the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第14部分

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gic。　and　such　things　are　to　be　expected　in　that　　land；　which　is　chiefly　inhabited　by　demons　in　the　shape　of　beasts　that　talk　like　men；　and　　monsters　that　are　half　man　and　half　beast。　it　is　monly　reported　that　the　high　king　of　　narnia　（whom　may　the　gods　utterly　reject）　is　supported　by　a　demon　of　hideous　aspect　and　　irresistible　maleficence　who　appears　in　the　shape　of　a　lion。　therefore　the　attacking　of　　narnia　is　a　dark　and　doubtful　enterprise；　and　i　am　determined　not　to　put　my　hand　out　　farther　than　i　can　draw　it　back。鈥�

〃how　blessed　is　calormen；〃　said　the　vizier；　popping　up　his　face　again；　〃on　　whose　ruler　the　gods　have　been　pleased　to　bestow　prudence　and　circumspection！　yet　as　　the　irrefutable　and　sapient　tisroc　has　said　it　is　very　grievous　to　be　constrained　to　keep　　our　hands　off　such　a　dainty　dish　as　narnia。　gifted　was　that　poet　who　said　…〃　but　at　this　　point　ahoshta　noticed　an　impatient　movement　of　the　princes　toe　and　became　suddenly　　silent。

〃it　is　very　grievous；〃　said　the　tisroc　in　his　deep；　quiet　voice。　〃every　　morning　the　sun　is　darkened　in　my　eyes；　and　every　night　my　sleep　is　the　less　refreshing；　　because　i　remember　that　narnia　is　still　free。鈥�

〃o　my　father；〃　said　rsh。　〃how　if　i　show　you　a　way　by　which　you　can　　stretch　out　your　arm　to　take　narnia　and　yet　draw　it　back　unharmed　if　the　attempt　prove　　unfortunate？鈥�

〃if　you　can　show　me　that；　o　rsh；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃you　will　be　the　　best　of　sons。鈥�

〃hear　then；　0　father。　this　very　night　and　in　this　hour　i　will　take　but　two　　hundred　horse　and　ride　across　the　desert。　and　it　shall　seem　to　all　men　that　you　know　　nothing　of　my　going。　on　the　second　morning　i　shall　be　at　the　gates　of　king　lunes　castle　　of　anvard　in　archenland。　they　are　at　peace　with　us　and　unprepared　and　i　shall　take　　anvard　before　they　have　bestirred　themselves。　then　i　will　ride　through　the　pass　above　　anvard　and　down　through　narnia　to　cair　paravel。　the　high　king　will　not　be　there；　when　i　　left　them　he　was　already　preparing　a　raid　against　the　giants　on　his　northern　border。　i　shall　　find　cair　paravel；　most　likely　with　open　gates；　and　ride　in。　i　shall　exercise　　prudence　and　courtesy　and　spill　as　little　narnian　blood　as　i　can。　and　what　then　remains　but　to　　sit　there　till　the　splendour　hyaline　puts　in；　with　queen　susan　on　board；　catch　my　strayed　bird　　as　she　sets　foot　ashore；　swing　her　into　the　saddle；　and　then；　ride；　ride；　ride　back　to　　anvard？鈥�

〃but　is　it　not　probable；　o　my　son；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃that　at　the　taking　of　　the　woman　either　king　edmund　or　you　will　lose　his　life？鈥�

〃they　will　be　a　small　pany；〃　said　rsh；　〃and　i　will　order　ten　of　my　　men　to　disarm　and　bind　him：　restraining　my　vehement　desire　for　his　blood　so　that　　there　shall　be　no　deadly　cause　of　war　between　you　and　the　high　king。鈥�

〃and　how　if　the　splendour　hyaline　is　at　cair　paravel　before　you？鈥�

〃i　do　not　look　for　that　with　these　winds；　o　my　father。鈥�

〃and　lastly；　o　my　resourceful　son；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃you　have　made　clear　　how　all　this　might　give　you　the　barbarian　woman；　but　not　how　it　helps　me　to　the　over…　throwing　of　narnia。鈥�

〃o　my　father；　can　it　have　escaped　you　that　though　i　and　my　horsemen　will　　e　and　go　through　narnia　like　an　arrow　from　a　bow；　yet　we　shall　have　anvard　for　ever？　　and　when　you　hold　anvard　you　sit　in　the　very　gate　of　narnia；　and　your　garrison　in　　anvard　can　be　increased　by　little　and　little　till　it　is　a　great　host。鈥�

〃it　is　spoken　with　understanding　and　foresight。　but　how　do　i　draw　back　my　　arm　if　all　this　miscarries？鈥�

〃you　shall　say　that　i；　did　it　without　your　knowledge　and　against　your　will；　　and　without　your　blessing；　being　constrained　by　the　violence　of　my　love　and　the　　impetuosity　of　youth。鈥�

〃and　how　if　the　high　king　then　demands　that　we　send　back　the　barbarian　　woman；　his　sister？鈥�

〃o　my　father；　be　assured　that　he　will　not。　for　though　the　fancy　of　a　woman　　has　rejected　this　marriage；　the　high　king　peter　is　a　man　of　prudence　and　understanding　　who　will　in　no　way　wish　to　lose　the　high　honour　and　advantage　of　being　allied　to　our　　house　and　seeing　his　nephew　and　grand　nephew　on　the　throne　of　calormen。鈥�

〃he　will　not　see　that　if　i　live　for　ever　as　is　no　doubt　your　wish；〃　said　　the　tisroc　in　an　even　drier　voice　than　usual。

〃and　also；　o　my　father　and　o　the　delight　of　my　eyes；〃　said　the　prince；　　after　a　moment　of　awkward　silence；　〃we　shall　write　letters　as　if　from　the　queen　to　say　that　　she　loves　me　and　has　no　desire　to　return　to　narnia。　for　it　is　well　known　that　women　are　as　　changeable　as　weathercocks。　and　even　if　they　do　not　wholly　believe　the　letters；　they　will　　not　dare　to　e　to　tashbaan　in　arms　to　fetch　her。鈥�

〃o　enlightened　vizier；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃bestow　your　wisdom　upon　us　　concerning　this　strange　proposal。鈥�

〃o　eternal　tisroc；〃　answered　ahosta；　〃the　strength　of　paternal　affection　is　　not　unknown　to　me　and　i　have　often　heard　that　sons　are　in　the　eyes　of　their　fathers　　more　precious　than　carbuncles。　how　then　shall　i　dare　freely　to　unfold　to　you　my　mind　in　a　　matter　which　may　imperil　the　life　of　this　exalted　prince？鈥�

〃undoubtedly　you　will　dare；〃　replied　the　tisroc。

〃because　you　will　find　that　the　dangers　of　not　doing　so　are　at　least　　equally　great。鈥�

〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　moaned　the　wretched　man。　〃know　then；　o　most　　reasonable　tisroc；　in　the　first　place；　that　the　danger　of　the　prince　is　not　altogether　so　　great　as　might　appear。

for　the　gods　have　withheld　from　the　barbarians　the　light　of　discretion；　as　　that　their　poetry　is　not；　like　ours；　full　of　choice　apophthegms　and　useful　maxims；　but　is　all　　of　love　and　war。　therefore　nothing　will　appear　to　them　more　noble　and　admirable　than　　such　a　mad　enterprise　as　this　of　ow！〃　for　the　prince；　at　the　word　〃mad〃；　had　kicked　　him　again。

〃desist；　o　my　son；〃　said　the　tisroc。　〃and　you；　estimable　vizier；　whether　he　　desists　or　not；　by　no　means　allow　the　flow　of　your　eloquence　to　be　interrupted。　for　　nothing　is　more　suitable　to　persons　of　gravity　and　decorum　than　to　endure　minor　　inconveniences　with　constancy。鈥�

〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　said　the　vizier；　wriggling　himself　round　a　little　so　　as　to　get　his　hinder　parts　further　away　from　rshs　toe。　〃nothing；　i　say；　will　seem　　as　pardonable；　if　not　estimable；　in　their　eyes　as　this　…　er　…　hazardous　attempt；　　especially　because　it　is　undertaken　for　the　love　of　a　woman。　therefore；　if　the　prince　by　misfortune　　fell　into　their　hands；　they　would　assuredly　not　kill　him。　nay；　it　may　even　be；　that　though　　he　failed　to　　

carry　off　the　queen；　yet　the　sight　of　his　great　valour　and　of　the　extremity　　of　his　passion　might　incline　her　heart　to　him。鈥�

〃that　is　a　good　point；　old　babbler；〃　said　rsh。　〃very　good；　however　it　　came　into　your　ugly　head。鈥�

〃the　praise　of　my　masters　is　the　light　of　my　eyes；〃　said　ahoshta。　〃and　　secondly；　o　tisroc；　whose　reign　must　and　shall　be　interminable；　i　think　that　with　the　　aid　of　the　gods　it　is　very　likely　that　anvard　will　fall　into　the　princes　hands。　and　if　so；　we　　have　narnia　by　the　throat。鈥�

there　was　a　long　pause　and　the　room　became　so　silent　that　the　two　girls　　hardly　dared　to　breathe。　at　last　the　tisroc　spoke。

〃go；　my　son；〃　he　said。　〃and　do　as　you　have　said。　but　expect　no　help　nor　　countenance　from　me。　i　will　not　avenge　you　if　you　are　killed　and　i　will　not　deliver　you　　if　the　barbarians　cast　you　into　prison。　and　if；　either　in　success　or　failure；　you　　shed　a　drop　more　than　you　need　of　narnian　noble　blood　and　open　war　arises　from　it；　my　favour　　shall　never　fall　upon　you　again　and　your　next　brother　shall　have　your　place　in　　calormen。　now　go。　be　swift；　secret；　and　fortunate。　may　the　strength　of　tash　the　inexorable；　the　　irresistible　be　in　your　sword　and　lance。鈥�

〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　cried　rsh；　and　after　kneeling　for　a　moment　to　　kiss　his　fathers　hands　he　rushed　from　the　room。　greatly　to　the　disappointment　of　aravis；　who　　was　now　horribly　cramped；　the　tisroc　and　vizier　remained。

〃o　vizier；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃is　it　certain　that　no　living　soul　knows　of　　this　council　we　three　have　held　here　tonight？鈥�

〃o　my　master；〃　said　ahoshta；　〃it　is　not　possible　that　any　should　know。　for　　that　very　reason　i　proposed；　and　you　in　your　wisdom　agreed；　that　we　should　meet　here　　in　the　old　palace　where　no　council　is　ever　held　and　none　of　the　household　has　any　　occasion　to　e。鈥�

〃it　is　well；〃　said　the　tisroc。　〃if　any　man　knew；　i　would　see　to　it　that　he　　died　before　an　hour　had　passed。　and　do　you　also；　o　prudent　vizier；　forget　it。　i　sponge　　away　from　my　own　heart　and　from　yours　all　knowledge　of　the　princes　plans。　he　is　gone　　without　my　knowledge　or　my　consent；　i　know　not　whither；　because　of　his　violence　and　　the　rash　and　disobedient　disposition　of　youth。　no　man　will　be　more　astonished　than　you　　and　i　to　hear　that　anvard　is　in　his　hands。鈥�

〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　said　ahoshta。

〃that　is　why　you　will　never　think　even　in　your　secret　heart　that　i　am　the　　hardest　hearted　of　fathers　who　thus　send　my　first…born　son　on　an　errand　so　likely　to　be　his　　death；　pleasing　as　it　must　be　to　you　who　do　not　love　the　prince。　for　1　see　into　the　bottom　　of　your　mind。鈥�

〃o　impeccable　tisroc；〃　said　the　vizier。　〃in　parison　with　you　i　love　　neither　the　prince　nor　my　own　life　nor　bread　nor　water　nor　the　light　of　the　sun。鈥�

〃your　sentiments；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃are　elevated　and　correct。　i　also　love　　none　of　these　things　in　parison　with　the　glory　and　strength　of　my　throne。　if　the　　prince　succeeds；　we　have　archenland；　and　perhaps　hereafter　narnia。　if　he　fails　…　i　have　　eighteen　other　sons　and　rsh；　after　the　manner　of　the　eldest　sons　of　kings；　was　beginning　　to　be　dangerous。　more　than　five　tisrocs　in　tashbaan　have　died　before　their　time　　because　their　eldest　sons；　enlightened　princes；　grew　tired　of　waiting　for　their　throne。　　he　had　better　cool　his　blood　abroad　than　boil　it　in　inaction　here。　and　now；　o　excellent　　vizier；　the　excess　of　my　paternal　anxiety　inclines　me　to　sleep。　mand　the　musicians　to　my　　chamber。　but　before　you　lie　down；　call　back　the　pardon　we　wrote　for　the　third　cook。　i　　feel　within　me　the　manifest　prognostics　of　indigestion。鈥�

〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　said　the　grand　vizier。　he　crawled　backwards　on　all　　fours　to　the　door；　rose；　bowed；　and　went　out。　even　then　the　tisroc　remained　seated　in　　silence　on　the　divan　till　aravis　almost　began　to　be　afrai