IMPATIENTLY Nydia awaited the arrival of the no less anxious Sosia. Fortifying2 his courage by plentiful3 potations of a better liquor than that provided for the demon4, the credulous5 ministrant stole into the blind girl's chamber6.
'Well, Sosia, and art thou prepared? Hast thou the bowl of pure water?'
'Verily, yes: but I tremble a little. You are sure I shall not see the demon? I have heard that those gentlemen are by no means of a handsome person or a civil demeanor7.'
'Be assured! And hast thou left the garden-gate gently open?'
'Yes; and placed some beautiful nuts and apples on a little table close by?'
'That's well. And the gate is open now, so that the demon may pass through it?'
'Surely it is.'
'Well, then, open this door; there—leave it just ajar. And now, Sosia, give me the lamp.'
'What, you will not extinguish it?'
'No; but I must breathe my spell over its ray. There is a spirit in fire. Seat thyself.'
The slave obeyed; and Nydia, after bending for some moments silently over the lamp, rose, and in a low voice chanted the following rude:—
INVOCATION TO THE SPECTRE OF THE AIR
Loved alike by Air and Water
Aye must be Thessalia's daughter;
To us, Olympian hearts, are given
Spells that draw the moon from heaven.
All that Egypt's learning wrought—
All that Persia's Magian taught—
Or whisper'd low by fiend—are ours.
Spectre of the viewless air!
Hear the blind Thessalian's prayer!
By Erictho's art, that shed
Dews of life when life was fled—
Who could wake the crystal spring
To the voice of prophecy?
By the lost Eurydice,
As the muse-son's magic song—
By the Colchian's awful charms,
When fair-haired Jason left her arms—
Spectre of the airy halls,
One who owns thee duly calls!
Breathe along the brimming bowl,
And instruct the fearful soul
In the shadowy things that lie
Dark in dim futurity.
Come, wild demon of the air,
Answer to thy votary's prayer!
Come! oh, come!
And no god on heaven or earth—
Not the Paphian Queen of Mirth,
Not the vivid Lord of Light,
Nor the triple Maid of Night,
Nor the Thunderer's self shall be
Blest and honour'd more than thee!
Come! oh, come!
'The spectre is certainly coming,' said Sosia. 'I feel him running along my hair!'
'Place thy bowl of water on the ground. Now, then, give me thy napkin, and let me fold up thy face and eyes.'
'Ay! that's always the custom with these charms. Not so tight, though: gently—gently!'
'There—thou canst not see?'
'See, by Jupiter! No! nothing but darkness.'
'Address, then, to the spectre whatever question thou wouldst ask him, in a low-whispered voice, three times. If thy question is answered in the affirmative, thou wilt11 hear the water ferment12 and bubble before the demon breathes upon it; if in the negative, the water will be quite silent.'
'But you will not play any trick with the water, eh?'
'Let me place the bowl under thy feet—so. Now thou wilt perceive that I cannot touch it without thy knowledge.'
'Very fair. Now, then, O Bacchus! befriend me. Thou knowest that I have always loved thee better than all the other gods, and I will dedicate to thee that silver cup I stole last year from the burly carptor (butler), if thou wilt but befriend me with this water-loving demon. And thou, O Spirit! listen and hear me. Shall I be enabled to purchase my freedom next year? Thou knowest; for, as thou livest in the air, the birds have doubtless acquainted thee with every secret of this house,—thou knowest that I have filched13 and pilfered14 all that I honestly—that is, safely—could lay finger upon for the last three years, and I yet want two thousand sesterces of the full sum. Shall I be able, O good Spirit! to make up the deficiency in the course of this year? Speak—Ha! does the water bubble? No; all is as still as a tomb.—Well, then, if not this year, in two years?—Ah! I hear something; the demon is scratching at the door; he'll be here presently.—In two years, my good fellow: come now, two; that's a very reasonable time. What! dumb still! Two years and a half—three—four? ill fortune to you, friend demon! You are not a lady, that's clear, or you would not keep silence so long. Five—six—sixty years? and may Pluto15 seize you! I'll ask no more.' And Sosia, in a rage, kicked down the water over his legs. He then, after much fumbling16 and more cursing, managed to extricate17 his head from the napkin in which it was completely folded—stared round—and discovered that he was in the dark.
'What, ho! Nydia; the lamp is gone. Ah, traitress; and thou art gone too; but I'll catch thee—thou shalt smart for this!' The slave groped his way to the door; it was bolted from without: he was a prisoner instead of Nydia. What could he do? He did not dare to knock loud—to call out—lest Arbaces should overhear him, and discover how he had been duped; and Nydia, meanwhile, had probably already gained the garden-gate, and was fast on her escape.
'But,' thought he, 'she will go home, or, at least, be somewhere in the city. To-morrow, at dawn, when the slaves are at work in the peristyle, I can make myself heard; then I can go forth18 and seek her. I shall be sure to find and bring her back, before Arbaces knows a word of the matter. Ah! that's the best plan. Little traitress, my fingers itch19 at thee: and to leave only a bowl of water, too! Had it been wine, it would have been some comfort.'
While Sosia, thus entrapped20, was lamenting21 his fate, and revolving22 his schemes to repossess himself of Nydia, the blind girl, with that singular precision and dexterous23 rapidity of motion, which, we have before observed, was peculiar24 to her, had passed lightly along the peristyle, threaded the opposite passage that led into the garden, and, with a beating heart, was about to proceed towards the gate, when she suddenly heard the sound of approaching steps, and distinguished26 the dreaded27 voice of Arbaces himself. She paused for a moment in doubt and terror; then suddenly it flashed across her recollection that there was another passage which was little used except for the admission of the fair partakers of the Egyptian's secret revels28, and which wound along the basement of that massive fabric29 towards a door which also communicated with the garden. By good fortune it might be open. At that thought, she hastily retraced30 her steps, descended31 the narrow stairs at the right, and was soon at the entrance of the passage. Alas32! the door at the entrance was closed and secured. While she was yet assuring herself that it was indeed locked, she heard behind her the voice of Calenus, and, a moment after, that of Arbaces in low reply. She could not stay there; they were probably passing to that very door. She sprang onward33, and felt herself in unknown ground. The air grew damp and chill; this reassured34 her. She thought she might be among the cellars of the luxurious35 mansion36, or, at least, in some rude spot not likely to be visited by its haughty37 lord, when again her quick ear caught steps and the sound of voices. On, on, she hurried, extending her arms, which now frequently encountered pillars of thick and massive form. With a tact38, doubled in acuteness by her fear, she escaped these perils39, and continued her way, the air growing more and more damp as she proceeded; yet, still, as she ever and anon paused for breath, she heard the advancing steps and the indistinct murmur40 of voices. At length she was abruptly41 stopped by a wall that seemed the limit of her path. Was there no spot in which she could hide? No aperture42? no cavity? There was none! She stopped, and wrung her hands in despair; then again, nerved as the voices neared upon her, she hurried on by the side of the wall; and coming suddenly against one of the sharp buttresses44 that here and there jutted45 boldly forth, she fell to the ground. Though much bruised46, her senses did not leave her; she uttered no cry; nay47, she hailed the accident that had led her to something like a screen; and creeping close up to the angle formed by the buttress43, so that on one side at least she was sheltered from view, she gathered her slight and small form into its smallest compass, and breathlessly awaited her fate.
Meanwhile Arbaces and the priest were taking their way to that secret chamber whose stores were so vaunted by the Egyptian. They were in a vast subterranean48 atrium, or hall; the low roof was supported by short, thick pillars of an architecture far remote from the Grecian graces of that luxuriant period. The single and pale lamp, which Arbaces bore, shed but an imperfect ray over the bare and rugged49 walls, in which the huge stones, without cement, were fitted curiously50 and uncouthly51 into each other. The disturbed reptiles52 glared dully on the intruders, and then crept into the shadow of the walls.
Calenus shivered as he looked around and breathed the damp, unwholesome air.
'Yet,' said Arbaces, with a smile, perceiving his shudder53, 'it is these rude abodes54 that furnish the luxuries of the halls above. They are like the laborers55 of the world—we despise their ruggedness56, yet they feed the very pride that disdains57 them.'
'And whither goes yon dim gallery to the left asked Calenus; 'in this depth of gloom it seems without limit, as if winding58 into Hades.'
'On the contrary, it does but conduct to the upper rooms,' answered Arbaces, carelessly: 'it is to the right that we steer59 to our bourn.'
The hall, like many in the more habitable regions of Pompeii, branched off at the extremity60 into two wings or passages; the length of which, not really great, was to the eye considerably61 exaggerated by the sudden gloom against which the lamp so faintly struggled. To the right of these alae, the two comrades now directed their steps.
'The gay Glaucus will be lodged62 to-morrow in apartments not much drier, and far less spacious63 than this,' said Calenus, as they passed by the very spot where, completely wrapped in the shadow of the broad, projecting buttress, cowered64 the Thessalian.
'Ay, but then he will have dry room, and ample enough, in the arena65 on the following day. And to think,' continued Arbaces, slowly, and very deliberately—'to think that a word of thine could save him, and consign66 Arbaces to his doom67!'
'That word shall never be spoken,' said Calenus.
'Right, my Calenus! it never shall,' returned Arbaces, familiarly leaning his arm on the priest's shoulder: 'and now, halt—we are at the door.'
The light trembled against a small door deep set in the wall, and guarded strongly by many plates and bindings of iron, that intersected the rough and dark wood. From his girdle Arbaces now drew a small ring, holding three or four short but strong keys. Oh, how beat the griping heart of Calenus, as he heard the rusty68 wards25 growl69, as if resenting the admission to the treasures they guarded!
'Enter, my friend,' said Arbaces, 'while I hold the lamp on high, that thou mayst glut70 thine eyes on the yellow heaps.'
The impatient Calenus did not wait to be twice invited; he hastened towards the aperture.
'The word shall never be spoken!' said the Egyptian, with a loud exultant72 laugh, and closed the door upon the priest.
Calenus had been precipitated73 down several steps, but not feeling at the moment the pain of his fall, he sprung up again to the door, and beating at it fiercely with his clenched74 fist, he cried aloud in what seemed more a beast's howl than a human voice, so keen was his agony and despair: 'Oh, release me, release me, and I will ask no gold!'
The words but imperfectly penetrated75 the massive door, and Arbaces again laughed. Then, stamping his foot violently, rejoined, perhaps to give vent76 to his long-stifled passions:
'All the gold of Dalmatia,' cried he, 'will not buy thee a crust of bread. Starve, wretch77! thy dying groans78 will never wake even the echo of these vast halls; nor will the air ever reveal, as thou gnawest, in thy desperate famine, thy flesh from thy bones, that so perishes the man who threatened, and could have undone79, Arbaces! Farewell!'
The rest of the sentence was lost to the ear of Arbaces as he passed backward along the dim hall. A toad82, plump and bloated, lay unmoving before his path; the rays of the lamp fell upon its unshaped hideousness83 and red upward eye. Arbaces turned aside that he might not harm it.
'Thou art loathsome84 and obscene,' he muttered, 'but thou canst not injure me; therefore thou art safe in my path.'
The cries of Calenus, dulled and choked by the barrier that confined him, yet faintly reached the ear of the Egyptian. He paused and listened intently.
'This is unfortunate,' thought he; 'for I cannot sail till that voice is dumb for ever. My stores and treasures lie, not in yon dungeon85 it is true, but in the opposite wing. My slaves, as they move them, must not hear his voice. But what fear of that? In three days, if he still survive, his accents, by my father's beard, must be weak enough, then!—no, they could not pierce even through his tomb. By Isis, it is cold!—I long for a deep draught86 of the spiced Falernian.'
With that the remorseless Egyptian drew his gown closer round him, and resought the upper air.
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收听单词发音
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1
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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2
fortifying
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| 筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 )； 筑堡于； 增强； 强化（食品） | |
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3
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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4
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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5
credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 | |
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6
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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7
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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8
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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9
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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10
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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11
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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12
ferment
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| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
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13
filched
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| v.偷（尤指小的或不贵重的物品）( filch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
pilfered
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| v.偷窃（小东西），小偷( pilfer的过去式和过去分词 )；偷窃（一般指小偷小摸） | |
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15
Pluto
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| n.冥王星 | |
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16
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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17
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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18
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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19
itch
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| n.痒，渴望，疥癣；vi.发痒，渴望 | |
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20
entrapped
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| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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22
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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23
dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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24
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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25
wards
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| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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26
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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27
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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28
revels
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| n.作乐( revel的名词复数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉v.作乐( revel的第三人称单数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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29
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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30
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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31
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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32
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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33
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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34
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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35
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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36
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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38
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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39
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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41
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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42
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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43
buttress
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| n.支撑物；v.支持 | |
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44
buttresses
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| n.扶壁，扶垛( buttress的名词复数 )v.用扶壁支撑，加固( buttress的第三人称单数 ) | |
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45
jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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46
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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47
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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48
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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49
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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50
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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51
uncouthly
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52
reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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53
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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54
abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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55
laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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56
ruggedness
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| 险峻，粗野； 耐久性； 坚固性 | |
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57
disdains
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| 鄙视，轻蔑( disdain的名词复数 ) | |
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58
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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59
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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60
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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61
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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62
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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63
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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64
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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65
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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66
consign
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| vt.寄售（货品），托运，交托，委托 | |
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67
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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68
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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69
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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70
glut
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| n.存货过多，供过于求；v.狼吞虎咽 | |
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71
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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72
exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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74
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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76
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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77
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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78
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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79
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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80
inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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81
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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82
toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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83
hideousness
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84
loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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85
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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86
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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