's　hair。　The　zaimph　fell；　and

enveloped　her；　she　could　see　Matho's　face　bending　down　above　her

breast。



〃Moloch；　thou　burnest　me！〃　and　the　soldier's　kisses；　more　devouring

than　flames；　covered　her；　she　was　as　though　swept　away　in　a　hurricane；

taken　in　the　might　of　the　sun。



He　kissed　all　her　fingers；　her　arms；　her　feet；　and　the　long　tresses　of

her　hair　from　one　end　to　the　other。



〃Carry　it　off；〃　he　said；　〃what　do　I　care？　take　me　away　with　it！　I

abandon　the　army！　I　renounce　everything！　Beyond　Gades；　twenty　days'

journey　into　the　sea；　you　come　to　an　island　covered　with　gold　dust；

verdure；　and　birds。　On　the　mountains　large　flowers　filled　with　smoking

perfumes　rock　like　eternal　censers；　in　the　citron　trees；　which　are

higher　than　cedars；　milk…coloured　serpents　cause　the　fruit　to　fall

upon　the　turf　with　the　diamonds　in　their　jaws；　the　air　is　so　mild　that

it　keeps　you　from　dying。　Oh！　I　shall　find　it；　you　will　see。　We　shall

live　in　crystal　grottoes　cut　out　at　the　foot　of　the　hills。　No　one

dwells　in　it　yet；　or　I　shall　become　the　king　of　the　country。〃



He　brushed　the　dust　off　her　cothurni；　he　wanted　her　to　put　a　quarter

of　a　pomegranate　between　her　lips；　he　heaped　up　garments　behind　her

head　to　make　a　cushion　for　her。　He　sought　for　means　to　serve　her；　and

to　humble　himself；　and　he　even　spread　the　zaimph　over　her　feet　as　if

it　were　a　mere　rug。



〃Have　you　still；〃　he　said；　〃those　little　gazelle's　horns　on　which　your

necklaces　hang？　You　will　give　them　to　me！　I　love　them！〃　For　he　spoke

as　if　the　war　were　finished；　and　joyful　laughs　broke　from　him。　The

Mercenaries；　Hamilcar；　every　obstacle　had　now　disappeared。　The　moon

was　gliding　between　two　clouds。　They　could　see　it　through　an　opening

in　the　tent。　〃Ah；　what　nights　have　I　spent　gazing　at　her！　she　seemed

to　me　like　a　veil　that　hid　your　face；　you　would　look　at　me　through

her；　the　memory　of　you　was　mingled　with　her　beams；　then　I　could　no

longer　distinguish　you！〃　And　with　his　head　between　her　breasts　he　wept

copiously。



〃And　this；〃　she　thought；　〃is　the　formidable　man　who　makes　Carthage

tremble！〃



He　fell　asleep。　Then　disengaging　herself　from　his　arm　she　put　one　foot

to　the　ground；　and　she　perceived　that　her　chainlet　was　broken。



The　maidens　of　the　great　families　were　accustomed　to　respect　these

shackles　as　something　that　was　almost　religious；　and　Salammbo；

blushing；　rolled　the　two　pieces　of　the　golden　chain　around　her　ankles。



Carthage；　Megara；　her　house；　her　room；　and　the　country　that　she　had

passed　through；　whirled　in　tumultuous　yet　distinct　images　through　her

memory。　But　an　abyss　had　yawned　and　thrown　them　far　back　to　an

infinite　distance　from　her。



The　storm　was　departing；　drops　of　water　splashing　rarely；　one　by　one；

made　the　tent…roof　shake。



Matho　slept　like　a　drunken　man；　stretched　on　his　side；　and　with　one

arm　over　the　edge　of　the　couch。　His　band　of　pearls　was　raised

somewhat；　and　uncovered　his　brow；　his　teeth　were　parted　in　a　smile；

they　shone　through　his　black　beard；　and　there　was　a　silent　and　almost

outrageous　gaiety　in　his　half…closed　eyelids。



Salammbo　looked　at　him　motionless；　her　head　bent　and　her　hands

crossed。



A　dagger　was　displayed　on　the　table　of　cypress…wood　at　the　head　of　the

bed；　the　sight　of　the　gleaming　blade　fired　her　with　a　sanguinary

desire。　Mournful　voices　lingered　at　a　distance　in　the　shade；　and　like

a　chorus　of　geniuses　urged　her　on。　She　approached　it；　she　seized　the

steel　by　the　handle。　At　the　rustling　of　her　dress　Matho　half　opened

his　eyes；　putting　forth　his　mouth　upon　her　hands；　and　the　dagger　fell。



Shouts　arose；　a　terrible　light　flashed　behind　the　canvas。　Matho　raised

the　latter；　they　perceived　the　camp　of　the　Libyans　enveloped　in　great

flames。



Their　reed　huts　were　burning；　and　the　twisting　stems　burst　in　the

smoke　and　flew　off　like　arrows；　black　shadows　ran　about　distractedly

on　the　red　horizon。　They　could　hear　the　shrieks　of　those　who　were　in

the　huts；　the　elephants；　oxen；　and　horses　plunged　in　the　midst　of　the

crowd　crushing　it　together　with　the　stores　and　baggage　that　were　being

rescued　from　the　fire。　Trumpets　sounded。　There　were　calls　of　〃Matho！

Matho！〃　Some　people　at　the　door　tried　to　get　in。



〃Come　along！　Hamilcar　is　burning　the　camp　of　Autaritus！〃



He　made　a　spring。　She　found　herself　quite　alone。



Then　she　examined　the　zaimph；　and　when　she　had　viewed　it　well　she　was

surprised　that　she　had　not　the　happiness　which　she　had　once　imagined

to　herself。　She　stood　with　melancholy　before　her　accomplished　dream。



But　the　lower　part　of　the　tent　was　raised；　and　a　monstrous　form

appeared。　Salammbo　could　at　first　distinguish　only　the　two　eyes　and　a

long　white　beard　which　hung　down　to　the　ground；　for　the　rest　of　the

body；　which　was　cumbered　with　the　rags　of　a　tawny　garment；　trailed

along　the　earth；　and　with　every　forward　movement　the　hands　passed　into

the　beard　and　then　fell　again。　Crawling　in　this　way　it　reached　her

feet；　and　Salammbo　recognised　the　aged　Gisco。



In　fact；　the　Mercenaries　had　broken　the　legs　of　the　captive　Ancients

with　a　brass　bar　to　prevent　them　from　taking　to　flight；　and　they　were

all　rotting　pell…mell　in　a　pit　in　the　midst　of　filth。　But　the

sturdiest　of　them　raised　themselves　and　shouted　when　they　heard　the

noise　of　platters；　and　it　was　in　this　way　that　Gisco　had　seen

Salammbo。　He　had　guessed　that　she　was　a　Carthaginian　woman　by　the

little　balls　of　sandastrum　flapping　against　her　cothurni；　and　having　a

presentiment　of　an　important　mystery　he　had　succeeded；　with　the

assistance　of　his　companions；　in　getting　out　of　the　pit；　then　with

elbows　and　hands　he　had　dragged　himself　twenty　paces　further　on　as　far

as　Matho's　tent。　Two　voices　were　speaking　within　it。　He　had　listened