elissa-第18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！



fruit。　Yes；　I　have　seen　them　climb　even　when　they　knew　that　they　must

fall　before　the　fruit　was　reached。〃



Then　he　went　also；　leaving　Issachar　alone　and　oppressed　with　a　dread

of　the　future　which　was　none　the　less　real　because　it　could　not　be

defined。







CHAPTER　X



THE　EMBASSY



Weak　as　she　was　still　with　recent　illness；　half…fainting　also　from　the

shock　of　the　terrible　and　unexpected　fate　which　had　overtaken　her；

Elissa　was　borne　in　triumph　to　the　palace　that　now　was　hers。　Around

her　gilded　litter　priestesses　danced　and　sang　their　wild　chants；　half…

bacchanalian　and　half…religious；　before　it　marched　the　priests　of　El；

clashing　cymbals　and　crying；　〃Make　way；　make　way　for　the　new…born

goddess！　Make　way　for　her　whose　throne　is　upon　the　horned　moon！〃　while

all　about　the　multitude　of　spectators　prostrated　themselves　in

worship。



Elissa　was　borne　in　triumph。　Vaguely　she　heard　the　shouts　and　music；

dimly　she　saw　the　dancing…girls　and　the　bowing　crowds。　But　all　the

while　her　heart　was　alive　with　pain　and　her　brain；　crushed　beneath　the

menace　of　this　misery；　could　grasp　nothing　clearly　save　the

completeness　of　her　loss。　Loss！　Yes；　she　was　lost　indeed。　One　short

hour　ago　and　she　was　rejoicing　in　the　presence　of　the　man　she　loved；

and　who；　as　she　believed；　loved　her；　while　in　her　mind　rose　visions　of

some　happy　life　with　him　far　away　from　this　city　and　the　dark　rites　of

the　worshippers　of　Baal。　And　now　she　found　herself　the　chief　priestess

of　that　worship　which　already　she　had　learned　to　fear　if　not　to　hate。

More；　as　its　priestess；　till　death　should　come　to　comfort　her；　she　was

cut　off　for　ever　from　him　whom　she　adored；　cut　off　also　from　the　hope

of　that　new　spiritual　light　which　had　begun　to　dawn　upon　her　soul。



Elissa　looked　upon　the　beautiful　women　who　leapt　and　sang　about　her

litter；　listening　to　the　clash　of　their　ornaments　of　gold；　and　as　she

listened　and　looked　her　eyes　seemed　to　gain　power　to　behold　the

spirits　within　them。　Surely　she　could　see　these；　dark　and　hideous

things；　with　shifting　countenances；　terrible　to　look　on；　and

themselves　wearing　in　their　eyes　of　flame　a　stamp　of　eternal　terror；

while　in　her　ears　the　music　of　their　golden　necklaces　was　changed　to　a

clank　as　of　fetters　and　of　instruments　of　torment。　Yes；　and　there

before　the　dancers　in　the　red　cloud　of　dust　which　rose　from　their

beating　feet；　floated　the　dim　shape　of　that　demon　of　whom　she　had　been

chosen　the　high…priestess。



Look　at　her　mocking；　inhuman　countenance；　and　her　bent　brow　of　power！

Look　at　her　spread　and　flaming　hair　and　her　hundred　hands　outstretched

to　grasp　the　souls　of　men！　Hark！　the　clamour　of　the　cymbals　and　the

cry　of　the　dancers　blended　together　and　became　her　voice；　a　dreadful

voice　that　gave　greeting　to　her　princess；　promising　her　pride　of　place

and　life…long　power　in　payment　for　her　service。



〃I　desire　none　of　these；〃　her　heart　seemed　to　answer；　〃I　desire　him

only　whom　I　have　lost。〃



〃Is　it　so？〃　replied　the　Voice。　〃Then　bid　him　burn　incense　upon　my

altar　and　take　him　to　yourself。　Have　I　not　given　you　enough　of　beauty

to　snare　a　single　soul　from　among　the　servants　of　my　enemy　the　God　of

the　Jews？〃



〃Nay；　nay！〃　her　heart　cried；　〃I　will　not　tempt　him　to　do　this　evil

thing。〃



〃Yea；　yea！〃　mocked　the　phantom　Voice；　〃for　your　sake　he　shall　burn

incense　upon　my　altar。〃



*****



The　phantasy　passed；　and　now　the　golden　gates　of　the　palace　of　Baaltis

rolled　open　before　Elissa。　Now；　too；　the　priestesses　bore　her　to　the

golden　throne　shaped　like　a　crescent　moon；　and　threw　over　her　a　black

veil　spangled　with　stars；　symbol　of　the　night。　Then　having　shut　out

the　uninitiated；　they　worshipped　her　after　their　secret　fashion　till

she　sank　down　upon　the　throne　overcome　with　fear　and　weariness。　Then

at　last　they　carried　her　to　that　wonder　of　workmanship　and　allegorical

art；　the　ivory　bed　of　Baaltis；　and　laid　her　down　to　sleep。



*****



At　dawn　upon　the　following　day　an　embassy；　headed　by　Sakon；　governor

of　the　city；　in　whose　train　were　Metem　and　Aziel；　went　to　the　camp　of

Ithobal。　The　mission　of　these　envoys　was　to　give　the　king　answer　to

his　suit；　for　he　refused　to　come　to　Zimboe　unless　he　were　allowed　to

bring　a　larger　force　than　it　was　thought　prudent　to　admit　into　the

city　gates。　At　some　distance　from　the　tents　they　halted；　while

messengers　were　sent　forward　inviting　Ithobal　to　a　conference　on　the

plain；　as　it　seemed　scarcely　safe　to　trust　themselves　within　the　stout

thorn　fence　which　had　been　built　about　the　camp。　Metem；　who　said　that

he　had　no　fear　of　the　king；　went　with　these　men；　and　on　reaching　the

/zeriba/　was　at　once　bidden　to　the　pavilion　of　Ithobal。　He　found　the

great　man　pacing　its　length　sullenly。



〃What　seek　you　here；　Ph？nician？〃　he　asked；　glancing　at　him　over　his

shoulder。



〃My　fee；　King。　The　king　was　pleased　to　promise　me　a　hundred　ounces　of

gold　if　I　saved　the　life　of　the　Lady　Elissa。　I　come；　therefore；　to

assure　him　that　my　skill　has　prevailed　against　the　poisoned　arrow　of

that　treacherous　dog　of　the　desert；　which　pierced　her　hand　as　she

spoke　with　the　prince　Aziel　the　other　night；　and　to　claim　my　reward。

Here　is　a　note　of　the　amount；〃　and　he　produced　his　tablets。



〃If　half　of　what　I　hear　is　true；　rogue；〃　answered　Ithobal　savagely；

〃the　tormentor　and　the　headsman　alone　could　satisfy　all　my　debt　to

you。　Say；　merchant；　what　return　have　you　made　me　for　that　sackful　of

gold　which　you　bore　hence　some　few　days　gone？〃



〃The　best　of　all　returns；　King；〃　answered　Metem　cheerfully；　although

in　truth　he　began　to　feel　afraid。　〃I　have　kept　my　word；　and　fulfilled

the　command　of　the　king。　I　have　made　it　impossible　that　the　prince

Aziel　should　wed　the　daughter　of　Sakon。〃



〃Yes；　rogue；　you　have　made　it　impossible　by　causing　her　to　be

consecrated　Baaltis；　and　thus　building　a　barrier　which　even　I　shall

find　too　hard　to　climb。　It　is　scarcely　to　be　hoped　that　now　she　will

choose　me　of　her　own　will；　and　to　offer　violence　to　the　Baaltis　is　a

sacrilege　from　which　any　manyes；　even　a　kingmay　shrink；　for　such

deeds　draw　the　curse　of　Heaven。　Know　that　for　this　service　I　am　minded

to　settle　my　account　with　you　in　a　fashion　of　which　you　have　not

thought。　Have　you　heard；　Ph？nician；　that　the　chiefs　of　certain　of　my

tribes　love　to　decorate　their　spear…shafts　with　the　hide　of　white　men；

and　to　bray　their　flesh　into　a　medicine　which　gives　courage　to　its

eater？〃



With　this　pleasing　and　suggestive　query　Ithobal　paused；　and　looked

towards　the　door　of　the　tent　as　though　he　were　about　to　call　his

guard。



Now　Metem's　blood　ran　cold；　for　he　knew　that　this　royal　savage　was　not

one　who　uttered　idle　threats。　Yet　the　coolness　and　cunning　which　had

so　often　served　him　well　did　not　fail　him　in　his　need。



〃I　have　heard　that　your　people　have　strange　customs；〃　he　answered　with

a　laugh；　〃but　I　think　that　even　a　spear…shaft　would　scarcely　gain

beauty　from　my　wrinkled　hide；　and　if　anything；　the　eating　of　my　flesh

would　make　tradesmen　and　not　warriors　of　your　chiefs。　Well；　let　the

jest　pass；　and　listen。　King；　in　all　my　schemings　one　thought　never

crossed　my　mind；　namely；　that　you　were　a　man　to　suffer　scruples　to

stand　between　you　and　the　woman　you　would　win。　You　think　that　now　she

is　a　goddess？　Well；　if　that　be　soand　it　is　not　for　me　to　saywho

could　be　a　fitter　mate　for　the　greatest　king　upon　the　earth　than　a

goddess　from　the　heavens？　Take　her；　king　Ithobal；　take　her；　and　this　I

promise　you；　that　when　your　armies　are　encamped　without　the　walls；　the

priests　of　El　will　absolve　you　of　the　crime　of　aspiring　to　the　fair

lips　of　Baaltis。〃



〃The　lips　of　Baaltis；〃　broke　in　Ithobal；　〃do　you　think　that　I　shall

find　them　sweet　when　another　man　has　rifled　them？　Secret　chambers　are

many　yonder　in　the　palace　of　the　gods；　and　doubtless　the　Jew　will　find

his　way　there。〃



〃Nay；　King；　for　between　these　two　I　have　indeed　built　a　wall　which

cannot　be　climbed。　The　worshipper　of　the　Lord　of　Israel　may　not

traffic　with　the　high…priestess　of　Ashtoreth。　Moreover；　I　shall　bring

it　about　that　ere　long　Prince　Aziel's　face　is　set　seawards。〃



〃Do　that；　and　I　will　believe　you；　merchant；　though　it　would　be　better

if　you　could　bring　it　about　that　his　face　was　set　earthwards；　as　I

will　if　I　can。　Well；　this　time　I　spare　you；　though　be　sure　that　if

aught　miscarry；　you　shall　pay　the　price；　how；　I　have　told　you。　Now　I

go　to　talk　with　these　traders；　these　outlanders；　of　Zimboe。　Why　do　you

wait？　You　are　dismissed　andalive。〃



Metem　looked　steadily　at　the　tablets　which　he　still　held　in　his　hand。



〃I　have　heard；〃　he　said　humbly；　〃that　the　king　Ithobal；　the　great

king；　always　pays　his　debts；　and　as　Ian　outlandershall　be　leaving

Zimboe　shortly　under　his　safe　conduct；　I　desire　to　close　this　small

account。〃



Ithobal　went　to　the　door　of　his　tent　and　commanded　that　his　treasurer

should　attend　him；　bringing　money。　Presently　he　came；　and　at　his

lord's　bidding　weighed　out　one　hundred　ounces　of　gold。



〃You　are　right；　Ph？nician；〃　said　Ithobal；　〃I　always　pay　my　debts；

sometimes　in　gold　and　sometimes　in　iron。　Be　careful　that　I　owe　you　no

more；　lest　you　who　to…day　are　paid　in　gold；　to…morrow　may　receive　the

iron；　weighed　out　in　the　fashion　of　which　I　have　spoken。　Now；　begone。〃



Metem　gathered　up　the　treasure；　and　hiding　it　in　his　ample　robe；　bowed

himself　from　the　royal　presence　and　out　of　the　thorn…hedged　camp。



〃Without　doubt　I　have　been　in　danger；〃　he　said　to　himself；　wiping　his

brow；　〃since　at　one　time　that　black　brute；　disregarding　the　sanctity

of　an　envoy；　had　it　in　his　mind　to　torture　and　to　kill　me。　So；　so；

king　Ithobal；　Metem　the　Ph？nician　is　also　an　honest　merchant　who

'always　pays　his　debts；'　as　you　may　learn　in　the　market…places　of

Jerusalem；　of　Sidon　and　of　Zimboe；　and　I　owe　you　a　heavy　bill　for　the

fright　you　have　given　me　to…day。　Little　of　Elissa's　company　shall　you

have　if　I　can　help　i