the works of edgar allan poe-5-第2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！


which；　in　negative　merit　at　least；　might　vie　with　any　of　the　_or…molu'd
_cabinets　of　our　friends　across　the　water。　Even　_now_；　there　is　present　to
our　mind's　eye　a　small　and　not；　ostentatious　chamber　with　whose
decorations　no　fault　can　be　found。　The　proprietor　lies　asleep　on　a　sofa　…
the　weather　is　cool　…　the　time　is　near　midnight：　arc　will　make　a　sketch　of
the　room　during　his　slumber。

　　　　It　is　oblong　…　some　thirty　feet　in　length　and　twenty…five　in　breadth　…
a　shape　affording　the　best（ordinary）　opportunities　for　the　adjustment　of
furniture。　It　has　but　one　door　…　by　no　means　a　wide　one　…　which　is　at　one
end　of　the　parallelogram；　and　but　two　windows；　which　are　at　the　other。
These　latter　are　large；　reaching　down　to　the　floor　…　have　deep　recesses　…
and　open　on　an　Italian　_veranda。　_Their　panes　are　of　a　crimson…tinted
glass；　set　in　rose…wood　framings；　more　massive　than　usual。　They　are
curtained　within　the　recess；　by　a　thick　silver　tissue　adapted　to　the　shape
of　the　window；　and　hanging　loosely　in　small　volumes。　Without　the　recess
are　curtains　of　an　exceedingly　rich　crimson　silk；　fringed　with　a　deep
network　of　gold；　and　lined　with　silver　tissue；　which　is　the　material　of
the　exterior　blind。　There　are　no　cornices；　but　the　folds　of　the　whole
fabric　（which　are　sharp　rather　than　massive；　and　have　an　airy　appearance）；
issue　from　beneath　a　broad　entablature　of　rich　giltwork；　which　encircles
the　room　at　the　junction　of　the　ceiling　and　walls。　The　drapery　is　thrown
open　also；　or　closed；　by　means　of　a　thick　rope　of　gold　loosely　enveloping
it；　and　resolving　itself　readily　into　a　knot；　no　pins　or　other　such
devices　are　apparent。　The　colours　of　the　curtains　and　their　fringe　…　the
tints　of　crimson　and　gold　…　appear　everywhere　in　profusion；　and　determine
the　_character　_of　the　room。　The　carpet　…　of　Saxony　material　…　is　quite
half　an　inch　thick；　and　is　of　the　same　crimson　ground；　relieved　simply　by
the　appearance　of　a　gold　cord　（like　that　festooning　the　curtains）　slightly
relieved　above　the　surface　of　the　_ground；　_and　thrown　upon　it　in　such　a
manner　as　to　form　a　succession　of　short　irregular　curves　…　one
occasionally　overlaying　the　other。　The　walls　are　prepared　with　a　glossy
paper　of　a　silver　gray　tint；　spotted　with　small　Arabesque　devices　of　a
fainter　hue　of　the　prevalent　crimson。　Many　paintings　relieve　the　expanse
of　paper。　These　are　chiefly　landscapes　of　an　imaginative　cast…such　as　the
fairy　grottoes　of　Stanfield；　or　the　lake　of　the　Dismal　Swamp　of　Chapman。
There　are；　nevertheless；　three　or　four　female　heads；　of　an　ethereal
beauty…portraits　in　the　manner　of　Sully。　The　tone　of　each　picture　is　warm；
but　dark。　There　are　no　〃brilliant　effects。〃　_Repose　_speaks　in　all。　Not
one　is　of　small　size。　Diminutive　paintings　give　that　_spotty　_look　to　a
room；　which　is　the　blemish　of　so　many　a　fine　work　of　Art　overtouched。　The
frames　are　broad　but　not　deep；　and　richly　carved；　without　being　_dulled
_or　filagreed。　They　have　the　whole　lustre　of　burnished　gold。　They　lie　flat
on　the　walls；　and　do　not　hang　off　with　cords。　The　designs　themselves　are
often　seen　to　better　advantage　in　this　latter　position；　but　the　general
appearance　of　the　chamber　is　injured。　But　one　mirror　…　and　this　not　a　very
large　one　…　is　visible。　In　shape　it　is　nearly　circular　…　and　it　is　hung　so
that　a　reflection　of　the　person　can　be　obtained　from　it　in　none　of　the
ordinary　sitting…places　of　the　room。　Two　large　low　sofas　of　rosewood　and
crimson　silk；　gold…flowered；　form　the　only　seats；　with　the　exception　of
two　light　conversation　chairs；　also　of　rose…wood。　There　is　a　pianoforte
（rose…wood；　also）；　without　cover；　and　thrown　open。　An　octagonal　table；
formed　altogether　of　the　richest　gold…threaded　marble；　is　placed　near　one
of　the　sofas。　This　is　also　without　cover　…　the　drapery　of　the　curtains　has
been　thought　sufficient。。　Four　large　and　gorgeous　Sevres　vases；　in　which
bloom　a　profusion　of　sweet　and　vivid　flowers；　occupy　the　slightly　rounded
angles　of　the　room。　A　tall　candelabrum；　bearing　a　small　antique　lamp　with
highly　perfumed　oil；　is　standing　near　the　head　of　my　sleeping　friend。　Some
light　and　graceful　hanging　shelves；　with　golden　edges　and　crimson　silk
cords　with　gold　tassels；　sustain　two　or　three　hundred　magnificently　bound
books。　Beyond　these　things；　there　is　no　furniture；　if　we　except　an　Argand
lamp；　with　a　plain　crimson…tinted　ground　glass　shade；　which　depends　from
He　lofty　vaulted　ceiling　by　a　single　slender　gold　chain；　and　throws　a
tranquil　but　magical　radiance　over　all。



~~~　End　Of　Text　~~~



A　TALE　OF　JERUSALEM

Intensos　rigidarn　in　frontern　ascendere　canos

Passus　erat

　_　　　…LucanDe　Catone_

…a　bristly　_bore。_

_Translation_

LET　us　hurry　to　the　walls；〃　said　Abel…Phittim　to　Buzi…Ben…Levi　and　Simeon
the　Pharisee；　on　the　tenth　day　of　the　month　Thammuz；　in　the　year　of　the
world　three　thousand　nine　hundred　and　fortyonelet　us　hasten　to　the
ramparts　adjoining　the　gate　of　Benjamin；　which　is　in　the　city　of　David；
and　overlooking　the　camp　of　the　uncircumcised；　for　it　is　the　last　hour　of
the　fourth　watch；　being　sunrise；　and　the　idolaters；　in　fulfilment　of　the
promise　of　Pompey；　should　be　awaiting　us　with　the　lambs　for　the
sacrifices。〃

Simeon；　Abel…Phittim；　and　Duzi…Ben…Levi　were　the　Gizbarim；　or
sub…collectors　of　the　offering；　in　the　holy　city　of　Jerusalem。

〃Verily；〃　replied　the　Pharisee；　〃let　us　hasten：　for　this　generosity　in　the
heathen　is　unwonted；　and　fickle…mindedness　has　ever　been　an　attribute　of
the　worshippers　of　Baal。〃

〃'That　they　are　fickle…minded　and　treacherous　is　as　true　as　the
Pentateuch；〃　said　Buzi…Ben…Levi；　〃but　that　is　only　toward　the　people　of
Adonai。　When　was　it　ever　known　that　the　Ammonites　proved　wanting　to　their
own　interests？　Methinks　it　is　no　great　stretch　of　generosity　to　allow　us
lambs　for　the　altar　of　the　Lord；　receiving　in　lieu　thereof　thirty　silver
shekels　per　head　！〃

〃Thou　forgettest；　however；　Ben…Levi；〃　replied　Abel…Phittim；　〃that　the
Roman　Pompey；　who　is　now　impiously　besieging　the　city　of　the　Most　High；
has　no　assurity　that　we　apply　not　the　lambs　thus　purchased　for　the　altar；
to　the　sustenance　of　the　body；　rather　than　of　the　spirit。〃

〃Now；　by　the　five　corners　of　my　beard！〃　shouted　the　Pharisee；　who　belonged
to　the　sect　called　The　Dashers　（that　little　knot　of　saints　whose　manner　of
_dashing　_and　lacerating　the　feet　against　the　pavement　was　long　a　thorn
and　a　reproach　to　less　zealous　devotees…a　stumbling…block　to　less　gifted
perambulators）〃by　the　five　corners　of　that　beard　which；　as　a　priest；　I
am　forbidden　to　shave　！…have　we　lived　to　see　the　day　when　a　blaspheming
and　idolatrous　upstart　of　Rome　shall　accuse　us　of　appropriating　to　the
appetites　of　the　flesh　the　most　holy　and　consecrated　elements？　Have　we
lived　to　see　the　day　when…〃'

〃Let　us　not　question　the　motives　of　the　Philistine；〃　interrupted
Abel…Phittim'　〃for　to…day　we　profit　for　the　first　time　by　his　avarice　or
by　his　generosity；　but　rather　let　us　hurry　to　the　ramparts；　lest　offerings
should　be　wanting　for　that　altar　whose　fire　the　rains　of　heaven　can　not
extinguish；　and　whose　pillars　of　smoke　no　tempest　can　turn　aside。〃

That　part　of　the　city　to　which　our　worthy　Gizbarim　now　hastened；　and　which
bore　the　name　of　its　architect；　King　David；　was　esteemed　the　most　strongly
fortified　district　of　Jerusalem；　being　situated　upon　the　steep　and　lofty
hill　of　Zion。　Here；　a　broad；　deep；　circumvallatory　trench；　hewn　from　the
solid　rock；　was　defended　by　a　wall　of　great　strength　erected　upon　its
inner　edge。　This　wall　was　adorned；　at　regular　interspaces；　by　square
towers　of　white　marble；　the　lowest　sixty；　and　the　highest　one　hundred　and
twenty　cubits…　in　height。　But；　in　the　vicinity　of　the　gate　of　Benjamin；
the　wall　arose　by　no　means　from　the　margin　of　the　fosse。　On　the　contrary；
between　the　level　of　the　ditch　and　the　basement　of　the　rampart　sprang　up　a
perpendicular　cliff　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　cubits；　forming　part　of　the
precipitous　Mount　Moriah。　So　that　when　Simeon　and　his　associates　arrived
on　the　summit　of　the　tower　called　Adoni…Bezek…the　loftiest　of　all　the
turrets　around　about　Jerusalem；　and　the　usual　place　of　conference　with　the
besieging　army…they　looked　down　upon　the　camp　of　the　enemy　from　an
eminence　excelling　by　many　feet　that　of　the　Pyramid　of　Cheops；　and；　by
several；　that　of　the　temple　of　Belus。

〃Verily；〃　sighed　the　Pharisee；　as　he　peered　dizzily　over　the　precipice；
〃the　uncircumcised　are　as　the　sands　by　the　seashore…as　the　locusts　in　the
wilderness！　The　valley　of　the　King　hath　become　the　valley　of　Adommin。〃

〃And　yet；〃　added　Ben…Levi；　〃thou　canst　not　point　me　out　a　Philistine…no；
not　one…from　Aleph　to　Tau…from　the　wilderness　to　the　battlements…who
seemeth　any　bigger　than　the　letter　Jod！〃

〃Lower　away　the　basket　with　the　shekels　of　silver！〃　here　shouted　a　Roman
soldier　in　a　hoarse；　rough　voice；　which　appeared　to　issue　from　the　regions
of　Pluto…〃lower　away　the　basket　with　the　accursed　coin　which　it　has
broken　the　jaw　of　a　noble　Roman　to　pronounce！　Is　it　thus　you　evince　your
gratitude　to　our　master　Pompeius；　who；　in　his　condescension；　has　thought
fit　to　listen　to　your　idolatrous　importunities？　The　god　Phoebus；　who　is　a
true　god；　has　been　charioted　for　an　hour…and　were　you　not　to　be　on　the
ramparts　by　sunrise？　Aedepol！　do　you　think　that　we；　the　conquerors　of　the
world；　have　nothing　better　to　do　than　stand　waiting　by　the　walls　of　every
kennel；　to　traffic　with　the　dogs　of　the　earth？　Lower　away！　I　sayand　see
that　your　trumpery　be　bright　in　color　and　just　in　weight！〃

〃El　Elohim！〃　ejaculated　the　Pharisee；　as　the　discordant　tones　of　the
centurion　rattled　up　the　crags　of　the　precipice；　and　fainted　away　against
the　temple　…〃El　Elohim！who　is　the　god　Phoebus？whom　doth　the　blasphemer
invoke？　Thou；　Buzi…BenLevi！　who　art　read　in　the　laws　of　the　Gentiles；　and
hast　sojourned　among　them　who　dabble　with　the　Teraphim！is　it　Nergal　of
whom　the　idolater　speaketh？or　Ashimah？or　Nibhaz；or　Tartak？　or
Adramalech？or　Anamalech？or　Succoth…Benith？…or　Dagon？…or
Belial？…or　Baal…Perith？　…or　Baal…Peor？…or　Baal…Zebub？〃

〃Verily　it　is　neither…but　beware　how　thou　lettest　the　rope　slip　too
rapidly　through　thy　fingers；　for　should　the　wicker…work　chance　to　hang　on
the　projection　of　Yonder　crag；　there　will　be　a　woful　outpouring　of　the
holy　things　of　the　sanctuary。〃

By　the　assistance　of　some　rudely　constructed　machinery；　the　heavily　laden
basket　was　now　carefully　lowered　down　among　the　multitude；　and；　from　the
giddy　pinnacle；　the　Romans　were　seen　gathering　confusedly　round　it；　but
owing　to　the　vast　height　and　the　prevalence　of　a　fog；　no　distinct　view　of
their　operations　could　be　obtained。

Half　an　hour　had　already　elapsed。

〃We　shall　be　too　late！〃　sighed　the　Pharisee；　as　at　the　expiration　of　this
period　he　looked　over　into　the　abyss…〃we　shall　be　too　late！　we　shall　be
turned　out　of　office　by　the　Katholim。〃

　〃No　more；〃　responded　Abel…Phittim〃no　more　shall　we　feast　upon　the　fat
of　the　land…no　longer　shall　our　beards　be　odorous　with　frankincenseour
loins　girded　up　with　fine　linen　from　the　Temple。〃

〃Racal〃　swore　Ben…Levi；　〃Racal　do　they　mean　to　defraud　us　of　the　purchase
money？　or；　Holy　Moses　！　are　they　weighing　the　shekels　of　the　tabernacle　？〃

〃They　have　given　the　s