elissa-第26部分

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breast；　and　here　at　my　girdle　hangs　a　dagger；　are　not　the　two　of　them

enough　to　make　an　end　of　one　frail　life？　Should　they　dare　to　touch　me；

I　shall　tell　them　through　the　bars　that　most　certainly　I　shall　drink

the　bane；　or　use　the　knife；　and　when　they　know　it；　they　will　leave　me

unharmed；　hoping　to　starve　me　out；　or　trusting　to　chance　to　snare　me

living。〃



〃You　are　bold；〃　murmured　Aziel　in　admiration；　〃but　self…murder　is　a

sin。〃



〃It　is　a　sin　that　I　will　dare；　beloved；　as　in　past　days　I　would　have

dared　it　for　less　cause；　rather　than　be　given　alive　into　the　hands　of

Ithobal；　for　to　whoever　else　I　may　be　false；　to　you　through　life　and

death　I　will　be　true。〃



Now　Aziel　groaned　in　his　doubt　and　bitterness　of　heart；　then　turning

to　Metem；　he　asked：



〃Have　you　anything　to　say；　Metem？〃



〃Yes；　Prince；　two　things；〃　answered　the　Ph？nician。　〃First；　that　the

lady　Elissa　is　rash；　indeed；　to　speak　so　openly　before　me　who　might

carry　her　words　to　the　council　or　the　priests。〃



〃Nay；　Metem；　I　am　not　rash；　for　I　know　that；　although　you　love　money；

you　will　not　betray　me。〃



〃You　are　right；　lady；　I　shall　not；　for　money　would　be　of　little

service　to　me　in　a　city　that　is　about　to　be　taken　by　storm。　Also　I

hate　Ithobal；　who　threatened　my　lifeas　you　did　also；　by　the　wayand

will　do　my　best　to　keep　you　from　his　clutches。　Now　for　my　second

point：　it　is　that　I　can　see　little　use　in　all　this　because　Ithobal；

being　defrauded　of　you；　will　attack；　and　then〃



〃And　then　he　may　be　beaten；　Metem；　for　the　citizens　will　at　any　rate

fight　for　their　lives；　and　the　Prince　Aziel　here；　who　is　a　general

skilled　in　war；　will　fight　also　if　he　has　recovered　strength〃



〃Do　not　fear；　Elissa；　give　me　two　days；　and　I　will　fight　to　the

death；〃　said　Aziel。



〃At　the　least；〃　she　went　on；　〃this　scheme　gives　us　breathing　time；　and

who　knows　but　that　fortune　will　turn。　Or　if　it　does　not；　since　it　is

impossible　for　me　to　escape　from　the　city；　I　have　no　better。〃



〃No　more　have　I；〃　said　Metem；　〃for　at　length　the　oldest　fox　comes　to

his　last　double。　I　could　escape　from　this　city；　or　the　prince　might

escape；　or　the　lady　Elissa　even　might　possibly　escape　disguised；　but　I

am　sure　that　all　three　of　us　could　not　escape；　seeing　that　within　the

walls　we　are　watched　and　without　them　the　armies　of　Ithobal　await　us。

Oh！　prince　Aziel；　I　should　have　done　well　to　go；　as　I　might　have　gone

when　you　and　Issachar　were　taken　after　that　mad　meeting　in　the　temple；

from　which　I　never　looked　for　anything　but　ill；　but　I　grow　foolish　in

my　old　age；　and　thought　that　I　should　like　to　see　the　last　of　you。

Well；　so　far　we　are　all　alive；　except　Issachar；　who；　although　bigoted；

was　still　the　most　worthy　of　us；　but　how　long　we　shall　remain　alive　I

cannot　say。



〃Now　our　best　chance　is　to　defeat　Ithobal　if　we　can；　and　afterwards　in

the　confusion　to　fly　from　Zimboe　and　join　our　servants；　to　whom　I　have

sent　word　to　await　us　in　a　secret　place　beyond　the　first　range　of

hills。　If　we　cannotwhy　then　we　must　go　a　little　sooner　than　we

expected　to　find　out　who　it　is　that　really　shapes　the　destinies　of

men；　and　whether　or　no　the　sun　and　moon　are　the　chariots　of　El　and

Baaltis。　But；　Prince；　you　turn　pale。〃



〃It　is　nothing；〃　said　Aziel；　〃bring　me　some　water；　the　fever　still

burns　in　me。〃



Metem　went　to　seek　for　water；　while　Elissa　knelt　by　the　couch　and

pressed　her　lover's　hand。



〃I　dare　stay　no　longer；〃　she　whispered；　〃and　Aziel；　I　know　not　how　or

when　we　shall　meet　again；　but　my　heart　is　heavy；　for；　alas！　I　think

that　doom　draws　near　me。　I　have　brought　much　sorrow　upon　you；　Aziel；

and　yet　more　upon　myself；　and　I　have　given　you　nothing；　except　that

most　common　of　all　things；　a　woman's　love。〃



〃That　most　perfect　of　all　things；〃　he　answered；　〃which　I　am　glad　to

have　lived　to　win。〃



〃Yes；　but　not　at　the　price　that　you　have　paid　for　it。　I　know　well　what

it　must　have　cost　you　to　cast　that　incense　on　the　flame；　and　I　pray　to

your　God；　who　has　become　my　God；　to　visit　the　sin　of　it　on　my　head　and

to　leave　yours　unharmed。　Aziel；　Aziel！　woman　or　spirit；　while　I　have

life　and　memory；　I　am　yours；　and　yours　only；　clean…handed　I　leave　you；

and　if　we　may　meet　again　in　this　or　in　any　other　world；　clean　and

faithful　I　shall　come　to　you　again。　Glad　am　I　to　have　lived；　because

in　my　life　I　have　known　you　and　you　have　sworn　you　love　me。　Glad　shall

I　be　to　live　again　if　again　I　may　know　you　and　hear　that　oathif　not；

it　is　sleep　I　seek；　for　life　without　you　to　me　would　be　a　hell。　You

grow　weak；　and　I　must　go。　Farewell；　and　living　or　dead；　forget　me　not；

swear　that　you　will　not　forget　me。〃



〃I　swear　it；〃　he　answered　faintly；　〃and　Heaven　grant　that　I　may　die

for　you；　not　you　for　me。〃



〃That　is　no　prayer　of　mine；〃　she　whispered；　and；　bending；　kissed　him

on　the　brow；　for　he　was　too　weak　to　lift　his　lips　to　hers。



Then　she　was　gone。







CHAPTER　XV



ELISSA　TAKES　SANCTUARY



Two　more　hours　had　passed；　and　in　the　evening　light　a　procession　of

priestesses　might　be　seen　advancing　slowly　towards　the　holy　tomb　along

a　narrow　road　of　rock　cut　in　the　mountain　face。　In　front　of　this

procession；　wearing　a　black　veil　over　her　broidered　robes；　walked

Elissa　with　downcast　eyes　and　hair　unbound　in　token　of　grief；　while

behind　her　came　Mesa　and　other　priestesses　bearing　in　bowls　of

alabaster　the　offerings　to　the　dead；　food　and　wine；　and　lamps　of　oil；

and　vases　filled　with　perfumes。　Behind　these　again　marched　the

mourners；　women　who　sang　a　funeral　dirge　and　from　time　to　time　broke

into　a　wail　of　simulated　grief。　Nor；　indeed；　was　their　woe　as　hollow

as　might　be　thought；　since　from　that　mountain　path　they　could　see　the

outposts　of　the　army　of　Ithobal　upon　the　plain；　and　note　with　a

shudder　of　fear　the　spear…heads　of　his　countless　thousands　shining　in

the　gorges　of　the　opposing　heights。　It　was　not　for　the　dead　Baaltis

that　they　mourned　this　day；　but　for　the　fate　which　overshadowed　them

and　their　city　of　gold。



〃May　the　curse　of　all　the　gods　fall　on　her；〃　muttered　one　of　the

priestesses　as　she　toiled　forward　beneath　her　load　of　offerings；

〃because　she　is　beautiful　and　pettish；　we　must　be　put　to　the　spear；　or

become　the　wives　of　savages；〃　and　she　pointed　with　her　chin　to　Elissa；

who　walked　in　front；　lost　in　her　own　thoughts。



〃Have　patience；〃　answered　Mesa　at　her　side；　〃you　know　the　plan

to…night　that　proud　girl　and　false　priestess　shall　sleep　in　the　camp

of　Ithobal。〃



〃Will　he　be　satisfied　with　that；〃　asked　the　woman；　〃and　leave　the　city

in　peace？〃



〃They　say　so；〃　answered　Mesa　with　a　laugh；　〃though　it　is　strange　that

a　king　should　exchange　spoil　and　glory　for　one　round…eyed；　thin…limbed

girl　who　loves　his　rival。　Well；　let　us　thank　the　gods　that　made　men

foolish；　and　gave　us　women　wit　to　profit　by　their　folly。　If　he　wants

her；　let　him　take　her；　for　few　will　be　poorer　by　her　loss。〃



〃You　at　least　will　be　richer；〃　said　the　other　woman；　〃and　by　the　crown

of　Baaltis。　Well；　I　do　not　grudge　it　you；　and　as　for　the　daughter　of

Sakon；　she　shall　be　Ithobal's　if　I　take　her　to　him　limb　by　limb。〃



〃Nay；　sister；　that　is　not　the　bargain；　remember　she　must　be　delivered

to　him　without　hurt　or　blemish；　otherwise　we　shall　do　sacrilege　in

vain。　Be　silent；　here　is　the　cave。〃



Reaching　the　platform　in　front　of　the　tomb；　the　procession　of　mourners

ranged　themselves　about　it　in　a　semi…circle。　They　stood　with　their

backs　to　the　edge　of　a　cliff　that　rose　sheer　for　sixty　feet　or　more

from　the　plain　beneath；　across　which；　but　at　a　little　distance　from

the　foot　of　the　precipice　ran　the　road　followed　by　the　caravans　of

merchants　in　their　journeys　to　and　from　the　coast。　Then；　a　hymn　having

been　sung　invoking　the　blessing　of　the　gods　on　the　dead　priestess；

Elissa；　as　the　Baaltis；　unlocked　the　gates　of　bronze　with　a　golden　key

that　hung　at　her　girdle；　and　the　bearers　of　the　bowls　of　offerings

pushed　them　into　the　mouth　of　the　tomb；　whose　threshold　they　were　not

allowed　to　pass。　Next；　with　bowed　heads　and　hands　crossed　upon　her

breast；　Elissa　entered　the　tomb；　and　locking　the　bronze　gate　behind

her；　took　up　two　of　the　bowls　and　vanished　with　them　into　its　gloomy

depths。



〃Why　did　she　lock　the　gates？〃　asked　a　priestess　of　Mesa。　〃It　is　not

customary。〃



〃Doubtless　because　it　was　her　pleasure　to　do　so；〃　answered　Mesa

sharply；　though　she　also　wondered　why　Elissa　had　locked　the　gate。



When　an　hour　was　gone　by　and　Elissa　had　not　returned；　her　wonder

turned　to　fear　and　doubt。



〃Call　to　the　lady　Baaltis；〃　she　said；　〃for　her　prayers　are　long；　and　I

fear　lest　she　should　have　come　to　harm。〃



So　they　called；　setting　heir　lips　against　the　bars　of　the　gate　till

presently；　Elissa；　holding　a　lamp　in　her　hand；　came　and　stood　before

them。



〃Why　do　you　disturb　me　in　the　sanctuary？〃　she　asked。



〃Lady；　because　they　set　the　night　watch　on　the　walls；〃　answered　Mesa；

〃and　it　is　time　to　return　to　the　temple。〃



〃Return　then；〃　said　Elissa；　〃and　leave　me　in　peace。　What；　you　cannot；

Mesa？　Nay；　and　shall　I　tell　you　why？　Because　you　had　plotted　to

deliver　me　this　night　to　those　who　should　lead　me　as　a　peace…offering

to　Ithobal；　and　when　you　come　to　them　empty…handed　they　will　greet　you

with　harsh　words。　Nay；　do　not　trouble　to　deny　it；　Mesa。　I　also　have　my

spies；　and　know　all　the　plan；　and；　therefore；　I　have　taken　sanctuary

in　this　holy　place。〃



Now　Mesa　pressed　her　thin　lips　together　and　answered：



〃Those　who　dare　to　lay　hands　upon　the　person　of　the　living　Baaltis

will　not　shrink　from　seeking　her　in　the　company　of　her　dead　sisters。〃



〃I　know　it；　Mesa；　but　the　gates　are　barred；　and　here　I　have　food　and

drink　in　plenty。〃



〃Gates；　however　strong；　can　be　broken；〃　answered　the　priestess；　〃so；

lady；　do　not　wait　till　you　are　dragged　hence　like　some　discovered

slave。〃



〃Ay；〃　replied　Elissa；　with　a　little　laugh；　〃but　what　if　rather　than　be

thus　disho