salammbo-第44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！





Then　they　rushed　with　their　cutlasses　and　javelins；　and　beat　against

the　gates　with　them。　But　the　nakedness　of　their　bodies　facilitating

the　infliction　of　wounds；　the　Carthaginians　massacred　them　freely；　and

the　Mercenaries　rejoiced　at　it；　no　doubt　through　jealousy　about　the

plunder。　Hence　there　resulted　quarrels　and　combats　between　them。　Then；

the　country　having　been　ravaged；　provisions　were　soon　scarce。　They

grew　disheartened。　Numerous　hordes　went　away；　but　the　crowd　was　so

great　that　the　loss　was　not　apparent。



The　best　of　them　tried　to　dig　mines；　but　the　earth；　being　badly

supported；　fell　in。　They　began　again　in　other　places；　but　Hamilcar

always　guessed　the　direction　that　they　were　taking　by　holding　his　ear

against　a　bronze　shield。　He　bored　counter…mines　beneath　the　path　along

which　the　wooden　towers　were　to　move；　and　when　they　were　pushed

forward　they　sank　into　the　holes。



At　last　all　recognised　that　the　town　was　impregnable；　unless　a　long

terrace　was　raised　to　the　same　height　as　the　walls；　so　as　to　enable

them　to　fight　on　the　same　level。　The　top　of　it　should　be　paved　so　that

the　machines　might　be　rolled　along。　Then　Carthage　would　find　it　quite

impossible　to　resist。



The　town　was　beginning　to　suffer　from　thirst。　The　water　which　was

worth　two　kesitahs　the　bath　at　the　opening　of　the　siege　was　now　sold

for　a　shekel　of　silver；　the　stores　of　meat　and　corn　were　also　becoming

exhausted；　there　was　a　dread　of　famine；　and　some　even　began　to　speak

of　useless　mouths；　which　terrified　every　one。



From　the　square　of　Khamon　to　the　temple　of　Melkarth　the　streets　were

cumbered　with　corpses；　and；　as　it　was　the　end　of　the　summer；　the

combatants　were　annoyed　by　great　black　flies。　Old　men　carried　off　the

wounded；　and　the　devout　continued　the　fictitious　funerals　for　their

relatives　and　friends　who　had　died　far　away　during　the　war。　Waxen

statues　with　clothes　and　hair　were　displayed　across　the　gates。　They

melted　in　the　heat　of　the　tapers　burning　beside　them；　the　paint　flowed

down　upon　their　shoulders；　and　tears　streamed　over　the　faces　of　the

living；　as　they　chanted　mournful　songs　beside　them。　The　crowd

meanwhile　ran　to　and　fro；　armed　bands　passed；　captains　shouted　orders；

while　the　shock　of　the　rams　beating　against　the　rampart　was　constantly

heard。



The　temperature　became　so　heavy　that　the　bodies　swelled　and　would　no

longer　fit　into　the　coffins。　They　were　burned　in　the　centre　of　the

courts。　But　the　fires；　being　too　much　confined；　kindled　the

neighbouring　walls；　and　long　flames　suddenly　burst　from　the　houses

like　blood　spurting　from　an　artery。　Thus　Moloch　was　in　possession　of

Carthage；　he　clasped　the　ramparts；　he　rolled　through　the　streets；　he

devoured　the　very　corpses。



Men　wearing　cloaks　made　of　collected　rags　in　token　of　despair；

stationed　themselves　at　the　corners　of　the　cross…ways。　They　declaimed

against　the　Ancients　and　against　Hamilcar；　predicted　complete　ruin　to

the　people；　and　invited　them　to　universal　destruction　and　license。　The

most　dangerous　were　the　henbane…drinkers；　in　their　crisis　they

believed　themselves　wild　beasts；　and　leaped　upon　the　passers…by　to

rend　them。　Mobs　formed　around　them；　and　the　defence　of　Carthage　was

forgotten。　The　Suffet　devised　the　payment　of　others　to　support　his

policy。



In　order　to　retain　the　genius　of　the　gods　within　the　town　their　images

had　been　covered　with　chains。　Black　veils　were　placed　upon　the　Pataec

gods；　and　hair…cloths　around　the　altars；　and　attempts　were　made　to

excite　the　pride　and　jealousy　of　the　Baals　by　singing　in　their　ears：

〃Thou　art　about　to　suffer　thyself　to　be　vanquished！　Are　the　others

perchance　more　strong？　Show　thyself！　aid　us！　that　the　peoples　may　not

say：　'Where　are　now　their　gods？'〃



The　colleges　of　the　pontiffs　were　agitated　by　unceasing　anxiety。　Those

of　Rabbetna　were　especially　afraidthe　restoration　of　the　zaimph

having　been　of　no　avail。　They　kept　themselves　shut　up　in　the　third

enclosure　which　was　as　impregnable　as　a　fortress。　Only　one　among　them；

the　high　priest　Schahabarim；　ventured　to　go　out。



He　used　to　visit　Salammbo。　But　he　would　either　remain　perfectly

silent；　gazing　at　her　with　fixed　eyeballs；　or　else　would　be　lavish　of

words；　and　the　reproaches　that　he　uttered　were　harder　than　ever。



With　inconceivable　inconsistency　he　could　not　forgive　the　young　girl

for　carrying　out　his　commands；　Schahabarim　had　guessed　all；　and　this

haunting　thought　revived　the　jealousies　of　his　impotence。　He　accused

her　of　being　the　cause　of　the　war。　Matho；　according　to　him；　was

besieging　Carthage　to　recover　the　zaimph；　and　he　poured　out

imprecations　and　sarcasms　upon　this　Barbarian　who　pretended　to　the

possession　of　holy　things。　Yet　it　was　not　this　that　the　priest　wished

to　say。



But　just　now　Salammbo　felt　no　terror　of　him。　The　anguish　which　she

used　formerly　to　suffer　had　left　her。　A　strange　peacefulness　possessed

her。　Her　gaze　was　less　wandering；　and　shone　with　limpid　fire。



Meanwhile　the　python　had　become　ill　again；　and　as　Salammbo；　on　the

contrary；　appeared　to　be　recovering；　old　Taanach　rejoiced　in　the

conviction　that　by　its　decline　it　was　taking　away　the　languor　of　her

mistress。



One　morning　she　found　it　coiled　up　behind　the　bed　of　ox…hides；　colder

than　marble；　and　with　its　head　hidden　by　a　heap　of　worms。　Her　cries

brought　Salammbo　to　the　spot。　She　turned　it　over　for　a　while　with　the

tip　of　her　sandal；　and　the　slave　was　amazed　at　her　insensibility。



Hamilcar's　daughter　no　longer　prolonged　her　fasts　with　so　much

fervour。　She　passed　whole　days　on　the　top　of　her　terrace；　leaning　her

elbows　against　the　balustrade；　and　amusing　herself　by　looking　out

before　her。　The　summits　of　the　walls　at　the　end　of　the　town　cut　uneven

zigzags　upon　the　sky；　and　the　lances　of　the　sentries　formed　what　was

like　a　border　of　corn…ears　throughout　their　length。　Further　away　she

could　see　the　manoeuvres　of　the　Barbarians　between　the　towers；　on　days

when　the　siege　was　interrupted　she　could　even　distinguish　their

occupations。　They　mended　their　weapons；　greased　their　hair；　and　washed

their　bloodstained　arms　in　the　sea；　the　tents　were　closed；　the　beasts

of　burden　were　feeding；　and　in　the　distance　the　scythes　of　the

chariots；　which　were　all　ranged　in　a　semicircle；　looked　like　a　silver

scimitar　lying　at　the　base　of　the　mountains。　Schahabarim's　talk

recurred　to　her　memory。　She　was　waiting　for　Narr'　Havas；　her

betrothed。　In　spite　of　her　hatred　she　would　have　liked　to　see　Matho

again。　Of　all　the　Carthaginians　she　was　perhaps　the　only　one　who　would

have　spoken　to　him　without　fear。



Her　father　often　came　into　her　room。　He　would　sit　down　panting　on　the

cushions；　and　gaze　at　her　with　an　almost　tender　look；　as　if　he　found

some　rest　from　her　fatigues　in　the　sight　of　her。　He　sometimes

questioned　her　about　her　journey　to　the　camp　of　the　Mercenaries。　He

even　asked　her　whether　any　one　had　urged　her　to　it；　and　with　a　shake

of　the　head　she　answered；　No；so　proud　was　Salammbo　of　having　saved

the　zaimph。



But　the　Suffet　always　came　back　to　Matho　under　pretence　of　making

military　inquiries。　He　could　not　understand　how　the　hours　which　she

had　spent　in　the　tent　had　been　employed。　Salammbo；　in　fact；　said

nothing　about　Gisco；　for　as　words　had　an　effective　power　in

themselves；　curses；　if　reported　to　any　one；　might　be　turned　against

him；　and　she　was　silent　about　her　wish　to　assassinate；　lest　she　should

be　blamed　for　not　having　yielded　to　it。　She　said　that　the　schalischim

appeared　furious；　that　he　had　shouted　a　great　deal；　and　that　he　had

then　fallen　asleep。　Salammbo　told　no　more；　through　shame　perhaps；　or

else　because　she　was　led　by　her　extreme　ingenuousness　to　attach　but

little　importance　to　the　soldier's　kisses。　Moreover；　it　all　floated

through　her　head　in　a　melancholy　and　misty　fashion；　like　the

recollection　of　a　depressing　dream；　and　she　would　not　have　known　in

what　way　or　in　what　words　to　express　it。



One　evening　when　they　were　thus　face　to　face　with　each　other；　Taanach

came　in　looking　quite　scared。　An　old　man　with　a　child　was　yonder　in

the　courts；　and　wished　to　see　the　Suffet。



Hamilcar　turned　pale；　and　then　quickly　replied：



〃Let　him　come　up！〃



Iddibal　entered　without　prostrating　himself。　He　held　a　young　boy；

covered　with　a　goat's…hair　cloak；　by　the　hand；　and　at　once　raised　the

hood　which　screened　his　face。



〃Here　he　is；　Master！　Take　him！〃



The　Suffet　and　the　slave　went　into　a　corner　of　the　room。



The　child　remained　in　the　centre　standing　upright；　and　with　a　gaze　of

attention　rather　than　of　astonishment　he　surveyed　the　ceiling；　the

furniture；　the　pearl　necklaces　trailing　on　the　purple　draperies；　and

the　majestic　maiden　who　was　bending　over　towards　him。



He　was　perhaps　ten　years　old；　and　was　not　taller　than　a　Roman　sword。

His　curly　hair　shaded　his　swelling　forehead。　His　eyeballs　looked　as　if

they　were　seeking　for　space。　The　nostrils　of　his　delicate　nose　were

broad　and　palpitating；　and　upon　his　whole　person　was　displayed　the

indefinable　splendour　of　those　who　are　destined　to　great　enterprises。

When　he　had　cast　aside　his　extremely　heavy　cloak；　he　remained　clad　in

a　lynx　skin；　which　was　fastened　about　his　waist；　and　he　rested　his

little　naked　feet；　which　were　all　white　with　dust；　resolutely　upon　the

pavement。　But　he　no　doubt　divined　that　important　matters　were　under

discussion；　for　he　stood　motionless；　with　one　hand　behind　his　back；

his　chin　lowered；　and　a　finger　in　his　mouth。



At　last　Hamilcar　attracted　Salammbo　with　a　sign　and　said　to　her　in　a

low　voice：



〃You　will　keep　him　with　you；　you　understand！　No　one；　even　though

belonging　to　the　house；　must　know　of　his　existence！〃



Then；　behind　the　door；　he　again　asked　Iddibal　whether　he　was　quite

sure　that　they　had　not　been　noticed。



〃No！〃　said　the　slave；　〃the　streets　were　empty。〃



As　the　war　filled　all　the　provinces　he　had　feared　for　his　master's

son。　Then；　not　knowing　where　to　hide　him；　he　had　come　along　the　coasts

in　a　sloop；　and　for　three　days　Iddibal　had　been　tacking　about　in　the

gulf　and　watching　the　ramparts。　At　last；　that　evening；　as　the　environs

of　Khamon　seemed　to　be　deserted；　he　had　passed　briskly　through　the

channel　and　landed　near　the　arsenal；　the　entrance　to　the　harbour　being

free。



But　soon　the　Barbarians　posted　an　immense　raft　in　front　of　it　in　order

to　prevent　the　Carthaginians　from　coming　out。　They　were　again　rearing

the　wooden　towers；　and　the　terrace　was　rising　at　the　same　time。



Outside　communications　were　cut　off　and　an　intolerable　famine　set　in。



The　besieged　killed　all　the　dogs；　all　the　mules；　all　the　asses；　and

then　the　fifteen　elephants　which　the　Suffet　had　brought　back。　The

lions　of　the　temple　of　Moloch　had　become　ferocious；　and　the　hierodules

no　longer　durst　approach　them。　They　were　fed　at　first　with　the　wounded

Barbarians；　then　they　were　thrown　corpses　that　were　still　warm；　they

refused　them；