IN THE HOUSE OF THE TISROC
"OH-my-father-and-oh-the-delight-of-my-eyes," began the young man, muttering the words very quickly and sulkily and not at all as if the Tisroc were the delight of his eyes. "May you live for ever, but you have utterly1 destroyed me. If you had given me the swiftest of the galleys2 at sunrise when I first saw that the ship of the accursed barbarians4 was gone from her place I would perhaps have overtaken them. But you persuaded me to send first and see if they had not merely moved round the point into better anchorage. And now the whole day has been wasted. And they are gone - gone - out of my reach! The false jade5, the-" and here he added a great many descriptions of Queen Susan which would not look at all nice in print. For of course this young man was Prince Rabadash and of course the false jade was Susan of Narnia.
"Compose yourself, O my son," said the Tisroc. "For the departure of guests makes a wound that is easily healed in the heart of a judicious6 host."
"But I want her," cried the Prince. "I must have her. I shall die if I do not get her- false, proud, black-hearted daughter of a dog that she is! I cannot sleep and my food has no savour and my eyes are darkened because of her beauty. I must have the barbarian3 queen."
"How well it was said by a gifted poet," observed the Vizier, raising his face (in a somewhat dusty condition) from the carpet, "that deep draughts7 from the fountain of reason are desirable in order to extinguish the fire of youthful love."
This seemed to exasperate8 the Prince. "Dog," he shouted, directing a series of well-aimed kicks at the hindquarters of the Vizier, "do not dare to quote the poets to me. I have had maxims9 and verses flung at me all day and I can endure them no more." I am afraid Aravis did not feel at all sorry for the Vizier.
The Tisroc was apparently10 sunk in thought, but when, after a long pause, he noticed what was happening, he said tranquilly11:
"My son, by all means desist from kicking the venerable and enlightened Vizier: for as a costly12 jewel retains its value even if hidden in a dung-hill, so old age and discretion13 are to be respected even in the vile14 persons of our subjects. Desist therefore, and tell us what you desire and propose."
"I desire and propose, O my father," said Rabadash, "that you immediately call out your invincible15 armies and invade the thrice-accursed land of Narnia and waste it with fire and sword and add it to your illimitable empire, killing16 their High King and all of his blood except the queen Susan. For I must have her as my wife, though she shall learn a sharp lesson first."
"Understand, O my son," said the Tisroc, "that no words you can speak will move me to open war against Narnia."
"If you were not my father, O ever-living Tisroc, " said the Prince, grinding his teeth, "I should say that was the word of a coward."
"And if you were not my son, O most inflammable Rabadash," replied his father, "your life would be short and your death slow when you had said it." (The cool, placid17 voice in which he spoke18 these words made Aravis's blood run cold.)
"But why, O my father," said the Prince - this time in a much more respectful voice, "why should we think twice about punishing Narnia any more than about hanging an idle slave or sending a worn-out horse to be made into dog'smeat? It is not the fourth size of one of your least provinces. A thousand spears could conquer it in five weeks. It is an unseemly blot19 on the skirts of your empire."
"Most undoubtedly20," said the Tisroc. "These little barbarian countries that call themselves free (which is as much as to say, idle, disordered, and unprofitable) are hateful to the gods and to all persons of discernment."
"Then why have we suffered such a land as Narnia to remain thus long unsubdued?"
"Know, O enlightened Prince," said the Grand Vizier, "that until the year in which your exalted21 father began his salutary and unending reign22, the land of Narnia was covered with ice and snow and was moreover ruled by a most powerful enchantress."
"This I know very well, O loquacious23 Vizier," answered the Prince. "But I know also that the enchantress is dead. And the ice and snow have vanished, so that Narnia is now wholesome24, fruitful, and delicious."
"And this change, O most learned Prince, has doubtless been brought to pass by the powerful incantations of those wicked persons who now call themselves kings and queens of Narnia."
"I am rather of the opinion," said Rabadash, "that it has come about by the alteration25 of the stars and the operation of natural causes."
"All this," said the Tisroc, "is a question for the disputations of learned men. I will never believe that so great an alteration, and the killing of the old enchantress, were effected without the aid of strong magic. And such things are to be expected in that land, which is chiefly inhabited by demons27 in the shape of beasts that talk like men, and monsters that are half man and half beast. It is commonly reported that the High King of Narnia (whom may the gods utterly reject) is supported by a demon26 of hideous28 aspect and irresistible29 maleficence who appears in the shape of a Lion. Therefore the attacking of Narnia is a dark and doubtful enterprise, and I am determined30 not to put my hand out farther than I can draw it back."
"How blessed is Calormen," said the Vizier, popping up his face again, "on whose ruler the gods have been pleased to bestow31 prudence32 and circumspection33! Yet as the irrefutable and sapient34 Tisroc has said it is very grievous to be constrained35 to keep our hands off such a dainty dish as Narnia. Gifted was that poet who said -" but at this point Ahoshta noticed an impatient movement of the Prince's toe and became suddenly silent.
"It is very grievous," said the Tisroc in his deep, quiet voice. "Every morning the sun is darkened in my eyes, and every night my sleep is the less refreshing36, because I remember that Narnia is still free."
"O my father," said Rabadash. "How if I show you a way by which you can stretch out your arm to take Narnia and yet draw it back unharmed if the attempt prove unfortunate?"
"If you can show me that, O Rabadash," said the Tisroc, "you will be the best of sons."
"Hear then, 0 father. This very night and in this hour I will take but two hundred horse and ride across the desert. And it shall seem to all men that you know nothing of my going. On the second morning I shall be at the gates of King Lune's castle of Anvard in Archenland. They are at peace with us and unprepared and I shall take Anvard before they have bestirred themselves. Then I will ride through the pass above Anvard and down through Narnia to Cair Paravel. The High King will not be there; when I left them he was already preparing a raid against the giants on his northern border. I shall find Cair Paravel, most likely with open gates, and ride in. I shall exercise prudence and courtesy and spill as little Narnian blood as I can. And what then remains37 but to sit there till the Splendour Hyaline puts in, with Queen Susan on board, catch my strayed bird as she sets foot ashore38, swing her into the saddle, and then, ride, ride, ride back to Anvard?"
"But is it not probable, O my son," said the Tisroc, "that at the taking of the woman either King Edmund or you will lose his life?"
"They will be a small company," said Rabadash, "and I will order ten of my men to disarm39 and bind40 him: restraining my vehement41 desire for his blood so that there shall be no deadly cause of war between you and the High King."
"And how if the Splendour Hyaline is at Cair Paravel before you?"
"I do not look for that with these winds, O my father."
"And lastly, O my resourceful son," said the Tisroc, "you have made clear how all this might give you the barbarian woman, but not how it helps me to the over-throwing of Narnia."
"O my father, can it have escaped you that though I and my horsemen will come and go through Narnia like an arrow from a bow, yet we shall have Anvard for ever? And when you hold Anvard you sit in the very gate of Narnia, and your garrison42 in Anvard can be increased by little and little till it is a great host."
"It is spoken with understanding and foresight43. But how do I draw back my arm if all this miscarries?"
"You shall say that I, did it without your knowledge and against your will, and without your blessing44, being constrained by the violence of my love and the impetuosity of youth."
"And how if the High King then demands that we send back the barbarian woman, his sister?"
"O my father, be assured that he will not. For though the fancy of a woman has rejected this marriage, the High King Peter is a man of prudence and understanding who will in no way wish to lose the high honour and advantage of being allied45 to our House and seeing his nephew and grand nephew on the throne of Calormen."
"He will not see that if I live for ever as is no doubt your wish," said the Tisroc in an even drier voice than usual.
"And also, O my father and O the delight of my eyes," said the Prince, after a moment of awkward silence, "we shall write letters as if from the Queen to say that she loves me and has no desire to return to Narnia. For it is well known that women are as changeable as weathercocks. And even if they do not wholly believe the letters, they will not dare to come to Tashbaan in arms to fetch her."
"O enlightened Vizier," said the Tisroc, "bestow your wisdom upon us concerning this strange proposal."
"O eternal Tisroc," answered Ahosta, "the strength of paternal46 affection is not unknown to me and I have often heard that sons are in the eyes of their fathers more precious than carbuncles. How then shall I dare freely to unfold to you my mind in a matter which may imperil the life of this exalted Prince?"
"Undoubtedly you will dare," replied the Tisroc.
"Because you will find that the dangers of not doing so are at least equally great."
"To hear is to obey," moaned the wretched man. "Know then, O most reasonable Tisroc, in the first place, that the danger of the Prince is not altogether so great as might appear. For the gods have withheld47 from the barbarians the light of discretion, as that their poetry is not, like ours, full of choice apophthegms and useful maxims, but is all of love and war. Therefore nothing will appear to them more noble and admirable than such a mad enterprise as this of ow!" For the Prince, at the word "mad", had kicked him again.
"Desist, O my son," said the Tisroc. "And you, estimable Vizier, whether he desists or not, by no means allow the flow of your eloquence48 to be interrupted. For nothing is more suitable to persons of gravity and decorum than to endure minor49 inconveniences with constancy."
"To hear is to obey," said the Vizier, wriggling50 himself round a little so as to get his hinder parts further away from Rabadash's toe. "Nothing, I say, will seem as pardonable, if not estimable, in their eyes as this - er - hazardous51 attempt, especially because it is undertaken for the love of a woman. Therefore, if the Prince by misfortune fell into their hands, they would assuredly not kill him. Nay52, it may even be, that though he failed to carry off the queen, yet the sight of his great valour and of the extremity53 of his passion might incline her heart to him."
"That is a good point, old babbler," said Rabadash. "Very good, however it came into your ugly head."
"The praise of my masters is the light of my eyes," said Ahoshta. "And secondly54, O Tisroc, whose reign must and shall be interminable, I think that with the aid of the gods it is very likely that Anvard will fall into the Prince's hands. And if so, we have Narnia by the throat."
There was a long pause and the room became so silent that the two girls hardly dared to breathe. At last the Tisroc spoke.
"Go, my son," he said. "And do as you have said. But expect no help nor countenance55 from me. I will not avenge56 you if you are killed and I will not deliver you if the barbarians cast you into prison. And if, either in success or failure, you shed a drop more than you need of Narnian noble blood and open war arises from it, my favour shall never fall upon you again and your next brother shall have your place in Calormen. Now go. Be swift, secret, and fortunate. May the strength of Tash the inexorable, the irresistible be in your sword and lance."
"To hear is to obey," cried Rabadash, and after kneeling for a moment to kiss his father's hands he rushed from the room. Greatly to the disappointment of Aravis, who was now horribly cramped57, the Tisroc and Vizier remained.
"O Vizier," said the Tisroc, "is it certain that no living soul knows of this council we three have held here tonight?"
"O my master," said Ahoshta, "it is not possible that any should know. For that very reason I proposed, and you in your wisdom agreed, that we should meet here in the Old Palace where no council is ever held and none of the household has any occasion to come."
"It is well," said the Tisroc. "If any man knew, I would see to it that he died before an hour had passed. And do you also, O prudent58 Vizier, forget it. I sponge away from my own heart and from yours all knowledge of the Prince's plans. He is gone without my knowledge or my consent, I know not whither, because of his violence and the rash and disobedient disposition59 of youth. No man will be more astonished than you and I to hear that Anvard is in his hands."
"To hear is to obey," said Ahoshta.
"That is why you will never think even in your secret heart that I am the hardest hearted of fathers who thus send my first-born son on an errand so likely to be his death; pleasing as it must be to you who do not love the Prince. For 1 see into the bottom of your mind."
"O impeccable Tisroc," said the Vizier. "In comparison with you I love neither the Prince nor my own life nor bread nor water nor the light of the sun."
"Your sentiments," said the Tisroc, "are elevated and correct. I also love none of these things in comparison with the glory and strength of my throne. If the Prince succeeds, we have Archenland, and perhaps hereafter Narnia. If he fails - I have eighteen other sons and Rabadash, after the manner of the eldest60 sons of kings, was beginning to be dangerous. More than five Tisrocs in Tashbaan have died before their time because their eldest sons, enlightened princes, grew tired of waiting for their throne. He had better cool his blood abroad than boil it in inaction here. And now, O excellent Vizier, the excess of my paternal anxiety inclines me to sleep. Command the musicians to my chamber61. But before you lie down, call back the pardon we wrote for the third cook. I feel within me the manifest prognostics of indigestion."
"To hear is to obey," said the Grand Vizier. He crawled backwards62 on all fours to the door, rose, bowed, and went out. Even then the Tisroc remained seated in silence on the divan63 till Aravis almost began to be afraid that he had dropped asleep. But at last with a great creaking and sighing he heaved up his enormous body, signed to the slaves to precede him with the lights, and went out. The door closed behind him, the room was once more totally dark, and the two girls could breathe freely again.
八、在蒂斯罗克的密室里
“啊——我的父亲，我——眼睛——中——的——喜悦，”年轻人开言道，咕咕哝哝，吐字很快，很不开心，压根儿不像他所说的蒂斯罗克是他眼中的喜悦。”愿你万寿无疆，但你已经把我完全毁了。如果你在日出时给了我最快的单层甲板大帆船，如果我最初看见那该死的外邦人的船开出去时就追的话，说不定已经追上他们了。可是你劝我先送行，瞧瞧他们是否只是绕着海呻找个更好的碇泊所。如今整整一天已经浪费了。而他们走掉了——走掉了——走得我们追不上了！那个虚假的女人，那个……”他在这儿还加了许多对女王苏珊的形容词，如果印出来，就压根儿不雅观了。因为，这个年轻人当然是王子拉巴达什，那个虚假的女人当然是纳尼亚的苏珊。
“我的儿子啊，把你的情绪镇静下来，”蒂斯罗克说道，”因为，客人的离去所造成的创伤，在一个明智的主人的心里是容易治好的。”
“可是我要她，”王子大声嚷嚷道，”我必须占有她。如果我弄不到她，我就要死了。她是一只老狗的虚伪的、骄傲的、黑心肠的女儿。我没法睡觉，我吃东西不香，没有滋味，由于她的美丽，我的眼睛都发黑了。我一定要把这外邦的女王弄到手。”
“一位天才诗人说得好，”首相说道，从地毯上抬起他那满是灰尘的脸，”为了消灭年轻的爱情之火，从理智的泉水深饮几口是合乎需要的。”
这话似乎激怒了王子。”狗东西，”他吼道，一连几脚对准首相的展股踢去，”别对我放肆引证诗人的话。整天都有格言和诗句向我扔过来，我再也忍受不了啦！”我想，阿拉维斯恐怕压根儿不为大臣感到难过。
蒂斯罗克显然陷入了沉思，但过了半晌，当他注意到正发生什么事情时，他平静地答道：
“我的儿子，无论如何，别再踢年高德劭和博学开明的大臣了；正如昂贵的珠宝，即使藏在粪堆里，也仍旧保持它的价值，所以老年和谨慎都是该尊敬的，即使它们存在于我们臣民中微不足道的人身上。因此，别再踢了，把你的愿望和建议告诉我们吧。”
“我的父亲啊，我的愿望和建议是，”拉巴达什说，”你立刻召集你那战无不胜的军队，入侵纳尼亚这万分该死的土地，用火和剑扫荡这个国家，把它吞并到你无限的帝国里来，杀掉它的至尊王以及他的王族，只放过女王苏珊一人口因为我一定要娶她做我的妻子，尽管她得先领教一下辛辣的教训！。”
“我的儿子啊，明白了，”蒂斯罗克说道，”你说的话怂恿不了我公开同纳尼亚作战。”
“万寿无疆的蒂斯罗克啊，如果你不是我的父亲，”王子咬牙切齿地说道，”我就会说这是懦夫的言语。”
“最容易激动的拉巴达什啊，如果你不是我的儿子，”他的父亲答道，”当你说这话时，你就会短寿促命，而你的死亡将会是缓慢的。”(他说这些话时所用的冷冰冰的平静声调使阿拉维斯毛骨悚然。
“我的父亲啊，可是为什么，”王子说道，这回用的是尊敬得多的声调了，”为什么关于惩罚纳尼亚王国的事，我们要再三考虑呢?这件事跟绞死一个游手好闲的奴隶或是把筋疲力尽的老马送去充作狗食一样不必多加思考。这个国家还赶不上你最小的省四分之一的面积。上千枝长矛，不出五个星期，就能把它征服了。这是你帝国边境上的一个不相宜的污点。”
“毫无疑问之至，”蒂斯罗克说道，”这些个小小的外邦国家自称是自由的(这等于说，游手好闲，目无秩序，无利无益)，嫌恶神灵和一切明眼人。”
“那么我们为什么容忍像纳尼亚这样一个国家继续存在下去，长期不去征服它呢?”
“开明的王子啊，要知道，”首相说，”在你高贵的父亲开始他有效而永恒的统治那一年之前，纳尼亚的国土上到处都是冰雪，而且是由一个最强有力的女巫统治着的。”
“饶舌的首相啊，这个我知道得很清楚了，”王子答道，”可我也知道女巫死了，冰雪消失了，所以纳尼亚王国现在清新健康，水果遍地，美味可口。”
“最有学问的王子啊，这个变化，无疑是那些坏人强有力的魔法造成的，他们还自称为纳尼亚的国王和女王哩。”
“我倒是有这样的看法，”拉巴达什说道，”这种变化是由于星宿的改变和自然界的作用造成的。”
“这一切，”蒂斯罗克说道，”是个由有学问的人们来争论的问题。我永远不会相信，这样大的变化，杀死老女巫等等，没有强大魔法的帮助，就会马到成功。这样的魔术妖法，在那个国土上是可以指望得到的，那儿主要住着魔鬼(外形是野兽，却像人一样说话)，还有半人半兽的妖怪。通常的报告都说，纳尼亚的至尊王(愿众神都抛弃他)是由一个恶魔给他撑腰的。那恶魔外貌丑陋，其罪恶行径不可抗拒，出现时化身为一头狮子。因此，攻打纳尼亚是一种凶险而可疑的冒险举动，我决心不要弄到手伸了出去却缩不回来的地步。”
“卡乐门王国真是有福气，”首相重新抬起头来，说道，
“神灵乐于将谨慎小心和周密思虑赋予它的国王！然而，正如无可辩驳、足智多谋的蒂斯罗克已经说过的，被迫对纳尼亚这样的美餐迟迟不下手，倒是十分令人痛惜的。天才诗人说……”但讲到这儿时，阿霍什塔注意到了王子的脚趾不耐烦的动作，他就突然默不作声了。
“这是十分令人痛惜的，”蒂斯罗克用他那深沉而平静的声调说道，”每天早晨，太阳在我的眼睛里是发黑的，每天夜间，我的睡眠总是不大能使我醒来时神清气爽，因为我总是念念不忘纳尼亚王国仍旧是自由的。”
“我的父亲啊，”拉巴达什说道，”我给你想个办法怎么样?凭着这办法，你可以伸出手去攫取纳尼亚，万一不顺利，还可以不受伤害地把于缩回来。”
“啊，拉巴达什，如果能替我想出这个办法来，”蒂斯罗克说道，”你就是我最好的儿子了。”
“父亲啊，你听着。就在今天夜里，眼前这个时辰里，我要率领仅仅二百人马穿过沙漠。事情要做得大家都认为你压根儿不知道我的行动。第二天早晨，我就到了阿钦兰的安瓦德，国王伦恩的堡垒的大门口。他们是同我们和平共处的，也是毫无准备的，我在他们有所动作以前，就把安瓦德占领了。然后我要放马驰过安瓦德上边的关隘，长驱直入纳尼亚，到达凯尔帕拉维尔。至尊王不会在那儿；我离开他们时，他已经在准备袭击北方边界上的巨人。很可能我会看到凯尔帕拉维尔城门大开，我将纵马入城，我将谨慎从事，彬彬有礼，尽我所能叫纳尼亚人少流点儿血。剩下来的事只不过是坐待'灿烂晶莹'号进港了，而女王苏珊就在船上，当她的脚一踏上陆地，我就立刻逮住我那走失的鸟儿，把她甩到马鞍上，然后我就纵马奔驰，奔驰，奔回安瓦德。”
“然而，我的儿子啊，很有可能，”蒂斯罗克说，”在抢走这女人时，不是国王爱德蒙，便是你，要丢掉性命，不是吗?”
“他们是个小小连队，”拉巴达什说道，”我会命令我手下的十个士兵解除他的武装，把他捆绑起来我会克制暴烈的想叫他流血的欲望，这样，你和至尊王之间就不会有不共戴天的非战不可的因由了。”
“如果'灿烂晶莹'号比你先到达凯尔帕拉维尔，那又怎么办呢?”
“父亲啊，按照风的情况，我看这船早到不了。”
“我的足智多谋的儿子啊，最后一个问题是，”蒂斯罗克说”你已经讲清楚了，这一切行动将如何给你搞到那个女人，可如何帮助我战胜纳尼亚王国，你并没有讲清楚啊。
“我的父亲啊，这可逃不过你的眼睛:尽管我和我的入马，像一支从弓上射出的箭，在纳尼亚境内飞速来去，然而我们将永远占领安瓦德。占领了安瓦德，你就是稳坐在纳尼亚的大门口了，你的守卫部队可以逐渐增加，形成巨大的优势。”
“说得很有眼光和见地。然而，如果这一切都失算和失败了，我怎样缩回我那伸出去的手臂呢?”
“你可以说是我擅自干的，你毫不知情，也违背了你的心愿，并没有得到你的批准，是强烈的爱情和年少气盛把我逼到这个地步的。”
“如果至尊王那时要求我们把那个外邦女人，他的摘亲妹妹送回去，又怎么办呢?”
“我的父亲啊，管保他不会提这种要求的。虽然女人的幻想曾拒绝这桩婚姻，但至尊王彼得是个谨慎而又明白事理的人，他是无论如何不肯丧失同我们这种王室联姻的光荣和利益的，他还要看到他的外甥和外孙坐上卡乐门的王位哩。”
“如果我真的万寿无疆(正如你毫无疑问地愿望的那样)，他就看不到这种局面了。”蒂斯罗克用一种甚至比平常还要干巴巴的语调说道。
“我的父亲，我眼中的喜悦，还有，”经过了片刻尴尬的沉默以后，王子说道，”我们要写信去仿佛是女王说她爱我，不想回纳尼亚了。因为，大家都知道的，女人善变，像风信鸡随风变换方向一样。哪怕他们并不完全相信这些信件，他们也不敢武装来到塔什班城，夺她回去。”
“开明多智的首相啊，”蒂斯罗克说道，”对于这个新奇的建议，请发表高见指教吧。”
“蒂斯罗克万万岁，”阿霍什塔答道，”古氏镇情深的力量，我不是不知道的，我时常听说，儿子在父亲的眼睛里看来，比红宝石还要珍贵。对于这件也许会危害这位意气风发的王子的生命的大事，我怎么敢放肆地向你陈述我的愚见呢?”
“毫无疑问你会敢于陈述的，”蒂斯罗克答道，”因为，你会发现:不这么干危险至少是同样巨大的。”
“听到命令，就遵命照办。”为难的首相呜呜咽咽地说道，”最最通情达理的蒂斯罗克啊，那么，第一，须知王子的危险并不像看起来那么大。因为神灵没有赐给外邦人谨慎小心之光，他们的诗歌不像我们的诗歌那样充满精美的箴言和有用的格言，却全是讴歌爱情和战争的。因此，在他们看来，啥也不及像这样疯狂的冒险更加崇高更加令人钦佩的了——唷”因为王子听到疯狂两字时又踢他了。
“我的儿子啊，别踢，”蒂斯罗克说，”而你，值得尊重的首相，不论他踢不踢你，无论如何也不要中断你滔滔不绝的议论。因为，对于庄严而彬彬有礼的人，以坚定不变的态度忍受小小的不方便，是再合适也没有的了。”
“听到命令，就遵命照办。”首相说道；他扭动着，把自己的身体缩得圆一点儿，使屁股离拉巴达什的脚趾远一点儿。”像这样的冒险行动，特别是为了对一个女人的爱情而采取这样的行动，在他们的眼睛里看来，如果不是值得尊敬的，也似乎是可以原谅的。所以，如果王子不幸落到他们手里，管保他们不会杀死他的。不，说不定甚至会出现这种情况尽管他想抢走女王是失败了，然而看到了他伟大的英勇气概和登峰造极的热情，女王可能倾心于他。”
“这倒是个好观点，你这唠唠叨叨的老头儿，”拉巴达什说道，”十分高明的观点毕竟进入了你那丑陋的头脑。”
“明主的称赞就是眼睛里的光明，”阿霍什塔说道，”蒂斯罗克啊，你的统治是没有止境的，其次，得到众神的帮助，安瓦德落到王子手中是十分可能的。果然如此的话，我们就扼住了纳尼亚的咽喉。”
讨论出现了长时间的停顿，房间里变得那么寂静，以致两个姑娘都不敢呼吸了。最后蒂斯罗克终于说话了。
“去吧，我的儿子，”他说道，”按照你所说的计划去干吧。然而，别指望我给你支援和鼓励。如果你被杀害了，我不会替你报仇雪恨，如果外邦人把你关进监狱，我也不会营救你。而且，不论成败，如果你超过必要性而多流了一滴纳尼亚人的血，因此引起两国公开的战争，我的宠爱将永远不再落到你的身上，你的大弟弟将取代你在卡乐门的地位。现在你去吧。要干得迅速、秘密、顺利。愿坚定不屈、不可抗拒的塔什神的力量，附在你的刀剑和长矛上。”
“听到命令，就遵命照办。”拉巴达什大声说道，他跪下来吻一会儿他父亲的双手，之后便冲出房间去了。阿拉维斯现在是被可怕地束缚住了，使她大为失望的是，蒂斯罗克和大臣竟留下不走。
“大臣啊，”蒂斯罗克问道，”今夜我们三个人在这里举行的会议，你可以肯定没有一个活人知道吗?”
“我的圣上啊，”阿霍什塔答道，”不可能有什么人会知道的。出于这个理由，我建议，并且由一贯正确的圣上批准，我们应在老王宫这个房间里开会，以前这儿从未开过会，家庭里也没有任何人有什么机会来过这儿。”"
“这就妥了，”蒂斯罗克说，”如果有什么人知道了，务必叫他在一个钟头之内死去。谨慎的大臣啊，你也得把它忘掉。我从我的心里，也从你的心里，把我们所知道的王子的计划，统统消灭干净了。他去了，可我不知道，也没有得到我的同意，我也不知道他到哪儿去了，这都是由于他年少气盛，狂暴，鲁莽，不听话。至于听说安瓦德落到了他手里，没有人将比你和我更感到惊讶。”
“听到命令，就遵命照办。”阿霍什塔说道。
“那就是为什么你(即使在你最秘密的内心)也永远不会想到我是父亲中心肠最硬的，竟派我的长子去完成一个几乎等于叫他去送死的使命，我这么做必定使你感到高兴，你可并不爱王子啊。因为我看到了你的内心深处。”
“毫无瑕疵的蒂斯罗克啊，”大臣说道，”同圣上相比，我既不爱王子，也不爱我自己的生命，也不爱面包、水和阳光。”
“你的情操，”蒂斯罗克说道，”是高尚而正确的。同王位的光荣和威力相比，这些个东西我也一点儿不爱。如果王子成功了，我们就占领了阿钦兰，也许以后还要占领纳尼亚。如果他失败了，我还有十八个儿子；而拉巴达什呢，为人处世依照国王长子的老作风，正在开始变得危险起来了。塔什班城里有五个以上的蒂斯罗克，都已早死，未能享受他们的天年，因为他们的长子，开明的王子，都变得对王位迫不及待了。他在国外使自己的血液冷静下来，较之在国内无所事事而弄得血液沸腾要好得多。啊，杰出的首相，作为父亲，过分的焦虑使我累得想睡觉了。请嘱咐乐师们到我的寝宫里来吧。但躺下之前，要把我们写给第三个厨子的赦罪书追回来。我感觉到我肚子里有明显的消化不良症候。”
“听到命令，就遵命照办。”首相说道。他双手双足着地，倒退着爬行到房门口，这才站起身来，鞠躬如也，退出去了。即使在这个时候，蒂斯罗克也仍旧默默地坐在长沙发上，一直坐到阿拉维斯开始担心他说不定已经沉沉入睡。但最后，随着一阵吱吱嘎嘎的声音和一声叹息，他抬起他庞大的躯体，做手势叫奴隶掌着烛火走在他前面。然后他就走出去了。房门在他背后砰地关上，房间里再一次漆黑一团，两个姑娘倒能够重新自由呼吸了。
收听单词发音 |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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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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barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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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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jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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exasperate
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| v.激怒，使（疾病）加剧，使恶化 | |
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maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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tranquilly
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| adv. 宁静地 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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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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blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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loquacious
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| adj.多嘴的，饶舌的 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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circumspection
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| n.细心，慎重 | |
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sapient
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| adj.有见识的，有智慧的 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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55
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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56
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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57
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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59
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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61
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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