登陆注册
15401800000112

第112章

It appeared again on the first landing.Salammbo was walking slowly beneath it; then she crossed the terrace to take her seat behind on a kind of throne cut out of the carapace of a tortoise.An ivory stool with three steps was pushed beneath her feet; two Negro children knelt on the edge of the first step, and sometimes she would rest both arms, which were laden with rings of excessive weight, upon their heads.

From ankle to hip she was covered with a network of narrow meshes which were in imitation of fish scales, and shone like mother-of-pearl; her waist was clasped by a blue zone, which allowed her breasts to be seen through two crescent-shaped slashings; the nipples were hidden by carbuncle pendants.She had a headdress made of peacock's feathers studded with gems; an ample cloak, as white as snow, fell behind her,--and with her elbows at her sides, her knees pressed together, and circles of diamonds on the upper part of her arms, she remained perfectly upright in a hieratic attitude.

Her father and her husband were on two lower seats, Narr' Havas dressed in a light simar and wearing his crown of rock-salt, from which there strayed two tresses of hair as twisted as the horns of Ammon; and Hamilcar in a violet tunic figured with gold vine branches, and with a battle-sword at his side.

The python of the temple of Eschmoun lay on the ground amid pools of pink oil in the space enclosed by the tables, and, biting its tail, described a large black circle.In the middle of the circle there was a copper pillar bearing a crystal egg; and, as the sun shone upon it, rays were emitted on every side.

Behind Salammbo stretched the priests of Tanith in linen robes; on her right the Ancients, in their tiaras, formed a great gold line, and on the other side the rich with their emerald sceptres a great green line,--while quite in the background, where the priests of Moloch were ranged, the cloaks looked like a wall of purple.The other colleges occupied the lower terraces.The multitude obstructed the streets.It reached to the house-tops, and extended in long files to the summit of the Acropolis.Having thus the people at her feet, the firmament above her head, and around her the immensity of the sea, the gulf, the mountains, and the distant provinces, Salammbo in her splendour was blended with Tanith, and seemed the very genius of Carthage, and its embodied soul.

The feast was to last all night, and lamps with several branches were planted like trees on the painted woollen cloths which covered the low tables.Large electrum flagons, blue glass amphoras, tortoise-shell spoons, and small round loaves were crowded between the double row of pearl-bordered plates; bunches of grapes with their leaves had been rolled round ivory vine-stocks after the fashion of the thyrsus;blocks of snow were melting on ebony trays, and lemons, pomegranates, gourds, and watermelons formed hillocks beneath the lofty silver plate; boars with open jaws were wallowing in the dust of spices;hares, covered with their fur, appeared to be bounding amid the flowers; there were shells filled with forcemeat; the pastry had symbolic shapes; when the covers of the dishes were removed doves flew out.

The slaves, meanwhile, with tunics tucked up, were going about on tiptoe; from time to time a hymn sounded on the lyres, or a choir of voices rose.The clamour of the people, continuous as the noise of the sea, floated vaguely around the feast, and seemed to lull it in a broader harmony; some recalled the banquet of the Mercenaries; they gave themselves up to dreams of happiness; the sun was beginning to go down, and the crescent of the moon was already rising in another part of the sky.

But Salammbo turned her head as though some one had called her; the people, who were watching her, followed the direction of her eyes.

The door of the dungeon, hewn in the rock at the foot of the temple, on the summit of the Acropolis, had just opened; and a man was standing on the threshold of this black hole.

He came forth bent double, with the scared look of fallow deer when suddenly enlarged.

The light dazzled him; he stood motionless awhile.All had recognised him, and they held their breath.

In their eyes the body of this victim was something peculiarly theirs, and was adorned with almost religious splendour.They bent forward to see him, especially the women.They burned to gaze upon him who had caused the deaths of their children and husbands; and from the bottom of their souls there sprang up in spite of themselves an infamous curiosity, a desire to know him completely, a wish mingled with remorse which turned to increased execration.

At last he advanced; then the stupefaction of surprise disappeared.

Numbers of arms were raised, and he was lost to sight.

The staircase of the Acropolis had sixty steps.He descended them as though he were rolled down in a torrent from the top of a mountain;three times he was seen to leap, and then he alighted below on his feet.

His shoulders were bleeding, his breast was panting with great shocks;and he made such efforts to burst his bonds that his arms, which were crossed on his naked loins, swelled like pieces of a serpent.

Several streets began in front of him, leading from the spot at which he found himself.In each of them a triple row of bronze chains fastened to the navels of the Pataec gods extended in parallel lines from one end to the other; the crowd was massed against the houses, and servants, belonging to the Ancients, walked in the middle brandishing thongs.

One of them drove him forward with a great blow; Matho began to move.

They thrust their arms over the chains shouting out that the road had been left too wide for him; and he passed along, felt, pricked, and slashed by all those fingers; when he reached the end of one street another appeared; several times he flung himself to one side to bite them; they speedily dispersed, the chains held him back, and the crowd burst out laughing.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 天价王妃:女道封妖

    天价王妃:女道封妖

    她身负重任来到异世大陆的恒国,为的只是替祖先结束当年除妖的任务,却狗血的嫁给了恒国炎王爷。她为了任务弄的自己伤痕累累,他百般心疼愿意与她携手完成任务,为百姓创造幸福。"我的任务完成了,我想我该回去了!“她依旧是依依不舍,或许从不知道何时开始,她已经爱上他了。"那你愿意为了我而留下吗?如果不愿意,本王可以跟你去你的世界!”她满是感动,流露出喜悦的眼珠,两人紧紧相依一吻天荒地老。
  • 凤凰玉:召唤千年爱

    凤凰玉:召唤千年爱

    因为“意外”,而盗到一块只有一半的神玉——凤凰玉!   自从拥有这玉开始,天天做着相同的梦。命运之轮开始飞速旋转起来。前世的缘,只是有缘无份,即使死了,也埋不在一起!;今世的爱,不管道路如何弯曲,我终会找到你!#—*希望有多多的大大们喜欢泪泪我~~支持我~~~给我投投票~~发发评论~~~
  • 吸血殿下霸爱冷血女王

    吸血殿下霸爱冷血女王

    爱丽丝蒂魔法学院里,寒天依,无父无母的孤儿。新来的转校生,先后遇到了七位殿下,温柔,花心,腹黑,冷酷,热情,善良,会与学院里高高在上的殿下们擦出怎样的火花呢?“嫁给我吧,寒天依”“嗯。。”
  • 重生之大中华

    重生之大中华

    前世17岁许下的为中华崛起而奋斗的理想,早已迷失在繁华的俗世中。死前一刻的主角,临终才想起那遗忘了的初衷。幸而上天给了主角一次重生的机会,主角决定不再遗忘,前世二十五六岁才成熟的思想,今生不需要那时刻,那么?从少年就做起吧。且看主角如何在20世纪建立一个庞大的战略系统,哪怕和平的20世纪战争打不起来,也要经济战略,文化战略等等的为我华族在世界的地位多一份话语权。骨子里流淌的骄傲血液血统,有这份血统的支撑,就足矣为我大中华民族做到很多事。居安思危,吾辈不愿意再沉默在看似‘和平’的年代!非我族类,其心必异。异族政体背后贪婪的资本家们可不会和你之乎者也!世间各种主义,且看我大中华主义!
  • 无限之小白脸系统

    无限之小白脸系统

    任务一:吸引超杀女的注意。任务奖励:获得超杀女的英语精通。任务惩罚:永远的待在这个位面吧!哇哈哈哈!英语精通有个毛用!你倒是给我钱跟护照啊!任务二:让超杀女对你说:我爱你!(仅限英语)任务奖励:超杀女的枪械精通。任务惩罚:超杀女会一枪崩了你的,嘿嘿。你妹超杀女才是十岁好不好?这个任务也太禽兽了点吧?能不能给个正常点的任务。这是一个的悲催少年被迫走上小白脸之路的悲歌
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 我爱tf

    我爱tf

    她们,三个普普通通的女孩,当上了艺人,获取到了粉丝的鼓励。在窗外无数次地从外往里看,无数次地被发现。不知道是友情还是爱情?搞不清MATgirls的世界是什么样的。三个少年,三个少女,经过了多少挫折。只知道,爱你,是因为有你
  • 王爷,您别急,请排队

    王爷,您别急,请排队

    羿王妃一病醒来,气质不同了,性格不同了,爱好不同了,对俊美无比的羿王爷也丧失了兴趣,还接二连三的去青楼。第一次正面交锋,他在她的面和别的女人前秀恩爱。她熟若无睹,不屑的说:“对于无关紧要的人,我一向采用漠视的态度。王爷请自重啊,小心jin尽人亡!”他立刻推开了身旁的女人。第二次对决,他向皇上求圣旨想休了她。她骄傲的一笑道:“天涯何处无芳草,何必单恋一根草,何况质量也不好。王爷,再见!不!永远不见!”第三次见面,她的身边美男环绕,他气愤的跟在她身后,把她身边这些苍蝇蚊子统统赶走,把她往怀里一抱:“爱妃,那些芳草质量还不如本王,本王已经把自己送上门就等爱妃检测质量呢?”然后两人齐齐倒在旁边的大床上
  • 成语中的科学(人生解密)

    成语中的科学(人生解密)

    本书既有古人对科学知识朴素的认识与总结,也有古人对科学知识有意无意的智慧利用。使读者在有趣的成语故事中不知不觉中学到科普知识,开拓视野的同时,对相关成语也能有进一步的了解,在语言实践中能正确灵活地运用。看《成语中的科学》让我们在轻松愉悦中了解成语的本意,并从中体会出前人的智慧,让它成为我们走上成功的奠基石。
  • 女配逆袭:荆棘仙路

    女配逆袭:荆棘仙路

    穿越了?白暖发现自己穿成修仙文恶毒女配,结局凄惨。也罢,既来之则安之,她便不信,她还修不成个仙,嗯哼,咱的征程是星辰大海!原女主伪圣母伪白莲,一路收货忠犬师兄,勾搭师尊,捡妖王,一路机遇不断,走上人生巅峰。白暖淡定的无视,一步一步,改变命运,踏出属于她的锦绣仙路。只是……那个冰山美男,我可是要努力修炼,早日成仙的人啊,喂喂别过来,嗷,你的爪子放在哪里?“娘子,听闻双修有益增进修为,娘子不是要早日成仙么,为夫这便来满足你……”“你妹!说好的冰山美男呢?”本文为修仙升级爽文,男女主身心干净,1v1男主强大,宠妻无下限,欢迎入坑!