salammbo-第52章
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committed murder。 My companions are dying around me; one after the
other; the odour of their corpses awakes me in the night; I drive away
the birds that come to peck out their eyes; and yet not for a single
day have I despaired of Carthage! Though I had seen all the armies of
the earth against her; and the flames of the siege overtop the height
of the temples; I should have still believed in her eternity! But now
all is over! all is lost! The gods execrate her! A curse upon you who
have quickened her ruin by your disgrace!〃
She opened her lips。
〃Ah! I was there!〃 he cried。 〃I heard you gurgling with love like a
prostitute; then he told you of his desire; and you allowed him to
kiss your hands! But if the frenzy of your unchastity urged you to it;
you should at least have done as do the fallow deer; which hide
themselves in their copulations; and not have displayed your shame
beneath your father's very eyes!〃
〃What?〃 she said。
〃Ah! you did not know that the two entrenchments are sixty cubits from
each other and that your Matho; in the excess of his pride; has posted
himself just in front of Hamilcar。 Your father is there behind you;
and could I climb the path which leads to the platform; I should cry
to him: 'Come and see your daughter in the Barbarian's arms! She has
put on the garment of the goddess to please him; and in yielding her
body to him she surrenders with the glory of your name the majesty of
the gods; the vengeance of her country; even the safety of Carthage!'〃
The motion of his toothless mouth moved his beard throughout its
length; his eyes were riveted upon her and devoured her; panting in
the dust he repeated:
〃Ah! sacrilegious one! May you be accursed! accursed! accursed!〃
Salammbo had drawn back the canvas; she held it raised at arm's
length; and without answering him she looked in the direction of
Hamilcar。
〃It is this way; is it not?〃 she said。
〃What matters it to you? Turn away! Begone! Rather crush your face
against the earth! It is a holy spot which would be polluted by your
gaze!〃
She threw the zaimph about her waist; and quickly picked up her veils;
mantle; and scarf。 〃I hasten thither!〃 she cried; and making her
escape Salammbo disappeared。
At first she walked through the darkness without meeting any one; for
all were betaking themselves to the fire; the uproar was increasing
and great flames purpled the sky behind; a long terrace stopped her。
She turned round to right and left at random; seeking for a ladder; a
rope; a stone; something in short to assist her。 She was afraid of
Gisco; and it seemed to her that shouts and footsteps were pursuing
her。 Day was beginning to break。 She perceived a path in the thickness
of the entrenchment。 She took the hem of her robe; which impeded her;
in her teeth; and in three bounds she was on the platform。
A sonorous shout burst forth beneath her in the shade; the same which
she had heard at the foot of the galley staircase; and leaning over
she recognised Schahabarim's man with his coupled horses。
He had wandered all night between the two entrenchments; then
disquieted by the fire; he had gone back again trying to see what was
passing in Matho's camp; and; knowing that this spot was nearest to
his tent; he had not stirred from it; in obedience to the priest's
command。
He stood up on one of the horses。 Salammbo let herself slide down to
him; and they fled at full gallop; circling the Punic camp in search
of a gate。
Matho had re…entered his tent。 The smoky lamp gave but little light;
and he also believed that Salammbo was asleep。 Then he delicately
touched the lion's skin on the palm…tree bed。 He called but she did
not answer; he quickly tore away a strip of the canvas to let in some
light; the zaimph was gone。
The earth trembled beneath thronging feet。 Shouts; neighings; and
clashing of armour rose in the air; and clarion flourishes sounded the
charge。 It was as though a hurricane were whirling around him。
Immoderate frenzy made him leap upon his arms; and he dashed outside。
The long files of the Barbarians were descending the mountain at a
run; and the Punic squares were advancing against them with a heavy
and regular oscillation。 The mist; rent by the rays of the sun; formed
little rocking clouds which as they rose gradually discovered
standards; helmets; and points of pikes。 Beneath the rapid evolutions
portions of the earth which were still in the shadow seemed to be
displaced bodily; in other places it looked as if huge torrents were
crossing one another; while thorny masses stood motionless between
them。 Matho could distinguish the captains; soldiers; heralds; and
even the serving…men; who were mounted on asses in the rear。 But
instead of maintaining his position in order to cover the foot…
soldiers; Narr' Havas turned abruptly to the right; as though he
wished himself to be crushed by Hamilcar。
His horsemen outstripped the elephants; which were slackening their
speed; and all the horses; stretching out their unbridled heads;
galloped at so furious a rate that their bellies seemed to graze the
earth。 Then suddenly Narr' Havas went resolutely up to a sentry。 He
threw away his sword; lance; and javelins; and disappeared among the
Carthaginians。
The king of the Numidians reached Hamilcar's tent; and pointing to his
men; who were standing still at a distance; he said:
〃Barca! I bring them to you。 They are yours。〃
Then he prostrated himself in token of bondage; and to prove his
fidelity recalled all his conduct from the beginning of the war。
First; he had prevented the siege of Carthage and the massacre of the
captives; then he had taken no advantage of the victory over Hanno
after the defeat at Utica。 As to the Tyrian towns; they were on the
frontiers of his kingdom。 Finally he had not taken part in the battle
of the Macaras; and he had even expressly absented himself in order to
evade the obligation of fighting against the Suffet。
Narr' Havas had in fact wished to aggrandise himself by encroachments
upon the Punic provinces; and had alternately assisted and forsaken
the Mercenaries according to the chances of victory。 But seeing that
Hamilcar would ultimately prove the stronger; he had gone over to him;
and in his desertion there was perhaps something of a grudge against
Matho; whether on account of the command or of his former love。
The Suffet listened without interrupting him。 The man who thus
presented himself with an army where vengeance was his due was not an
auxiliary to be despised; Hamilcar at once divined the utility of such
an alliance in his great projects。 With the Numidians he would get rid
of the Libyans。 Then he would draw off the West to the conquest of
Iberia; and; without asking Narr' Havas why he had not come sooner; or
noticing any of his lies; he kissed him; striking his breast thrice
against his own。
It was to bring matters to an end and in despair that he had fired the
camp of the Libyans。 This army came to him like a relief from the
gods; dissembling his joy he replied:
〃May the Baals favour you! I do not know what the Republic will do for
you; but Hamilcar is not ungrateful。〃
The tumult increased; some captains entered。 He was arming himself as
he spoke。
〃Come; return! You will use your horsemen to beat down their infantry
between your elephants and mine。 Courage! exterminate them!〃
And Narr' Havas was rushing away when Salammbo appeared。
She leaped down quickly from her horse。 She opened her ample cloak and
spreading out her arms displayed the zaimph。
The leathern tent; which was raised at the corners; left visible the
entire circuit of the mountain with its thronging soldiers; and as it
was in the centre Salammbo could be seen on all sides。 An immense
shouting burst forth; a long cry of triumph and hope。 Those who were
marching stopped; the dying le