gulliver of mars-第11章

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〃How　should　I　know？〃　she　answered　laughingly。　　〃That　is　the　secret　of　the　urn。　　Meanwhile；　we　have　set　you　a　place　at　the　table…head　near　Princess　Heru；　and　tonight　you　dip　and　have　your　chance　like　all　of　them；　may　luck　send　you　a　rosy　bride；　and　save　her　from　Ar…hap。〃

〃Ay；　now　I　remember；　An　told　me　of　this　before；　Ar…hap　is　the　sovereign　with　whom　your　people　have　a　little　difference；　and　shares　unbidden　in　the　free　distribution　of　brides　to…night。　　This　promises　to　be　interesting；　depend　on　it　I　will　come；　if　you　will　keep　me　a　place　where　I　can　hear　the　speeches；　and　not　forget　me　when　the　turtle　soup　goes　round；　I　shall　be　more　than　grateful。　　Now　to　another　matter。　I　want　to　get　a　few　minutes　with　your　President；　Prince　Hath。　　He　concentrates　the　fluid　intelligence　of　this　sphere；　I　am　told。　　Where　can　I　find　him？〃

〃He　is　drunk；　in　the　library；　sir！〃

〃My　word！　　It　is　early　in　the　day　for　that；　and　a　singular　conjunction　of　place　and　circumstance。〃

〃Where；〃　said　the　girl；　〃could　he　safer　be？　　We　can　always　fetch　him　if　we　want　him；　and　sunk　in　blue　ob…　livion　he　will　not　come　to　harm。〃

〃A　cheerful　view；　Miss；　which　is　worthy　of　the　attention　of　our　reformers。　　Nevertheless；　I　will　go　to　him。　　I　have　known　men　tell　more　truth　in　that　state　than　in　any　other。〃

The　servitor　directed　me　to　the　library；　and　after　deso…　late　wanderings　up　crumbling　steps　and　down　mouldering　corridors；　sunny　and　lovely　in　decay；　I　came　to　the　im…　mense　lumber…shed　of　knowledge　they　had　told　me　of；　a　city　of　dead　books；　a　place　of　dusty　cathedral　aisles　stored　with　forgotten　learning。　　At　a　table　sat　Hath　the　purposeless；　enthroned　in　leather　and　vellum；　snoring　in　divine　content　amongst　all　that　wasted　labour；　and　nothing　I　could　do　was　sufficient　to　shake　him　into　semblance　of　intelligence。　　So　perforce　I　turned　away　till　he　should　have　come　to　him…　self；　and　wandering　round　the　splendid　litter　of　a　noble　library；　presently　amongst　the　ruck　of　volumes　on　the　floor；　amongst　those　lordly　tomes　in　tattered　green　and　gold；　and　ivory；　my　eye　lit　upon　a　volume　propped　up　curiously　on　end；　and　going　to　it　through　the　confusion　I　saw　by　the　dried　fruit　rind　upon　the　sticks　supporting　it；　that　the　grave　and　reverend　tome　was　set　to　catch　a　mouse！　It　was　a　splendid　book　when　I　looked　more　closely；　bound　as　a　king　might　bind　his　choicest　treasure；　the　sweet…　scented　leather　on　it　was　no　doubt　frayed；　the　golden　arabesques　upon　the　covers　had　long　since　shed　their　eyes　of　inset　gems；　the　jewelled　clasp　locking　its　learning　up　from　vulgar　gaze　was　bent　and　open。　　Yet　it　was　a　lordly　tome　with　an　odour　of　sanctity　about　it；　and　lifting　it　with　diffi…　culty；　I　noticed　on　its　cover　a　red　stain　of　mouse's　blood。　Those　who　put　it　to　this　quaint　use　of　mouse…trap　had　already　had　some　sport；　but　surely　never　was　a　mouse　crushed　before　under　so　much　learning。　　And　while　I　stood

guessing　at　what　the　book　might　hold　within；　Heru；　the　princess；　came　tripping　in　to　me；　and　with　the　abrupt　famili…　arity　of　her　kind；　laid　a　velvet　hand　upon　my　wrist；　conned　the　title　over　to　herself。

〃What　does　it　say；　sweet　girl？〃　I　asked。　　〃The　matter　is　learned；　by　its　feel；〃　and　that　maid；　pursing　up　her　pretty　lips；　read　the　title　to　me〃The　Secret　of　the　Gods。〃

〃The　Secret　of　the　Gods；〃　I　murmured。　　〃Was　it　pos…　sible　other　worlds　had　struggled　hopelessly　to　come　within　the　barest　ken　of　that　great　knowledge；　while　here　the　same　was　set　to　catch　a　mouse　with？〃

I　said；　〃Silver…footed；　sit　down　and　read　me　a　passage　or　two；〃　and　propping　the　mighty　volume　upon　a　table　drew　a　bench　before　it　and　pulled　her　down　beside　me。

〃Oh！　a　horrid；　dry　old　book　for　certain；〃　cried　that　lady；　her　pink　fingertips　falling　as　lightly　on　the　musty　leaves　as　almond　petals　on　March　dust。　　〃Where　shall　I　begin？　　It　is　all　equally　dull。〃

〃Dip　in；〃　was　my　answer。　　〃　'Tis　no　great　matter　where；　but　near　the　beginning。　　What　says　the　writer　of　his　intention？　What　sets　he　out　to　prove？〃

〃He　says　that　is　the　Secret　of　the　First　Great　Truth；　descended　straight　to　him〃

〃Many　have　said　so　much；　yet　have　lied。〃

〃He　says　that　which　is　written　in　his　book　is　through　him　but　not　of　him；　past　criticism　and　beyond　cavil。　　'Tis　all　in　ancient　and　crabbed　characters　going　back　to　the　threshold　of　my　learning；　but　here　upon　this　passage…top　where　they　are　writ　large　I　make　them　out　to　say；　'ONLY　THE　MAN　WHO　HAS　DIED　MANY　TIMES　BEGINS　TO　LIVE。'〃

〃A　pregnant　passage！　　Turn　another　page；　and　try　again；　I　have　an　inkling　of　the　book　already。〃

〃'Tis　poor；　silly　stuff；〃　said　the　girl；　slipping　a　hand　covertly　into　my　own。　　〃Why　will　you　make　me　read　it？　I　have　a　book　on　pomatums　worth　twice　as　much　as　this。〃

〃Nevertheless；　dip　in　again；　dear　lady。　　What　says　the　next　heading？〃　　And　with　a　little　sigh　at　the　heaviness　of　her　task；　Heru　read　out：　〃SOMETIMES　THE　GODS　THEM…　SELVES　FORGET　THE　ANSWERS　TO　THEIR　OWN　RIDDLES。〃

〃Lady；　I　knew　it！

〃All　this　is　still　preliminary　to　the　great　matter　of　the　book；　but　the　mutterings　of　the　priest　who　draws　back　the　cur…　tains　of　the　shrineand　here；　after　the　scribe　has　left　these　two　yellow　pages　blank　as　though　to　set　a　space　of　reverence　between　himself　and　what　comes　nexthere　speaks　the　truth；　the　voice；　the　fact　of　all　life。〃　　But　〃Oh！　Jones；〃　she　said；　turning　from　the　dusty　pages　and　clasping　her　young；　milk…warm　hands　over　mine　and　leaning　towards　me　until　her　blushing　cheek　was　near　to　my　shoulder　and　the　incense　of　her　breath　upon　me。　　〃Oh！　　Gulliver　Jones；〃　she　said。　　〃Make　me　read　no　more；　my　soul　revolts　from　the　task；　the　crazy　brown　letters　swim　before　my　eyes。　　Is　there　no　learning　near　at　hand　that　would　be　pleasanter　reading　than　this　silly　book　of　yours？　　What；　after　all；〃　she　said；　growing　bolder　at　the　sound　of　her　own　voice；　〃what；　after　all；　is　the　musty　reticence　of　gods　to　the　whispered　secret　of　a　maid？　　Jones；　splendid　stranger　for　whom　all　men　stand　aside　and　women　look　over　shoulders；　oh；　let　me　be　your　book！〃　she　whispered；　slipping　on　to　my　knee　and　winding　her　arms　round　my　neck　till；　through　the　white　glimmer　of　her　single　vest；　I　could　feel　her　heart　beating　against　mine。　　〃Newest　and　dearest　of　friends；　put　by　this　dreary　learning　and　look　in　my　eyes；　is　there　nothing　to　be　spelt　out　there？〃

And　I　was　constrained　to　do　as　she　bid　me；　for　she　was　as　fresh　as　an　almond　blossom　touched　by　the　sun；　and　looking　down　into　two　swimming　blue　lakes　where　shyness　and　passion　were　contendingbooks　easy　enough；　in　truth；　to　be　read；　I　saw　that　she　loved　me；　with　the　unconventional　ardour　of　her　nature。

It　was　a　pleasant　discovery；　if　its　abruptness　was　em…　barrassing；　for　she　was　a　maid　in　a　thousand；　and　half　ashamed　and　half　laughing　I　let　her　escalade　me；　throwing　now　and　then　a　rueful　look　at　the　Secret　of　the　Gods；　and　all　that　priceless　knowledge　treated　so　unworthily。

What　else　could　I　do？　　Besides；　I　loved　her　myself！　　And　if　there　was　a　momentary　chagrin　at　having　yonder　golden　knowledge　put　off　by　this　lovely　interruption；　yet　I　was　flesh　and　blood；　the　gods　could　waitthey　had　to　wait　long　and　often　before；　and　when　this　sweet　interpreter　was　comforted　we　would　have　another　try。　　So　it　happened　I　took　her　into　my　heart　and　gave　her　the　answer　she　asked　for。

For　a　long　time　we　sat　in　the　dusky　grandeur　of　the　royal　library；　my　mind　revolving　between　wonder　and　ad…　miration　of　the　neglected　knowledge　all　about；　and　the　stir…　rings　of　a　new　love；　while　Heru　herself；　lapsed　again　into　Martian　calm；　lay　half　sleeping　on　my　shoulder；　but　pre…　sently；　unwinding　her　arms；　I　put　her　down。

〃There；　sweetheart；〃　I　whispered；　〃enough　of　this　for　the　moment；　tonight；　perhaps；　some　more；　but　while　we　are　here　amongst　all　this　lordly　litter；　I　can　think　of　nothing　else。〃　Again　I　bid　her　turn　the　pages；　noting　as　she　did　so　how　each　chapter　was　headed　by　the　coloured　configuration　of　a　world。　　Page　by　page　we　turned　of　crackling　parchment；　until　by　chance；　at　the　top　of　one；　my　eye　caught　a　coloured　round　I　could　not　fail　to　recognise'twas　the　spinning　but…　ton　on　the　blue　breast　of　the　immeasurable　that　yesterday　I　inhabited。　　〃Read　here；〃　I　cried；　clapping　my　finger　upon　the　page　midway　down；　where　there　were　some　signs　looking　like　Egyptian　writing。　　〃Says　this　quaint　dabbler　in　all　knowledge　anything　of　Isis；　anything　of　Phra；　of　Am…　mon；　of　Ammon　Top？〃

〃And　who　was　Isis？　who　Ammon　Top？〃　asked　the　lady。

〃Nay；　read；〃　I　answered；　and　down　the　page　her　slender　fingers　went　awandering　till　at　a　spot　of　knotted　signs　they　stopped。　　〃Why；　here　is　something　about　thy　Isis；〃　ex…　claimed　Heru；　as　though　amused　at　my　perspicuity。　　〃Here；　halfway　down　this　chapter　of　earth…history；　it　says；〃　and　putting　one　pink　knee　across　the　other　to　better　prop　the　book　she　read：

〃And　the　priests　of　Thebes　were　gone；　the　sand　stood　un…　trampled　on　the　temple　steps　a　thousand　years；　the　wild　bees　sang　the　song　of　desolation　in　the　ears　of　Isis；　the　wild　cats　littered　in　the　stony　lap　of　Ammon；　ay；　another　thou…　sand　years　went　by；　and　earth　was　tilled　of　unseen　hands　and　sown　with　yellow　grain　from　Paradise；　and　the　thin　veil　that　separates　the　known　from　the　unknown　was　rent；　and　men　walked　to　and　fro。〃

〃Go　on；〃　I　said。

〃Nay；〃　laughed　the　other；　〃the　little　mice　in　their　eager…　ness　have　been　before　yousee；　all　this　corner　is　gnawed　away。〃

〃Read　on　again；〃　I　said；　〃where　the　page　is　whole；　those　sips　of　knowledge　you　have　given　make　me　thirsty　for　more。　There；　begin　where　this　blazonry　of　initialed　red　and　gold　looks　so　like　the　carpet　spread　by　the　scribe　for　the　feet　of　a　sovereign　truthwhat　says　he　here？〃　　And　she；　half　pouting　to　be　set　back　once　more　to　that　task；　half　won…　dering　as　she　gazed　on　those　magic　letters；　let　her　eyes　run　down　the　page；　then　began：

〃And　it　was　the　Beginning；　and　in　the　centre　void　pres…　ently　there　came　a　nucleus　of　light：　and　the　light　brightened　in　the　grey　primeval　morning　and　became　definite　and　articulate。　　And　from　the　midst　of　that　natal　splendour；　behind　which　was　the　Unknowable；　the　life　came　hitherward；　from　the　midst　of　that　nucleus　undescribed；　undescribable；　there　issued　presently　the　primeval　sigh　that　breathed　the　breath　of　life　into　all　things。　　And　that　sigh　thrilled　through　the　empty　spaces　of　the　illimitable：　it　breathed　the　breath　of　promise　over　the　frozen　hills　of　the　outside　planets　where　the　night…frost　had　lasted　without　beginning：　and　the　waters　of　ten　thousand　nameless　oceans；　girding　nameless　planets；　were　stirred；　trembling　into　their　depth。　　It　crossed　the　il…　limitable　spaces　where　the　herding　aerolites　swirl　forever　through　space　in　the　wake　of　careering　world；　and　all　their　whistling　wings　answered　to　it。　　It　reverberated　through　the　grey　wastes　of　vacuity；　and　crossed　the　dark　oceans　of　the　Outside；　even　to　the　black　shores　of　the　eternal　night　beyond。

〃And　hardly　had　echo　of　that　breath　died　away　in　the　hollow　of　the　heavens　and　the　empty　wombs　of　a　million　barren　worlds；　when　the　light　brightened　again；　and　draw…　ing　in　upon　itself　became　definite　and　took　form；　and　therefrom；　at　the　moment　of　primitive　conception；　there　came〃

And　just　then；　as　she　had　read　so　far　as　that；　when　all　my　faculties　were　aching　to　know　what　came　next　whether　this　were　b