the last battle_c·s·刘易斯-第21部分

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gainst　his　side。

ww锛枫��=



CHAPTER　FIFTEEN

锛庡皬锛庤�达紟锛巘锛巟t锛庡ぉ锛庡爞锛�
further　up　and　further　in　　　〃know；　o　warlike　kings；〃　said　emeth；　〃and　you；　o　ladies　whose　beauty　　illuminates　the　universe；　that　i　am　emeth　the　seventh　son　of　harpha　tarkaan　of　the　city　　of　tehishbaan；　westward　beyond　the　desert。　i　came　lately　into　narnia　with　nine　　and　twenty　others　under　the　mand　of　rishda　tarkaan　now　when　i　first　heard　that　we　　should　march　upon　narnia　i　rejoiced；　for　i　had　heard　many　things　of　your　land　and　　desired　greatly　to　meet　you　in　battle。　but　when　i　found　that　we　were　to　go　in　　disguised　as　merchants　（which　is　a　shameful　dress　for　a　warrior　and　the　son　of　a　　tarkaan）　and　to　work　by　lies　and　trickery；　then　my　joy　departed　from　me。　and　most　of　all　when　i　　found　we　must　wait　upon　a　monkey；　and　when　it　began　to　be　said　that　tash　and　aslan　　were　one；　then　the　world　became　dark　in　my　eyes。　for　always　since　i　was　a　boy　i　have　　served　tash　and　my　great　desire　was　to　know　more　of　him；　if　it　might　be；　to　look　upon　　his　face。　but　the　name　of　aslan　was　hateful　to　me。

〃and；　as　you　have　seen；　we　were　called　together　outside　the　straw…roofed　　hovel；　night　after　night；　and　the　fire　was　kindled；　and　the　ape　brought　forth　out　of　the　　hovel　something　upon　four　legs　that　i　could　not　well　see。　and　the　people　and　the　　beasts　bowed　down　and　did　honour　to　it。　but　i　thought；　the　tarkaan　is　deceived　by　the　　ape：　for　this　thing　that　es　out　of　the　stable　is　neither　tash　nor　any　other　god。　but　　when　i　watched　the　tarkaans　face；　and　marked　every　word　that　he　said　to　the　monkey；　then　　i　changed　my　mind：　for　i　saw　that　the　tarkaan　did　not　believe　in　it　himself。　and　then　i　　understood　that　he　did　not　believe　in　tash　at　all：　for　if　he　had；　how　could　he　dare　to　mock　　him？

〃when　i　understood　this；　a　great　rage　fell　upon　me　and　i　wondered　that　the　　true　tash　did　not　strike　down　both　the　monkey　and　the　tarkaan　with　fire　from　heaven。　　nevertheless　i　hid　my　anger　and　held　my　tongue　and　waited　to　see　how　it　would　end。　but　　last　night；　as　some　of　you　know；　the　monkey　brought　not　forth　the　yellow　thing　but　said　　that　all　who　desired　to　look　upon　tashlan　…　for　so　they　mixed　the　two　words　to　pretend　　that　they　were　all　one　…　must　pass　one　by　one　into　the　hovel。　and　i　said　to　myself；　　doubtless　this　is　some　other　deception。　but　when　the　cat　had　followed　in　and　had　e　out　again　in　　a　madness　of　terror；　then　i　said　to　myself；　surely　the　true　tash；　whom　they　called　on　　without　knowledge　or　belief；　has　now　e　among　us；　and　will　avenge　himself。　and　　though　my　heart　was　turned　into　water　inside　me　because　of　the　greatness　and　terror　　of　tash；　yet　my　desire　was　stronger　than　my　fear；　and　i　put　force　upon　my　knees　to　stay　　them　from　trembling；　and　on　my　teeth　that　they　should　not　chatter；　and　resolved　to　　look　upon　the　face　of　tash　though　he　should　slay　me。　so　i　offered　myself　to　go　into　the　　hovel；　and　the　tarkaan；　though　unwillingly；　let　me　go。

〃as　soon　as　i　had　gone　in　at　the　door；　the　first　wonder　was　that　i　found　　myself　in　this　great　sunlight　（as　we　all　are　now）　though　the　inside　of　the　hovel　had　　looked　dark　from　outside。　but　i　had　no　time　to　marvel　at　this；　for　immediately　i　was　forced　　to　fight　for　my　head　against　one　of　our　own　men。　as　soon　as　i　saw　him　i　understood　that　the　　monkey　and　the　tarkaan　had　set　him　there　to　slay　any　who　came　in　if　he　were　not　in　　their　secrets：　so　that　this　man　also　was　a　liar　and　a　mocker　and　no　true　servant　of　tash。　　i　had　the　better　will　to　fight　him；　and　having　slain　the　villain；　i　cast　him　out　behind　me　　through　the　door。

〃then　i　looked　about　me　and　saw　the　sky　and　the　wide　lands；　and　smelled　the　　sweetness。

and　i　said；　by　the　gods；　this　is　a　pleasant　place：　it　may　be　that　i　am　e　　into　the　country　of　tash。　and　i　began　to　journey　into　the　strange　country　and　to　　seek　him。

〃so　i　went　over　much　grass　and　many　flowers　and　among　all　kinds　of　　wholesome　and　delectable　trees　till　lo！　in　a　narrow　place　between　two　rocks　there　came　to　　meet　me　a　great　lion。　the　speed　of　him　was　like　the　ostrich；　and　his　size　was　an　　elephants；　his　hair　was　like　pure　gold　and　the　brightness　of　his　eyes　like　gold　that　is　liquid　　in　the　furnace。　he　was　more　terrible　than　the　flaming　mountain　of　lagour；　and　in　beauty　he　　surpassed　all　that　is　in　the　world　even　as　the　rose　in　bloom　surpasses　the　dust　of　the　　desert。　then　i　fell　at　his　feet　and　thought；　surely　this　is　the　hour　of　death；　for　the　lion　　（who　is　worthy　of　all　honour）　will　know　that　i　have　served　tash　all　my　days　and　not　him。　　nevertheless；　it　is　better　to　see　the　lion　and　die　than　to　be　tisroc　of　the　world　and　live　and　　not　to　have　seen　　

him。　but　the　glorious　one　bent　down　his　golden　head　and　touched　my　forehead　　with　his　tongue　and　said；　son；　thou　art　wele。　but　i　said；　alas；　lord；　i　am　no　son　　of　thine　but　the　servant　of　tash。　he　answered；　child；　all　the　service　thou　hast　done　to　　tash；　i　account　as　service　done　to　me。　then　by　reasons　of　my　great　desire　for　wisdom　and　　understanding；　i　overcame　my　fear　and　questioned　the　glorious　one　and　said；　lord；　is　it　　then　true；　as　the　ape　said；　that　thou　and　tash　are　one？　the　lion　growled　so　that　the　earth　　shook　（but　his　wrath　was　not　against　me）　and　said；　it　is　false。　not　because　he　and　i　are　　one；　but　because　we　are　opposites；　i　take　to　me　the　services　which　thou　hast　done　to　him。　　for　i　and　he　are　of　such　different　kinds　that　no　service　which　is　vile　can　be　done　to　me；　　and　none　which　is　not　vile　can　be　done　to　him。　therefore　if　any　man　swear　by　tash　and　keep　　his　oath　for　the　oaths　sake；　it　is　by　me　that　he　has　truly　sworn；　though　he　know　it　not；　　and　it　is　i　who　reward　him。　and　if　any　man　do　a　cruelty　in　my　name；　then；　though　he　says　　the　name　aslan；　it　is　tash　whom　he　serves　and　by　tash　his　deed　is　accepted。　dost　　thou　understand；　child？　i　said；　lord；　thou　knowest　how　much　i　understand。　but　i　said　also　　（for　the　truth　constrained　me）；　yet　i　have　been　seeking　tash　all　my　days。　beloved；　said　　the　glorious　one；　unless　thy　desire　had　been　for　me　thou　wouldst　not　have　sought　so　long　　and　so　truly。

for　all　find　what　they　truly　seek。

〃then　he　breathed　upon　me　and　took　away　the　trembling　from　my　limbs　and　　caused　me　to　stand　upon　my　feet。　and　after　that；　he　said　not　much；　but　that　we　should　　meet　again；　and　i　must　go　further　up　and　further　in。　then　he　turned　him　about　in　a　　storm　and　flurry　of　gold　and　was　gone　suddenly。

〃and　since　then；　o　kings　and　ladies；　i　have　been　wandering　to　find　him　and　　my　happiness　is　so　great　that　it　even　weakens　me　like　a　wound。　and　this　is　the　　marvel　of　marvels；　that　he　called　me　beloved；　me　who　am　but　as　a　dog　…鈥�

〃eh？　whats　that？〃　said　one　of　the　dogs。

〃sir；〃　said　emeth。　〃it　is　but　a　fashion　of　speech　which　we　have　in　　calormen。鈥�

〃well；　i　cant　say　its　one　i　like　very　much；〃　said　the　dog。

〃he　doesnt　mean　any　harm；〃　said　an　older　dog。

〃after　all；　we　call　our　puppies　boys　when　they　dont　behave　properly。鈥�

〃so　we　do；〃　said　the　first　dog。　〃or　girls。鈥�

〃s…s…sh！〃　said　the　old　dog。　〃thats　not　a　nice　word　to　use。　remember　where　　you　are。鈥�

〃look！〃　said　jill　suddenly。　someone　was　ing；　rather　timidly；　to　meet　　them；　a　graceful　creature　on　four　feet；　all　silvery…grey。　and　they　stared　at　him　for　a　whole　　ten　seconds　before　five　or　six　voices　said　all　at　once；　〃why；　its　old　puzzle！〃　they　　had　never　seen　him　by　daylight　with　the　lion…skin　off；　and　it　made　an　extraordinary　　difference。　he　was　himself　now：　a　beautiful　donkey　with　such　a　soft；　grey　coat　and　such　a　　gentle；　honest　face　　

that　if　you　had　seen　him　you　would　have　done　just　what　jill　and　lucy　did　…　　rushed　forward　and　put　your　arms　round　his　neck　and　kissed　his　nose　and　stroked　　his　ears。

when　they　asked　him　where　he　had　been　he　said　he　had　e　in　at　the　door　　along　with　all　the　other　creatures　but　he　had　…　well；　to　tell　the　truth；　he　had　been　　keeping　out　of　their　way　as　much　as　he　could；　and　out　of　aslans　way。　for　the　sight　of　the　real　　lion　had　made　him　so　ashamed　of　all　that　nonsense　about　dressing　up　in　a　lion…skin　that　　he　did　not　know　how　to　look　anyone　in　the　face。　but　when　he　saw　that　all　his　friends　were　　going　away　westward；　and　after　he　had　had　a　mouthful　of　grass　（〃and　ive　never　tasted　　such　good　grass　in　my　life；〃　said　puzzle）；　he　plucked　up　his　courage　and　followed。　　〃but　what　ill　do　if　i　really　have　to　meet　aslan；　im　sure　i　dont　know；〃　he　added。

〃youll　find　it　will　be　all　right　when　you　really　do；〃　said　queen　lucy。

then　they　went　forward　together；　always　westward；　for　that　seemed　to　be　the　　direction　aslan　had　meant　when　he　cried　out；　〃further　up　and　futher　in。〃　many　other　　creatures　were　slowly　moving　the　same　way；　but　that　grassy　country　was　very　wide　and　　there　was　no　crowding。

it　still　seemed　to　be　early；　and　the　morning　freshness　was　in　the　air。　they　　kept　on　stopping　to　look　round　and　to　look　behind　them；　partly　because　it　was　so　　beautiful　but　partly　also　because　there　was　something　about　it　which　they　could　not　　understand。

〃peter；〃　said　lucy；　〃where　is　this；　do　you　suppose？鈥�

〃i　dont　know；〃　said　the　high　king。　〃it　reminds　me　of　somewhere　but　i　cant　　give　it　a　name。　could　it　be　somewhere　we　once　stayed　for　a　holiday　when　we　were　very；　　very　small？鈥�

〃it　would　have　to　have　been　a　jolly　good　holiday；〃　said　eustace。　〃i　bet　　there　isnt　a　country　like　this　anywhere　in　our　world。　look　at　the　colours！　you　couldnt　　get　a　blue　like　the　blue　on　those　mountains　in　our　world。鈥�

〃is　it　not　aslans　country？〃　said　tirian。

〃not　like　aslans　country　on　top　of　that　mountain　beyond　the　eastern　end　of　　the　world；鈥�

said　jill。　〃ive　been　there。鈥�

〃if　you　ask　me；〃　said　edmund；　〃its　like　somewhere　in　the　narnian　world。　　look　at　those　mountains　ahead　…　and　the　big　ice…mountains　beyond　them。　surely　theyre　　rather　like　the　mountains　we　used　to　see　from　narnia；　the　ones　up　westward　beyond　the　　waterfall？鈥�

〃yes；　so　they　are；〃　said　peter。　〃only　these　are　bigger。鈥�

〃i　dont　think　those　ones　are　so　very　like　anything　in　narnia；〃　said　lucy。　　〃but　look　there。鈥�

she　pointed　southward　to　their　left；　and　everyone　stopped　and　turned　to　　look。　〃those　　

hills；〃　said　lucy；　〃the　nice　woody　ones　and　the　blue　ones　behind　…　arent　　they　very　like　the　southern　border　of　narnia？鈥�

〃like！〃　cri