part05-第5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！



labyrinth；　I　penetrated　into　the　very　heart　of　the　pyramid；　even　to

the　sepulchral　chamber；　where　the　mummy　of　the　high…priest　had　lain

for　ages。　I　broke　through　the　outer　cases　of　the　mummy；　unfolded　its

many　wrappers　and　bandages；　and　at　length　found　the　precious　volume　on

its　bosom。　I　seized　it　with　a　trembling　hand；　and　groped　my　way　out　of

the　pyramid；　leaving　the　mummy　in　its　dark　and　silent　sepulchre；　there

to　await　the　final　day　of　resurrection　and　judgment。〃

　　〃Son　of　Abu　Ayub；〃　exclaimed　Aben　Habuz；　〃thou　hast　been　a　great

traveller；　and　seen　marvellous　things；　but　of　what　avail　to　me　is

the　secret　of　the　pyramid；　and　the　volume　of　knowledge　of　the　wise

Solomon？〃

　　〃This　it　is；　O　king！　By　the　study　of　that　book　I　am　instructed　in

all　magic　arts；　and　can　command　the　assistance　of　genii　to

accomplish　my　plans。　The　mystery　of　the　Talisman　of　Borsa　is　therefore

familiar　to　me；　and　such　a　talisman　can　I　make；　nay；　one　of　greater

virtues。〃

　　〃O　wise　son　of　Abu　Ayub；〃　cried　Aben　Habuz；　〃better　were　such　a

talisman；　than　all　the　watchtowers　on　the　hills；　and　sentinels　upon

the　borders。　Give　me　a　safeguard；　and　the　riches　of　my　treasury　are　at

thy　command。〃

　　The　astrologer　immediately　set　to　work　to　gratify　the　wishes　of

the　monarch。　He　caused　a　great　tower　to　be　erected　upon　the　top　of　the

royal　palace；　which　stood　on　the　brow　of　the　hill　of　the　Albaycin。　The

tower　was　built　of　stones　brought　from　Egypt；　and　taken；　it　is　said；

from　one　of　the　pyramids。　In　the　upper　part　of　the　tower　was　a

circular　hall；　with　windows　looking　towards　every　point　of　the

compass；　and　before　each　window　was　a　table；　on　which　was　arranged；　as

on　a　chess…board；　a　mimic　army　of　horse　and　foot；　with　the　effigy　of

the　potentate　that　ruled　in　that　direction；　all　carved　of　wood。　To

each　of　these　tables　there　was　a　small　lance；　no　bigger　than　a　bodkin；

on　which　were　engraved　certain　Chaldaic　characters。　This　hall　was　kept

constantly　closed；　by　a　gate　of　brass；　with　a　great　lock　of　steel；　the

key　of　which　was　in　possession　of　the　king。

　　On　the　top　of　the　tower　was　a　bronze　figure　of　a　Moorish　horseman；

fixed　on　a　pivot；　with　a　shield　on　one　arm；　and　his　lance　elevated

perpendicularly。　The　face　of　this　horseman　was　towards　the　city；　as　if

keeping　guard　over　it；　but　if　any　foe　were　at　hand；　the　figure　would

turn　in　that　direction；　and　would　level　the　lance　as　if　for　action。

　　When　this　talisman　was　finished；　Aben　Habuz　was　all　impatient　to　try

its　virtues；　and　longed　as　ardently　for　an　invasion　as　he　had　ever

sighed　after　repose。　His　desire　was　soon　gratified。　Tidings　were

brought；　early　one　morning；　by　the　sentinel　appointed　to　watch　the

tower；　that　the　face　of　the　bronze　horseman　was　turned　towards　the

mountains　of　Elvira；　and　that　his　lance　pointed　directly　against　the

Pass　of　Lope。

　　〃Let　the　drums　and　trumpets　sound　to　arms；　and　all　Granada　be　put　on

the　alert；〃　said　Aben　Habuz。

　　〃O　king；〃　said　the　astrologer；　〃Let　not　your　city　be　disquieted；　nor

your　warriors　called　to　arms；　we　need　no　aid　of　force　to　deliver　you

from　your　enemies。　Dismiss　your　attendants；　and　let　us　proceed　alone

to　the　secret　hall　of　the　tower。〃

　　The　ancient　Aben　Habuz　mounted　the　staircase　of　the　tower；　leaning

on　the　arm　of　the　still　more　ancient　Ibrahim　Ebn　Abu　Ayub。　They

unlocked　the　brazen　door　and　entered。　The　window　that　looked　towards

the　Pass　of　Lope　was　open。　〃In　this　direction；〃　said　the　astrologer；

〃lies　the　danger；　approach；　O　king；　and　behold　the　mystery　of　the

table。〃

　　King　Aben　Habuz　approached　the　seeming　chess…board；　on　which　were

arranged　the　small　wooden　effigies；　when；　to　his　surprise；　he

perceived　that　they　were　all　in　motion。　The　horses　pranced　and

curveted；　the　warriors　brandished　their　weapons；　and　there　was　a　faint

sound　of　drums　and　trumpets；　and　the　clang　of　arms；　and　neighing　of

steeds；　but　all　no　louder；　nor　more　distinct；　than　the　hum　of　the　bee；

or　the　summer…fly；　in　the　drowsy　ear　of　him　who　lies　at　noontide　in

the　shade。

　　〃Behold；　O　king；〃　said　the　astrologer；　〃a　proof　that　thy　enemies　are

even　now　in　the　field。　They　must　be　advancing　through　yonder

mountains；　by　the　Pass　of　Lope。　Would　you　produce　a　panic　and

confusion　amongst　them；　and　cause　them　to　retreat　without　loss　of

life；　strike　these　effigies　with　the　but…end　of　this　magic　lance；

would　you　cause　bloody　feud　and　carnage；　strike　with　the　point。〃

　　A　livid　streak　passed　across　the　countenance　of　Aben　Habuz；　he

seized　the　lance　with　trembling　eagerness；　his　gray　beard　wagged

with　exultation　as　he　tottered　toward　the　table：　〃Son　of　Abu　Ayub；〃

exclaimed　he；　in　chuckling　tone；　〃I　think　we　will　have　a　little

blood！〃

　　So　saying；　he　thrust　the　magic　lance　into　some　of　the　pigmy

effigies；　and　belabored　others　with　the　but…end；　upon　which　the　former

fell　as　dead　upon　the　board；　and　the　rest　turning　upon　each　other

began；　pell…mell；　a　chance…medley　fight。

　　It　was　with　difficulty　the　astrologer　could　stay　the　hand　of　the

most　pacific　of　monarchs；　and　prevent　him　from　absolutely

exterminating　his　foes；　at　length　he　prevailed　upon　him　to　leave　the

tower；　and　to　send　out　scouts　to　the　mountains　by　the　Pass　of　Lope。

　　They　returned　with　the　intelligence；　that　a　Christian　army　had

advanced　through　the　heart　of　the　Sierra；　almost　within　sight　of

Granada；　where　a　dissension　had　broken　out　among　them；　they　had　turned

their　weapons　against　each　other；　and　after　much　slaughter　had

retreated　over　the　border。

　　Aben　Habuz　was　transported　with　joy　on　thus　proving　the　efficacy

of　the　talisman。　〃At　length；〃　said　he；　〃I　shall　lead　a　life　of

tranquillity；　and　have　all　my　enemies　in　my　power。　O　wise　son　of　Abu

Ayub；　what　can　I　bestow　on　thee　in　reward　for　such　a　blessing？〃

　　〃The　wants　of　an　old　man　and　a　philosopher；　O　king；　are　few　and

simple；　grant　me　but　the　means　of　fitting　up　my　cave　as　a　suitable

hermitage；　and　I　am　content。〃

　　〃How　noble　is　the　moderation　of　the　truly　wise！〃　exclaimed　Aben

Habuz；　secretly　pleased　at　the　cheapness　of　the　recompense。　He

summoned　his　treasurer；　and　bade　him　dispense　whatever　sums　might　be

required　by　Ibrahim　to　complete　and　furnish　his　hermitage。

　　The　astrologer　now　gave　orders　to　have　various　chambers　hewn　out

of　the　solid　rock；　so　as　to　form　ranges　of　apartments　connected　with

his　astrological　hall；　these　he　caused　to　be　furnished　with

luxurious　ottomans　and　divans；　and　the　walls　to　be　hung　with　the

richest　silks　of　Damascus。　〃I　am　an　old　man；〃　said　he；　〃and　can　no

longer　rest　my　bones　on　stone　couches；　and　these　damp　walls　require

covering。〃

　　He　had　baths　too　constructed；　and　provided　with　all　kinds　of

perfumes　and　aromatic　oils：　〃For　a　bath；〃　said　he；　〃is　necessary　to

counteract　the　rigidity　of　age；　and　to　restore　freshness　and

suppleness　to　the　frame　withered　by　study。〃

　　He　caused　the　apartments　to　be　hung　with　innumerable　silver　and

crystal　lamps；　which　he　filled　with　a　fragrant　oil；　prepared　according

to　a　receipt　discovered　by　him　in　the　tombs　of　Egypt。　This　oil　was

perpetual　in　its　nature；　and　diffused　a　soft　radiance　like　the

tempered　light　of　day。　〃The　light　of　the　sun；〃　said　he；　〃is　too　garish

and　violent　for　the　eyes　of　an　old　man；　and　the　light　of　the　lamp　is

more　congenial　to　the　studies　of　a　philosopher。〃

　　The　treasurer　of　King　Aben　Habuz　groaned　at　the　sums　daily

demanded　to　fit　up　this　hermitage；　and　he　carried　his　complaints　to

the　king。　The　royal　word；　however；　had　been　given；　Aben　Habuz　shrugged

his　shoulders：　〃We　must　have　patience；〃　said　he；　〃this　old　man　has

taken　his　idea　of　a　philosophic　retreat　from　the　interior　of　the

pyramids；　and　of　the　vast　ruins　of　Egypt；　but　all　things　have　an

end；　and　so　will　the　furnishing　of　his　cavern。〃

　　The　king　was　in　the　right；　the　hermitage　was　at　length　complete；　and

formed　a　sumptuous　subterranean　palace。　The　astrologer　expressed

himself　perfectly　content；　and；　shutting　himself　up；　remained　for

three　whole　days　buried　in　study。　At　the　end　of　that　time　he

appeared　again　before　the　treasurer。　〃One　thing　more　is　necessary；〃

said　he；　〃one　trifling　solace　for　the　intervals　of　mental　labor。〃

　　〃O　wise　Ibrahim；　I　am　bound　to　furnish　every　thing　necessary　for　thy

solitude；　what　more　dost　thou　require？〃

　　〃I　would　fain　have　a　few　dancing　women。〃

　　〃Dancing　women！〃　echoed　the　treasurer；　with　surprise。

　　〃Dancing　women；〃　replied　the　sage；　gravely；　〃and　let　them　be　young

and　fair　to　look　upon；　for　the　sight　of　youth　and　beauty　is

refreshing。　A　few　will　suffice；　for　I　am　a　philosopher　of　simple

habits　and　easily　satisfied。〃

　　While　the　philosophic　Ibrahim　Ebn　Abu　Ayub　passed　his　time　thus

sagely　in　his　hermitage；　the　pacific　Aben　Habuz　carried　on　furious

campaigns　in　effigy　in　his　tower。　It　was　a　glorious　thing　for　an　old

man；　like　himself；　of　quiet　habits；　to　have　war　made　easy；　and　to　be

enabled　to　amuse　himself　in　his　chamber　by　brushing　away　whole

armies　like　so　many　swarms　of　flies。

　　For　a　time　he　rioted　in　the　indulgence　of　his　humors；　and　even

taunted　and　insulted　his　neighbors；　to　induce　them　to　make　incursions；

but　by　degrees　they　grew　wary　from　repeated　disasters；　until　no　one

ventured　to　invade　his　territories。　For　many　months　the　bronze

horseman　remained　on　the　peace　establishment　with　his　lance　elevated

in　the　air；　and　the　worthy　old　monarch　began　to　repine　at　the　want

of　his　accustomed　sport；　and　to　grow　peevish　at　his　monotonous

tranquillity。

　　At　length；　one　day；　the　talismanic　horseman　veered　suddenly　round；

and　lowering　his　lance；　made　a　dead　point　towards　the　mountains　of

Guadix。　Aben　Habuz　hastened　to　his　tower；　but　the　magic　table　in

that　direction　remained　quiet；　not　a　single　warrior　was　in　motion。

Perplexed　at　the　circumstance；　he　sent　forth　a　troop　of　horse　to　scour

the　mountains　and　reconnoitre。　They　returned　after　three　days'

absence。

　　〃We　have　searched　every　mountain　pass；〃　said　they；　〃but　not　a　helm

nor　spear　was　stirring。　All　that　w