salammbo-第29部分
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！
direction of the kitchens； men were brisking up burning coals with
fans amid tattered garments and scattered hair； and a smell of burning
flesh was perceptible。 Those who were under the scourge； swooning； but
kept in their positions by the bonds on their arms； rolled their heads
upon their shoulders and closed their eyes。 The others who were
watching them began to shriek with terror； and the lions； remembering
the feast perhaps； stretched themselves out yawning against the edge
of the dens。
Then Salammbo was seen on the platform of her terrace。 She ran wildly
about it from left to right。 Hamilcar perceived her。 It seemed to him
that she was holding up her arms towards him to ask for pardon； with a
gesture of horror he plunged into the elephants' park。
These animals were the pride of the great Punic houses。 They had
carried their ancestors； had triumphed in the wars； and they were
reverenced as being the favourites of the Sun。
Those of Megara were the strongest in Carthage。 Before he went away
Hamilcar had required Abdalonim to swear that he would watch over
them。 But they had died from their mutilations； and only three
remained； lying in the middle of the court in the dust before the
ruins of their manger。
They recognised him and came up to him。 One had its ears horribly
slit； another had a large wound in its knee； while the trunk of the
third was cut off。
They looked sadly at him； like reasonable creatures； and the one that
had lost its trunk tried by stooping its huge head and bending its
hams to stroke him softly with the hideous extremity of its stump。
At this caress from the animal two tears started into his eyes。 He
rushed at Abdalonim。
〃Ah！ wretch！ the cross！ the cross！〃
Abdalonim fell back swooning upon the ground。
The bark of a jackal rang from behind the purple factories； the blue
smoke of which was ascending slowly into the sky； Hamilcar paused。
The thought of his son had suddenly calmed him like the touch of a
god。 He caught a glimpse of a prolongation of his might； an indefinite
continuation of his personality； and the slaves could not understand
whence this appeasement had come upon him。
As he bent his steps towards the purple factories he passed before the
ergastulum； which was a long house of black stone built in a square
pit with a small pathway all round it and four staircases at the
corners。
Iddibal was doubtless waiting until the night to finish his signal。
〃There is no hurry yet；〃 thought Hamilcar； and he went down into the
prison。 Some cried out to him： 〃Return〃； the boldest followed him。
The open door was flapping in the wind。 The twilight entered through
the narrow loopholes； and in the interior broken chains could be
distinguished hanging from the walls。
This was all that remained of the captives of war！
Then Hamilcar grew extraordinarily pale； and those who were leaning
over the pit outside saw him resting one hand against the wall to keep
himself from falling。
But the jackal uttered its cry three times in succession。 Hamilcar
raised his head； he did not speak a word nor make a gesture。 Then when
the sun had completely set he disappeared behind the nopal hedge； and
in the evening he said as he entered the assembly of the rich in the
temple of Eschmoun：
〃Luminaries of the Baalim； I accept the command of the Punic forces
against the army of the Barbarians！〃
CHAPTER VIII
THE BATTLE OF THE MACARAS
In the following day he drew two hundred and twenty…three thousand
kikars of gold from the Syssitia； and decreed a tax of fourteen
shekels upon the rich。 Even the women contributed； payment was made in
behalf of the children； and he compelled the colleges of priests to
furnish moneya monstrous thing； according to Carthaginian customs。
He demanded all the horses； mules； and arms。 A few tried to conceal
their wealth； and their property was sold； and； to intimidate the
avarice of the rest； he himself gave sixty suits of armour； and
fifteen hundred gomers of meal； which was as much as was given by the
Ivory Company。
He sent into Liguria to buy soldiers； three thousand mountaineers
accustomed to fight with bears； they were paid for six moons in
advance at the rate of four minae a day。
Nevertheless an army was wanted。 But he did not； like Hanno； accept
all the citizens。 First he rejected those engaged in sedentary
occupations； and then those who were big…bellied or had a
pusillanimous look； and he admitted those of ill…repute； the scum of
Malqua； sons of Barbarians； freed men。 For reward he promised some of
the New Carthaginians complete rights of citizenship。
His first care was to reform the Legion。 These handsome young fellows；
who regarded themselves as the military majesty of the Republic；
governed themselves。 He reduced their officers to the ranks； he
treated them harshly； made them run； leap； ascend the declivity of
Byrsa at a single burst； hurl javelins； wrestle together； and sleep in
the squares at night。 Their families used to come to see them and pity
them。
He ordered shorter swords and stronger buskins。 He fixed the number of
serving…men； and reduced the amount of baggage； and as there were
three hundred Roman pila kept in the temple of Moloch； he took them in
spite of the pontiff's protests。
He organised a phalanx of seventy…two elephants with those which had
returned from Utica； and others which were private property； and
rendered them formidable。 He armed their drivers with mallet and
chisel to enable them to split their skulls in the fight if they ran
away。
He would not allow his generals to be nominated by the Grand Council。
The Ancients tried to urge the laws in objection； but he set them
aside； no one ventured to murmur again； and everything yielded to the
violence of his genius。
He assumed sole charge of the war； the government； and the finances；
and as a precaution against accusations he demanded the Suffet Hanno
as examiner of his accounts。
He set to work upon the ramparts； and had the old and now useless
inner walls demolished in order to furnish stones。 But difference of
fortune； replacing the hierarchy of race； still kept the sons of the
vanquished and those of the conquerors apart； thus the patricians
viewed the destruction of these ruins with an angry eye； while the
plebeians； scarcely knowing why； rejoiced。
The troops defiled under arms through the streets from morning till
night； every moment the sound of trumpets was heard； chariots passed
bearing shields； tents； and pikes； the courts were full of women
engaged in tearing up linen； the enthusiasm spread from one to
another； and Hamilcar's soul filled the Republic。
He had divided his soldiers into even numbers； being careful to place
a strong man and a weak one alternately throughout the length of his
files； so that he who was less vigorous or more cowardly might be at
once led and pushed forward by two others。 But with his three thousand
Ligurians； and the best in Carthage； he could form only a simple
phalanx of four thousand and ninety…six hoplites； protected by bronze
helmets； and handling ashen sarissae fourteen cubits long。
There were two thousand young men； each equipped with a sling； a
dagger； and sandals。 He reinforced them with eight hundred others
armed with round shields and Roman swords。
The heavy cavalry was composed of the nineteen hundred remaining
guardsmen of the Legion； covered with plates of vermilion bronze； like
the Assyrian Clinabarians。 He had further four hundred mounted
archers； of those that were called Tarentines； with caps of weasel's
skin； two…edged axes； and leathern tunics。 Finally there were twelve
hundred Negroes from the quarter of the caravans； who were mingled
with the Clinabarians； and were to run beside the stallions with one
hand resting on the manes。 All was ready； and yet Hamilcar did not
start。
Often at night he would go out of Carthage alone and make his way
beyond the lagoon towards the mouths of the Macaras。 Did he intend to
join the Mercenaries？ The Ligurians encamped in the Mappalian district
surrounded his house。
The apprehensions of the rich appeared justified when； one day； three
hundred Barbarians were seen approaching the walls。 The Suffet opened
the gates to them； they were deserters； drawn by fear or by fidelity；
they were hastening to their master。
Hamilcar's return had not surprised the Mercenaries； according to
their ideas the man could not die。 He was returning to fulfil his
promise；a hope by no means absurd； so deep was the abyss between
Country and Army。 Moreover they did not believe themselves culpable；
the feast was forgotten。
The spies whom they surprised undeceived them。 It was a triumph for
the bitter； even the lukewarm grew furious。 Then the two sieges
overwhelmed then with weariness； no progress was being made； a battle
would be better！ Thus many men had left the ranks and were scouring
the country。 But at news of the arming they returned； Matho leaped for
joy。 〃At last！ at last！〃 he cried。
Then the resentment which he cherished against Salammbo was turned
against Hamilcar。 His hate could now perceive a definite prey； and as
his vengeance grew easier of conception he almost believed that he had
realised it and he revelled in it already。 At the same time he was
seized with a loftier tenderness； and consumed by more acrid desire。
He saw himself alternately in the midst of the soldiers brandishing
the Suffet's head on a pike； and then in the room with the purple bed；
clasping the maiden in his arms； covering her face with kisses；
passing his hands over her long； black hair； and the imagination of
this； which he knew could never be realised； tortured him。 He swore to
himself that； since his companions had appointed him schalishim； he
would conduct the war； the
