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from　which　sprang　a　cone　with　a　re…entrant　curve　and　terminating　in　a

ball　on　the　summit。



Fires　were　burning　in　cylinders　of　filigree…work　fitted　upon　poles；

which　men　were　carrying　to　and　fro。　These　lights　flickered　in　the

gusts　of　wind　and　reddened　the　golden　combs　which　fastened　their

plaited　hair　on　the　nape　of　the　neck。　They　ran　about　calling　to　one

another　to　receive　the　Ancients。



Here　and　there　on　the　flag…stones　huge　lions　were　couched　like

sphinxes；　living　symbols　of　the　devouring　sun。　They　were　slumbering

with　half…closed　eyelids。　But　roused　by　the　footsteps　and　voices　they

rose　slowly；　came　towards　the　Ancients；　whom　they　recognised　by　their

dress；　and　rubbed　themselves　against　their　thighs；　arching　their　backs

with　sonorous　yawns；　the　vapour　of　their　breath　passed　across　the

light　of　the　torches。　The　stir　increased；　doors　closed；　all　the

priests　fled；　and　the　Ancients　disappeared　beneath　the　columns　which

formed　a　deep　vestibule　round　the　temple。



These　columns　were　arranged　in　such　a　way　that　their　circular　ranks；

which　were　contained　one　within　another；　showed　the　Saturnian　period

with　its　years；　the　years　with　their　months；　and　the　months　with　their

days；　and　finally　reached　to　the　walls　of　the　sanctuary。



Here　it　was　that　the　Ancients　laid　aside　their　sticks　of　narwhal's…

horn；for　a　law　which　was　always　observed　inflicted　the　punishment　of

death　upon　any　one　entering　the　meeting　with　any　kind　of　weapon。

Several　wore　a　rent　repaired　with　a　strip　of　purple　at　the　bottom　of

their　garment；　to　show　that　they　had　not　been　economical　in　their

dress　when　mourning　for　their　relatives；　and　this　testimony　to　their

affliction　prevented　the　slit　from　growing　larger。　Others　had　their

beards　inclosed　in　little　bags　of　violet　skin；　and　fastened　to　their

ears　by　two　cords。　They　all　accosted　one　another　by　embracing　breast

to　breast。　They　surrounded　Hamilcar　with　congratulations；　they　might

have　been　taken　for　brothers　meeting　their　brother　again。



These　men　were　generally　thick…set；　with　curved　noses　like　those　of

the　Assyrian　colossi。　In　a　few；　however；　the　more　prominent　cheek…

bone；　the　taller　figure；　and　the　narrower　foot；　betrayed　an　African

origin　and　nomad　ancestors。　Those　who　lived　continually　shut　up　in

their　counting…houses　had　pale　faces；　others　showed　in　theirs　the

severity　of　the　desert；　and　strange　jewels　sparkled　on　all　the　fingers

of　their　hands；　which　were　burnt　by　unknown　suns。　The　navigators　might

be　distinguished　by　their　rolling　gait；　while　the　men　of　agriculture

smelt　of　the　wine…press；　dried　herbs；　and　the　sweat　of　mules。　These

old　pirates　had　lands　under　tillage；　these　money…grubbers　would　fit

out　ships；　these　proprietors　of　cultivated　lands　supported　slaves　who

followed　trades。　All　were　skilled　in　religious　discipline；　expert　in

strategy；　pitiless　and　rich。　They　looked　wearied　of　prolonged　cares。

Their　flaming　eyes　expressed　distrust；　and　their　habits　of　travelling

and　lying；　trafficking　and　commanding；　gave　an　appearance　of　cunning

and　violence；　a　sort　of　discreet　and　convulsive　brutality　to　their

whole　demeanour。　Further；　the　influence　of　the　god　cast　a　gloom　upon

them。



They　first　passed　through　a　vaulted　hall　which　was　shaped　like　an　egg。

Seven　doors；　corresponding　to　the　seven　planets；　displayed　seven

squares　of　different　colours　against　the　wall。　After　traversing　a　long

room　they　entered　another　similar　hall。



A　candelabrum　completely　covered　with　chiselled　flowers　was　burning　at

the　far　end；　and　each　of　its　eight　golden　branches　bore　a　wick　of

byssus　in　a　diamond　chalice。　It　was　placed　upon　the　last　of　the　long

steps　leading　to　a　great　altar；　the　corners　of　which　terminated　in

horns　of　brass。　Two　lateral　staircases　led　to　its　flattened　summit；

the　stones　of　it　could　not　be　seen；　it　was　like　a　mountain　of　heaped

cinders；　and　something　indistinct　was　slowly　smoking　at　the　top　of　it。

Then　further　back；　higher　than　the　candelabrum；　and　much　higher　than

the　altar；　rose　the　Moloch；　all　of　iron；　and　with　gaping　apertures　in

his　human　breast。　His　outspread　wings　were　stretched　upon　the　wall；

his　tapering　hands　reached　down　to　the　ground；　three　black　stones

bordered　by　yellow　circles　represented　three　eyeballs　on　his　brow；　and

his　bull's　head　was　raised　with　a　terrible　effort　as　if　in　order　to

bellow。



Ebony　stools　were　ranged　round　the　apartment。　Behind　each　of　them　was

a　bronze　shaft　resting　on　three　claws　and　supporting　a　torch。　All

these　lights　were　reflected　in　the　mother…of…pearl　lozenges　which

formed　the　pavement　of　the　hall。　So　lofty　was　the　latter　that　the　red

colour　of　the　walls　grew　black　as　it　rose　towards　the　vaulted　roof；

and　the　three　eyes　of　the　idol　appeared　far　above　like　stars　half　lost

in　the　night。



The　Ancients　sat　down　on　the　ebony　stools　after　putting　the　trains　of

their　robes　over　their　heads。　They　remained　motionless　with　their

hands　crossed　inside　their　broad　sleeves；　and　the　mother…of…pearl

pavement　seemed　like　a　luminous　river　streaming　from　the　altar　to　the

door　and　flowing　beneath　their　naked　feet。



The　four　pontiffs　had　their　places　in　the　centre；　sitting　back　to　back

on　four　ivory　seats　which　formed　a　cross；　the　high…priest　of　Eschmoun

in　a　hyacinth　robe；　the　high…priest　of　Tanith　in　a　white　linen　robe；

the　high…priest　of　Khamon　in　a　tawny　woollen　robe；　and　the　high…priest

of　Moloch　in　a　purple　robe。



Hamilcar　advanced　towards　the　candelabrum。　He　walked　all　round　it；

looking　at　the　burning　wicks；　then　he　threw　a　scented　powder　upon

them；　and　violet　flames　appeared　at　the　extremities　of　the　branches。



Then　a　shrill　voice　rose；　another　replied　to　it；　and　the　hundred

Ancients；　the　four　pontiffs；　and　Hamilcar；　who　remained　standing；

simultaneously　intoned　a　hymn；　and　their　voicesever　repeating　the

same　syllables　and　strengthening　the　soundsrose；　grew　loud；　became

terrible；　and　then　suddenly　were　still。



There　was　a　pause　for　some　time。　At　last　Hamilcar　drew　from　his　breast

a　little　three…headed　statuette；　as　blue　as　sapphire；　and　placed　it

before　him。　It　was　the　image　of　Truth；　the　very　genius　of　his　speech。

Then　he　replaced　it　in　his　bosom；　and　all；　as　if　seized　with　sudden

wrath；　cried　out：



〃They　are　good　friends　of　yours；　are　the　Barbarians！　Infamous　traitor！

You　come　back　to　see　us　perish；　do　you　not？　Let　him　speak！No！　no！〃



They　were　taking　their　revenge　for　the　constraint　to　which　political

ceremonial　had　just　obliged　them；　and　even　though　they　had　wished　for

Hamilcar's　return；　they　were　now　indignant　that　he　had　not　anticipated

their　disasters；　or　rather　that　he　had　not　endured　them　as　well　as

they。



When　the　tumult　had　subsided；　the　pontiff　of　Moloch　rose：



〃We　ask　you　why　you　did　not　return　to　Carthage？〃



〃What　is　that　to　you？〃　replied　the　Suffet　disdainfully。



Their　shouts　were　redoubled。



〃Of　what　do　you　accuse　me？　I　managed　the　war　badly；　perhaps！　You　have

seen　how　I　order　my　battles；　you　who　conveniently　allow　Barbarians〃



〃Enough！　enough！〃



He　went　on　in　a　low　voice　so　as　to　make　himself　the　better　listened

to：



〃Oh！　that　is　true！　I　am　wrong；　lights　of　the　Baals；　there　are　intrepid

men　among　you！　Gisco；　rise！〃　And　surveying　the　step　of　the　altar　with

half…closed　eyelids；　as　if　he　sought　for　some　one；　he　repeated：



〃Rise；　Gisco！　You　can　accuse　me；　they　will　protect　you！　But　where　is

he？〃　Then；　as　if　he　remembered　himself：　〃Ah！　in　his　house；　no　doubt！

surrounded　by　his　sons；　commanding　his　slaves；　happy；　and　counting　on

the　wall　the　necklaces　of　honour　which　his　country　has　given　to　him！〃



They　moved　about　raising　their　shoulders　as　if　they　were　being

scourged　with　thongs。　〃You　do　not　even　know　whether　he　is　living　or

dead！〃　And　without　giving　any　heed　to　their　clamours　he　said　that　in

deserting　the　Suffet　they　had　deserted　the　Republic。　So；　too；　the

peace　with　Rome；　however　advantageous　it　might　appear　to　them；　was

more　fatal　than　twenty　battles。　A　fewthose　who　were　the　least　rich

of　the　Council　and　were　suspected　of　perpetual　leanings　towards　the

people　or　towards　tyrannyapplauded。　Their　opponents；　chiefs　of　the

Syssitia　and　administrators；　triumphed　over　them　in　point　of　numbers；

and　the　more　eminent　of　them　had　ranged　themselves　close　to　Hanno；　who

was　sitting　at　the　other　end　of　the　hall　before　the　lofty　door；　which

was　closed　by　a　hanging　of　hyacinth　colour。



He　had　covered　the　ulcers　on　his　face　with　paint。　But　the　gold　dust　in

his　hair　had　fallen　upon　his　shoulders；　where　it　formed　two　brilliant

sheets；　so　that　his　hair　appeared　whitish；　fine；　and　frizzled　like

wool。　His　hands　were　enveloped　in　linen　soaked　in　a　greasy　perfume；

which　dripped　upon　the　pavement；　and　his　disease　had　no　doubt

considerably　increased；　for　his　eyes　were　hidden　beneath　the　folds　of

his　eyelids。　He　had　thrown　back　his　head　in　order　to　see。　His

partisans　urged　him　to　speak。　At　last　in　a　hoarse　and　hideous　voice　he

said：



〃Less　arrogance；　Barca！　We　have　all　been　vanquished！　Each　one　supports

his　own　misfortune！　Be　resigned！〃



〃Tell　us　rather；〃　said　Hamilcar；　smiling；　〃how　it　was　that　you　steered

your　galleys　into　the　Roman　fleet？〃



〃I　was　driven　by　the　wind；〃　replied　Hanno。



〃You　are　like　a　rhinoceros　trampling　on　his　dung：　you　are　displaying

your　own　folly！　be　silent！〃　And　they　began　to　indulge　in

recriminations　respecting　the　battle　of　the　Aegatian　islands。



Hanno　accused　him　of　not　having　come　to　meet　him。



〃But　that　would　have　left　Eryx　undefended。　You　ought　to　have　stood　out

from　the　coast；　what　prevented　you？　Ah！　I　forgot！　all　elephants　are

afraid　of　the　sea！〃



Hamilcar's　followers　thought　this　jest　so　good　that　they　burst　out

into　loud　laughter。　The　vault　rang　with　it　like　the　beating　of

tympanums。



Hanno　denounced　the　unworthiness　of　such　an　insult；　the　disease　had

come　upon　him　from　a　cold　taken　at　the　siege　of　Hecatompylos；　a