elissa-第24部分
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There was a pause； and once more the woman Mesa； in her character of
prosecutrix on behalf of the outraged gods； appeared before the altar；
and said in her cold voice：
〃The Jew whom the lady Baaltis has chosen as husband will not do
homage to her gods。 Therefore； as Mother of the priestesses and
Advocate of Baaltis； I demand that Elissa； daughter of Sakon； be put
to death； and the throne of Baaltis be purged of one who has defiled
it； lest the swift and terrible vengeance of the goddess should fall
upon this city。〃
The Shadid motioned to her to be silent； and addressed Aziel：
〃We pray you to think a while；〃 he said； 〃before you give one to death
whose only sin is that； being the high…priestess of our worship； she
has named an unbeliever to fill the throne of El and be her husband。
Out of pity for her fate we give you time to think。〃
Now Sakon； taking advantage of the pause； rushed forward； and throwing
his arms about Aziel's knees； implored him in heart…breaking accents
to preserve his only child from so horrible a doom。 He said that did
he refuse to save her because of his religious scruples； he would be a
dog and a coward； and the scorn of all honest men for ever。 It was for
love of him that she had broken the priestly law； to violate which was
death； and although he had been warned of her danger； yet in his
wickedness and folly he had brought her to this pass。 Would he then
desert her now？
But Issachar thrust him aside； and broke in with fiery words：
〃Hearken not to this man； Aziel；〃 he said； 〃who strives to work upon
your weakness to the ruin of your soul。 What！ To save the life of one
woman； whose fair face has brought so much trouble upon us all； would
you deny your Lord and become the thrall of Baal and Ashtoreth？ Let
her die since die she must； and keep your own heart pure； for be
assured； should you do otherwise； Jehovah； whom you renounce； will
swiftly be avenged on you and her。 At the beginning I warned you； and
you would not listen。 Now； Aziel； I warn you again； and woe！ woe！ woe！
to you should you shut your ears to my message。〃 Then lifting his
hands towards the skies； he began to pray aloud that Aziel might be
constant in his trial。
Meanwhile； Metem； who had drawn near； spoke in a low voice：
〃Prince；〃 he said； 〃I am not chicken…hearted； and there are so many
young women in the world that one more or less can scarcely matter；
still； although she threatened to murder me three days ago； I cannot
bear to see this one come to so dreadful a death。 Prince； do not heed
the howlings of that old fanatic； but remember that after all you are
the cause of this lady's plight； and play the part of a man。 Can you
for the sake of your own scruples； however worthy； or of your own soul
even； however valuable to yourself； doom the fair body of a woman who
risked all for you to such an end as that？〃 And shuddering he nodded
towards the gloomy precipice。
〃Is there no other way？〃 Aziel asked him。
〃None； I swear it。 They did not wish to kill her； except that wild…cat
Mesa who seeks her place； but having put her on her public trial； if
you persistthey must。
〃This is one of the few laws which cannot be broken for favour or for
gold； since the people； who are already half…mad with fear of Ithobal；
believe that to break it would bring the curses of heaven upon their
city。 Perhaps we might have found some other plan； but none of us even
dreamed that you would refuse so small a thing for the sake of a woman
whom you swore you loved。〃
〃A small thing！〃 broke in Aziel。
〃Yes； Prince； a very small thing。 Remember； this offering of incense
is but a form to which you are forced against your willyou can do
penance for it afterwards when I have arranged for both of you to
escape the city。 If your God can be angry with you for burning a pinch
of dust to save a woman； who at the least has dared much for you； then
give me Baal； for he is less cruel。〃
Now Aziel looked towards him who held the bowl of incense。 But Elissa
who all this while had stood silent； stepped forward and spoke：
〃Prince Aziel；〃 she said in a calm and quiet voice； 〃I named you
husband to save your life； but with all my strength I pray of you； do
not this thing to save mine； which is of little value and perhaps best
ended。 Remember； prince Aziel； that being what you are； a Jew； this
act of offering； however small it seems； is yet the greatest of sins；
and one with which you should not dare to stain your soul for the sake
of a woman； who has chanced to love you to your sorrow。 Be guided；
therefore； by the true wisdom of Issachar and by my humble prayer。
Make an end of your doubts and let me die； knowing that we do but part
a while； since in the Gate of Death I shall wait for you； prince
Aziel。〃
Before Aziel could answer； the Shadid； either because his patience was
outworn； or because he wished to put him to a sharper trial； uttered a
command。 〃Be it done to her as she desires。〃
Thereon four priests seized Elissa by the wrists and ankles。 Carrying
her to the edge of the precipice； they thrust her back till she hung
over it； her long hair streaming downwards； and the red light of the
sunset shining upon her upturned ghastly face。 Then they paused；
waiting for the signal to let her go。 The Shadid raised his wand and
said：
〃Is it your pleasure that this woman should die or live； prince Aziel？
Decide swiftly； for my arm is weak； and when the wand falls
opportunity for choice will have passed from you。〃
Now all eyes were fixed upon the wand； and the intense silence was
only broken by Sakon's cry of despair。 Metem wrung his hands in grief；
even Issachar veiled his eyes with his robe； to shut out the sight of
dread； and the priest； who bore the bowl of incense； thrust it towards
Aziel imploringly。
For some seconds； three perhaps； though to him they seemed an age； the
heart of Aziel was racked and torn in this terrific contest。 Then he
glanced at the agonized face of the doomed woman； and just as the wand
began to bend； his human love and pity conquered。
〃May He Whom I blaspheme forgive me；〃 he murmured； adding aloud； 〃I
will do sacrifice。〃 Taking the incense in his hand now he cast it into
the flames upon the altar； repeating mechanically after the Shadid：
〃By this sacrifice and homage； body and soul I give myself to you and
worship you； El and Baaltis； the only true gods。〃
*****
The echo of Aziel's voice died away； and the fumes of the incense rose
in a straight dense column upon that quiet air。 To his tormented mind；
it seemed as though its smoke took the form of an avenging angel；
holding in the hand a sword of flame； wherewith to drive away his
perjured soul from Heaven； as our first forefathers were driven from
the shining gates of paradise。 Yes； and they were not human； those
spectators who； in the intense glow of the sunset； stood in their
still ranks and stared at him with wide and eager eyes。 Surely they
were fiends red with the blood of men； fiends gathered from the Pit to
bear everlasting witness to the unpardonable sin of his apostasy。
CHAPTER XIV
THE MARTYRDOM OF ISSACHAR
It was done； and from the mouths of the circle of priests and
priestesses leapt a shrill and sudden cry of triumph。 For had not
their gods conquered？ Had not this high…placed servant of the hated
Lord of Israel been caught by the bait of a priestess of Baaltis； and
seduced by her distress to deny and reject Him？ Was not evil once more
triumphant； and must not they； its ministers； rejoice？
Again the Shadid raised his wand and they were silent。
〃Brother you have； indeed； done well and wisely；〃 he said； addressing
Aziel。 〃Now take to wife the divine lady who has chosen you；〃 and he
pointed to Elissa； who lay prostrated on the rock。 〃Yes； take her and
be happy in her love； sitting in my seat； which henceforth is yours；
as ruler of the priests of El and master of their mysteries；
forgetting the follies of your former faith； and spitting on its
altars。 Hail to you； Shadid； Lord of the Baaltis and chosen of El！
Take him； you priests； and with him the divine lady； his wife； to bear
them in triumph to their high house。〃
〃What of the Levite？〃 asked the woman Mesa。
The Shadid glanced at Issachar； who all this while had stood like one
stricken to the soul； woe stamped upon his face； and a stare of horror
in his eyes。 〃Jew；〃 he said； 〃I had forgotten you； but you also are on
your trial； who dared against the law to hold secret meeting with the
lady Baaltis。 For this sin the punishment is death； nor； as I think；
would any woman name you husband to save you。 Still in this hour of
joy we will be merciful； therefore do as your master did； cast incense
on the altar； uttering the appointed words； and go your way。〃
〃Before I make my offering on yonder altar according to your command；
I have indeed some words to say； O priest of El；〃 answered Issachar
quietly； but in a voice that chilled the blood of those who listened。
〃First； I address myself to you； Aziel； and to you； woman；〃 and he
pointed to Elissa； who had risen； and leaned； trembling； upon her
father。 〃My dream is fulfilled。 Aziel； you have sinned indeed； and
must bear the appointed punishment of your sin。 Yet hear a message of
mercy spoken through my lips： Because you have sinned through love and
pity； your offence is not unto death。 Still shall you sorrow for it
all your life's days； and in desolation of heart and bitterness of
soul shall creep back to the feet of Him you have forsworn。
〃Woman； your spirit is noble and your feet are set in the way of
righteousness； yet through you has this offence come。 Therefore your
love shall bear no fruit； nor shall the blasphemy of your beloved save
your flesh from doom。 Upon this earth there is no hope for you；
daughter of Sakon； set your eyes beyond it； for
