王尔德童话四则(英文版)-第8部分

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the　land。　　When　the　Tartars　saw　it；　they　strung　their　painted　bows；

and　having　leapt　upon　their　little　horses　they　galloped　to　meet　it。

The　women　fled　screaming　to　the　waggons；　and　hid　themselves　behind

the　felt　curtains。



'At　twilight　the　Tartars　returned；　but　five　of　them　were　missing；

and　of　those　that　came　back　not　a　few　had　been　wounded。　　They

harnessed　their　horses　to　the　waggons　and　drove　hastily　away。

Three　jackals　came　out　of　a　cave　and　peered　after　them。　　Then　they

sniffed　up　the　air　with　their　nostrils；　and　trotted　off　in　the

opposite　direction。



'When　the　moon　rose　I　saw　a　camp…fire　burning　on　the　plain；　and

went　towards　it。　　A　company　of　merchants　were　seated　round　it　on

carpets。　　Their　camels　were　picketed　behind　them；　and　the　negroes

who　were　their　servants　were　pitching　tents　of　tanned　skin　upon　the

sand；　and　making　a　high　wall　of　the　prickly　pear。



'As　I　came　near　them；　the　chief　of　the　merchants　rose　up　and　drew

his　sword；　and　asked　me　my　business。



'I　answered　that　I　was　a　Prince　in　my　own　land；　and　that　I　had

escaped　from　the　Tartars；　who　had　sought　to　make　me　their　slave。

The　chief　smiled；　and　showed　me　five　heads　fixed　upon　long　reeds　of

bamboo。



'Then　he　asked　me　who　was　the　prophet　of　God；　and　I　answered　him

Mohammed。



'When　he　heard　the　name　of　the　false　prophet；　he　bowed　and　took　me

by　the　hand；　and　placed　me　by　his　side。　　A　negro　brought　me　some

mare's　milk　in　a　wooden　dish；　and　a　piece　of　lamb's　flesh　roasted。



'At　daybreak　we　started　on　our　journey。　　I　rode　on　a　red…haired

camel　by　the　side　of　the　chief；　and　a　runner　ran　before　us　carrying

a　spear。　　The　men　of　war　were　on　either　hand；　and　the　mules

followed　with　the　merchandise。　　There　were　forty　camels　in　the

caravan；　and　the　mules　were　twice　forty　in　number。



'We　went　from　the　country　of　the　Tartars　into　the　country　of　those

who　curse　the　Moon。　　We　saw　the　Gryphons　guarding　their　gold　on　the

white　rocks；　and　the　scaled　Dragons　sleeping　in　their　caves。　　As　we

passed　over　the　mountains　we　held　our　breath　lest　the　snows　might

fall　on　us；　and　each　man　tied　a　veil　of　gauze　before　his　eyes。　　As

we　passed　through　the　valleys　the　Pygmies　shot　arrows　at　us　from

the　hollows　of　the　trees；　and　at　night…time　we　heard　the　wild　men

beating　on　their　drums。　　When　we　came　to　the　Tower　of　Apes　we　set

fruits　before　them；　and　they　did　not　harm　us。　　When　we　came　to　the

Tower　of　Serpents　we　gave　them　warm　milk　in　howls　of　brass；　and

they　let　us　go　by。　　Three　times　in　our　journey　we　came　to　the　banks

of　the　Oxus。　　We　crossed　it　on　rafts　of　wood　with　great　bladders　of

blown　hide。　　The　river…horses　raged　against　us　and　sought　to　slay

us。　　When　the　camels　saw　them　they　trembled。



'The　kings　of　each　city　levied　tolls　on　us；　but　would　not　suffer　us

to　enter　their　gates。　　They　threw　us　bread　over　the　walls；　little

maize…cakes　baked　in　honey　and　cakes　of　fine　flour　filled　with

dates。　　For　every　hundred　baskets　we　gave　them　a　bead　of　amber。



'When　the　dwellers　in　the　villages　saw　us　coming；　they　poisoned　the

wells　and　fled　to　the　hill…summits。　　We　fought　with　the　Magadae　who

are　born　old；　and　grow　younger　and　younger　every　year；　and　die　when

they　are　little　children；　and　with　the　Laktroi　who　say　that　they

are　the　sons　of　tigers；　and　paint　themselves　yellow　and　black；　and

with　the　Aurantes　who　bury　their　dead　on　the　tops　of　trees；　and

themselves　live　in　dark　caverns　lest　the　Sun；　who　is　their　god；

should　slay　them；　and　with　the　Krimnians　who　worship　a　crocodile；

and　give　it　earrings　of　green　glass；　and　feed　it　with　butter　and

fresh　fowls；　and　with　the　Agazonbae；　who　are　dog…faced；　and　with

the　Sibans；　who　have　horses'　feet；　and　run　more　swiftly　than

horses。　　A　third　of　our　company　died　in　battle；　and　a　third　died　of

want。　　The　rest　murmured　against　me；　and　said　that　I　had　brought

them　an　evil　fortune。　　I　took　a　horned　adder　from　beneath　a　stone

and　let　it　sting　me。　　When　they　saw　that　I　did　not　sicken　they　grew

afraid。



'In　the　fourth　month　we　reached　the　city　of　Illel。　　It　was　night…

time　when　we　came　to　the　grove　that　is　outside　the　walls；　and　the

air　was　sultry；　for　the　Moon　was　travelling　in　Scorpion。　　We　took

the　ripe　pomegranates　from　the　trees；　and　brake　them；　and　drank

their　sweet　juices。　　Then　we　lay　down　on　our　carpets；　and　waited

for　the　dawn。



'And　at　dawn　we　rose　and　knocked　at　the　gate　of　the　city。　　It　was

wrought　out　of　red　bronze；　and　carved　with　sea…dragons　and　dragons

that　have　wings。　　The　guards　looked　down　from　the　battlements　and

asked　us　our　business。　　The　interpreter　of　the　caravan　answered

that　we　had　come　from　the　island　of　Syria　with　much　merchandise。

They　took　hostages；　and　told　us　that　they　would　open　the　gate　to　us

at　noon；　and　bade　us　tarry　till　then。



'When　it　was　noon　they　opened　the　gate；　and　as　we　entered　in　the

people　came　crowding　out　of　the　houses　to　look　at　us；　and　a　crier

went　round　the　city　crying　through　a　shell。　　We　stood　in　the

market…place；　and　the　negroes　uncorded　the　bales　of　figured　cloths

and　opened　the　carved　chests　of　sycamore。　　And　when　they　had　ended


their　task；　the　merchants　set　forth　their　strange　wares；　the　waxed

linen　from　Egypt　and　the　painted　linen　from　the　country　of　the

Ethiops；　the　purple　sponges　from　Tyre　and　the　blue　hangings　from

Sidon；　the　cups　of　cold　amber　and　the　fine　vessels　of　glass　and　the

curious　vessels　of　burnt　clay。　　From　the　roof　of　a　house　a　company

of　women　watched　us。　　One　of　them　wore　a　mask　of　gilded　leather。



'And　on　the　first　day　the　priests　came　and　bartered　with　us；　and　on

the　second　day　came　the　nobles；　and　on　the　third　day　came　the

craftsmen　and　the　slaves。　　And　this　is　their　custom　with　all

merchants　as　long　as　they　tarry　in　the　city。



'And　we　tarried　for　a　moon；　and　when　the　moon　was　waning；　I　wearied

and　wandered　away　through　the　streets　of　the　city　and　came　to　the

garden　of　its　god。　　The　priests　in　their　yellow　robes　moved

silently　through　the　green　trees；　and　on　a　pavement　of　black　marble

stood　the　rose…red　house　in　which　the　god　had　his　dwelling。　　Its

doors　were　of　powdered　lacquer；　and　bulls　and　peacocks　were　wrought

on　them　in　raised　and　polished　gold。　　The　tilted　roof　was　of　sea…

green　porcelain；　and　the　jutting　eaves　were　festooned　with　little

bells。　　When　the　white　doves　flew　past；　they　struck　the　bells　with

their　wings　and　made　them　tinkle。



'In　front　of　the　temple　was　a　pool　of　clear　water　paved　with　veined

onyx。　　I　lay　down　beside　it；　and　with　my　pale　fingers　I　touched　the

broad　leaves。　　One　of　the　priests　came　towards　me　and　stood　behind

me。　　He　had　sandals　on　his　feet；　one　of　soft　serpent…skin　and　the

other　of　birds'　plumage。　　On　his　head　was　a　mitre　of　black　felt

decorated　with　silver　crescents。　　Seven　yellows　were　woven　into　his

robe；　and　his　frizzed　hair　was　stained　with　antimony。



'After　a　little　while　he　spake　to　me；　and　asked　me　my　desire。



'I　told　him　that　my　desire　was　to　see　the　god。



'〃The　god　is　hunting；〃　said　the　priest；　looking　strangely　at　me

with　his　small　slanting　eyes。



'〃Tell　me　in　what　forest；　and　I　will　ride　with　him；〃　I　answered。



'He　combed　out　the　soft　fringes　of　his　tunic　with　his　long　pointed

nails。　　〃The　god　is　asleep；〃　he　murmured。



'〃Tell　me　on　what　couch；　and　I　will　watch　by　him；〃　I　answered。



'〃The　god　is　at　the　feast；〃　he　cried。



'〃If　the　wine　be　sweet　I　will　drink　it　with　him；　and　if　it　be

bitter　I　will　drink　it　with　him　also；〃　was　my　answer。



'He　bowed　his　head　in　wonder；　and；　taking　me　by　the　hand；　he　raised

me　up；　and　led　me　into　the　temple。



'And　in　the　first　chamber　I　saw　an　idol　seated　on　a　throne　of

jasper　bordered　with　great　orient　pearls。　　It　was　carved　out　of

ebony；　and　in　stature　was　of　the　stature　of　a　man。　　On　its　forehead

was　a　ruby；　and　thick　oil　dripped　from　its　hair　on　to　its　thighs。

Its　feet　were　red　with　the　blood　of　a　newly…slain　kid；　and　its

loins　girt　with　a　copper　belt　that　was　studded　with　seven　beryls。



'And　I　said　to　the　priest；　〃Is　this　the　god？〃　　And　he　answered　me；

〃This　is　the　god。〃



'〃Show　me　the　god；〃　I　cried；　〃or　I　will　surely　slay　thee。〃　　And　I

touched　his　hand；　and　it　became　withered。



'And　the　priest　besought　me；　saying；　〃Let　my　lord　heal　his　servant；

and　I　will　show　him　the　god。〃



'So　I　breathed　with　my　breath　upon　his　hand；　and　it　became　whole

again；　and　he　trembled　and　led　me　into　the　second　chamber；　and　I

saw　an　idol　standing　on　a　lotus　of　jade　hung　with　great　emeralds。

It　was　carved　out　of　ivory；　and　in　stature　was　twice　the　stature　of

a　man。　　On　its　forehead　was　a　chrysolite；　and　its　breasts　were

smeared　with　myrrh　and　cinnamon。　　In　one　hand　it　held　a　crooked

sceptre　of　jade；　and　in　the　other　a　round　crystal。　　It　ware　buskins

of　brass；　and　its　thick　neck　was　circled　with　a　circle　of

selenites。



'And　I　said　to　the　priest；　〃Is　this　the　god？〃



'And　he　answered　me；　〃This　is　the　god。〃



'〃Show　me　the　god；〃　I　cried；　〃or　I　will　surely　slay　thee。〃　　And　I

touched　his　eyes；　and　they　became　blind。



'And　the　priest　besought　me；　saying；　〃Let　my　lord　heal　his　servant；

and　I　will　show　him　the　god。〃



'So　I　breathed　with　my　breath　upon　his　eyes；　and　the　sight　came

back　to　them；　and　he　trembled　again；　and　led　me　into　the　third

chamber；　and　lo！　there　was　no　idol　in　it；　nor　image　of　any　kind；

but　only　a　mirror　of　round　metal　set　on　an　altar　of　stone。



'And　I　said　to　the　priest；　〃Where　is　the　god？〃



'And　he　answered　me：　　〃There　is　no　god　but　this　mirror　that　thou

seest；　for　this　is　the　Mirror　of　Wisdom。　　And　it　reflecteth　all

things　that　are　in　heaven　and　on　earth；　save　only　the　face　of　him

who　looketh　into　it。　　This　it　reflecteth　not；　so　that　he　who

looketh　into　it　may　be　wise。　　Many　other　mirrors　are　there；　but

they　are　mirrors　of　Opinion。　　This　only　is　the　Mirror　of　Wisdom。

And　they　who　possess　this　mirror　know　everything；　nor　is　there

anything　hidden　from　them。　　And　they　who　possess　it　not　have　not

Wisdom。　　Therefore　is　it　the　god；　and　we　worship　it。〃　　And　I　looked

into　the　mirror；　and　it　was　even　as　he　had　said　to　me。



'And　I　did　a　strange　thing；　but　what　I　did　matters　not；　for　in　a

valley　that　is　but　a　day's　journey　from　this　place　have　I　hidden

the　Mirror　of　Wisdom。　　Do　but　suffer　me　to　enter　into　thee　again

and　be　thy　servant；　and　thou　shalt　be　wiser　than　all　the　wise　men；

and　Wisdom　shall　be　thine。　　Suffer　me　to　enter　into　thee；　and　none

will　be　as　wise　as　thou。'



But　the　young　Fisherman　laughed。　　'Love　is　better　than　Wisdom；'　he

cried；　'and　the　little　Mermaid　loves　me。'



'Nay；　but　there　is　nothing　better　than　Wisdom；'　said　the　Soul。



'Love　is　better；'　answered　the　young　Fisherman；　and　he　plunged　into

the　deep；　and　the　Soul　went　weeping　away　over　the　marshes。





And　after　the　second　year　was　over；　the　Soul　came　down　to　the　shore

of　the　sea；　and　called　to　the　young　Fisherman；　and　he　rose　out　of

the　deep　and　said；　'Why　dost　thou　call　to　me？'



And　the　Soul　answered；　'Come　nearer；　that　I　may　speak　with　thee；

for　I　have　seen　marvellous　things。'



So　he　came　nearer；　and　couched　in　the　shallow　water；　and　leaned　his

head　upon　his　hand　and　listened。



And　the　Soul　said　to　him；　'When　I　left　thee；　I　turned　my　face　to

the　South　and　journeyed。　　From　the　South　cometh　everything　that　is

precious。　　Six　days　I　journeyed　along　the　highways　that　lead　to　the

city　of　Ashter；　along　the　dusty　red…dyed　highways　by　which　the

pilgrims　are　wont　to　go　did　I　journey；　and　on　the　morning　of　the

seventh　day　I　lifted　up　my　eyes；　and　lo！　the　city　lay　at　my　feet；

for　it　is　in　a　valley。



'There　are　nine　gates　to　this　city；　and　in　front　of　each　gate

stands　a　bronze　horse　that　neighs　when　the　Bedouins　come　down　from

the　mountains。　　The　walls　are　cased　with　copper；　and　the　watch…

towers　on　the　walls　are　roofed　with　brass。　　In　every　tower　stands

an　archer　with　a　bow　in　his　hand。　　At　sunrise　he　strikes　with　an

arrow　on　a　gong；　and　at　sunset　he　blows　through　a　horn　of　horn。



'When　I　sought　to　enter；　the　guards　stopped　me　and　asked　of　me　who

I　was。　　I　made　answer　that　I　was　a　Dervish　and　on　my　way　to　the

city　of　Mecca；　where　there　was　a　green　veil　on　which　the　Koran　was

embroidered　in　silver　letters　by　the　hands　of　the　angels。　　They

were　filled　with　wonder；　and　entreated　me　to　pass　in。



'Inside　it　is　even　as　a　bazaar。　　Surely　thou　shouldst　have　been

with　me。　　Across　the　narrow　streets　the　gay　lanterns　of　paper

flutter　like　large　butterflies。　　When　the　wind　blows　over　the　roofs

they　rise　and　fall　as　painted　bubbles　do。　　In　front　of　their　booths

sit　the　merchants　on　silken　carpets。　　They　have　straight　black

beards；　and　their　turbans　are　covered　with　golden　sequins；　and　long

strings　of　amber　and　carved　peach…stones　glide　through　their　cool

fingers。　　Some　of　them　sell　galbanum　and　nard；　and　curious　perfumes

from　the　islands　of　the　Indian　Sea；　and　the　thick　oil　of　red　roses；

and　myrrh　and　little　nail…shaped　cloves。　　When　one　stops　to　speak

to　them；　they　throw　pinches　of　frankincense　upon　a　charcoal　brazier

and　make　the　air　sweet。　　I　saw　a　Syrian　who　held　in　his　hands　a

thin　rod　like　a　reed。　　Grey　threads　of　smoke　came　from　it；　and　its

odour　as　it　burned　was　as　the　odour　of　the　pink　almond　in　spring。

Others　sell　silver　bracelets　embossed　all　over　with　creamy　blue

turquoise　stones；　and　anklets　of　brass　wire　fringed　with　little

pearls；　and　tigers'　claws　set　in　gold；　and　the　claws　of　that　gilt

cat；　the　leopard；　set　in　gold　also；　and　earrings　of　pierced

emerald；　and　finger…rings　of　hollowed　jade。　　From　the　tea…houses

comes　the　sound　of　the　guitar；　and　the　opium…smokers　with　their

white　smiling　faces　look　out　at　the　passers…by。



'Of　a　truth　thou　shouldst　have　been　with　me。　　The　wine…sellers

elbow　their　way　through　the　crowd　with　great　black　skins　on　their

shoulders。　　Most　of　them　sell　the　wine　of　Schiraz；　which　is　as

sweet　as　honey。　　They　serve　it　in　little　metal　cups　and　strew　rose

leaves　upon　it。　　In　the　market…place　stand　the　fruitsellers；　who

sell　all　kinds　of　fruit：　　ripe　figs；　with　their　bruised　purple

flesh；　melons；　smelling　of　musk　and　yellow　as　topazes；　citrons　and

rose…apples　and　clusters　of　white　grapes；　round　red…gold　oranges；

and　oval　lemons　of　green　gold。　　Once　I　saw　an　elephant　go　by。　　Its

trunk　was　painted　with　vermilion　and　turmeric；　and　over　its　ears　it

had　a　net　of　crimson　silk　cord。　　It　stopped　opposite　one　of　the

booths　and　began　eating　the　oranges；　and　the　man　only　laughed。

Thou　canst　not　think　how　strange　a　people　they　are。　　When　they　are

glad　they　go　to　the　bird…sellers　and　buy　of　them　a　caged　bird；　and

set　it　free　that　their　joy　may　be　greater；　and　when　they　are　sad

they　scourge　themselves　with　thorns　that　their　sorrow　may　not　grow

less。



'One　evening　I　met　some　negroes　carrying　a　heavy　palanquin　through

the　bazaar。　　It　was　made　of　gilded　bamboo；　and　the　poles　were　of

vermilion　lacquer　studded　with　brass　peacocks。　　Across　the　windows

hung　thin　curtains　of　muslin　embroidered　with　beetles'　wings　and

with　tiny　seed…pearls；　and　as　it　passed　by　a　pale…faced　Circassian

looked　out　and　smiled　at　me。　　I　followed　behind；　and　the　negroes

hurried　their　steps　and　scowled。　　But　I　did　not　care。　　I　felt　a

great　curiosity　come　over　me。



'At　last　they　stopped　at　a　square　white　house。　　There　were　no

windows　to　it；　only　a　little　door　like　the　door　of　a　tomb。　　They

set　down　the　palanquin　and　knocked　three　times　with　a　copper

hammer。　　An　Armenian　in　a　caftan　of　green　leather　peered　through

the　wicket；　and　when　he　saw　them　he　opened；　and　spread　a　carpet　on

the　ground；　and　the　woman　stepped　out。　　As　she　went　in；　she　turned

round　and　smiled　at　me　again。　　I　had　never　seen　any　one　so　pale。



'When　the　moon　rose　I　returned　to　the　same　place　and　sought　for　the

house；　but　it　was　no　longer　there。　　When　I　saw　that；　I　knew　who　the

woman　was；　and　wherefore　she　had　smiled　at　me。



'Certainly　thou　shouldst　have　been　with　me。　　On　the　feast　of　the

New　Moon　the　young　Emperor　came　forth　from　his　palace　and　went　into

the　mosque　to　pray。　　His　hair　and　beard　were　dyed　with　rose…leaves；

and　his　cheeks　were　powdered　with　a　fine　gold　dust。　　The　palms　of

his　feet　and　hands　were　yellow　with　saffron。



'At　sunrise　he　went　forth　from　his　palace　in　a　robe　of　silver；　and

at　sunset　he　returned　to　it　again　in　a　robe　of　gold。　　The　people

flung　themselves　on　the　ground　and　hid　their　faces；　but　I　would　not

do　so。　　I　stood　by　the　stall　of　a　seller　of　dates　and　waited。　　When

the　Emperor　saw　me；　he　raised　his　painted　eyebrows　and　stopped。　　I

stood　quite　still；　and　made　him　no　obeisance。　　The　people　marvelled

at　my　boldness；　and　counselled　me　to　flee　from　the　city。　　I　paid　no

heed　to　them；　but　went　and　sat　with　the　sellers　of　strange　gods；

who　by　reason　of　their　craft　are　abominated。　　When　I　told　them　what

I　had　done；　each　of　them　gave　me　a　god　and　prayed　me　to　leave　them。



'That　night；　as　I　lay　on　a　cushion　in　the　tea…house　that　is　in　the

Street　of　Pomegranates；　the　guards　of　the　Emperor　entered　and　led

me　to　the　palace。　　As　I　went　in　they　closed　each　door　behind　me；

and　put　a　chain　across　it。　　Inside　was　a　great　court　with　an　arcade

running　all　round。　　The　walls　were　of　white　alabaster；　set　here　and

there　with　blue　and　green　tiles。　　The　pillars　were　of　green　marble；

and　the　pavement　of　a　kind　of　peach…blossom　marble。　　I　had　never

seen　anything　like　it　before。



'As　I　passed　across　the　court　two　veiled　women　looked　down　from　a

balcony　and　cursed　me。　　The　guards　hastened　on；　and　the　butts　of

the　lances　rang　upon　the　polished　floor。　　They　opened　a　gate　of

wrought　ivory；　and　I　found　myself　in　a　watered　garden　of　seven

terraces。　　It　was　planted　with　tulip…cups　and　moonflowers；　and

silver…studded　aloes。　　Like　a　slim　reed　of　crystal　a　fountain　hung

in　the　dusky　air。　　The　cypress…trees　were　like　burnt…out　torches。

From　one　of　them　a　nightingale　was　singing。



'At　the　end　of　the　garden　stood　a　little　pavilion。　　As　we

approached　it　two　eunuchs　came　out　to　meet　us。　　Their　fat　bodies

swayed　as　they　walked；　and　they　glanced　curiously　at　me　with　their

yellow…lidded　eyes。　　One　of　them　drew　aside　the　captain　of　the

guard；　and　in　a　low　voice　whispered　to　him。　　The　other　kept

munching　scented　pastilles；　which　he　took　with　an　affected　gesture

out　of　an　oval　box　of　lilac　enamel。



'After　a　few　moments　the　captain　of　the　guard　dismissed　the

soldiers。　　They　went　back　to　the　palace；　the　eunuchs　following

slowly　behind　and　plucking　the　sweet　mulberries　from　the　trees　as

they　passed。　　Once　the　elder　of　the　two　turned　round；　and　smiled　at

me　with　an　evil　smile。



'Then　the　captain　of　the　guard　motioned　me　towards　the　entrance　of

the　pavilion。　　I　walked　on　without　trembling；　and　drawing　the　heavy

curtain　aside　I　entered　in