salammbo-第38部分

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gods；　and　each　time　that　Schahabarim　pronounced　a　word　she　falteringly

repeated　it。



He　indicated　to　her　all　the　purifications　and　fastings　that　she　was　to

observe；　and　how　she　was　to　reach　Matho。　Moreover；　a　man　acquainted

with　the　routes　would　accompany　her。



She　felt　as　if　she　had　been　set　free。　She　thought　only　of　the

happiness　of　seeing　the　zaimph　again；　and　she　now　blessed　Schahabarim

for　his　exhortations。



It　was　the　period　at　which　the　doves　of　Carthage　migrated　to　Sicily　to

the　mountain　of　Eryx　and　the　temple　of　Venus。　For　several　days　before

their　departure　they　sought　out　and　called　to　one　another　so　as　to

collect　together；　at　last　one　evening　they　flew　away；　the　wind　blew

them　along；　and　the　big　white　cloud　glided　across　the　sky　high　above

the　sea。



The　horizon　was　filled　with　the　colour　of　blood。　They　seemed　to

descend　gradually　to　the　waves；　then　they　disappeared　as　though

swallowed　up；　and　falling　of　themselves　into　the　jaws　of　the　sun。

Salammbo；　who　watched　them　retiring；　bent　her　head；　and　then　Taanach；

believing　that　she　guessed　her　sorrow；　said　gently　to　her：



〃But　they　will　come　back；　Mistress。〃



〃Yes！　I　know。〃



〃And　you　will　see　them　again。〃



〃Perhaps！〃　she　said；　sighing。



She　had　not　confided　her　resolve　to　any　one；　in　order　to　carry　it　out

with　the　greater　discretion　she　sent　Taanach　to　the　suburb　of　Kinisdo

to　buy　all　the　things　that　she　required　instead　of　requesting　them

from　the　stewards：　vermilion；　aromatics；　a　linen　girdle；　and　new

garments。　The　old　slave　was　amazed　at　these　preparations；　without

daring；　however；　to　ask　any　questions；　and　the　day；　which　had　been

fixed　by　Schahabarim；　arrived　when　Salammbo　was　to　set　out。



About　the　twelfth　hour　she　perceived；　in　the　depths　of　the　sycamore

trees；　a　blind　old　man　with　one　hand　resting　on　the　shoulder　of　a

child　who　walked　before　him；　while　with　the　other　he　carried　a　kind　of

cithara　of　black　wood　against　his　hip。　The　eunuchs；　slaves；　and　women

had　been　scrupulously　sent　away；　no　one　might　know　the　mystery　that

was　preparing。



Taanach　kindled　four　tripods　filled　with　strobus　and　cadamomum　in　the

corners　of　the　apartment；　then　she　unfolded　large　Babylonian　hangings；

and　stretched　them　on　cords　all　around　the　room；　for　Salammbo　did　not

wish　to　be　seen　even　by　the　walls。　The　kinnor…player　squatted　behind

the　door　and　the　young　boy　standing　upright　applied　a　reed　flute　to

his　lips。　In　the　distance　the　roar　of　the　streets　was　growing　feebler；

violet　shadows　were　lengthening　before　the　peristyles　of　the　temples；

and　on　the　other　side　of　the　gulf　the　mountain　bases；　the　fields　of

olive…trees；　and　the　vague　yellow　lands　undulated　indefinitely；　and

were　blended　together　in　a　bluish　haze；　not　a　sound　was　to　be　heard；

and　an　unspeakable　depression　weighed　in　the　air。



Salammbo　crouched　down　upon　the　onyx　step　on　the　edge　of　the　basin；

she　raised　her　ample　sleeves；　fastening　them　behind　her　shoulders；　and

began　her　ablutions　in　methodical　fashion；　according　to　the　sacred

rites。



Next　Taanach　brought　her　something　liquid　and　coagulated　in　an

alabaster　phial；　it　was　the　blood　of　a　black　dog　slaughtered　by　barren

women　on　a　winter's　night　amid　the　rubbish　of　a　sepulchre。　She　rubbed

it　upon　her　ears；　her　heels；　and　the　thumb　of　her　right　hand；　and　even

her　nail　remained　somewhat　red；　as　if　she　had　crushed　a　fruit。



The　moon　rose；　then　the　cithara　and　the　flute　began　to　play　together。



Salammbo　unfastened　her　earrings；　her　necklace；　her　bracelets；　and　her

long　white　simar；　she　unknotted　the　band　in　her　hair；　shaking　the

latter　for　a　few　minutes　softly　over　her　shoulders　to　cool　herself　by

thus　scattering　it。　The　music　went　on　outside；　it　consisted　of　three

notes　ever　the　same；　hurried　and　frenzied；　the　strings　grated；　the

flute　blew；　Taanach　kept　time　by　striking　her　hands；　Salammbo；　with　a

swaying　of　her　whole　body；　chanted　prayers；　and　her　garments　fell　one

after　another　around　her。



The　heavy　tapestry　trembled；　and　the　python's　head　appeared　above　the

cord　that　supported　it。　The　serpent　descended　slowly　like　a　drop　of

water　flowing　along　a　wall；　crawled　among　the　scattered　stuffs；　and

then；　gluing　its　tail　to　the　ground；　rose　perfectly　erect；　and　his

eyes；　more　brilliant　than　carbuncles；　darted　upon　Salammbo。



A　horror　of　cold；　or　perhaps　a　feeling　of　shame；　at　first　made　her

hesitate。　But　she　recalled　Schahabarim's　orders　and　advanced；　the

python　turned　downwards；　and　resting　the　centre　of　its　body　upon　the

nape　of　her　neck；　allowed　its　head　and　tail　to　hang　like　a　broken

necklace　with　both　ends　trailing　to　the　ground。　Salammbo　rolled　it

around　her　sides；　under　her　arms　and　between　her　knees；　then　taking　it

by　the　jaw　she　brought　the　little　triangular　mouth　to　the　edge　of　her

teeth；　and　half　shutting　her　eyes；　threw　herself　back　beneath　the　rays

of　the　moon。　The　white　light　seemed　to　envelop　her　in　a　silver　mist；

the　prints　of　her　humid　steps　shone　upon　the　flag…stones；　stars

quivered　in　the　depth　of　the　water；　it　tightened　upon　her　its　black

rings　that　were　spotted　with　scales　of　gold。　Salammbo　panted　beneath

the　excessive　weight；　her　loins　yielded；　she　felt　herself　dying；　and

with　the　tip　of　its　tail　the　serpent　gently　beat　her　thigh；　then　the

music　becoming　still　it　fell　off　again。



Taanach　came　back　to　her；　and　after　arranging　two　candelabra；　the

lights　of　which　burned　in　crystal　balls　filled　with　water；　she　tinged

the　inside　of　her　hands　with　Lawsonia；　spread　vermilion　upon　her

cheeks；　and　antimony　along　the　edge　of　her　eyelids；　and　lengthened　her

eyebrows　with　a　mixture　of　gum；　musk；　ebony；　and　crushed　legs　of

flies。



Salammbo　seated　on　a　chair　with　ivory　uprights；　gave　herself　up　to　the

attentions　of　the　slave。　But　the　touchings；　the　odour　of　the

aromatics；　and　the　fasts　that　she　had　undergone；　were　enervating　her。

She　became　so　pale　that　Taanach　stopped。



〃Go　on！〃　said　Salammbo；　and　bearing　up　against　herself；　she　suddenly

revived。　Then　she　was　seized　with　impatience；　she　urged　Taanach　to

make　haste；　and　the　old　slave　grumbled：



〃Well！　well！　Mistress！Besides；　you　have　no　one　waiting　for　you！〃



〃Yes！〃　said　Salammbo；　〃some　one　is　waiting　for　me。〃



Taanach　drew　back　in　surprise；　and　in　order　to　learn　more　about　it；

said：



〃What　orders　to　you　give　me；　Mistress？　for　if　you　are　to　remain

away〃



But　Salammbo　was　sobbing；　the　slave　exclaimed：



〃You　are　suffering！　what　is　the　matter？　Do　not　go　away！　take　me！　When

you　were　quite　little　and　used　to　cry；　I　took　you　to　my　heart　and　made

you　laugh　with　the　points　of　my　breasts；　you　have　drained　them；

Mistress！〃　She　struck　herself　upon　her　dried…up　bosom。　〃Now　I　am　old！

I　can　do　nothing　for　you！　you　no　longer　love　me！　you　hide　your　griefs

from　me；　you　despise　the　nurse！〃　And　tears　of　tenderness　and　vexation

flowed　down　her　cheeks　in　the　gashes　of　her　tattooing。



〃No！〃　said　Salammbo；　〃no；　I　love　you！　be　comforted！〃



With　a　smile　like　the　grimace　of　an　old　ape；　Taanach　resumed　her　task。

In　accordance　with　Schahabarim's　recommendations；　Salammbo　had　ordered

the　slave　to　make　her　magnificent；　and　she　was　obeying　her　mistress

with　barbaric　taste　full　at　once　of　refinement　and　ingenuity。



Over　a　first　delicate　and　vinous…coloured　tunic　she　passed　a　second

embroidered　with　birds'　feathers。　Golden　scales　clung　to　her　hips；　and

from　this　broad　girdle　descended　her　blue　flowing　silver…starred

trousers。　Next　Taanach　put　upon　her　a　long　robe　made　of　the　cloth　of

the　country　of　Seres；　white　and　streaked　with　green　lines。　On　the　edge

of　her　shoulder　she　fastened　a　square　of　purple　weighted　at　the　hem

with　grains　of　sandastrum；　and　above　all　these　garments　she　placed　a

black　mantle　with　a　flowing　train；　then　she　gazed　at　her；　and　proud　of

her　work　could　not　help　saying：



〃You　will　not　be　more　beautiful　on　the　day　of　your　bridal！〃



〃My　bridal！〃　repeated　Salammbo；　she　was　musing　with　her　elbow　resting

upon　the　ivory　chair。



But　Taanach　set　up　before　her　a　copper　mirror；　which　was　so　broad　and

high　that　she　could　see　herself　completely　in　it。　Then　she　rose；　and

with　a　light　touch　of　her　finger　raised　a　lock　of　her　hair　which　was

falling　too　low。



Her　hair　was　covered　with　gold　dust；　was　crisped　in　front；　and　hung

down　behind　over　her　back　in　long　twists　ending　in　pearls。　The

brightness　of　the　candelabra　heightened　the　paint　on　her　cheeks；　the

gold　on　her　garments；　and　the　whiteness　of　her　skin；　around　her　waist；

and　on　her　arms；　hands　and　toes；　she　had　such　a　wealth　of　gems　that

the　mirror　sent　back　rays　upon　her　like　a　sun；and　Salammbo；　standing

by　the　side　of　Taanach；　who　leaned　over　to　see　her；　smiled　amid　this

dazzling　display。



Then　she　walked　to　and　fro　embarrassed　by　the　time　that　was　still

left。



Suddenly　the　crow　of　a　cock　resounded。　She　quickly　pinned　a　long

yellow　veil　upon　her　hair；　passed　a　scarf　around　her　neck；　thrust　her

feet　into　blue　leather　boots；　and　said　to　Taanach：



〃Go　and　see　whether　there　is　not　a　man　with　two　horses　beneath　the

myrtles。〃



Taanach　had　scarcely　re…entered　when　she　was　descending　the　galley

staircase。



〃Mistress！〃　cried　the　nurse。



Salammbo　turned　round　with　one　finger　on　her　mouth　as　a　sign　for

discretion　and　immobility。



Taanach　stole　softly　along　the　prows　to　the　foot　of　the　terrace；　and

from　a　distance　she　could　distinguish　by　the　light　of　the　moon　a

gigantic　shadow　walking　obliquely　in　the　cypress　avenue　to　the　left　of

Salammbo；　a　sign　which　presaged　death。



Taanach　went　up　again　into　the　chamber。　She　threw　herself　upon　the

ground　tearing　her　face　with　her　nails；　she　plucked　out　her　hair；　and

uttered　piercing　shrieks　with　all　her　might。



It　occurred　to　her　that　they　might　be　heard；　then　she　became　silent；

sobbing　quite　softly　with　her　head　in　the　hands　and　her　face　on　the

pavement。







CHAPTER　XI