This experienced observer discovered that a minute splinter of bone was pressing on the brain, and removed it by a dexterous9 operation. The patient was instantaneously restored to the full possession of his senses. Diopeithes (so we will call him) thought it best, however, to administer a sleeping draught10, and it was late in the morning of the following day before the young man could satisfy his curiosity as to the events which had befallen him.
One thing indeed became evident to him at almost[75] the very moment of his waking. He knew that he must be in one of the two citadels11 of the town, for he could see from his bed, and that in a way which showed it to be slightly below him, the splendid building which, under the name of the Mausoleum, was known as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.” It was then in all the freshness of its first splendour, for little more than ten years had passed since its completion. The marble steps which rose in a pyramid of exquisite12 proportions shone with a dazzling whiteness. The graceful13 columns with their elaborately sculptured capitals, the finely proportioned figures of Carian and Greek heroes of the past, the majestic14 lions that seemed, after the Greek fashion, to watch the repose15 of the dead king, and, crowning all, Mausolus himself in his chariot reining16 in the “breathing bronze” of his four fiery17 steeds—these combined to form a marvel18 of richness and beauty. After nature and man had wrought19 their worst upon it for fifteen hundred years, a traveller of the twelfth century could still say, “It was and is a wonder.” What it was as it came fresh from the hand of sculptor20 and architect it would be difficult to imagine.
Charidemus was busy contemplating21 the beauties of the great monument when a slave entered bringing with him the requisites22 for the toilet. After a short interval23 another presented himself with the materials of a meal, a piece of roast flesh, a loaf of bread,[76] cheese, a bunch of dried grapes, a small flagon of wine, and another of water, freshly drawn24 from the well, and deliciously cool.
By the time the prisoner had done justice to his fare, a visitor entered the apartment. In the new-comer he recognized no less important a personage than the great Memnon himself. Charidemus had seen him at the Granīcus, making desperate efforts to stem the tide of defeat; and he knew him well by reputation as the one man who might be expected to hold his own in a battle against Alexander himself. Memnon was a man of about fifty, of a tall and commanding figure, with bright and penetrating25 eyes, and a nose that, without wholly departing from the Greek type, had something of the curve which we are accustomed to associate with the capacity of a leader of men. But he had a decided26 appearance of ill-health; his cheeks were pale and wasted, with a spot of hectic27 colour, and his frame was painfully attenuated28. He acknowledged the presence of his prisoner with a very slight salutation, and after beckoning29 to the secretary who accompanied him to take a seat and make preparations for writing, proceeded to put some questions through an interpreter. He spoke30 in Greek, and the interpreter, in whom Charidemus recognized a soldier of his own company, translated what he said into the Macedonian dialect.
The first question naturally concerned his name and rank in Alexander’s army. Charidemus, who[77] indeed spoke Macedonian with much less fluency31 than he spoke Greek, ventured to address his answer directly to the great man himself. The effect was magical. The cold and stern expression disappeared from the commander’s face, and was replaced by a pleasant and genial32 smile.
“What!” he cried, “you are a Greek, and, if I do not mistake the accent—though, indeed, an Athenian could not speak better—you are a Dorian.”
Charidemus explained that his mother was an Argive woman, and that he had spent all his early years in the Peloponnese.
“Then I was right about the Dorian,” said the Memnon, in a still more friendly tone. “My heart always warms to hear the broad ‘a’ of our common race; for we are kinsmen33. I came, as I daresay you know, from Rhodes. But come, let us have a chat together; we can do without our friends here.”
He dismissed the secretary and the interpreter. When they were gone, he turned to Charidemus. “Now tell me who you are. But, first, are you quite sure that you are strong enough for a talk? Diopeithes tells me that he has found out and removed the cause of your trouble; and he knows his business as well as any man upon earth; but I should like to hear it from your own lips.”
The young man assured him that he was perfectly34 recovered, and then proceeded to give him an[78] outline of the story with which my readers are already acquainted.
“Well,” said Memnon, when the end was reached, “I have nothing to reproach you with. For the matter of that, you might, with much more reason, reproach me. Why should I, a Greek of the Greeks, for I claim descent from Hercules himself,” he added, with a smile, “why should I be found fighting for the Persians, for the very people who would have turned us into bondmen if they could? Ask me that question, and I must confess that I cannot answer it. All I can say is that I have found the Great King an excellent master, a generous man who can listen to the truth, and take good advice, which is more, by the way, than I can say for some of his lieutenants35. And then his subjects are tolerably well off; I don’t think that they improve their condition by coming under the rule of Spartan36 warriors37 or Athenian generals, so far as I have had an opportunity of seeing anything of these gentlemen. What your Alexander may do for them, if he gets the chance, is more than I can say. But I am quite sure that if he manages to climb into the throne of the Great King, he will not find it a comfortable seat.”
After a short pause, during which he seemed buried in thought, the commander began again. “I won’t ask you any questions which you might think it inconsistent with your duty to your master[79] to answer. In fact, there is no need for me to do so. I fancy that I know pretty nearly everything that you could tell me. Thanks to my spies I can reckon to a few hundreds how many men your king can bring into the field; I have a shrewd idea of how much money he has in his military chest, and of how much he owes—the first, I am quite sure, is a very small sum, and the second a very big one. As for his plans, I wish that I knew more about them; but then you could not help me, if you would. But that he has great plans, I am sure; and it will take all that we can do, and more too, unless I am much mistaken, to baffle them.”
He paused, and walked half-a-dozen times up and down the room, meditating38 deeply, and sometimes talking in a low voice to himself.
“Perhaps you may wonder,” he began again, “why, if I don’t expect to get any information out of you, I don’t let you go. To tell you the plain truth, I cannot afford it. You are worth something to me, and we are not so well off that I can make any present to my adversaries39. Macedonian or Greek, you are a person of importance, and I shall have to make use of you—always,” the speaker went on, laying his hand affectionately on the young man’s shoulder, “always in as agreeable and advantageous40 a way to yourself as I can possibly manage. Perhaps I may be able to exchange you; but for the present you must be content to be my[80] guest, if you will allow me to call myself your host. I only wish I could entertain you better. I can’t recommend a walk, for your friends outside keep the place a little too lively with their catapults. Books, I fear, are somewhat scarce. Halicarnassus, you know, was never a literary place. It produced one great writer, and appreciated him so little as positively41 to drive him away.[27] As for myself, I have not had the opportunity or the taste for collecting books. Still there are a few rolls, Homer and our Aristophanes among them, I know, with which you may while away a few hours; there is a slave-boy who can play a very good game of draughts42, if you choose to send for him; and you can go over the Mausoleum there, which is certainly worth looking at. And now farewell for the present! We shall meet at dinner. I, as you may suppose, have got not a few things to look after.”
With this farewell Memnon left the room, but came back in a few moments. “I am half-ashamed,” he said, in an apologetic tone, “to mention the matter to a gentleman like yourself; still it is a matter of business, and you will excuse it. I took it for granted that you give me your word not to escape.”
Charidemus gave the required promise, and his host then left him, but not till he had repeated in[81] the most friendly fashion his invitation to dinner. “We dine at sunset,” he said, “but a slave will give you warning when the time approaches.”
Charidemus found the literary resources of his quarters more extensive than he had been led to expect. By the help of these, and of a long and careful inspection43 of the Mausoleum, he found no difficulty in passing the day.
Dinner was a very cheerful meal. The party consisted of four—the two to whom my readers have not yet been introduced being Barsiné, a lady of singular beauty, and as accomplished44 as she was fair; and Nicon, an Athenian of middle age, who was acting45 as tutor to Memnon’s son. Nicon was a brilliant talker. He had lived many years in Athens, and had heard all the great orators46, whose manner he could imitate with extraordinary skill. Plato, too, he had known well; indeed, he had been his disciple47, one of the twenty-eight who had constituted the inner circle, all of them duly fortified48 with the knowledge of geometry,[28] to whom the philosopher imparted his most intimate instructions. Aristotle, not to mention less distinguished49 names, had been one of his class-fellows. But if Nicon’s conversation was extraordinarily50 varied51 and interesting, it was not more than a match for Barsiné’s.[82] Charidemus listened with amazement52 to the wit and learning which she betrayed in her talk—betrayed rather than displayed—for she had no kind of ostentation53 or vanity about her. Her intelligence and knowledge was all the more amazing because she was a Persian by birth, had the somewhat languid beauty characteristic of her race, and spoke Greek with an accent, delicate indeed, but noticeably Persian. Memnon seemed glad to play the part of a listener rather than a talker; though he would now and then interpose a shrewd observation which showed that he was thoroughly54 competent to appreciate the conversation. As for the young Macedonian, he would have been perfectly content to spend the whole evening in silent attention to such talk as he had never heard before; but Nicon skilfully55 drew him out, and as he was a clever and well-informed young man, he acquitted56 himself sufficiently57 well.
BARSINé.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
partially
|
|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
stunned
|
|
| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
secondly
|
|
| adv.第二，其次 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
gateway
|
|
| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
agonizing
|
|
| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
persistence
|
|
| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
worthies
|
|
| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
dexterous
|
|
| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
citadels
|
|
| n.城堡，堡垒( citadel的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
majestic
|
|
| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
reining
|
|
| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
marvel
|
|
| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
sculptor
|
|
| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
contemplating
|
|
| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
requisites
|
|
| n.必要的事物( requisite的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
interval
|
|
| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
penetrating
|
|
| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
hectic
|
|
| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
attenuated
|
|
| v.（使）变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变薄；（使）变小；减弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
beckoning
|
|
| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
fluency
|
|
| n.流畅，雄辩，善辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
kinsmen
|
|
| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
lieutenants
|
|
| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
spartan
|
|
| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
meditating
|
|
| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
adversaries
|
|
| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
advantageous
|
|
| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
draughts
|
|
| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
inspection
|
|
| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
orators
|
|
| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
disciple
|
|
| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
fortified
|
|
| adj. 加强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
extraordinarily
|
|
| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
ostentation
|
|
| n.夸耀，卖弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
skilfully
|
|
| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
acquitted
|
|
| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |