The captains, who wore bronze cothurni, had placed themselves in the central path, beneath a gold-fringed purple awning2, which reached from the wall of the stables to the first terrace of the palace; the common soldiers were scattered3 beneath the trees, where numerous flat-roofed buildings might be seen, wine-presses, cellars, storehouses, bakeries, and arsenals4, with a court for elephants, dens1 for wild beasts, and a prison for slaves.
Fig-trees surrounded the kitchens; a wood of sycamores stretched away to meet masses of verdure, where the pomegranate shone amid the white tufts of the cotton-plant; vines, grape-laden, grew up into the branches of the pines; a field of roses bloomed beneath the plane-trees; here and there lilies rocked upon the turf; the paths were strewn with black sand mingled6 with powdered coral, and in the centre the avenue of cypress7 formed, as it were, a double colonnade8 of green obelisks9 from one extremity10 to the other.
Far in the background stood the palace, built of yellow mottled Numidian marble, broad courses supporting its four terraced stories. With its large, straight, ebony staircase, bearing the prow11 of a vanquished12 galley13 at the corners of every step, its red doors quartered with black crosses, its brass14 gratings protecting it from scorpions15 below, and its trellises of gilded16 rods closing the apertures17 above, it seemed to the soldiers in its haughty18 opulence19 as solemn and impenetrable as the face of Hamilcar.
The Council had appointed his house for the holding of this feast; the convalescents lying in the temple of Eschmoun had set out at daybreak and dragged themselves thither21 on their crutches22. Every minute others were arriving. They poured in ceaselessly by every path like torrents23 rushing into a lake; through the trees the slaves of the kitchens might be seen running scared and half-naked; the gazelles fled bleating24 on the lawns; the sun was setting, and the perfume of citron trees rendered the exhalation from the perspiring25 crowd heavier still.
Men of all nations were there, Ligurians, Lusitanians, Balearians, Negroes, and fugitives26 from Rome. Beside the heavy Dorian dialect were audible the resonant27 Celtic syllables28 rattling29 like chariots of war, while Ionian terminations conflicted with consonants30 of the desert as harsh as the jackal’s cry. The Greek might be recognised by his slender figure, the Egyptian by his elevated shoulders, the Cantabrian by his broad calves31. There were Carians proudly nodding their helmet plumes32, Cappadocian archers33 displaying large flowers painted on their bodies with the juice of herbs, and a few Lydians in women’s robes, dining in slippers34 and earrings35. Others were ostentatiously daubed with vermilion, and resembled coral statues.
They stretched themselves on the cushions, they ate squatting36 round large trays, or lying face downwards37 they drew out the pieces of meat and sated themselves, leaning on their elbows in the peaceful posture38 of lions tearing their prey39. The last comers stood leaning against the trees watching the low tables half hidden beneath the scarlet40 coverings, and awaiting their turn.
Hamilcar’s kitchens being insufficient41, the Council had sent them slaves, ware42, and beds, and in the middle of the garden, as on a battle-field when they burn the dead, large bright fires might be seen, at which oxen were roasting. Anise-sprinkled loaves alternated with great cheeses heavier than discuses, crateras filled with wine, and cantharuses filled with water, together with baskets of gold filigree-work containing flowers. Every eye was dilated43 with the joy of being able at last to gorge44 at pleasure, and songs were beginning here and there.
First they were served with birds and green sauce in plates of red clay relieved by drawings in black, then with every kind of shell-fish that is gathered on the Punic coasts, wheaten porridge, beans and barley45, and snails46 dressed with cumin on dishes of yellow amber47.
Afterwards the tables were covered with meats, antelopes48 with their horns, peacocks with their feathers, whole sheep cooked in sweet wine, haunches of she-camels and buffaloes49, hedgehogs with garum, fried grasshoppers50, and preserved dormice. Large pieces of fat floated in the midst of saffron in bowls of Tamrapanni wood. Everything was running over with wine, truffles, and asafoetida. Pyramids of fruit were crumbling52 upon honeycombs, and they had not forgotten a few of those plump little dogs with pink silky hair and fattened53 on olive lees — a Carthaginian dish held in abhorrence54 among other nations. Surprise at the novel fare excited the greed of the stomach. The Gauls with their long hair drawn55 up on the crown of the head, snatched at the water-melons and lemons, and crunched56 them up with the rind. The Negroes, who had never seen a lobster57, tore their faces with its red prickles. But the shaven Greeks, whiter than marble, threw the leavings of their plates behind them, while the herdsmen from Brutium, in their wolf-skin garments, devoured59 in silence with their faces in their portions.
Night fell. The velarium, spread over the cypress avenue, was drawn back, and torches were brought.
The apes, sacred to the moon, were terrified on the cedar61 tops by the wavering lights of the petroleum62 as it burned in the porphyry vases. They uttered screams which afforded mirth to the soldiers.
Oblong flames trembled in cuirasses of brass. Every kind of scintillation flashed from the gem-incrusted dishes. The crateras with their borders of convex mirrors multiplied and enlarged the images of things; the soldiers thronged64 around, looking at their reflections with amazement65, and grimacing66 to make themselves laugh. They tossed the ivory stools and golden spatulas67 to one another across the tables. They gulped68 down all the Greek wines in their leathern bottles, the Campanian wine enclosed in amphoras, the Cantabrian wines brought in casks, with the wines of the jujube, cinnamomum and lotus. There were pools of these on the ground that made the foot slip. The smoke of the meats ascended69 into the foliage70 with the vapour of the breath. Simultaneously71 were heard the snapping of jaws72, the noise of speech, songs, and cups, the crash of Campanian vases shivering into a thousand pieces, or the limpid73 sound of a large silver dish.
In proportion as their intoxication74 increased they more and more recalled the injustice75 of Carthage. The Republic, in fact, exhausted76 by the war, had allowed all the returning bands to accumulate in the town. Gisco, their general, had however been prudent77 enough to send them back severally in order to facilitate the liquidation78 of their pay, and the Council had believed that they would in the end consent to some reduction. But at present ill-will was caused by the inability to pay them. This debt was confused in the minds of the people with the 3200 Euboic talents exacted by Lutatius, and equally with Rome they were regarded as enemies to Carthage. The Mercenaries understood this, and their indignation found vent79 in threats and outbreaks. At last they demanded permission to assemble to celebrate one of their victories, and the peace party yielded, at the same time revenging themselves on Hamilcar who had so strongly upheld the war. It had been terminated notwithstanding all his efforts, so that, despairing of Carthage, he had entrusted81 the government of the Mercenaries to Gisco. To appoint his palace for their reception was to draw upon him something of the hatred82 which was borne to them. Moreover, the expense must be excessive, and he would incur83 nearly the whole.
Proud of having brought the Republic to submit, the Mercenaries thought that they were at last about to return to their homes with the payment for their blood in the hoods84 of their cloaks. But as seen through the mists of intoxication, their fatigues86 seemed to them prodigious87 and but ill-rewarded. They showed one another their wounds, they told of their combats, their travels and the hunting in their native lands. They imitated the cries and the leaps of wild beasts. Then came unclean wagers88; they buried their heads in the amphoras and drank on without interruption, like thirsty dromedaries. A Lusitanian of gigantic stature89 ran over the tables, carrying a man in each hand at arm’s length, and spitting out fire through his nostrils90. Some Lacedaemonians, who had not taken off their cuirasses, were leaping with a heavy step. Some advanced like women, making obscene gestures; others stripped naked to fight amid the cups after the fashion of gladiators, and a company of Greeks danced around a vase whereon nymphs were to be seen, while a Negro tapped with an ox-bone on a brazen91 buckler.
Suddenly they heard a plaintive92 song, a song loud and soft, rising and falling in the air like the wing-beating of a wounded bird.
It was the voice of the slaves in the ergastulum. Some soldiers rose at a bound to release them and disappeared.
They returned, driving through the dust amid shouts, twenty men, distinguished93 by their greater paleness of face. Small black felt caps of conical shape covered their shaven heads; they all wore wooden shoes, and yet made a noise as of old iron like driving chariots.
They reached the avenue of cypress, where they were lost among the crowd of those questioning them. One of them remained apart, standing80. Through the rents in his tunic94 his shoulders could be seen striped with long scars. Drooping95 his chin, he looked round him with distrust, closing his eyelids96 somewhat against the dazzling light of the torches, but when he saw that none of the armed men were unfriendly to him, a great sigh escaped from his breast; he stammered97, he sneered98 through the bright tears that bathed his face. At last he seized a brimming cantharus by its rings, raised it straight up into the air with his outstretched arms, from which his chains hung down, and then looking to heaven, and still holding the cup he said:
“Hail first to thee, Baal-Eschmoun, the deliverer, whom the people of my country call Aesculapius! and to you, genii of the fountains, light, and woods! and to you, ye gods hidden beneath the mountains and in the caverns99 of the earth! and to you, strong men in shining armour100 who have set me free!”
Then he let fall the cup and related his history. He was called Spendius. The Carthaginians had taken him in the battle of Aeginusae, and he thanked the Mercenaries once more in Greek, Ligurian and Punic; he kissed their hands; finally, he congratulated them on the banquet, while expressing his surprise at not perceiving the cups of the Sacred Legion. These cups, which bore an emerald vine on each of their six golden faces, belonged to a corps101 composed exclusively of young patricians102 of the tallest stature. They were a privilege, almost a sacerdotal distinction, and accordingly nothing among the treasures of the Republic was more coveted103 by the Mercenaries. They detested104 the Legion on this account, and some of them had been known to risk their lives for the inconceivable pleasure of drinking out of these cups.
Accordingly they commanded that the cups should be brought. They were in the keeping of the Syssitia, companies of traders, who had a common table. The slaves returned. At that hour all the members of the Syssitia were asleep.
“Let them be awakened105!” responded the Mercenaries.
After a second excursion it was explained to them that the cups were shut up in a temple.
“Let it be opened!” they replied.
And when the slaves confessed with trembling that they were in the possession of Gisco, the general, they cried out:
“Let him bring them!”
Gisco soon appeared at the far end of the garden with an escort of the Sacred Legion. His full, black cloak, which was fastened on his head to a golden mitre starred with precious stones, and which hung all about him down to his horse’s hoofs106, blended in the distance with the colour of the night. His white beard, the radiancy of his head-dress, and his triple necklace of broad blue plates beating against his breast, were alone visible.
When he entered, the soldiers greeted him with loud shouts, all crying:
“The cups! The cups!”
He began by declaring that if reference were had to their courage, they were worthy107 of them.
The crowd applauded and howled with joy.
HE knew it, he who had commanded them over yonder, and had returned with the last cohort in the last galley!
“True! True!” said they.
Nevertheless, Gisco continued, the Republic had respected their national divisions, their customs, and their modes of worship; in Carthage they were free! As to the cups of the Sacred Legion, they were private property. Suddenly a Gaul, who was close to Spendius, sprang over the tables and ran straight up to Gisco, gesticulating and threatening him with two naked swords.
Without interrupting his speech, the General struck him on the head with his heavy ivory staff, and the Barbarian108 fell. The Gauls howled, and their frenzy109, which was spreading to the others, would soon have swept away the legionaries. Gisco shrugged110 his shoulders as he saw them growing pale. He thought that his courage would be useless against these exasperated111 brute112 beasts. It would be better to revenge himself upon them by some artifice113 later; accordingly, he signed to his soldiers and slowly withdrew. Then, turning in the gateway114 towards the Mercenaries, he cried to them that they would repent115 of it.
The feast recommenced. But Gisco might return, and by surrounding the suburb, which was beside the last ramparts, might crush them against the walls. Then they felt themselves alone in spite of their crowd, and the great town sleeping beneath them in the shade suddenly made them afraid, with its piles of staircases, its lofty black houses, and its vague gods fiercer even than its people. In the distance a few ships’-lanterns were gliding116 across the harbour, and there were lights in the temple of Khamon. They thought of Hamilcar. Where was he? Why had he forsaken117 them when peace was concluded? His differences with the Council were doubtless but a pretence118 in order to destroy them. Their unsatisfied hate recoiled119 upon him, and they cursed him, exasperating120 one another with their own anger. At this juncture121 they collected together beneath the plane-trees to see a slave who, with eyeballs fixed122, neck contorted, and lips covered with foam123, was rolling on the ground, and beating the soil with his limbs. Some one cried out that he was poisoned. All then believed themselves poisoned. They fell upon the slaves, a terrible clamour was raised, and a vertigo124 of destruction came like a whirlwind upon the drunken army. They struck about them at random125, they smashed, they slew126; some hurled127 torches into the foliage; others, leaning over the lions’ balustrade, massacred the animals with arrows; the most daring ran to the elephants, desiring to cut down their trunks and eat ivory.
Some Balearic slingers, however, who had gone round the corner of the palace, in order to pillage128 more conveniently, were checked by a lofty barrier, made of Indian cane129. They cut the lock-straps with their daggers130, and then found themselves beneath the front that faced Carthage, in another garden full of trimmed vegetation. Lines of white flowers all following one another in regular succession formed long parabolas like star-rockets on the azure-coloured earth. The gloomy bushes exhaled131 warm and honied odours. There were trunks of trees smeared132 with cinnabar, which resembled columns covered with blood. In the centre were twelve pedestals, each supporting a great glass ball, and these hollow globes were indistinctly filled with reddish lights, like enormous and still palpitating eyeballs. The soldiers lighted themselves with torches as they stumbled on the slope of the deeply laboured soil.
But they perceived a little lake divided into several basins by walls of blue stones. So limpid was the wave that the flames of the torches quivered in it at the very bottom, on a bed of white pebbles133 and golden dust. It began to bubble, luminous134 spangles glided135 past, and great fish with gems136 about their mouths, appeared near the surface.
With much laughter the soldiers slipped their fingers into the gills and brought them to the tables. They were the fish of the Barca family, and were all descended137 from those primordial138 lotes which had hatched the mystic egg wherein the goddess was concealed139. The idea of committing a sacrilege revived the greediness of the Mercenaries; they speedily placed fire beneath some brazen vases, and amused themselves by watching the beautiful fish struggling in the boiling water.
The surge of soldiers pressed on. They were no longer afraid. They commenced to drink again. Their ragged20 tunics140 were wet with the perfumes that flowed in large drops from their foreheads, and resting both fists on the tables, which seemed to them to be rocking like ships, they rolled their great drunken eyes around to devour60 by sight what they could not take. Others walked amid the dishes on the purple table covers, breaking ivory stools, and phials of Tyrian glass to pieces with their feet. Songs mingled with the death-rattle of the slaves expiring amid the broken cups. They demanded wine, meat, gold. They cried out for women. They raved141 in a hundred languages. Some thought that they were at the vapour baths on account of the steam which floated around them, or else, catching142 sight of the foliage, imagined that they were at the chase, and rushed upon their companions as upon wild beasts. The conflagration143 spread to all the trees, one after another, and the lofty mosses144 of verdure, emitting long white spirals, looked like volcanoes beginning to smoke. The clamour redoubled; the wounded lions roared in the shade.
In an instant the highest terrace of the palace was illuminated145, the central door opened, and a woman, Hamilcar’s daughter herself, clothed in black garments, appeared on the threshold. She descended the first staircase, which ran obliquely146 along the first story, then the second, and the third, and stopped on the last terrace at the head of the galley staircase. Motionless and with head bent147, she gazed upon the soldiers.
Behind her, on each side, were two long shadows of pale men, clad in white, red-fringed robes, which fell straight to their feet. They had no beard, no hair, no eyebrows148. In their hands, which sparkled with rings, they carried enormous lyres, and with shrill149 voice they sang a hymn150 to the divinity of Carthage. They were the eunuch priests of the temple of Tanith, who were often summoned by Salammbo to her house.
At last she descended the galley staircase. The priests followed her. She advanced into the avenue of cypress, and walked slowly through the tables of the captains, who drew back somewhat as they watched her pass.
Her hair, which was powdered with violet sand, and combined into the form of a tower, after the fashion of the Chanaanite maidens151, added to her height. Tresses of pearls were fastened to her temples, and fell to the corners of her mouth, which was as rosy152 as a half-open pomegranate. On her breast was a collection of luminous stones, their variegation153 imitating the scales of the murena. Her arms were adorned154 with diamonds, and issued naked from her sleeveless tunic, which was starred with red flowers on a perfectly155 black ground. Between her ankles she wore a golden chainlet to regulate her steps, and her large dark purple mantle156, cut of an unknown material, trailed behind her, making, as it were, at each step, a broad wave which followed her.
The priests played nearly stifled157 chords on their lyres from time to time, and in the intervals158 of the music might be heard the tinkling159 of the little golden chain, and the regular patter of her papyrus160 sandals.
No one as yet was acquainted with her. It was only known that she led a retired161 life, engaged in pious162 practices. Some soldiers had seen her in the night on the summit of her palace kneeling before the stars amid the eddyings from kindled163 perfuming-pans. It was the moon that had made her so pale, and there was something from the gods that enveloped164 her like a subtle vapour. Her eyes seemed to gaze far beyond terrestrial space. She bent her head as she walked, and in her right hand she carried a little ebony lyre.
They heard her murmur165:
“Dead! All dead! No more will you come obedient to my voice as when, seated on the edge of the lake, I used to through seeds of the watermelon into your mouths! The mystery of Tanith ranged in the depths of your eyes that were more limpid than the globules of rivers.” And she called them by their names, which were those of the months —“Siv! Sivan! Tammouz, Eloul, Tischri, Schebar! Ah! have pity on me, goddess!”
The soldiers thronged about her without understanding what she said. They wondered at her attire166, but she turned a long frightened look upon them all, then sinking her head beneath her shoulders, and waving her arms, she repeated several times:
“What have you done? what have you done?
“Yet you had bread, and meats and oil, and all the malobathrum of the granaries for your enjoyment167! I had brought oxen from Hecatompylos; I had sent hunters into the desert!” Her voice swelled168; her cheeks purpled. She added, “Where, pray, are you now? In a conquered town, or in the palace of a master? And what master? Hamilcar the Suffet, my father, the servant of the Baals! It was he who withheld169 from Lutatius those arms of yours, red now with the blood of his slaves! Know you of any in your own lands more skilled in the conduct of battles? Look! our palace steps are encumbered170 with our victories! Ah! desist not! burn it! I will carry away with me the genius of my house, my black serpent slumbering171 up yonder on lotus leaves! I will whistle and he will follow me, and if I embark172 in a galley he will speed in the wake of my ship over the foam of the waves.”
Her delicate nostrils were quivering. She crushed her nails against the gems on her bosom173. Her eyes drooped174, and she resumed:
“Ah! poor Carthage! lamentable175 city! No longer hast thou for thy protection the strong men of former days who went beyond the oceans to build temples on their shores. All the lands laboured about thee, and the sea-plains, ploughed by thine oars176, rocked with thy harvests.” Then she began to sing the adventures of Melkarth, the god of the Sidonians, and the father of her family.
She told of the ascent177 of the mountains of Ersiphonia, the journey to Tartessus, and the war against Masisabal to avenge178 the queen of the serpents:
“He pursued the female monster, whose tail undulated over the dead leaves like a silver brook179, into the forest, and came to a plain where women with dragon-croups were round a great fire, standing erect180 on the points of their tails. The blood-coloured moon was shining within a pale circle, and their scarlet tongues, cloven like the harpoons181 of fishermen, reached curling forth182 to the very edge of the flame.”
Then Salammbo, without pausing, related how Melkarth, after vanquishing183 Masisabal, placed her severed184 head on the prow of his ship. “At each throb185 of the waves it sank beneath the foam, but the sun embalmed186 it; it became harder than gold; nevertheless the eyes ceased not to weep, and the tears fell into the water continually.”
She sang all this in an old Chanaanite idiom, which the Barbarians187 did not understand. They asked one another what she could be saying to them with those frightful188 gestures which accompanied her speech, and mounted round about her on the tables, beds, and sycamore boughs189, they strove with open mouths and craned necks to grasp the vague stories hovering190 before their imaginations, through the dimness of the theogonies, like phantoms191 wrapped in cloud.
Only the beardless priests understood Salammbo; their wrinkled hands, which hung over the strings192 of their lyres, quivered, and from time to time they would draw forth a mournful chord; for, feebler than old women, they trembled at once with mystic emotion, and with the fear inspired by men. The Barbarians heeded193 them not, but listened continually to the maiden’s song.
None gazed at her like a young Numidian chief, who was placed at the captains’ tables among soldiers of his own nation. His girdle so bristled194 with darts195 that it formed a swelling196 in his ample cloak, which was fastened on his temples with a leather lace. The cloth parted asunder197 as it fell upon his shoulders, and enveloped his countenance198 in shadow, so that only the fires of his two fixed eyes could be seen. It was by chance that he was at the feast, his father having domiciled him with the Barca family, according to the custom by which kings used to send their children into the households of the great in order to pave the way for alliances; but Narr’ Havas had lodged199 there fox six months without having hitherto seen Salammbo, and now, seated on his heels, with his head brushing the handles of his javelins201, he was watching her with dilated nostrils, like a leopard202 crouching203 among the bamboos.
On the other side of the tables was a Libyan of colossal204 stature, and with short black curly hair. He had retained only his military jacket, the brass plates of which were tearing the purple of the couch. A necklace of silver moons was tangled205 in his hairy breast. His face was stained with splashes of blood; he was leaning on his left elbow with a smile on his large, open mouth.
Salammbo had abandoned the sacred rhythm. With a woman’s subtlety206 she was simultaneously employing all the dialects of the Barbarians in order to appease207 their anger. To the Greeks she spoke208 Greek; then she turned to the Ligurians, the Campanians, the Negroes, and listening to her each one found again in her voice the sweetness of his native land. She now, carried away by the memories of Carthage, sang of the ancient battles against Rome; they applauded. She kindled at the gleaming of the naked swords, and cried aloud with outstretched arms. Her lyre fell, she was silent; and, pressing both hands upon her heart, she remained for some minutes with closed eyelids enjoying the agitation209 of all these men.
Matho, the Libyan, leaned over towards her. Involuntarily she approached him, and impelled210 by grateful pride, poured him a long stream of wine into a golden cup in order to conciliate the army.
“Drink!” she said.
He took the cup, and was carrying it to his lips when a Gaul, the same that had been hurt by Gisco, struck him on the shoulder, while in a jovial211 manner he gave utterance212 to pleasantries in his native tongue. Spendius was not far off, and he volunteered to interpret them.
“Speak!” said Matho.
“The gods protect you; you are going to become rich. When will the nuptials213 be?”
“What nuptials?”
“Yours! for with us,” said the Gaul, “when a woman gives drink to a soldier, it means that she offers him her couch.”
He had not finished when Narr’ Havas, with a bound, drew a javelin200 from his girdle, and, leaning his right foot upon the edge of the table, hurled it against Matho.
The javelin whistled among the cups, and piercing the Lybian’s arm, pinned it so firmly to the cloth, that the shaft214 quivered in the air.
Matho quickly plucked it out; but he was weaponless and naked; at last he lifted the over-laden table with both arms, and flung it against Narr’ Havas into the very centre of the crowd that rushed between them. The soldiers and Numidians pressed together so closely that they were unable to draw their swords. Matho advanced dealing215 great blows with his head. When he raised it, Narr’ Havas had disappeared. He sought for him with his eyes. Salammbo also was gone.
Then directing his looks to the palace he perceived the red door with the black cross closing far above, and he darted216 away.
They saw him run between the prows217 of the galleys218, and then reappear along the three staircases until he reached the red door against which he dashed his whole body. Panting, he leaned against the wall to keep himself from falling.
But a man had followed him, and through the darkness, for the lights of the feast were hidden by the corner of the palace, he recognised Spendius.
“Begone!” said he.
The slave without replying began to tear his tunic with his teeth; then kneeling beside Matho he tenderly took his arm, and felt it in the shadow to discover the wound.
By a ray of the moon which was then gliding between the clouds, Spendius perceived a gaping219 wound in the middle of the arm. He rolled the piece of stuff about it, but the other said irritably220, “Leave me! leave me!”
“Oh no!” replied the slave. “You released me from the ergastulum. I am yours! you are my master! command me!”
Matho walked round the terrace brushing against the walls. He strained his ears at every step, glancing down into the silent apartments through the spaces between the gilded reeds. At last he stopped with a look of despair.
“Listen!” said the slave to him. “Oh! do not despise me for my feebleness! I have lived in the palace. I can wind like a viper221 through the walls. Come! in the Ancestor’s Chamber222 there is an ingot of gold beneath every flagstone; an underground path leads to their tombs.”
“Well! what matters it?” said Matho.
Spendius was silent.
They were on the terrace. A huge mass of shadow stretched before them, appearing as if it contained vague accumulations, like the gigantic billows of a black and petrified223 ocean.
But a luminous bar rose towards the East; far below, on the left, the canals of Megara were beginning to stripe the verdure of the gardens with their windings224 of white. The conical roofs of the heptagonal temples, the staircases, terraces, and ramparts were being carved by degrees upon the paleness of the dawn; and a girdle of white foam rocked around the Carthaginian peninsula, while the emerald sea appeared as if it were curdled225 in the freshness of the morning. Then as the rosy sky grew larger, the lofty houses, bending over the sloping soil, reared and massed themselves like a herd58 of black goats coming down from the mountains. The deserted226 streets lengthened227; the palm-trees that topped the walls here and there were motionless; the brimming cisterns228 seemed like silver bucklers lost in the courts; the beacon229 on the promontory230 of Hermaeum was beginning to grow pale. The horses of Eschmoun, on the very summit of the Acropolis in the cypress wood, feeling that the light was coming, placed their hoofs on the marble parapet, and neighed towards the sun.
It appeared, and Spendius raised his arms with a cry.
Everything stirred in a diffusion231 of red, for the god, as if he were rending232 himself, now poured full-rayed upon Carthage the golden rain of his veins233. The beaks234 of the galleys sparkled, the roof of Khamon appeared to be all in flames, while far within the temples, whose doors were opening, glimmerings of light could be seen. Large chariots, arriving from the country, rolled their wheels over the flagstones in the streets. Dromedaries, baggage-laden, came down the ramps235. Money-changers raised the pent-houses of their shops at the cross ways, storks236 took to flight, white sails fluttered. In the wood of Tanith might be heard the tabourines of the sacred courtesans, and the furnaces for baking the clay coffins237 were beginning to smoke on the Mappalian point.
Spendius leaned over the terrace; his teeth chattered238 and he repeated:
“Ah! yes — yes — master! I understand why you scorned the pillage of the house just now.”
Matho was as if he had just been awaked by the hissing239 of his voice, and did not seem to understand. Spendius resumed:
“Ah! what riches! and the men who possess them have not even the steel to defend them!”
Then, pointing with his right arm outstretched to some of the populace who were crawling on the sand outside the mole240 to look for gold dust:
“See!” he said to him, “the Republic is like these wretches241: bending on the brink242 of the ocean, she buries her greedy arms in every shore, and the noise of the billows so fills her ear that she cannot hear behind her the tread of a master’s heel!”
He drew Matho to quite the other end of the terrace, and showed him the garden, wherein the soldiers’ swords, hanging on the trees, were like mirrors in the sun.
“But here there are strong men whose hatred is roused! and nothing binds243 them to Carthage, neither families, oaths nor gods!”
Matho remained leaning against the wall; Spendius came close, and continued in a low voice:
“Do you understand me, soldier? We should walk purple-clad like satraps. We should bathe in perfumes; and I should in turn have slaves! Are you not weary of sleeping on hard ground, of drinking the vinegar of the camps, and of continually hearing the trumpet244? But you will rest later, will you not? When they pull off your cuirass to cast your corpse245 to the vultures! or perhaps blind, lame63, and weak you will go, leaning on a stick, from door to door to tell of your youth to pickle-sellers and little children. Remember all the injustice of your chiefs, the campings in the snow, the marchings in the sun, the tyrannies of discipline, and the everlasting246 menace of the cross! And after all this misery247 they have given you a necklace of honour, as they hang a girdle of bells round the breast of an ass5 to deafen248 it on its journey, and prevent it from feeling fatigue85. A man like you, braver than Pyrrhus! If only you had wished it! Ah! how happy will you be in large cool halls, with the sound of lyres, lying on flowers, with women and buffoons249! Do not tell me that the enterprise is impossible. Have not the Mercenaries already possessed250 Rhegium and other fortified251 places in Italy? Who is to prevent you? Hamilcar is away; the people execrate252 the rich; Gisco can do nothing with the cowards who surround him. Command them! Carthage is ours; let us fall upon it!”
“No!” said Matho, “the curse of Moloch weighs upon me. I felt it in her eyes, and just now I saw a black ram51 retreating in a temple.” Looking around him he added: “But where is she?”
Then Spendius understood that a great disquiet253 possessed him, and did not venture to speak again.
The trees behind them were still smoking; half-burned carcases of apes dropped from their blackened boughs from time to time into the midst of the dishes. Drunken soldiers snored open-mouthed by the side of the corpses254, and those who were not asleep lowered their heads dazzled by the light of day. The trampled255 soil was hidden beneath splashes of red. The elephants poised256 their bleeding trunks between the stakes of their pens. In the open granaries might be seen sacks of spilled wheat, below the gate was a thick line of chariots which had been heaped up by the Barbarians, and the peacocks perched in the cedars257 were spreading their tails and beginning to utter their cry.
Matho’s immobility, however, astonished Spendius; he was even paler than he had recently been, and he was following something on the horizon with fixed eyeballs, and with both fists resting on the edge of the terrace. Spendius crouched258 down, and so at last discovered at what he was gazing. In the distance a golden speck259 was turning in the dust on the road to Utica; it was the nave260 of a chariot drawn by two mules261; a slave was running at the end of the pole, and holding them by the bridle262. Two women were seated in the chariot. The manes of the animals were puffed263 between the ears after the Persian fashion, beneath a network of blue pearls. Spendius recognised them, and restrained a cry.
A large veil floated behind in the wind.
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1
dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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2
awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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3
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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arsenals
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| n.兵工厂，军火库( arsenal的名词复数 )；任何事物的集成 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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cypress
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| n.柏树 | |
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colonnade
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| n.柱廊 | |
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obelisks
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| n.方尖石塔，短剑号，疑问记号( obelisk的名词复数 ) | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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11
prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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12
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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13
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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14
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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15
scorpions
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| n.蝎子( scorpion的名词复数 ) | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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apertures
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| n.孔( aperture的名词复数 )；隙缝；（照相机的）光圈；孔径 | |
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18
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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19
opulence
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| n.财富，富裕 | |
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20
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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21
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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22
crutches
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| n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑 | |
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23
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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24
bleating
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的现在分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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25
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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26
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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27
resonant
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| adj.(声音)洪亮的，共鸣的 | |
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28
syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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29
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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30
consonants
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| n.辅音，子音( consonant的名词复数 )；辅音字母 | |
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31
calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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32
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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33
archers
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| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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34
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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35
earrings
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| n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子 | |
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36
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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37
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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38
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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39
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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40
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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41
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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42
ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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43
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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45
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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46
snails
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| n.蜗牛；迟钝的人；蜗牛( snail的名词复数 ) | |
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47
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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48
antelopes
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| 羚羊( antelope的名词复数 )； 羚羊皮革 | |
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49
buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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50
grasshoppers
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| n.蚱蜢( grasshopper的名词复数 )；蝗虫；蚂蚱；（孩子）矮小的 | |
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51
ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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52
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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53
fattened
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| v.喂肥( fatten的过去式和过去分词 )；养肥（牲畜）；使（钱）增多；使（公司）升值 | |
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54
abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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55
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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56
crunched
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的过去式和过去分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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57
lobster
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| n.龙虾，龙虾肉 | |
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58
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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59
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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60
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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61
cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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62
petroleum
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| n.原油，石油 | |
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63
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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64
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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66
grimacing
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| v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的现在分词 ) | |
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67
spatulas
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| n.（搅拌或涂敷用的）铲，漆工抹刀( spatula的名词复数 )；压舌板 | |
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68
gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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69
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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71
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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72
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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73
limpid
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| adj.清澈的，透明的 | |
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74
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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75
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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76
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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77
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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78
liquidation
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| n.清算，停止营业 | |
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79
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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80
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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81
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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83
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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84
hoods
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| n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩 | |
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85
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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86
fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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87
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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88
wagers
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| n.赌注，用钱打赌( wager的名词复数 )v.在（某物）上赌钱，打赌( wager的第三人称单数 )；保证，担保 | |
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89
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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90
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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91
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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92
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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93
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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94
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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95
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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96
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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97
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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98
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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100
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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101
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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102
patricians
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| n.（古罗马的）统治阶层成员( patrician的名词复数 )；贵族，显贵 | |
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103
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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104
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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105
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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106
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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107
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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108
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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109
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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110
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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111
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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112
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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113
artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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114
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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115
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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116
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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117
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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118
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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119
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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120
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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121
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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122
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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123
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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124
vertigo
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| n.眩晕 | |
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125
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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126
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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127
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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128
pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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129
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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130
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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131
exhaled
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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132
smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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133
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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134
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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135
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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136
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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137
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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138
primordial
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| adj.原始的；最初的 | |
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139
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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140
tunics
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| n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍 | |
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141
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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142
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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143
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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144
mosses
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| n. 藓类, 苔藓植物 名词moss的复数形式 | |
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145
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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146
obliquely
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| adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大 | |
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147
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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148
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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149
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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150
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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151
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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152
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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153
variegation
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| n.上色，彩色，斑；彩斑 | |
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154
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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155
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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156
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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157
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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158
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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159
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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160
papyrus
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| n.古以纸草制成之纸 | |
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161
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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162
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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163
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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164
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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165
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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166
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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167
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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168
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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169
withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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170
encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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171
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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172
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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173
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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174
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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175
lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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176
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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177
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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178
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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179
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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180
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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181
harpoons
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| n.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的名词复数 )v.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的第三人称单数 ) | |
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182
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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183
vanquishing
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| v.征服( vanquish的现在分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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184
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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185
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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186
embalmed
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| adj.用防腐药物保存（尸体）的v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气 | |
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187
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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188
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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189
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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190
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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191
phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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192
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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193
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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194
bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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195
darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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196
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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197
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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198
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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199
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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200
javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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201
javelins
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| n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 ) | |
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202
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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203
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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204
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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205
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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206
subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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207
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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208
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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209
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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210
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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211
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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212
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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213
nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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214
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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215
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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216
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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217
prows
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| n.船首( prow的名词复数 ) | |
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218
galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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219
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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220
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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221
viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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222
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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223
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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224
windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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225
curdled
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| v.（使）凝结( curdle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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226
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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227
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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228
cisterns
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| n.蓄水池，储水箱( cistern的名词复数 )；地下储水池 | |
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229
beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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230
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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231
diffusion
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| n.流布；普及；散漫 | |
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232
rending
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| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
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233
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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234
beaks
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| n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者 | |
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235
ramps
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| resources allocation and multiproject scheduling 资源分配和多项目的行程安排 | |
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236
storks
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| n.鹳( stork的名词复数 ) | |
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237
coffins
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| n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物 | |
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238
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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239
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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240
mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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241
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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242
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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243
binds
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| v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕 | |
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244
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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245
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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246
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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247
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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248
deafen
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| vt.震耳欲聋；使听不清楚 | |
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249
buffoons
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| n.愚蠢的人( buffoon的名词复数 )；傻瓜；逗乐小丑；滑稽的人 | |
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250
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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251
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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252
execrate
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| v.憎恶；厌恶；诅咒 | |
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253
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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254
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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255
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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256
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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257
cedars
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| 雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 ) | |
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258
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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259
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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260
nave
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| n.教堂的中部；本堂 | |
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261
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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262
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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263
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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