gulliver of mars-第5章

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〃because　the　marriage…feast　is　set　for　tomorrow　in　the　palace。〃

I　became　interested。　　Kings；　palaces；　marriage…feastswhy；　here　was　something　substantial　to　go　upon；　after　all　these　gauzy　folk　might　turn　out　good　fellows；　jolly　com…　rades　to　sojourn　amongstand　marriage…feasts　reminded　me　again　I　was　hungry。

〃Who　is　it；〃　I　asked；　with　more　interest　in　my　tone；　〃who　gets　married？is　it　your　ambiguous　king　himself？〃

Whereat　An's　purple　eyes　broadened　with　wonder：　then　as　though　she　would　not　be　uncivil　she　checked　herself；　and　answered　with　smothered　pity　for　my　ignorance；　〃Not　only　Hath　himself；　but　every　one；　stranger；　they　are　all　married　tomorrow；　you　would　not　have　them　married　one　at　a　time；　would　you？〃this　with　inexpressible　derision。

I　said；　with　humility；　something　like　that　happened　in　the　place　I　came　from；　asking　her　how　it　chanced　the　convenience　of　so　many　came　to　one　climax　at　the　same　mo…　ment。　　〃Surely；　An；　this　is　a　marvel　of　arrangement。　　Where　I　dwelt　wooings　would　sometimes　be　long　or　sometimes　short；　and　all　maids　were　not　complacent　by　such　universal　agree…　ment。〃

The　girl　was　clearly　perplexed。　　She　stared　at　me　a　space；　then　said；　〃What　have　wooings　long　or　short　to　do　with　weddings？　　You　talk　as　if　you　did　your　wooing　first　and　then　came　to　marriagewe　get　married　first　and　woo　after…　wards！〃

〃'Tis　not　a　bad　idea；　and　I　can　see　it　might　lend　an　ease　and　certainty　to　the　pastime　which　our　method　lacks。　But　if　the　woman　is　got　first　and　sued　subsequently；　who　brings　you　together？　　Who　sees　to　the　essential　preliminaries　of　assortment？〃

An；　looking　at　my　shoes　as　though　she　speculated　on　the　remoteness　of　the　journey　I　had　come　if　it　were　measured　by　my　ignorance；　replied；　〃The　urn；　stranger；　the　urn　does　thatwhat　else？　　How　it　may　be　in　that　out…fashioned　region　you　have　come　from　I　cannot　tell；　but　here'tis　so　commonplace　I　should　have　thought　you　must　have　known　itwe　put　each　new　year　the　names　of　all　womenkind　into　an　urn　and　the　men　draw　for　them；　each　town；　each　village　by　itself；　and　those　they　draw　are　theirs；　is　it　conceivable　your　race　has　other　methods？〃

I　told　her　it　was　sowe　picked　and　chose　for　ourselves；　beseeching　the　damsels；　fighting　for　them；　and　holding　the　sun　of　romance　was　at　its　setting　just　where　the　Martians　held　it　to　rise。　　Whereat　An　burst　out　laughinga　clear；　ringing　laugh　that　set　all　the　light…hearted　folk　in　the　nearest　boats　laughing　in　sympathy。　　But　when　the　grotesqueness　of　the　idea　had　somewhat　worn　off；　she　turned　grave　and　asked　me　if　such　a　fancy　did　not　lead　to　spite；　envy；　and　bickerings。　〃Why；　it　seems　to　me；〃　she　said；　shaking　her　curly　head；　〃such　a　plan　might　fire　cities；　desolate　plains；　and　empty　palaces〃

〃Such　things　have　been。〃

〃Ah！　our　way　is　much　the　better。　　See！〃　quoth　that　gentle　philosopher。　　〃'Here；'　one　of　our　women　would　say；　'am　I　to…day；　unwed；　as　free　of　thought　as　yonder　bird　chasing　the　catkin　down；　tomorrow　I　shall　be　married；　with　a　whole　summer　to　make　love　in；　relieved　at　one　bound　of　all　those　uncertainties　you　acknowledge　to；　with　nothing　to　do　but　lie　about　on　sunny　banks　with　him　whom　chance　sends　me；　come　to　the　goal　of　love　without　any　travelling　to　get　there。'　　Why；　you　must　acknowledge　this　is　the　per…　fection　of　ease。〃

〃But　supposing；〃　I　said；　〃chance　dealt　unkindly　to　you　from　your　nuptial　urn；　supposing　the　man　was　not　to　your　liking；　or　another　coveted　him？〃　　To　which　An　answered；　with　some　shrewdness

〃In　the　first　case　we　should　do　what　we　might；　being　no　worse　off　than　those　in　your　land　who　had　played　ill　providence　to　themselves。　　In　the　second；　no　maid　would　covet　him　whom　fate　had　given　to　another；　it　were　too　fatiguing；　or　if　such　a　thing　DID　happen；　then　one　of　them　would　waive　his　claims；　for　no　man　or　woman　ever　born　was　worth　a　wrangle；　and　it　is　allowed　us　to　barter　and　change　a　little。〃

All　this　was　strange　enough。　　I　could　not　but　laugh；　while　An　laughed　at　the　lightest　invitation；　and　thus　chatting　and　deriding　each　other's　social　arrangements　we　floated　idly　townwards　and　presently　came　out　into　the　main　waterway　perhaps　a　mile　wide　and　flowing　rapidly；　as　streams　will　on　the　threshold　of　the　spring；　with　brash　or　waste　of　distant　beaches　riding　down　it；　and　every　now　and　then　a　broken　branch　or　tree…stem　glancing　through　waves　whose　crests　a　fresh　wind　lifted　and　sowed　in　golden　showers　in　the　inter…　vening　furrows。　　The　Martians　seemed　expert　upon　the　water；　steering　nimbly　between　these　floating　dangers　when　they　met　them；　but　for　the　most　part　hugging　the　shore　where　a　more　placid　stream　better　suited　their　fancies；　and　for　a　time　all　went　well。

An；　as　we　went　along；　was　telling　me　more　of　her　strange　country；　pointing　out　birds　or　flowers　and　naming　them　to　me。　　〃Now　that；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　a　small　grey　owl　who　sat　reflective　on　a　floating　log　we　were　approaching　〃that　is　a　bird　of　omen；　cover　your　face　and　look　away；　for　it　is　not　well　to　watch　it。〃

Whereat　I　laughed。　　〃Oh！〃　I　answered；　〃so　those　ancient　follies　have　come　as　far　as　this；　have　they？　　But　it　is　no　bird　grey　or　black　or　white　that　can　frighten　folk　where　I　come　from；　see；　I　will　ruffle　his　philosophy　for　him；〃　and　suiting　the　action　to　the　words　I　lifted　a　pebble　that　happened　to　lie　at　the　bottom　of　the　boat　and　flung　it　at　that　creature　with　the　melancholy　eyes。　　Away　went　the　owl；　dipping　his　wings　into　the　water　at　every　stroke；　and　as　he　went　wailing　out　a　ghostly　cry；　which　even　amongst　sunshine　and　glitter　made　one's　flesh　creep。

An　shook　her　head。　　〃You　should　not　have　done　that；〃　she　said；　〃our　dead　whom　we　send　down　over　the　falls　come　back　in　the　body　of　yonder　little　bird。　　But　he　has　gone　now；〃　she　added；　with　relief；　〃see；　he　settles　far　up　stream　upon　the　point　of　yonder　rotten　bough；　I　would　not　disturb　him　again　if　I　were　you〃

Whatever　more　An　would　have　said　was　lost；　for　amidst　a　sound　of　flutes　and　singing　round　the　bend　of　the　river　below　came　a　crowd　of　boats　decked　with　flowers　and　gar…　lands；　all　clustering　round　a　barge　barely　able　to　move；　so　thick　those　lesser　skiffs　pressed　upon　it。　　So　close　those　wherries　hung　about　that　the　garlanded　rowers　who　sat　at　the　oars　could　scarcely　pull；　but；　here　as　everywhere；　it　was　the　same　good　temper；　the　same　carelessness　of　order；　as　like　a　flowery　island　in　the　dancing　blue　water　the　motley　fleet　came　up。

I　steered　our　skiff　a　space　out　from　the　bank　to　get　a　better　view；　while　An　clapped　her　hands　together　and　laughed。　　〃It　is　Hathhe　himself　and　those　of　the　palace　with　him。　　Steer　a　little　nearer　still；　friendso！　between　yon　floating　rubbish　flats；　for　those　with　Hath　are　good　to　look　at。〃

Nothing　loth　I　made　out　into　mid…stream　to　see　that　strange　prince　go　by；　little　thinking　in　a　few　minutes　I　should　be　shaking　hands　with　him；　a　wet　and　dripping　hero。　The　crowd　came　up；　and　having　the　advantage　of　the　wind；　it　did　not　take　me　long　to　get　a　front　place　in　the　ruck；　whence　I　set　to　work；　with　republican　interest　in　royalty；　to　stare　at　the　man　who　An　said　was　the　head　of　Martian　society。　　He　did　not　make　me　desire　to　renounce　my　demo…　cratic　principles。　　The　royal　fellow　was　sitting　in　the　centre　of　the　barge　under　a　canopy　and　on　a　throne　which　was　a　mass　of　flowers；　not　bunched　together　as　they　would　have　been　with　us；　but　so　cunningly　arranged　that　they　rose　from　the　footstool　to　the　pinnacle　in　a　rhythm　of　colour；　a　poem　in　bud　and　petals　the　like　of　which　for　harmonious　beauty　I　could　not　have　imagined　possible。　　And　in　this　fairy　den　was　a　thin；　gaunt　young　man；　dressed　in　some　sort　of　black　stuff　so　nondescript　that　it　amounted　to　little　more　than　a　shadow。　　I　took　it　for　granted　that　a　substance　of　bone　and　muscle　was　covered　by　that　gloomy　suit；　but　it　was　the　face　above　that　alone　riveted　my　gaze　and　made　me　return　the　stare　he　gave　me　as　we　came　up　with　re…　doubled　interest。　　It　was　not　an　unhandsome　face；　but　ashy　grey　in　colour　and　amongst　the　insipid　countenances　of　the　Martians　about　him　marvellously　thoughtful。　　I　do　not　know　whether　those　who　had　killed　themselves　by　learn…　ing　ever　leave　ghosts　behind；　but　if　so　this　was　the　very　ideal　for　such　a　one。　　At　his　feet　I　noticed；　when　I　un…　hooked　my　eyes　from　his　at　last；　sat　a　girl　in　a　loose　coral　pink　gown　who　was　his　very　antipode。　　Princess　Heru；　for　so　she　was　called；　was　resting　one　arm　upon　his　knee　at　our　approach　and　pulling　a　blue　convolvulus　bud　to　piecesa　charming　picture　of　dainty　idleness。　　Anything　so　soft；　so　silken　as　that　little　lady　was　never　seen　before。　　Who　am　I；　a　poor　quarter…deck　loafer；　that　I　should　attempt　to　describe　what　poet　and　painter　alike　would　have　failed　to　realise？　　I　know；　of　course；　your　stock　descriptives：　the　melting　eye；　the　coral　lip；　the　peachy　cheek；　the　raven　tress；　but　these　were　coined　for　mortal　womanand　this　was　not　one　of　them。　　I　will　not　attempt　to　describe　the　glorious　tenderness　of　those　eyes　she　turned　upon　me　presently；　the　glowing　radiance　of　her　skin；　the　infinite　grace　of　every　action；　the　incredible　soul…searching　harmony　of　her　voice；　when　later　on　I　heard　ityou　must　gather　something　of　these　things　as　I　gosuffice　it　to　say　that　when　I　saw　her　there　for　the　first　time　in　the　plenitude　of　her　beauty　I　fell　desperately；　wildly　in　love　with　her。

Meanwhile；　even　the　most　infatuated　of　mortals　cannot　stare　for　ever　without　saying　something。　　The　grating　of　our　prow　against　the　garlanded　side　of　the　royal　barge　roused　me　from　my　reverie；　and　nodding　to　An；　to　imply　I　would　be　back　presently；　I　lightly　jumped　on　to　Hath's　vessel；　and；　with　the　assurance　of　a　free　and　independent　American　voter；　approached　that　individual；　holding　out　my　palm；　and　saying　as　I　did　so；

〃Shake　hands；　Mr。　President！〃

The　prince　came　forward　at　my　bidding　and　extending　his　hand　for　mine。　　He　bowed　slow　and　sedately；　in　that　peculiar　way　the　Martians　have；　a　ripple　of　gratified　civility　passing　up　his　flesh；　lower　and　lower　he　bowed；　until　his　face　was　over　our　clasped　hands；　and　then；　with　simple　courtesy；　he　kissed　my　finger…tips！　　This　was　somewhat　em…　barrassing。　　It　was　not　like　the　procedure　followed　in　Courts　nearer　to　Washington　than　this　one；　as　far　as　my　reading　went；　and；　withdrawing　my　fingers　hastily；　I　turned　to　the　princess；　who　had　risen；　and　was　eyeing　her　somewhat　awkwardly；　the　while　wondering　what　kind　of　salutation　would　be　suitable　in　her　case　when　a　startling　incident　happened。　　The　river；　as　said；　was　full　of　floating　rubbish　brought　down　from　some　far…away　uplands　by　a　spring　freshet　while　the　royal　convoy　was　making　slow　progress　upstream　and　thus　met　it　all　bow　on。　　Some　of　this　stuff　was　heavy　timber；　and　when　a　sudden　warning　cry　went　up　from　the　leading　boats　it　did　not　take　my　sailor　instinct　long　to　guess　what　was　amiss。　　Those　in　front　shot　side　to　side；　those　be…　hind　tried　to　drop　back　as；　bearing　straight　down　on　the　royal　barge；　there　came　a　log　of　black　wood　twenty　feet　long　and　as　thick　as　the　mainmast　of　an　old　three…decker。

Hath's　boat　could　no　more　escape　than　if　it　had　been　planted　on　a　rocky　pedestal；　garlands　and　curtains　trailing　in　the　water　hung　so　heavy　on　it。　　The　gilded　paddles　of　the　slender　rowers　were　so　feeblethey　had　but　made　a　half…　turn　from　that　great　javelin's　road　whe