the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第5部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


y　cities　and　is　likely　to　be　chosen　as　the　grand　vizier　when　the　present　　grand　vizier　dies。

moreover　he　is　at　least　sixty　years　old　and　has　a　hump　on　his　back　and　his　　face　resembles　that　of　an　ape。　nevertheless　my　father；　because　of　the　wealth　and　power　of　　this　ahoshta；　and　being　persuaded　by　his　wife；　sent　messengers　offering　me　in　marriage；　　and　the　offer　was　favourably　accepted　and　ahoshta　sent　word　that　he　would　marry　me　this　　very　year　at　the　time　of　high　summer。

〃when　this　news　was　brought　to　me　the　sun　appeared　dark　in　my　eyes　and　i　　laid　myself　on　my　bed　and　wept　for　a　day。　but　on　the　second　day　i　rose　up　and　washed　my　　face　and　caused　my　mare　hwin　to　be　saddled　and　took　with　me　a　sharp　dagger　which　my　　brother　had　carried　in　the　western　wars　and　rode　out　alone。　and　when　my　fathers　　house　was　out　of　sight　and　i　was　e　to　a　green　open　place　in　a　certain　wood　where　there　　were　no　dwellings　of　men；　i　dismounted　from　hwin　my　mare　and　took　out　the　dagger。　　then　i　parted　my　clothes　where　i　thought　the　readiest　way　lay　to　my　heart　and　i　　prayed　to　all　the　　

gods　that　as　soon　as　i　was　dead　i　might　find　myself　with　my　brother。　after　　that　i　shut　my　eyes　and　my　teeth　and　prepared　to　drive　the　dagger　into　my　heart。　but　　before　i　had　done　so；　this　mare　spoke　with　the　voice　of　one　of　the　daughters　of　men　and　said；　　〃o　my　mistress；　do　not　by　any　means　destroy　yourself；　for　if　you　live　you　may　yet　　have　good　fortune　but　all　the　dead　are　dead　alike。鈥�

〃i　didnt　say　it　half　so　well　as　that；〃　muttered　the　mare。

〃hush；　maam；　hush；〃　said　bree；　who　was　thoroughly　enjoying　the　story。　　〃shes　telling　it　in　the　grand　calormene　manner　and　no　story…teller　in　a　tisrocs　court　could　　do　it　better。

pray　go　on；　tarkheena。鈥�

〃when　i　heard　the　language　of　men　uttered　by　my　mare；〃　continued　aravis；　〃i　　said　to　myself；　the　fear　of　death　has　disordered　my　reason　and　subjected　me　to　　delusions。　and　i　became　full　of　shame　for　none　of　my　lineage　ought　to　fear　death　more　than　　the　biting　of　a　gnat。　therefore　i　addressed　myself　a　second　time　to　the　stabbing；　but　hwin　　came　near　to　me　and　put　her　head　in　between　me　and　the　dagger　and　discoursed　to　me　most　　excellent　reasons　and　rebuked　me　as　a　mother　rebukes　her　daughter。　and　now　my　wonder　　was　so　great　that　i　forgot　about　killing　myself　and　about　ahoshta　and　said；　‘o　my　　mare；　how　have　you　learned　to　speak　like　one　of　the　daughters　of　men？　and　hwin　told　　me　what　is　known　to　all　this　pany；　that　in　narnia　there　are　beasts　that　talk；　and　　how　she　herself　was　stolen　from　thence　when　she　was　a　little　foal。　she　told　me　also　of　the　　woods　and　waters　of　narnia　and　the　castles　and　the　great　ships；　till　i　said；　‘in　the　　name　of　tash　and　azaroth　and　zardeenah　lady　of　the　night；　i　have　a　great　wish　to　be　in　that　　country　of　narnia。　‘o　my　mistress；　answered　the　mare；　‘if　you　were　in　narnia　you　　would　be　happy；　for　in　that　land　no　maiden　is　forced　to　marry　against　her　will。　　〃and　when　we　had　talked　together　for　a　great　time　hope　returned　to　me　and　i　　rejoiced　that　i　had　not　killed　myself。　moreover　it　was　agreed　between　hwin　and　me　　that　we　should　steal　ourselves　away　together　and　we　planned　it　in　this　fashion。　we　　returned　to　my　fathers　house　and　i　put　on　my　gayest　clothes　and　sang　and　danced　before　my　　father　and　pretended　to　be　delighted　with　the　marriage　which　he　had　prepared　for　me。　　also　i　said　to　him；　‘o　my　father　and　o　the　delight　of　my　eyes；　give　me　your　licence　and　　permission　to　go　with　one　of　my　maidens　alone　for　three　days　into　the　woods　to　do　secret　　sacrifices　to　zardeenah；　lady　of　the　night　and　of　maidens；　as　is　proper　and　customary　for　　damsels　when　they　must　bid　farewell　to　the　service　of　zardeenah　and　prepare　　themselves　for　marriage。　and　he　answered；　‘o　my　daughter　and　o　the　delight　of　my　eyes；　so　　shall　it　be。　　〃but　when　i　came　out　from　the　presence　of　my　father　i　went　immediately　to　　the　oldest　of　his　slaves；　his　secretary；　who　had　dandled　me　on　his　knees　when　i　was　a　　baby　and　loved　me　more　than　the　air　and　the　light。　and　i　swore　him　to　be　secret　and　begged　　him　to　write　a　certain　letter　for　me。　and　he　wept　and　implored　me　to　change　my　　resolution　but　in　the　end　he　said；　‘to　hear　is　to　obey；　and　did　all　my　will。　and　i　sealed　the　　letter　and　hid　it　in　my　bosom。鈥�

〃but　what　was　in　the　letter？〃　asked　shasta。

〃be　quiet；　youngster；〃　said　bree。　〃youre　spoiling　the　story。　shell　tell　　us　all　about　the　letter　in　the　right　place。　go　on；　tarkheena。鈥�

〃then　i　called　the　maid　who　was　to　go　with　me　to　the　woods　and　perform　the　　rites　of　zardeenah　and　told　her　to　wake　me　very　early　in　the　morning。　and　i　became　　merry　with　her　and　gave　her　wine　to　drink；　but　i　had　mixed　such　things　in　her　cup　that　　i　knew　she　must　sleep　for　a　night　and　a　day。　as　soon　as　the　household　of　my　father　had　　mitted　themselves　to　sleep　i　arose　and　put　on　an　armour　of　my　brothers　which　i　　always　kept　in　my　chamber　in　his　memory。　i　put　into　my　girdle　all　the　money　i　had　and　　certain　choice　jewels　and　provided　myself　also　with　food；　and　saddled　the　mare　with　my　own　　hands　and　rode　away　in　the　second　watch　of　the　night。　i　directed　my　course　not　to　the　　woods　where　my　father　supposed　that　i　would　go　but　north　and　east　to　tashbaan。

〃now　for　three　days　and　more　i　knew　that　my　father　would　not　seek　me；　being　　deceived　by　the　words　i　had　said　to　him。　and　on　the　fourth　day　we　arrived　at　the　　city　of　azim　balda。　now　azim　balda　stands　at　the　meeting　of　many　roads　and　from　it　the　　posts　of　the　tisroc　（may　he　live　for　ever）　ride　on　swift　horses　to　every　part　of　the　　empire：　and　it　is　one　of　the　rights　and　privileges　of　the　greater　tarkaans　to　send　messages　by　　them。　i　therefore　went　to　the　chief　of　the　messengers　in　the　house　of　imperial　posts　in　azim　　balda　and　said；　‘o　dispatcher　of　messages；　here　is　a　letter　from　my　uncle　ahoshta　　tarkaan　to　kidrash　tarkaan　lord　of　calavar。　take　now　these　five　crescents　and　cause　it　　to　be　sent　to　him。　and　the　chief　of　the　messengers　said；　‘to　hear　is　to　obey。　　〃this　letter　was　feigned　to　be　written　by　ahoshta　and　this　was　the　　signification　of　the　writing：　‘ahoshta　tarkaan　to　kidrash　tarkaan；　salutation　and　peace。　in　the　　name　of　tash　the　irresistible；　the　inexorable。　be　it　known　to　you　that　as　i　made　my　　journey　towards　your　house　to　perform　the　contract　of　marriage　between　me　and　your　daughter　　aravis　tarkheena；　it　pleased　fortune　and　the　gods　that　i　fell　in　with　her　in　the　　forest　when　she　had　ended　the　rites　and　sacrifices　of　zardeenah　according　to　the　custom　of　　maidens。　and　when　i　learned　who　she　was；　being　delighted　with　her　beauty　and　discretion；　　i　became　inflamed　with　love　and　it　appeared　to　me　that　the　sun　would　be　dark　to　me　　if　i　did　not　marry　her　at　once。　accordingly　i　prepared　the　necessary　sacrifices　and　　married　your　daughter　the　same　hour　that　i　met　her　and　have　returned　with　her　to　my　own　　house。　and　we　both　pray　and　charge　you　to　e　hither　as　speedily　as　you　may　that　we　　may　be　delighted　with　your　face　and　speech；　and　also　that　you　may　bring　with　you　　the　dowry　of　my　wife；　which；　by　reason　of　my　great　charges　and　expenses；　i　require　　without　delay。

and　because　thou　and　i　are　brothers　i　assure　myself　that　you　will　not　be　　angered　by　the　haste　of　my　marriage　which　is　wholly　occasioned　by　the　great　love　i　bear　　your　daughter。

and　i　mit　you　to　the　care　of　all　the　gods。　　〃as　soon　as　i　had　done　this　i　rode　on　in　all　haste　from　azim　balda；　fearing　　no　pursuit　and　expecting　that　my　father；　having　received　such　a　letter；　would　send　　messages　to　ahoshta　or　go　to　him　himself；　and　that　before　the　matter　was　discovered　i　should　be　　beyond　tashbaan。　and　that　is　the　pith　of　my　story　until　this　very　night　when　i　was　　chased　by　lions　and　met　you　at　the　swimming　of　the　salt　water。鈥�

〃and　what　happened　to　the　girl　…　the　one　you　drugged？〃　asked　shasta。

〃doubtless　she　was　beaten　for　sleeping　late；〃　said　aravis　coolly。　〃but　she　　was　a　tool　and　spy　of　my　stepmothers。　i　am　very　glad　they　should　beat　her。鈥�

〃i　say；　that　was　hardly　fair；〃　said　shasta。

〃i　did　not　do　any　of　these　things　for　the　sake　of　pleasing　you；〃　said　　aravis。

〃and　theres　another　thing　i　dont　understand　about　that　story；〃　said　　shasta。　〃youre　not　grown　up；　i　dont　believe　youre　any　older　than　i　am。　i　dont　believe　　youre　as　old。　how　could　you　be　getting　married　at　your　age？鈥�

aravis　said　nothing；　but　bree　at　once　said；　〃shasta；　dont　display　your　　ignorance。　theyre　always　married　at　that　age　in　the　great　tarkaan　families。鈥�

shasta　turned　very　red　（though　it　was　hardly　light　enough　for　the　others　to　　see　this）　and　felt　snubbed。　aravis　asked　bree　for　his　story。　bree　told　it；　and　shasta　　thought　that　he　put　in　a　great　deal　more　than　he　needed　about　the　falls　and　the　bad　riding。　　bree　obviously　thought　it　very　funny；　but　aravis　did　not　laugh。　when　bree　had　finished　　they　all　went　to　sleep。

next　day　all　four　of　them；　two　horses　and　two　humans；　continued　their　　journey　together。

shasta　thought　it　had　been　much　pleasanter　when　he　and　bree　were　on　their　　own。　for　now　it　was　bree　and　aravis　who　did　nearly　all　the　talking。　bree　had　lived　a　　long　time　in　calormen　and　had　always　been　among　tarkaans　and　tarkaans　horses；　and　so　of　　course　he　knew　a　great　many　of　the　same　people　and　places　that　aravis　knew。　she　　would　always　be　saying　things　like；　〃but　if　you　were　at　the　fight　of　zulindreh　you　would　　have　seen　my　cousin　alimash；〃　and　bree　would　answer；　〃oh；　yes；　alimash；　he　was　only　　captain　of　the　chariots；　you　know。　i　dont　quite　hold　with　chariots　or　the　kind　of　horses　　who　draw　chariots。　thats　not　real　cavalry。　but　he　is　a　worthy　nobleman。　he　filled　　my　nosebag　with　sugar　after　the　taking　of　teebeth。〃　or　else　bree　would　say；　〃i　was　down　at　　the　lake　of　mezreel　that　summer；〃　and　aravis　would　say；　〃oh；　mezreel！　i　had　a　friend　　there；　lasaraleen　tarkheena。　what　a　delightful　place　it　is。　those　gardens；　and　the　　valley　of　the　thousand　perfumes！〃　bree　was　not　in　the　least　trying　to　leave　shasta　out　of　　things；　though　shasta　sometimes　nearly　thought　he　was。　people　who　know　a　lot　of　the　　same　things　can　hardly　help　talking　about　them；　and　if　youre　there　you　can　　hardly　help　feeling　that　youre　out　of　it。

hwin　the　mare　was　rather　shy　before　a　great　war…horse　like　bree　and　said　　very　little。　and　aravis　never　spoke　to　shas