allan quatermain-第30部分

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learnt；　it　was　possible　to　let　down　a　portion　of　the　roadways　

themselves　by　withdrawing　certain　bolts；　and　thus　render　it　quite　

impracticable　for　an　enemy　to　pass。　　The　third　entrance　consisted　

of　a　flight　of　ten　curved　black　marble　steps　leading　to　a　doorway　

cut　in　the　palace　wall。　　This　wall　was　in　itself　a　work　of　art；　

being　built　of　huge　blocks　of　granite　to　the　height　of　forty　

feet；　and　so　fashioned　that　its　face　was　concave；　whereby　it　

was　rendered　practically　impossible　for　it　to　be　scaled。　　To　

this　doorway　our　guide　led　us。　　The　door；　which　was　massive；　

and　made　of　wood　protected　by　an　outer　gate　of　bronze；　was　closed；　

but　on　our　approach　it　was　thrown　wide；　and　we　were　met　by　the　

challenge　of　a　sentry；　who　was　armed　with　a　heavy　triangular…bladed　

spear；　not　unlike　a　bayonet　in　shape；　and　a　cutting　sword；　and　

protected　by　breast　and　back　plates　of　skilfully　prepared　hippopotamus　

hide；　and　a　small　round　shield　fashioned　of　the　same　tough　material。　　

The　sword　instantly　attracted　our　attention；　it　was　practically　

identical　with　the　one　in　the　possession　of　Mr　Mackenzie　which　

he　had　obtained　from　the　ill…starred　wanderer。　　There　was　no　

mistaking　the　gold…lined　fretwork　cut　in　the　thickness　of　the　

blade。　　So　the　man　had　told　the　truth　after　all。　　Our　guide　instantly　

gave　a　password；　which　the　soldier　acknowledged　by　letting　the　

iron　shaft　of　his　spear　fall　with　a　ringing　sound　upon　the　pavement；　

and　we　passed　on　through　the　massive　wall　into　the　courtyard　

of　the　palace。　　This　was　about　forty　yards　square；　and　laid　out　

in　flower…beds　full　of　lovely　shrubs　and　plants；　many　of　which　

were　quite　new　to　me。　　Through　the　centre　of　this　garden　ran　

a　broad　walk　formed　of　powdered　shells　brought　from　the　lake　

in　the　place　of　gravel。　　Following　this　we　came　to　another　doorway　

with　a　round　heavy　arch；　which　is　hung　with　thick　curtains；　for　

there　are　no　doors　in　the　palace　itself。　　Then　came　another　short　

passage；　and　we　were　in　the　great　hall　of　the　palace；　and　once　

more　stood　astonished　at　the　simple　and　yet　overpowering　grandeur　

of　the　place。



The　hall　is；　as　we　afterwards　learnt；　one　hundred　and　fifty　feet　

long　by　eighty　wide；　and　has　a　magnificent　arched　roof　of　carved　

wood。　　Down　the　entire　length　of　the　building　there　are　on　either　

side；　and　at　a　distance　of　twenty　feet　from　the　wall；　slender　

shafts　of　black　marble　springing　sheer　to　the　roof；　beautifully　

fluted；　and　with　carved　capitals。　　At　one　end　of　this　great　place　

which　these　pillars　support　is　the　group　of　which　I　have　already　

spoken　as　executed　by　the　King　Rademas　to　commemorate　his　building　

of　the　staircase；　and　really；　when　we　had　time　to　admire　it；　

its　loveliness　almost　struck　us　dumb。　　The　group；　of　which　the　

figures　are　in　white；　and　the　rest　is　black　marble；　is　about　

half　as　large　again　as　life；　and　represents　a　young　man　of　noble　

countenance　and　form　sleeping　heavily　upon　a　couch。　　One　arm　

is　carelessly　thrown　over　the　side　of　this　couch；　and　his　head　

reposes　upon　the　other；　its　curling　locks　partially　hiding　it。　　

Bending　over　him；　her　hand　resting　on　his　forehead；　is　a　draped　

female　form　of　such　white　loveliness　as　to　make　the　beholder's　

breath　stand　still。　　And　as　for　the　calm　glory　that　shines　upon　

her　perfect　face　　well；　I　can　never　hope　to　describe　it。　　But　

there　it　rests　like　the　shadow　of　an　angel's　smile；　and　power；　

love；　and　divinity　all　have　their　part　in　it。　　Her　eyes　are　fixed　

upon　the　sleeping　youth；　and　perhaps　the　most　extraordinary　thing　

about　this　beautiful　work　is　the　success　with　which　the　artist　

has　succeeded　in　depicting　on　the　sleeper's　worn　and　weary　face　

the　sudden　rising　of　a　new　and　spiritual　thought　as　the　spell　

begins　to　work　within　his　mind。　　You　can　see　that　an　inspiration　

is　breaking　in　upon　the　darkness　of　the　man's　soul　as　the　dawn　

breaks　in　upon　the　darkness　of　night。　　It　is　a　glorious　piece　

of　statuary；　and　none　but　a　genius　could　have　conceived　it。　　

Between　each　of　the　black　marble　columns　is　some　such　group　of　

figures；　some　allegorical；　and　some　representing　the　persons　

and　wives　of　deceased　monarchs　or　great　men；　but　none　of　them；　

in　our　opinion；　comes　up　the　one　I　have　described；　although　several　

are　from　the　hand　of　the　sculptor　and　engineer；　King　Rademas。



In　the　exact　centre　of　the　hall　was　a　solid　mass　of　black　marble　

about　the　size　of　a　baby's　arm…chair；　which　it　rather　resembled　

in　appearance。　　This；　as　we　afterwards　learnt；　was　the　sacred　

stone　of　this　remarkable　people；　and　on　it　their　monarchs　laid　

their　hand　after　the　ceremony　of　coronation；　and　swore　by　the　

sun　to　safeguard　the　interests　of　the　empire；　and　to　maintain　

its　customs；　traditions；　and　laws。　　This　stone　was　evidently　

exceedingly　ancient　（as　indeed　all　stones　are）；　and　was　scored　

down　its　sides　with　long　marks　or　lines；　which　Sir　Henry　said　

proved　it　to　have　been　a　fragment　that　at　some　remote　period　

in　its　history　had　been　ground　in　the　iron　jaws　of　glaciers。　　

There　was　a　curious　prophecy　about　this　block　of　marble；　which　

was　reported　among　the　people　to　have　fallen　from　the　sun；　to　

the　effect　that　when　it　was　shattered　into　fragments　a　king　of　

alien　race　should　rule　over　the　land。　　As　the　stone；　however；　

looked　remarkably　solid；　the　native　princes　seemed　to　have　a　

fair　chance　of　keeping　their　own　for　many　a　long　year。



At　the　end　of　the　hall　is　a　dais　spread　with　rich　carpets；　on　

which　two　thrones　are　set　side　by　side。　　These　thrones　are　shaped　

like　great　chairs；　and　made　of　solid　gold。　　The　seats　are　richly　

cushioned；　but　the　backs　are　left　bare；　and　on　each　is　carved　

the　emblem　of　the　sun；　shooting　out　his　fiery　rays　in　all　directions。　　

The　footstools　are　golden　lions　couchant；　with　yellow　topazes　

set　in　them　for　eyes。　　There　are　no　other　gems　about　them。



The　place　is　lighted　by　numerous　but　narrow　windows；　placed　high　

up；　cut　on　the　principle　of　the　loopholes　to　be　seen　in　ancient　

castles；　but　innocent　of　glass；　which　was　evidently　unknown　here。



Such　is　a　brief　description　of　this　splendid　hall　in　which　we　

now　found　ourselves；　compiled　of　course　from　our　subsequent　knowledge　

of　it。　　On　this　occasion　we　had　but　little　time　for　observation；　

for　when　we　entered　we　perceived　that　a　large　number　of　men　were　

gathered　together　in　front　of　the　two　thrones；　which　were　unoccupied。　　

The　principal　among　them　were　seated　on　carved　wooden　chairs　

ranged　to　the　right　and　the　left　of　the　thrones；　but　not　in　front　

of　them；　and　were　dressed　in　white　tunics；　with　various　embroideries　

and　different　coloured　edgings；　and　armed　with　the　usual　pierced　

and　gold…inlaid　swords。　　To　judge　from　the　dignity　of　their　appearance；　

they　seemed　one　and　all　to　be　individuals　of　very　great　importance。　　

Behind　each　of　these　great　men　stood　a　small　knot　of　followers　

and　attendants。



Seated　by　themselves；　in　a　little　group　to　the　left　of　the　throne；　

were　six　men　of　a　different　stamp。　　Instead　of　wearing　the　ordinary　

kilt；　they　were　clothed　in　long　robes　of　pure　white　linen；　with　

the　same　symbol　of　the　sun　that　is　to　be　seen　on　the　back　of　

the　chairs；　emblazoned　in　gold　thread　upon　the　breast。　　This　

garment　was　girt　up　at　the　waist　with　a　simple　golden　curb…like　

chain；　from　which　hung　long　elliptic　plates　of　the　same　metal；　

fashioned　in　shiny　scales　like　those　of　a　fish；　that；　as　their　

wearers　moved；　jingled　and　reflected　the　light。　　They　were　all　

men　of　mature　age　and　of　a　severe　and　impressive　cast　of　features；　

which　was　rendered　still　more　imposing　by　the　long　beards　they　wore。



The　personality　of　one　individual　among　them；　however；　impressed　

us　at　once。　　He　seemed　to　stand　out　among　his　fellows　and　refuse　

to　be　overlooked。　　He　was　very　old　　eighty　at　least　　and　

extremely　tall；　with　a　long　snow…white　beard　that　hung　nearly　

to　his　waist。　　His　features　were　aquiline　and　deeply　cut；　and　

his　eyes　were　grey　and　cold…looking。　　The　heads　of　the　others　

were　bare；　but　this　man　wore　a　round　cap　entirely　covered　with　

gold　embroidery；　from　which　we　judged　that　he　was　a　person　of　

great　importance；　and　indeed　we　afterwards　discovered　that　he　

was　Agon；　the　High　Priest　of　the　country。　　As　we　approached；　

all　these　men；　including　the　priests；　rose　and　bowed　to　us　with　

the　greatest　courtesy；　at　the　same　time　placing　the　two　fingers　

across　the　lips　in　salutation。　　Then　soft…footed　attendants　advanced　

from　between　the　pillars；　bearing　seats；　which　were　placed　in　

a　line　in　front　of　the　thrones。　　We　three　sat　down；　Alphonse　

and　Umslopogaas　standing　behind　us。　　Scarcely　had　we　done　so　

when　there　came　a　blare　of　trumpets　from　some　passage　to　the　

right；　and　a　similar　blare　from　the　left。　　Next　a　man　with　a　

long　white　wand　of　ivory　appeared　just　in　front　of　the　right…hand　

throne；　and　cried　out　something　in　a　loud　voice；　ending　with　

the　word　Nyleptha；　repeated　three　times；　and　another　man；　similarly　

attired；　called　out　a　similar　sentence　before　the　other　throne；　

but　ending　with　the　word　Sorais；　also　repeated　thrice。　　Then　

came　the　tramp　of　armed　men　from　each　side　entrance；　and　in　filed　

about　a　score　of　picked　and　magnificently　accoutred　guards；　who　

formed　up　on　each　side　of　the　thrones；　and　let　their　heavy　iron…handled　

spears　fall　simultaneously　with　a　clash　upon　the　black　marble　

flooring。　　Another　double　blare　of　trumpets；　and　in　from　either　

side；　each　attended　by　six　maidens；　swept　the　two　Queens　of　Zu…Vendis；　

everybody　in　the　hall　rising　to　greet　them　as　they　came。



I　have　seen　beautiful　women　in　my　day；　and　am　no　longer　thrown　

into　transports　at　the　sight　of　a　pretty　face；　but　language　fails　

me　when　I　try　to　give　some　idea　of　the　blaze　of　loveliness　that　

then　broke　upon　us　in　the　persons　of　these　sister　Queens。　　Both　

were　young　　perhaps　five…and…twenty　years　of　age　　both　were　

tall　and　exquisitely　formed；　bu