salammbo-第15部分

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deprived　of　it。　They　walked　all　round　behind　in　order　to　find　some

outlet。



Aedicules　of　different　shapes　were　visible　beneath　clusters　of

turpentine　trees。　Here　and　there　rose　a　stone　phallus；　and　large　stags

roamed　peacefully　about；　spurning　the　fallen　fir…cones　with　their

cloven　hoofs。



But　they　retraced　their　steps　between　two　long　galleries　which　ran

parallel　to　each　other。　There　were　small　open　cells　along　their　sides；

and　tabourines　and　cymbals　hung　against　their　cedar　columns　from　top

to　bottom。　Women　were　sleeping　stretched　on　mats　outside　the　cells。

Their　bodies　were　greasy　with　unguents；　and　exhaled　an　odour　of　spices

and　extinguished　perfuming…pans；　while　they　were　so　covered　with

tattooings；　necklaces；　rings；　vermilion；　and　antimony　that；　but　for

the　motion　of　their　breasts；　they　might　have　been　taken　for　idols　as

they　lay　thus　on　the　ground。　There　were　lotus…trees　encircling　a

fountain　in　which　fish　like　Salammbo's　were　swimming；　and　then　in　the

background；　against　the　wall　of　the　temple；　spread　a　vine；　the

branches　of　which　were　of　glass　and　the　grape…bunches　of　emerald；　the

rays　from　the　precious　stones　making　a　play　of　light　through　the

painted　columns　upon　the　sleeping　faces。



Matho　felt　suffocated　in　the　warm　atmosphere　pressed　down　upon　him　by

the　cedar　partitions。　All　these　symbols　of　fecundation；　these

perfumes；　radiations；　and　breathings　overwhelmed　him。　Through　all　the

mystic　dazzling　he　kept　thinking　of　Salammbo。　She　became　confused　with

the　goddess　herself；　and　his　loved　unfolded　itself　all　the　more；　like

the　great　lotus…plants　blooming　upon　the　depths　of　the　waters。



Spendius　was　calculating　how　much　money　he　would　have　made　in　former

days　by　the　sale　of　these　women；　and　with　a　rapid　glance　he　estimated

the　weight　of　the　golden　necklaces　as　he　passed　by。



The　temple　was　impenetrable　on　this　side　as　on　the　other；　and　they

returned　behind　the　first　chamber。　While　Spendius　was　searching　and

ferreting；　Matho　was　prostrate　before　the　door　supplicating　Tanith。　He

besought　her　not　to　permit　the　sacrilege；　and　strove　to　soften　her

with　caressing　words；　such　as　are　used　to　an　angry　person。



Spendius　noticed　a　narrow　aperture　above　the　door。



〃Rise！〃　he　said　to　Matho；　and　he　made　him　stand　erect　with　his　back

against　the　wall。　Placing　one　foot　in　his　hands；　and　then　the　other

upon　his　head；　he　reached　up　to　the　air…hole；　made　his　way　into　it　and

disappeared。　Then　Matho　felt　a　knotted　cordthat　one　which　Spendius

had　rolled　around　his　body　before　entering　the　cisternsfall　upon　his

shoulders；　and　bearing　upon　it　with　both　hands　he　soon　found　himself

by　the　side　of　the　other　in　a　large　hall　filled　with　shadow。



Such　an　attempt　was　something　extraordinary。　The　inadequacy　of　the

means　for　preventing　it　was　a　sufficient　proof　that　it　was　considered

impossible。　The　sanctuaries　were　protected　by　terror　more　than　by

their　walls。　Matho　expected　to　die　at　every　step。



However　a　light　was　flickering　far　back　in　the　darkness；　and　they　went

up　to　it。　It　was　a　lamp　burning　in　a　shell　on　the　pedestal　of　a　statue

which　wore　the　cap　of　the　Kabiri。　Its　long　blue　robe　was　strewn　with

diamond　discs；　and　its　heels　were　fastened　to　the　ground　by　chains

which　sank　beneath　the　pavement。　Matho　suppressed　a　cry。　〃Ah！　there

she　is！　there　she　is！〃　he　stammered　out。　Spendius　took　up　the　lamp　in

order　to　light　himself。



〃What　an　impious　man　you　are！〃　murmured　Matho；　following　him

nevertheless。



The　apartment　which　they　entered　had　nothing　in　it　but　a　black

painting　representing　another　woman。　Her　legs　reached　to　the　top　of

the　wall；　and　her　body　filled　the　entire　ceiling；　a　huge　egg　hung　by　a

thread　from　her　navel；　and　she　fell　head　downwards　upon　the　other

wall；　reaching　as　far　as　the　level　of　the　pavement；　which　was　touched

by　her　pointed　fingers。



They　drew　a　hanging　aside；　in　order　to　go　on　further；　but　the　wind

blew　and　the　light　went　out。



Then　they　wandered　about；　lost　in　the　complications　of　the

architecture。　Suddenly　they　felt　something　strangely　soft　beneath

their　feet。　Sparks　crackled　and　leaped；　they　were　walking　in　fire。

Spendius　touched　the　ground　and　perceived　that　it　was　carefully

carpeted　with　lynx　skins；　then　it　seemed　to　them　that　a　big　cord；　wet；

cold；　and　viscous；　was　gliding　between　their　legs。　Through　some

fissures　cut　in　the　wall　there　fell　thin　white　rays；　and　they　advanced

by　this　uncertain　light。　At　last　they　distinguished　a　large　black

serpent。　It　darted　quickly　away　and　disappeared。



〃Let　us　fly！〃　exclaimed　Matho。　〃It　is　she！　I　feel　her；　she　is　coming。〃



〃No；　no；〃　replied　Spendius；　〃the　temple　is　empty。〃



Then　a　dazzling　light　made　them　lower　their　eyes。　Next　they　perceived

all　around　them　an　infinite　number　of　beasts；　lean；　panting；　with

bristling　claws；　and　mingled　together　one　above　another　in　a

mysterious　and　terrifying　confusion。　There　were　serpents　with　feet；

and　bulls　with　wings；　fishes　with　human　heads　were　devouring　fruit；

flowers　were　blooming　in　the　jaws　of　crocodiles；　and　elephants　with

uplifted　trunks　were　sailing　proudly　through　the　azure　like　eagles。

Their　incomplete　or　multiplied　limbs　were　distended　with　terrible

exertion。　As　they　thrust　out　their　tongues　they　looked　as　though　they

would　fain　give　forth　their　souls；　and　every　shape　was　to　be　found

among　them　as　if　the　germ…receptacle　had　been　suddenly　hatched　and　had

burst；　emptying　itself　upon　the　walls　of　the　hall。



Round　the　latter　were　twelve　globes　of　blue　crystal；　supported　by

monsters　resembling　tigers。　Their　eyeballs　were　starting　out　of　their

heads　like　those　of　snails；　with　their　dumpy　loins　bent　they　were

turning　round　towards　the　background　where　the　supreme　Rabbet；　the

Omnifecund；　the　last　invented；　shone　splendid　in　a　chariot　of　ivory。



She　was　covered　with　scales；　feathers；　flowers；　and　birds　as　high　as

the　waist。　For　earrings　she　had　silver　cymbals；　which　flapped　against

her　cheeks。　Her　large　fixed　eyes　gazed　upon　you；　and　a　luminous　stone；

set　in　an　obscene　symbol　on　her　brow；　lighted　the　whole　hall　by　its

reflection　in　red　copper　mirrors　above　the　door。



Matho　stood　a　step　forward；　but　a　flag　stone　yielded　beneath　his　heels

and　immediately　the　spheres　began　to　revolve　and　the　monsters　to　roar；

music　rose　melodious　and　pealing；　like　the　harmony　of　the　planets；　the

tumultuous　soul　of　Tanith　was　poured　streaming　forth。　She　was　about　to

arise；　as　lofty　as　the　hall　and　with　open　arms。　Suddenly　the　monsters

closed　their　jaws　and　the　crystal　globes　revolved　no　more。



Then　a　mournful　modulation　lingered　for　a　time　through　the　air　and　at

last　died　away。



〃And　the　veil？〃　said　Spendius。



Nowhere　could　it　be　seen。　Where　was　it　to　be　found？　How　could　it　be

discovered？　What　if　the　priests　had　hidden　it？　Matho　experienced

anguish　of　heart　and　felt　as　though　he　had　been　deceived　in　his

belief。



〃This　way！〃　whispered　Spendius。　An　inspiration　guided　him。　He　drew

Matho　behind　Tanith's　chariot；　where　a　cleft　a　cubit　wide　ran　down　the

wall　from　top　to　bottom。



Then　they　penetrated　into　a　small　and　completely　circular　room；　so

lofty　that　it　was　like　the　interior　of　a　pillar。　In　the　centre　there

was　a　big　black　stone；　of　semispherical　shape　like　a　tabourine；　flames

were　burning　upon　it；　an　ebony　cone；　bearing　a　head　and　two　arms；　rose

behind。



But　beyond　it　seemed　as　though　there　were　a　cloud　wherein　were

twinkling　stars；　faces　appeared　in　the　depths　of　its　foldsEschmoun

with　the　Kabiri；　some　of　the　monsters　that　had　already　been　seen；　the

sacred　beasts　of　the　Babylonians；　and　others　with　which　they　were　not

acquainted。　It　passed　beneath　the　idol's　face　like　a　mantle；　and

spread　fully　out　was　drawn　up　on　the　wall　to　which　it　was　fastened　by

the　corners；　appearing　at　once　bluish　as　the　night；　yellow　as　the

dawn；　purple　as　the　sun；　multitudinous；　diaphanous；　sparkling　light。

It　was　the　mantle　of　the　goddess；　the　holy　zaimph　which　might　not　be

seen。



Both　turned　pale。



〃Take　it！〃　said　Matho　at　last。



Spendius　did　not　hesitate；　and　leaning　upon　the　idol　he　unfastened　the

veil；　which　sank　to　the　ground。　Matho　laid　his　hand　upon　it；　then　he

put　his　head　through　the　opening；　then　he　wrapped　it　about　his　body；

and　he　spread　out　his　arms　the　better　to　view　it。



〃Let　us　go！〃　said　Spendius。



Matho　stood　panting　with　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　pavement。　Suddenly　he

exclaimed：



〃But　what　if　I　went　to　her？　I　fear　her　beauty　no　longer！　What　could

she　do　to　me？　I　am　now　more　than　a　man。　I　could　pass　through　flames　or

walk　upon　the　sea！　I　am　transported！　Salammbo！　Salammbo！　I　am　your

master！〃



His　voice　was　like　thunder。　He　seemed　to　Spendius　to　have　grown　taller

and　transformed。



A　sound　of　footsteps　drew　near；　a　door　opened；　and　a　man　appeared；　a

priest　with　lofty　cap　and　staring　eyes。　Before　he　could　make　a　gesture

Spendius　had　rushed　upon　him；　and　clasping　him　in　his　arms　had　buried

both　his　daggers　in　his　sides。　His　head　rang　upon　the　pavement。



Then　they　stood　for　a　while；　as　motionless　as　the　corpse；　listening。

Nothing　could　be　heard　but　the　murmuring　of　the　wind　through　the　half…

opened　door。



The　latter　led　into　a　narrow　passage。　Spendius　advanced　along　it；

Matho　followed　him；　and　they　found　themselves　almost　immediately　in

the　third　enclosure；　between　the　lateral　porticoes；　in　which　were　the

dwellings　of　the　priests。



Behind　the　cells　there　must　be　a　shorter　way　out。　They　hastened　along。



Spendius　squatted　down　at　the　edge　of　the　fountain　and　washed　his

bloodstained　hands。　The　women　slept。　The　emerald　vine　shone。　They

resumed　their　advance。



But　something　was　running　behind　them　under　the　trees；　and　Matho；　who

bore　the　veil；　several　times　felt　that　it　was　being　pulled　very　gently

from　below。　It　was　a　large　cynocephalus；　one　of　those　which　dwelt　at

liberty　within　the　enclosure　of　the　goddess。