the works of edgar allan poe-1-第34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！
is therefore neither unbecoming nor over large。 We may； however；
presume he would not have adopted it but for some occasion of
especial state。 Such； you will allow； is the massacre of a thousand
Jews。 With how superior a dignity the monarch perambulates on all
fours！ His tail； you perceive； is held aloft by his two principal
concubines； Elline and Argelais； and his whole appearance would be
infinitely prepossessing； were it not for the protuberance of his
eyes； which will certainly start out of his head； and the queer color
of his face； which has become nondescript from the quantity of wine
he has swallowed。 Let us follow him to the hippodrome； whither he is
proceeding； and listen to the song of triumph which he is commencing：
Who is king but Epiphanes？
Say do you know？
Who is king but Epiphanes？
Bravo！ bravo！
There is none but Epiphanes；
No there is none：
So tear down the temples；
And put out the sun！
Well and strenuously sung！ The populace are hailing him 'Prince of
Poets；' as well as 'Glory of the East；' 'Delight of the Universe；'
and 'Most Remarkable of Cameleopards。' They have encored his
effusion； and do you hear？ he is singing it over again。 When he
arrives at the hippodrome； he will be crowned with the poetic wreath；
in anticipation of his victory at the approaching Olympics。
〃But； good Jupiter！ what is the matter in the crowd behind us？〃
Behind us； did you say？ oh！ ah！ I perceive。 My friend； it is
well that you spoke in time。 Let us get into a place of safety as
soon as possible。 Here！ let us conceal ourselves in the arch of
this aqueduct； and I will inform you presently of the origin of the
commotion。 It has turned out as I have been anticipating。 The
singular appearance of the cameleopard and the head of a man； has； it
seems； given offence to the notions of propriety entertained； in
general； by the wild animals domesticated in the city。 A mutiny has
been the result； and； as is usual upon such occasions； all human
efforts will be of no avail in quelling the mob。 Several of the
Syrians have already been devoured； but the general voice of the
four…footed patriots seems to be for eating up the cameleopard。 'The
Prince of Poets；' therefore； is upon his hinder legs； running for his
life。 His courtiers have left him in the lurch； and his concubines
have followed so excellent an example。 'Delight of the Universe；'
thou art in a sad predicament！ 'Glory of the East；' thou art in
danger of mastication！ Therefore never regard so piteously thy tail；
it will undoubtedly be draggled in the mud； and for this there is no
help。 Look not behind thee； then； at its unavoidable degradation； but
take courage； ply thy legs with vigor； and scud for the hippodrome！
Remember that thou art Antiochus Epiphanes。 Antiochus the
Illustrious！ also 'Prince of Poets；' 'Glory of the East；' 'Delight
of the Universe；' and 'Most Remarkable of Cameleopards！' Heavens！
what a power of speed thou art displaying！ What a capacity for
leg…bail thou art developing！ Run； Prince！ Bravo； Epiphanes！ Well
done； Cameleopard！ Glorious Antiochus！ He runs！ he leaps！
he flies！ Like an arrow from a catapult he approaches the hippodrome！
He leaps！ he shrieks！ he is there！ This is well； for hadst
thou； 'Glory of the East；' been half a second longer in reaching the
gates of the Amphitheatre； there is not a bear's cub in Epidaphne
that would not have had a nibble at thy carcase。 Let us be off let
us take our departure！ for we shall find our delicate modern ears
unable to endure the vast uproar which is about to commence in
celebration of the king's escape！ Listen！ it has already commenced。
See！ the whole town is topsy…turvy。
〃Surely this is the most populous city of the East！ What a wilderness
of people！ what a jumble of all ranks and ages！ what a multiplicity
of sects and nations！ what a variety of costumes！ what a Babel of
languages！ what a screaming of beasts！ what a tinkling of
instruments！ what a parcel of philosophers！〃
Come let us be off。
〃Stay a moment！ I see a vast hubbub in the hippodrome； what is the
meaning of it； I beseech you？〃
That？ oh； nothing！ The noble and free citizens of Epidaphne being；
as they declare； well satisfied of the faith； valor； wisdom； and
divinity of their king； and having； moreover； been eye…witnesses of
his late superhuman agility； do think it no more than their duty to
invest his brows （in addition to the poetic crown） with the wreath of
victory in the footrace a wreath which it is evident he must
obtain at the celebration of the next Olympiad； and which； therefore；
they now give him in advance。
~~~ End of Text ~~~
Footnotes Four Beasts
｛*1｝ Flavius Vospicus says； that the hymn here introduced was sung by
the rabble upon the occasion of Aurelian； in the Sarmatic war； having
slain； with his own hand； nine hundred and fifty of the enemy。
THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE
What song the Syrens sang； or what name Achilles assumed when he hid
himself among women； although puzzling questions； are not beyond
_all_ conjecture。
_Sir Thomas Browne。_
The mental features discoursed of as the analytical； are； in
themselves； but little susceptible of analysis。 We appreciate them
only in their effects。 We know of them； among other things； that they
are always to their possessor； when inordinately possessed； a source
of the liveliest enjoyment。 As the strong man exults in his physical
ability； delighting in such exercises as call his muscles into
action； so glories the analyst in that moral activity which
_disentangles。_ He derives pleasure from even the most trivial
occupations bringing his talent into play。 He is fond of enigmas； of
conundrums； of hieroglyphics； exhibiting in his solutions of each a
degree of _acumen_ which appears to the ordinary apprehension
pr鎡ernatural。 His results； brought about by the very soul and
essence of method； have； in truth； the whole air of intuition。
The faculty of re…solution is possibly much invigorated by
mathematical study； and especially by that highest branch of it
which； unjustly； and merely on account of its retrograde operations；
has been called； as if _par excellence_； analysis。 Yet to calculate
is not in itself to analyse。 A chess…player； for example； does the
one without effort at the other。 It follows that the game of chess；
in its effects upon mental character； is greatly misunderstood。 I am
not now writing a treatise； but simply prefacing a somewhat peculiar
narrative by observations very much at random； I will； therefore；
take occasion to assert that the higher powers of the reflective
intellect are more decidedly and more usefully tasked by the
unostentatious game of draughts than by a the elaborate frivolity of
chess。 In this latter； where the pieces have different and _bizarre_
motions； with various and variable values； what is only complex is
mistaken （a not unusual error） for what is profound。 The _attention_
is here called powerfully into play。 If it flag for an instant； an
oversight is committed resulting in injury or defeat。 The possible
moves being not only manifold but involute； the chances of such
oversights are multiplied； and in nine cases out of ten it is the
more concentrative rather than the more acute player who conquers。 In
draughts； on the contrary； where the moves are _unique_ and have but
little variation； the probabilities of inadvertence are diminished；
and the mere attention being left comparatively unemployed； what
advantages are obtained by either party are obtained by superior
_acumen_。 To be less abstract … Let us suppose a game of draughts
where the pieces are reduced to four kings； and where； of course； no
oversight is to be expected。 It is obvious that here the victory can
be decided （the players being at all equal） only by some _recherch開
movement； the result of some strong exertion of the intellect。
Deprived of ordinary resources； the analyst throws himself into the
spirit of his opponent； identifies himself therewith； and not
unf
