夜莺与玫瑰-第24部分

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The　slaves　were　naked，　but　for　a　ragged　loin…cloth，　and　each　man　was　chained　to　his　neighbour。　The　hot　sun　beat　brightly　upon　them，　and　the　negroes　ran　up　and　down　the　gangway　and　lashed　them　with　whips　of　hide。　They　stretched　out　their　lean　arms　and　pulled　the　heavy　oars　through　the　water。　The　salt　spray　flew　from　the　blades。
At　last　they　reached　a　little　bay，　and　began　to　take　soundings。　A　light　wind　blew　from　the　shore，　and　covered　the　deck　and　the　great　lateen　sail　with　a　fine　red　dust。　Three　Arabs　mounted　on　wild　asses　rode　out　and　threw　spears　at　them。　The　master　of　the　galley　took　a　painted　bow　in　his　hand　and　shot　one　of　them　in　the　throat。　He　fell　heavily　into　the　surf，　and　his　panions　galloped　away。　A　woman　wrapped　in　a　yellow　veil　followed　slowly　on　a　camel，　looking　back　now　and　then　at　the　dead　body。
As　soon　as　they　had　cast　anchor　and　hauled　down　the　sail，　the　negroes　went　into　the　hold　and　brought　up　a　long　rope…ladder，　heavily　weighted　with　lead。　The　master　of　the　galley　threw　it　over　the　side，　making　the　ends　fast　to　two　iron　stanchions。　Then　the　negroes　seized　the　youngest　of　the　slaves　and　knocked　his　gyves　off，　and　filled　his　nostrils　and　his　ears　with　wax，　and　tied　a　big　stone　round　his　waist。　He　crept　wearily　down　the　ladder，　and　disappeared　into　the　sea。　A　few　bubbles　rose　where　he　sank。　Some　of　the　other　slaves　peered　curiously　over　the　side。　At　the　prow　of　the　galley　sat　a　shark…charmer，　beating　monotonously　upon　a　drum。
After　some　time　the　diver　rose　up　out　of　the　water，　and　clung　panting　to　the　ladder　with　a　pearl　in　his　right　hand。　The　negroes　seized　it　from　him，　and　thrust　him　back。　The　slaves　fell　asleep　over　their　oars。
Again　and　again　he　came　up，　and　each　time　that　he　did　so　he　brought　with　him　a　beautiful　pearl。　The　master　of　the　galley　weighed　them，　and　put　them　into　a　little　bag　of　green　leather。
The　young　King　tried　to　speak，　but　his　tongue　seemed　to　cleave　to　the　roof　of　his　mouth，　and　his　lips　refused　to　move。　The　negroes　chattered　to　each　other，　and　began　to　quarrel　over　a　string　of　bright　beads。　Two　cranes　flew　round　and　round　the　vessel。
Then　the　diver　came　up　for　the　last　time，　and　the　pearl　that　he　brought　with　him　was　fairer　than　all　the　pearls　of　Ormuz，　for　it　was　shaped　like　the　full　moon，　and　whiter　than　the　morning　star。　But　his　face　was　strangely　pale，　and　as　he　fell　upon　the　deck　the　blood　gushed　from　his　ears　and　nostrils。　He　quivered　for　a　little，　and　then　he　was　still。　The　negroes　shrugged　their　shoulders，　and　threw　the　body　overboard。
And　the　master　of　the　galley　laughed，　and，　reaching　out，　he　took　the　pearl，　and　when　he　saw　it　he　pressed　it　to　his　forehead　and　bowed。　“It　shall　be，”he　said，　“for　the　sceptre　of　the　young　King，”　and　he　made　a　sign　to　the　negroes　to　draw　up　the　anchor。
And　when　the　young　King　heard　this　he　gave　a　great　cry，　and　woke，　and　through　the　window　he　saw　the　long　grey　fingers　of　the　dawn　clutching　at　the　fading　stars。
And　he　fell　asleep　again，　and　dreamed，　and　this　was　his　dream。
He　thought　that　he　was　wandering　through　a　dim　wood，　hung　with　strange　fruits　and　with　beautiful　poisonous　flowers。　The　adders　hissed　at　him　as　he　went　by，　and　the　bright　parrots　flew　screaming　from　branch　to　branch。　Huge　tortoises　lay　asleep　upon　the　hot　mud。　The　trees　were　full　of　apes　and　peacocks。
On　and　on　he　went，　till　he　reached　the　outskirts　of　the　wood，　and　there　he　saw　an　immense　multitude　of　men　toiling　in　the　bed　of　a　dried…up　river。　They　swarmed　up　the　crag　like　ants。　They　dug　deep　pits　in　the　ground　and　went　down　into　them。　Some　of　them　cleft　the　rocks　with　great　axes；others　grabbled　in　the　sand。
They　tore　up　the　cactus　by　its　roots，　and　trampled　on　the　scarlet　blossoms。　They　hurried　about，　calling　to　each　other，　and　no　man　was　idle。
From　the　darkness　of　a　cavern　Death　and　Avarice　watched　them，　and　Death　said，　“I　am　weary；give　me　a　third　of　them　and　let　me　go。”But　Avarice　shook　her　head。“They　are　my　servants，　”　she　answered。
And　Death　said　to　her，　“What　hast　thou　in　thy　hand？”
“I　have　three　grains　of　corn，”　she　answered；“　what　is　that　to　thee？”
“Give　me　one　of　them，”cried　Death，　“to　plant　in　my　garden；only　one　of　them，　and　I　will　go　away。”
“　I　will　not　give　thee　anything，”said　Avarice，　and　she　hid　her　hand　in　the　fold　of　her　raiment。
And　Death　laughed，　and　took　a　cup，　and　dipped　it　into　a　pool　of　water，　and　out　of　the　cup　rose　Ague。　She　passed　through　the　great　multitude，　and　a　third　of　them　lay　dead。　A　cold　mist　followed　her，　and　the　water…snakes　ran　by　her　side。
And　when　Avarice　saw　that　a　third　of　the　multitude　was　dead　she　beat　her　breast　and　wept。　She　beat　her　barren　bosom，　and　cried　aloud。　“Thou　hast　slain　a　third　of　my　servants，”she　cried，　“get　thee　gone。　There　is　war　in　the　mountains　of　Tartary，　and　the　kings　of　each　side　are　calling　to　thee。　The　Afghans　have　slain　the　black　ox，　and　are　marching　to　battle。　They　have　beaten　upon　their　shields　with　their　spears，　and　have　put　on　their　helmets　of　iron。　What　is　my　valley　to　thee，　that　thou　shouldst　tarry　in　it？Get　thee　gone，　and　e　here　no　more。”
“Nay，”answered　Death，　“　but　till　thou　hast　given　me　a　grain　of　corn　I　will　not　go。”
But　Avarice　shut　her　hand，　and　clenched　her　teeth。　“I　will　not　give　thee　anything，”　she　muttered。
And　Death　laughed，　and　took　up　a　black　stone，　and　threw　it　into　the　forest，　and　out　of　a　thicket　of　wild　hemlock　came　Fever　in　a　robe　of　flame。　She　passed　through　the　multitude，　and　touched　them，　and　each　man　that　she　touched　died。　The　grass　withered　beneath　her　feet　as　she　walked。
And　Avarice　shuddered，　and　put　ashes　on　her　head。　“Thou　art　cruel，”she　cried；　“thou　art　cruel。　There　is　famine　in　the　walled　cities　of　India，　and　the　cisterns　of　Samarcand　have　run　dry。　There　is　famine　in　the　walled　cities　of　Egypt，　and　the　locusts　have　e　up　from　the　desert。　The　Nile　has　not　overflowed　its　banks，　and　the　priests　have　cursed　Isis　and　Osiris。　Get　thee　gone　to　those　who　need　thee，　and　leave　me　my　servants。”
“Nay，”　answered　Death，　“but　till　thou　hast　given　me　a　grain　of　corn　I　will　not　go。”
“I　will　not　give　thee　anything，”said　Avarice。
And　Death　laughed　again，　and　he　whistled　through　his　fingers，　and　a　woman　came　flying　through　the　air。　Plague　was　written　upon　her　forehead，　and　a　crowd　of　lean　vultures　wheeled　round　her。　She　covered　the　valley　with　her　wings，　and　no　man　was　left　alive。
And　Avarice　fled　shrieking　through　the　forest，　and　Death　leaped　upon　his　red　horse　and　galloped　away，　and　his　galloping　was　faster　than　the　wind。
And　out　of　the　slime　at　the　bottom　of　the　valley　crept　dragons　and　horrible　things　with　scales，　and　the　jackals　came　trotting　along　the　sand，　sniffing　up　the　air　with　their　nostrils。
And　the　young　King　wept，　and　said：　“Who　were　these　men，　and　for　what　were　they　seeking？”
“For　rubies　for　a　king’s　crown，”　answered　one　who　stood　behind　him。
And　the　young　King　started，　and，　turning　round，　he　saw　a　man　habited　as　a　pilgrim　and　holding　in　his　hand　a　mirror　of　silver。
And　he　grew　pale，　and　said：　“For　what　king？”
And　the　pilgrim　answered：　“Look　in　this　mirror，　and　thou　shalt　see　him。　”
And　he　looked　in　the　mirror，　and，　seeing　his　own　face，　he　gave　a　great　cry　and　woke，　and　the　bright　sunlight　was　streaming　into　the　room，　and　from　the　trees　of　the　garden　and　pleasaunce　the　birds　were　singing。
And　the　Chamberlain　and　the　high　officers　of　State　came　in　and　made　obeisance　to　him，　and　the　pages　brought　him　the　robe　of　tissued　gold，　and　set　the　crown　and　the　sceptre　before　him。
And　the　young　King　looked　at　them，　and　they　were　beautiful。　More　beautiful　were　they　than　aught　that　he　had　ever　seen。　But　he　remembered　his　dreams，　and　he　said　to　his　lords：　“Take　these　things　away，　for　I　will　not　wear　them。”
And　the　courtiers　were　amazed，　and　some　of　them　laughed，　for　they　thought　that　he　was　jesting。
But　he　spake　sternly　to　them　again，　and　said：　“Take　these　things　away，　and　hide　them　from　me。　Though　it　be　the　day　of　my　coronation，　I　will　not　wear　them。　For　on　the　loom　of　Sorrow，　and　by　the　white　hands　of　Pain，　has　this　my　robe　been　woven。　There　is　Blood　in　the　heart　of　the　ruby，　and　Death　in　t