salammbo-第35章

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swaying　of　her　whole　body；　chanted　prayers；　and　her　garments　fell　one

after　another　around　her。



The　heavy　tapestry　trembled；　and　the　python's　head　appeared　above　the

cord　that　supported　it。　The　serpent　descended　slowly　like　a　drop　of

water　flowing　along　a　wall；　crawled　among　the　scattered　stuffs；　and

then；　gluing　its　tail　to　the　ground；　rose　perfectly　erect；　and　his

eyes；　more　brilliant　than　carbuncles；　darted　upon　Salammbo。



A　horror　of　cold；　or　perhaps　a　feeling　of　shame；　at　first　made　her

hesitate。　But　she　recalled　Schahabarim's　orders　and　advanced；　the

python　turned　downwards；　and　resting　the　centre　of　its　body　upon　the

nape　of　her　neck；　allowed　its　head　and　tail　to　hang　like　a　broken

necklace　with　both　ends　trailing　to　the　ground。　Salammbo　rolled　it

around　her　sides；　under　her　arms　and　between　her　knees；　then　taking　it

by　the　jaw　she　brought　the　little　triangular　mouth　to　the　edge　of　her

teeth；　and　half　shutting　her　eyes；　threw　herself　back　beneath　the　rays

of　the　moon。　The　white　light　seemed　to　envelop　her　in　a　silver　mist；

the　prints　of　her　humid　steps　shone　upon　the　flag…stones；　stars

quivered　in　the　depth　of　the　water；　it　tightened　upon　her　its　black

rings　that　were　spotted　with　scales　of　gold。　Salammbo　panted　beneath

the　excessive　weight；　her　loins　yielded；　she　felt　herself　dying；　and

with　the　tip　of　its　tail　the　serpent　gently　beat　her　thigh；　then　the

music　becoming　still　it　fell　off　again。



Taanach　came　back　to　her；　and　after　arranging　two　candelabra；　the

lights　of　which　burned　in　crystal　balls　filled　with　water；　she　tinged

the　inside　of　her　hands　with　Lawsonia；　spread　vermilion　upon　her

cheeks；　and　antimony　along　the　edge　of　her　eyelids；　and　lengthened　her

eyebrows　with　a　mixture　of　gum；　musk；　ebony；　and　crushed　legs　of

flies。



Salammbo　seated　on　a　chair　with　ivory　uprights；　gave　herself　up　to　the

attentions　of　the　slave。　But　the　touchings；　the　odour　of　the

aromatics；　and　the　fasts　that　she　had　undergone；　were　enervating　her。

She　became　so　pale　that　Taanach　stopped。



〃Go　on！〃　said　Salammbo；　and　bearing　up　against　herself；　she　suddenly

revived。　Then　she　was　seized　with　impatience；　she　urged　Taanach　to

make　haste；　and　the　old　slave　grumbled：



〃Well！　well！　Mistress！Besides；　you　have　no　one　waiting　for　you！〃



〃Yes！〃　said　Salammbo；　〃some　one　is　waiting　for　me。〃



Taanach　drew　back　in　surprise；　and　in　order　to　learn　more　about　it；

said：



〃What　orders　to　you　give　me；　Mistress？　for　if　you　are　to　remain

away〃



But　Salammbo　was　sobbing；　the　slave　exclaimed：



〃You　are　suffering！　what　is　the　matter？　Do　not　go　away！　take　me！　When

you　were　quite　little　and　used　to　cry；　I　took　you　to　my　heart　and　made

you　laugh　with　the　points　of　my　breasts；　you　have　drained　them；

Mistress！〃　She　struck　herself　upon　her　dried…up　bosom。　〃Now　I　am　old！

I　can　do　nothing　for　you！　you　no　longer　love　me！　you　hide　your　griefs

from　me；　you　despise　the　nurse！〃　And　tears　of　tenderness　and　vexation

flowed　down　her　cheeks　in　the　gashes　of　her　tattooing。



〃No！〃　said　Salammbo；　〃no；　I　love　you！　be　comforted！〃



With　a　smile　like　the　grimace　of　an　old　ape；　Taanach　resumed　her　task。

In　accordance　with　Schahabarim's　recommendations；　Salammbo　had　ordered

the　slave　to　make　her　magnificent；　and　she　was　obeying　her　mistress

with　barbaric　taste　full　at　once　of　refinement　and　ingenuity。



Over　a　first　delicate　and　vinous…coloured　tunic　she　passed　a　second

embroidered　with　birds'　feathers。　Golden　scales　clung　to　her　hips；　and

from　this　broad　girdle　descended　her　blue　flowing　silver…starred

trousers。　Next　Taanach　put　upon　her　a　long　robe　made　of　the　cloth　of

the　country　of　Seres；　white　and　streaked　with　green　lines。　On　the　edge

of　her　shoulder　she　fastened　a　square　of　purple　weighted　at　the　hem

with　grains　of　sandastrum；　and　above　all　these　garments　she　placed　a

black　mantle　with　a　flowing　train；　then　she　gazed　at　her；　and　proud　of

her　work　could　not　help　saying：



〃You　will　not　be　more　beautiful　on　the　day　of　your　bridal！〃



〃My　bridal！〃　repeated　Salammbo；　she　was　musing　with　her　elbow　resting

upon　the　ivory　chair。



But　Taanach　set　up　before　her　a　copper　mirror；　which　was　so　broad　and

high　that　she　could　see　herself　completely　in　it。　Then　she　rose；　and

with　a　light　touch　of　her　finger　raised　a　lock　of　her　hair　which　was

falling　too　low。



Her　hair　was　covered　with　gold　dust；　was　crisped　in　front；　and　hung

down　behind　over　her　back　in　long　twists　ending　in　pearls。　The

brightness　of　the　candelabra　heightened　the　paint　on　her　cheeks；　the

gold　on　her　garments；　and　the　whiteness　of　her　skin；　around　her　waist；

and　on　her　arms；　hands　and　toes；　she　had　such　a　wealth　of　gems　that

the　mirror　sent　back　rays　upon　her　like　a　sun；and　Salammbo；　standing

by　the　side　of　Taanach；　who　leaned　over　to　see　her；　smiled　amid　this

dazzling　display。



Then　she　walked　to　and　fro　embarrassed　by　the　time　that　was　still

left。



Suddenly　the　crow　of　a　cock　resounded。　She　quickly　pinned　a　long

yellow　veil　upon　her　hair；　passed　a　scarf　around　her　neck；　thrust　her

feet　into　blue　leather　boots；　and　said　to　Taanach：



〃Go　and　see　whether　there　is　not　a　man　with　two　horses　beneath　the

myrtles。〃



Taanach　had　scarcely　re…entered　when　she　was　descending　the　galley

staircase。



〃Mistress！〃　cried　the　nurse。



Salammbo　turned　round　with　one　finger　on　her　mouth　as　a　sign　for

discretion　and　immobility。



Taanach　stole　softly　along　the　prows　to　the　foot　of　the　terrace；　and

from　a　distance　she　could　distinguish　by　the　light　of　the　moon　a

gigantic　shadow　walking　obliquely　in　the　cypress　avenue　to　the　left　of

Salammbo；　a　sign　which　presaged　death。



Taanach　went　up　again　into　the　chamber。　She　threw　herself　upon　the

ground　tearing　her　face　with　her　nails；　she　plucked　out　her　hair；　and

uttered　piercing　shrieks　with　all　her　might。



It　occurred　to　her　that　they　might　be　heard；　then　she　became　silent；

sobbing　quite　softly　with　her　head　in　the　hands　and　her　face　on　the

pavement。







CHAPTER　XI



IN　THE　TENT



The　man　who　guided　Salammbo　made　her　ascend　again　beyond　the　pharos　in

the　direction　of　the　Catacombs；　and　then　go　down　the　long　suburb　of

Molouya；　which　was　full　of　steep　lanes。　The　sky　was　beginning　to　grow

grey。　Sometimes　palm…wood　beams　jutting　out　from　the　walls　obliged

them　to　bend　their　heads。　The　two　horses　which　were　at　the　walk　would

often　slip；　and　thus　they　reached　the　Teveste　gate。



Its　heavy　leaves　were　half　open；　they　passed　through；　and　it　closed

behind　them。



At　first　they　followed　the　foot　of　the　ramparts　for　a　time；　and　at　the

height　of　the　cisterns　they　took　their　way　along　the　Taenia；　a　narrow

strip　of　yellow　earth　separating　the　gulf　from　the　lake　and　extending

as　far　as　Rhades。



No　one　was　to　be　seen　around　Carthage；　whether　on　the　sea　or　in　the

country。　The　slate…coloured　waves　chopped　softly；　and　the　light　wind

blowing　their　foam　hither　and　thither　spotted　them　with　white　rents。

In　spite　of　all　her　veils；　Salammbo　shivered　in　the　freshness　of　the

morning；　the　motion　and　the　open　air　dazed　her。　Then　the　sun　rose；　it

preyed　on　the　back　of　her　head；　and　she　involuntarily　dozed　a　little。

The　two　animals　rambled　along　side　by　side；　their　feet　sinking　into

the　silent　sand。



When　they　had　passed　the　mountain　of　the　Hot　Springs；　they　went　on　at

a　more　rapid　rate；　the　ground　being　firmer。



But　although　it　was　the　season　for　sowing　and　ploughing；　the　fields

were　as　empty　as　the　desert　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach。　Here　and

there　were　scattered　heaps　of　corn；　at　other　places　the　barley　was

shedding　its　reddened　ears。　The　villages　showed　black　upon　the　clear

horizon；　with　shapes　incoherently　carved。



From　time　to　time　a　half…calcined　piece　of　wall　would　be　found

standing　on　the　edge　of　the　road。　The　roofs　of　the　cottages　were

falling　in；　and　in　the　interiors　might　be　distinguished　fragments　of

pottery；　rags　of　clothing；　and　all　kinds　of　unrecognisable　utensils

and　broken　things。　Often　a　creature　clothed　in　tatters；　with　earthy

face　and　flaming　eyes　would　emerge　from　these　ruins。　But　he　would　very

quickly　begin　to　run　or　would　disappear　into　a　hole。　Salammbo　and　her

guide　did　not　stop。



Deserted　plains　succeeded　one　another。　Charcoal　dust　which　was　raised

by　their　feet　behind　them；　stretched　in　unequal　trails　over　large

spaces　of　perfectly　white　soil。　Sometimes　they　came　upon　little

peaceful　spots；　where　a　brook　flowed　amid　the　long　grass；　and　as　they

ascended　the　other　bank　Salammbo　would　pluck　damp　leaves　to　cool　her

hands。　At　the　corner　of　a　wood　of　rose…bays　her　horse　shied　violently

at　the　corpse　of　a　man　which　lay　extended　on　the　ground。



The　slave　immediately　settled　her　again　on　the　cushions。　He　was　one　of

the　servants　of　the　Temple；　a　man　whom　Schahabarim　used　to　employ　on

perilous　missions。



With　extreme　precaution　he　now　went　on　foot　beside　her　and　between　the

horses；　he　would　whip　the　animals　with　the　end　of　a　leathern　lace

wound　round　his　arm；　or　would　perhaps　take　balls　made　of　wheat；　dates；

and　yolks　of　eggs　wrapped　in　lotus　leaves　from　a　scrip　hanging　against

his　breast；　and　offer　them　to　Salammbo　without　speaking；　and　running

all　the　time。



In　the　middle　of　the　day　three　Barbarians　clad　in　animals'　skins

crossed　their　path。　By　degrees　others　appeared　wandering　in　troops　of

ten；　twelve；　or　twenty…five　men；　many　were　driving　goats　or　a　limping

cow。　Their　heavy　sticks　bristled　with　brass　points；　cutlasses　gleamed

in　their　clothes；　which　were　savagely　dirty；　and　they　opened　their

eyes　with　a　look　of　menace　and　amazement。　As　they　passed　some　sent

them　a　vulgar　benediction；　others　obscene　jests；　and　Schahabarim's　man

replied　to　each　in　his　own　idiom。　He　told　them　that　this　was　a　sick

youth　going　to　be　cured　at　a　distant　temple。



However；　the　day　was　closing　in。　Barkings　were　heard；　and　they

approached　them。



Then　in　the　twilight　they　perceived　an　enclosure　of　dry　stones

shutting　in　a　rambling　edifice。　A　dog　was　running　along　the　top　of　the

wall。　The　slave　threw　some　pebbles　at　him　and　they　entered　a　lofty

vaulted　hall。



A　woman　was　crouching　in　the　centre　warming　herself　at　a　fire　of

brushwood；　the　smoke　of　which　escaped　through　the　holes　in　the

ceiling。　She　was　half　hidden　by　her　white　hair　which　fell　to　her

knees；　and　unwilling　to　answer；　she　muttered　with　idiotic　look　words

of　vengeance　against　the　Barbarians　and　the　Carthaginians。



The　runner　ferreted　right　and　left。　Then　he　returned　to　her　and

demanded　something　to　eat。　The　old　woman　shook　her　head；　and　murmured

with　her　eyes　fixed　upon　the　charcoal：



〃I　was　the　hand。　The　ten　fingers　are　cut　off。　The　mouth　eats　no　more。〃



The　slave　showed　her　a　handful　of　gold　pieces。　She　rushed　upon　them；

but　soon　resumed　her　immobility。



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

throat。　Then