gulliver of mars-第7章

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〃No！〃　said　An；　with　a　little　warmth。　　〃If　it　comes　to　that；　you　know　nothing。〃

Whereat　I　laughed；　and；　saying　the　reply　was　just；　vowed　I　would　not　interrupt　again；　so　she　wont　on　saying　how　Haththat　interminable　Hath！would　know　it　all　better　than　she　did；　but　long　ago　the　land　was　overrun　by　a　people　from　beyond　the　broad；　blue　waters　outside；　a　people　huge　of　person；　hairy　and　savage；　uncouth；　unlettered；　and　poor　An's　voice　trembled　even　to　describe　them；　a　people　without　mercy　or　compunction；　dwellers　in　woods；　eaters　of　flesh；　who　burnt；　plundered；　and　destroyed　all　before　them；　and　had　toppled　over　this　city　along　with　many　others　in　an　ancient　foray；　the　horrors　of　which；　still　burnt　lurid　in　her　people's　minds。

〃Ever　since　then；〃　went　on　the　girl；　〃these　odious　terrors　of　the　outer　land　have　been　a　nightmare　to　us；　making　hectic　our　pleasures；　and　filling　our　peace　with　horrid　thoughts　of　what　might　be；　should　they　chance　to　come　again。〃

〃'Tis　unfortunate；　no　doubt；　lady；〃　I　answered。　　〃Yet　it　was　long　ago；　and　the　plunderers　are　far　away。　　Why　not　rise　and　raid　them　in　turn？　　To　live　under　such　a　nightmare　is　miserable；　and　a　poet　on　my　side　of　the　ether　has　said


　　　　　〃'He　either　fears　his　fate　too　much；

　　　　　　　　　　Or　his　deserts　are　small；

　　　　　Who　will　not　put　it　to　the　touch；

　　　　　　　　　　To　win　or　lose　it　all。'

It　seems　to　me　you　must　either　bustle　and　fight　again；　or　sit　tamely　down；　and　by　paying　the　coward's　fee　for　peace；　buy　at　heavy　price；　indulgence　from　the　victor。〃

〃We；〃　said　An　simply；　and　with　no　show　of　shame；　〃would　rather　die　than　fight；　and　so　we　take　the　easier　way；　though　a　heavy　one　it　is。　　Look！〃　she　said；　drawing　me　to　the　broad　window　whence　we　could　get　a　glimpse　of　the　westward　town　and　the　harbour　out　beyond　the　walls。　〃Look！　see　yonder　long　row　of　boats　with　brown　sails　hanging　loose　reefed　from　every　yard　ranged　all　along　the　quay。　　Even　from　here　you　can　make　out　the　thin　stream　of　porter　slaves　passing　to　and　fro　between　them　and　the　granaries　like　ants　on　a　sunny　path。　　Those　are　our　tax…men's　ships；　they　came　yesterday　from　far　out　across　the　sea；　as　punctual　as　fate　with　the　first　day　of　spring；　and　two　or　three　nights　hence　we　trust　will　go　again：　and　glad　shall　we　be　to　see　them　start；　although　they　leave　scupper　deep　with　our　cloth；　our　corn；　and　gold。〃

〃Is　that　what　they　take　for　tribute？〃

〃That　and　one　girlthe　fairest　they　can　find。〃

〃Oneonly　one！　　'Tis　very　moderate；　all　things　considered。〃

〃She　is　for　the　thither　king；　Ar…hap；　and　though　only　one　as　you　say；　stranger；　yet　he　who　loses　her　is　apt　sometimes　to　think　her　one　too　many　lost。〃

〃By　Jupiter　himself　it　is　well　said！　　If　I　were　that　man　I　would　stir　up　heaven　and　hell　until　I　got　her　back；　neither　man；　nor　beast；　nor　devil　should　stay　me　in　my　quest！〃　　As　I　spoke　I　thought　for　a　minute　An's　fingers　trembled　a　little　as　she　fixed　a　flower　upon　my　coat；　while　there　was　something　like　a　sigh　in　her　voice　as　she　said

〃The　maids　of　this　country　are　not　accustomed；　sir；　to　be　so　strongly　loved。〃

By　this　time；　breakfasted　and　rehabilitated；　I　was　ready　to　go　forth。　　The　girl　swung　back　the　heavy　curtain　that　served　in　place　of　door　across　the　entrance　of　my　chamber；　and　leading　the　way　by　a　corridor　and　marble　steps　while　I　followed；　and　whether　it　was　the　Martian　air　or　the　meal　I　know　not；　but　thinking　mighty　well　of　myself　until　we　came　presently　onto　the　main　palace　stairs；　which　led　by　stately　flights　from　the　upper　galleries　to　the　wide　square　below。

As　we　passed　into　the　full　sunshineand　no　sunshine　is　so　crisply　golden　as　the　Martianamongst　twined　flowers　and　shrubs　and　gay；　quaint　birds　building　in　the　cornices；　a　sleek　youth　rose　slowly　from　where　he　had　spread　his　cloak　as　couch　upon　a　step　and　approaching　asked

〃You　are　the　stranger　of　yesterday？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered。

〃Then　I　bring　a　message　from　Prince　Hath；　saying　it　would　pleasure　him　greatly　if　you　would　eat　the　morning　meal　with　him。〃

〃Why；〃　I　answered；　〃it　is　very　civil　indeed；　but　I　have　breakfasted　already。〃

〃And　so　has　Hath；〃　said　the　boy；　gently　yawning。　　〃You　see　I　came　here　early　this　morning；　but　knowing　you　would　pass　sooner　or　later　I　thought　it　would　save　me　the　trouble　if　I　lay　down　till　you　camethose　quaint　people　who　built　these　places　were　so　prodigal　of　steps；〃　and　smiling　apologetically　he　sank　back　on　his　couch　and　began　toying　with　a　leaf。

〃Sweet　fellow；〃　I　said；　and　you　will　note　how　I　was　getting　into　their　style　of　conversation；　〃get　back　to　Hath　when　you　have　rested；　give　him　my　most　gracious　thanks　for　the　intended　courtesy；　but　tell　him　the　invitation　should　have　started　a　week　earlier；　tell　him　from　me；　you　nimble…　footed　messenger；　that　I　will　post…date　his　kindness　and　come　tomorrow；　say　that　meanwhile　I　pray　him　to　send　any　ill　news　he　has　for　me　by　you。　　Is　the　message　too　bulky　for　your　slender　shoulders？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　boy；　rousing　himself　slowly；　〃I　will　take　it；〃　and　then　he　prepared　to　go。　　He　turned　again　and　said；　without　a　trace　of　incivility；　〃But　indeed；　stranger；　I　wish　you　would　take　the　message　yourself。　　This　is　the　third　flight　of　stairs　I　have　been　up　today。〃

Everywhere　it　was　the　same　friendly　indolence。　　Half　the　breakfasters　were　lying　on　coloured　shawls　in　groups　about　the　square；　the　other　half　were　strolling　offall　in　one　direction；　I　noticedas　slowly　as　could　be　towards　the　open　fields　beyond；　no　one　was　active　or　had　anything　to　do　save　the　yellow　folk　who　flitted　to　and　fro　fostering　the　others；　and　doing　the　city　work　as　though　it　were　their　only　thought　in　life。　　There　were　no　shops　in　that　strange　city；　for　there　were　no　needs；　some　booths　I　saw　indeed；　and　temple…like　places；　but　hollow；　and　used　for　birds　and　beaststhings　these　lazy　Martians　love。　　There　was　no　tramp　of　busy　feet；　for　no　one　was　busy；　no　clank　of　swords　or　armour　in　those　peaceful　streets；　for　no　one　was　warlike；　no　hustle；　for　no　one　hurried；　no　wide…packed　asses　nodding　down　the　lanes；　for　there　was　nothing　to　fill　their　packs　with；　and　though　a　cart　sometimes　came　by　with　a　load　of　lolling　men　and　maids；　or　a　small　horse；　for　horses　they　had；　paced　along；　itself　nearly　as　lazy　as　the　master　he　bore；　with　trappings　sewed　over　bits　of　coloured　shell　and　coral；　yet　somehow　it　was　all　extraordinarily　unreal。　It　was　a　city　full　of　the　ghosts　of　the　life　which　once　pulsed　through　its　ways。　　The　streets　were　peopled；　the　chatter　of　voices　everywhere；　the　singing　boys　and　laughing　girls　wandering；　arms　linked　together；　down　the　ways　filled　every　echo　with　their　merriment；　yet　somehow　it　was　all　so　shallow　that　again　and　again　I　rubbed　my　eyes；　wonder…　ing　if　I　were　indeed　awake；　or　whether　it　were　not　a　pro…　longed　sleep　of　which　the　tomorrow　were　still　to　come。

〃What　strikes　me　as　strangest　of　all；　good　comrade；〃　I　observed　pleasantly　to　the　tripping　presence　at　my　elbow；　〃is　that　these　countrymen　of　yours　who　shirk　to　climb　a　flight　of　steps；　and　have　palms　as　soft　as　rose　petals；　these　wide　ways　paved　with　stones　as　hard　as　a　usurer's　heart。〃

An　laughed。　　〃The　stones　were　still　in　their　native　quar…　ries　had　it　been　left　to　us　to　seek　them；　we　are　like　the　conies　in　the　ruins；　sir；　the　inheritors　of　what　other　hands　have　done。〃

〃Ay；　and　undone；　I　think；　as　well；　for　coming　along　I　have　noted　axe　chippings　upon　the　walls；　smudges　of　ancient　fire　and　smoke　upon　the　cornices。〃

An　winced　a　little　and　stared　uneasily　at　the　walls；　mut…　tering　below　her　breath　something　about　trying　to　hide　with　flower　garlands　the　marks　they　could　not　banish；　but　it　was　plain　the　conversation　was　not　pleasing　to　her。　　So　unpleasant　was　talk　or　sight　of　woodmen　（Thither…folk；　as　she　called　them；　in　contradiction　to　the　Hither　people　about　us　here）；　that　the　girl　was　clearly　relieved　when　we　were　free　of　the　town　and　out　into　the　open　play…　ground　of　the　people。　　The　whole　place　down　there　was　a　gay；　shifting　crowd。　　The　booths　of　yesterday；　the　ar…　cades；　the　archways；　were　still　standing；　and　during　the　night　unknown　hands　had　redecked　them　with　flowers；　while　another　day's　sunshine　had　opened　the　coppice　buds　so　that　the　whole　place　was　brilliant　past　expression。　　And　here　the　Hither　folk　were　varying　their　idleness　by　a　general　holiday。　　They　were　standing　about　in　groups；　or　lying　ranked　like　new…plucked　flowers　on　the　banks；　piping　to　each　other　through　reeds　as　soft　and　melodious　as　running　water。　　They　were　playing　inconsequent　games　and　breaking　off　in　the　middle　of　them　like　children　looking　for　new　pleasures。　　They　were　idling　about　the　drinking　booths；　delicately　stupid　with　quaint；　thin　wines；　dealt　out　to　all　who　asked；　the　maids　were　ready　to　chevy　or　be　chevied　through　the　blossoming　thickets　by　anyone　who　chanced　upon　them；　the　men　slipped　their　arms　round　slen…　der　waists　and　wandered　down　the　paths；　scarce　seeming　to　care　even　whose　waist　it　was　they　circled　or　into　whose　ear　they　whispered　the　remainder　of　the　love…tale　they　had　begun　to　some　one　else。　　And　everywhere　it　was　〃Hi；〃　and　〃Ha；〃　and　〃So；〃　and　〃See；〃　as　these　quaint　people　called　to　one　another；　knowing　each　other　as　familiarly　as　ants　of　a　nest；　and　by　the　same　magic　it　seemed　to　me。

〃An；〃　I　said　presently；　when　we　had　wandered　an　hour　or　so　through　the　drifting　throng；　〃have　these　good　country…　men　of　yours　no　other　names　but　monosyllabic；　nothing　to　designate　them　but　these　chirruping　syllables？〃

〃Is　it　not　enough？〃　answered　my　companion。　　〃Once　in…　deed　I　think　we　had　longer　names；　but；〃　she　added；　smiling；　〃how　much　trouble　it　saves　to　limit　each　one　to　a　single　sound。　It　is　uncivil　to　one's　neighbours　to　burden　their　tongues　with　double　duty　when　half　would　do。〃

〃But　have　you　no　patronymicsnothing　to　show　the　child　comes　of　the　same　source　as　his　father　came？〃

〃We　have　no　fathers。〃

〃What！　no　fathers？〃　I　said；　starting　and　staring　at　her。

〃No；　nor　mothers　either；　or　at　least　none　that　we　remem…　ber；　for　again；　why　should　we？　　Mayhap　in　that　strange　dis…　trict　you　come　from　you　keep　count　of　these　things；　but　what　have　we　to　do　with　either　when　their　initial　duty　is　done。　Look　at　that　painted　butterfly　swinging　on　the　honey…　laden　catkin　there。　　What　knows　she　of　the　mother　who　shed　her　life　into　a　flowercup　and　forgot　which　flower　it　was　the　minute　afterwards。　　We；　too；　are　insects；　stranger。〃

〃And　do　you　mean　to　say　of　this　great　concourse　here；　that　every　atom　is　solitary；　individual；　and　can　claim　no　kin…　dred　with　another　save　the　loose　bonds　of　a　general　fraterni…　tya　specious　idea；　horrible；　impracticable！〃

Whereat　An　laughed。　　〃Ask　the　grasshoppers　if　it　is　im…　practicable；　ask　the　little　buzzing　things　of　grass　and　leaves　who　drift　hither　and　thither　upon　each　breath　of　wind；　finding　kinsmen　never　but　comrades　everywhereask　them　if　it　is　horrible。〃

This　made　me　melancholy；　and　somehow　set　me　thinking　of　the　friends　immeasurably　distant　I　had　left　but　yesterday。

What　were　they　doing？　　Did　they　miss　me？　　I　was　to　have　called　for　my　pay　this　afternoon；　and　tomorrow　was　to　have　run　down　South　to　see　that　freckled　lady　of　mine。　What　would　she　think　of　my　absence？　　What　would　she　think　if　she　knew　where　I　was？　　Gods；　it　was　too　mad；　too　absurd！　　I　thrust　my　hands　into　my　pockets　i