allan quatermain-第36部分

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and　thirty…six　in　circumference。　　Here　also；　hinged　to　the　foundations　

of　the　altar；　are　twelve　petals　of　beaten　gold。　　All　night　and；　

except　at　one　hour；　all　day　also；　these　petals　are　closed　over　

the　altar　itself　exactly　as　the　petals　of　a　water…lily　close　

over　the　yellow　crown　in　stormy　weather；　but　when　the　sun　at　

midday　pierces　through　the　funnel　in　the　dome　and　lights　upon　

the　golden　flower；　the　petals　open　and　reveal　the　hidden　mystery；　

only　to　close　again　when　the　ray　has　passed。



Nor　is　this　all。　　Standing　in　semicircles　at　equal　distances　

from　each　other　on　the　north　and　south　of　the　sacred　place　are　

ten　golden　angels；　or　female　winged　forms；　exquisitely　shaped　

and　draped。　　These　figures；　which　are　slightly　larger　than　life…size；　

stand　with　bent　heads　in　an　attitude　of　adoration；　their　faces　

shadowed　by　their　wings；　and　are　most　imposing　and　of　exceeding　

beauty。



There　is　but　one　thing　further　which　calls　for　description　

in　this　altar；　which　is；　that　to　the　east　the　flooring　in　front　

of　it　is　not　of　pure　white　marble；　as　elsewhere　throughout　the　

building；　but　of　solid　brass；　and　this　is　also　the　case　in　front　

of　the　other　two　altars。



The　eastern　and　western　altars；　which　are　semicircular　in　shape；　

and　placed　against　the　wall　of　the　building；　are　much　less　imposing；　

and　are　not　enfolded　in　golden　petals。　　They　are；　however；　also　

of　gold；　the　sacred　fire　burns　on　each；　and　a　golden…winged　figure　

stands　on　either　side　of　them。　　Two　great　golden　rays　run　up　

the　wall　behind　them；　but　where　the　third　or　middle　one　should　

be　is　an　opening　in　the　wall；　wide　on　the　outside；　but　narrow　

within；　like　a　loophole　turned　inwards。　　Through　the　eastern　

loophole　stream　the　first　beams　of　the　rising　sun；　and　strike　

right　across　the　circle；　touching　the　folded　petals　of　the　great　

gold　flower　as　they　pass　till　they　impinge　upon　the　western　altar。　　

In　the　same　way　at　night　the　last　rays　of　the　sinking　sun　rest　

for　a　while　on　the　eastern　altar　before　they　die　away　into　darkness。　　

It　is　the　promise　of　the　dawn　to　the　evening　and　the　evening　

to　the　dawn。



With　the　exception　of　those　three　altars　and　the　winged　figures　

about　them；　the　whole　space　beneath　the　vast　white　dome　is　utterly　

empty　and　devoid　of　ornamentation　　a　circumstance　that　to　my　

fancy　adds　greatly　to　its　splendour。



Such　is　a　brief　description　of　this　wonderful　and　lovely　building；　

to　the　glories　of　which；　to　my　mind　so　much　enhanced　by　their　

complete　simplicity；　I　only　wish　I　had　the　power　to　do　justice。　　

But　I　cannot；　so　it　is　useless　talking　more　about　it。　　But　when　

I　compare　this　great　work　of　genius　to　some　of　the　tawdry　buildings　

and　tinsel　ornamentation　produced　in　these　latter　days　by　European　

ecclesiastical　architects；　I　feel　that　even　highly　civilized　

art　might　learn　something　from　the　Zu…Vendi　masterpieces。　　I　

can　only　say　that　the　exclamation　which　sprang　to　my　lips　as　

soon　as　my　eyes　first　became　accustomed　to　the　dim　light　of　that　

glorious　building；　and　its　white　and　curving　beauties；　perfect　

and　thrilling　as　those　of　a　naked　goddess；　grew　upon　me　one　by　

one；　was；　'Well！　a　dog　would　feel　religious　here。'　　It　is　vulgarly　

put；　but　perhaps　it　conveys　my　meaning　more　clearly　than　any　

polished　utterance。



At　the　temple　gates　our　party　was　received　by　a　guard　of　soldiers；　

who　appeared　to　be　under　the　orders　of　a　priest；　and　by　them　

we　were　conducted　into　one　of　the　ray　or　'petal'　courts；　as　the　

priests　call　them；　and　there　left　for　at　least　half…an…hour。　　

Here　we　conferred　together；　and　realizing　that　we　stood　in　great　

danger　of　our　lives；　determined；　if　any　attempt　should　be　made　

upon　us；　to　sell　them　as　dearly　as　we　could　　Umslopogaas　announcing　

his　fixed　intention　of　committing　sacrilege　on　the　person　of　

Agon；　the　High　Priest；　by　splitting　his　head　with　Inkosi…kaas。　　

From　where　we　stood　we　could　perceive　that　an　immense　multitude　

were　pouring　into　the　temple；　evidently　in　expectation　of　some　

unusual　event；　and　I　could　not　help　fearing　that　we　had　to　do　

with　it。　　And　here　I　may　explain　that　every　day；　when　the　sunlight　

falls　upon　the　central　altar；　and　the　trumpets　sound；　a　burnt　

sacrifice　is　offered　to　the　Sun；　consisting　generally　of　the　

carcase　of　a　sheep　or　ox；　or　sometimes　of　fruit　or　corn。　　This　

even　comes　off　about　midday；　of　course；　not　always　exactly　at　

that　hour；　but　as　Zu…Vendis　is　situated　not　far　from　the　Line；　

although　　being　so　high　above　the　sea　it　is　very　temperate　

　midday　and　the　falling　of　the　sunlight　on　the　altar　were　generally　

simultaneous。　　Today　the　sacrifice　was　to　take　place　at　about　

eight　minutes　past　twelve。



Just　at　twelve　o'clock　a　priest　appeared；　and　made　a　sign；　and　

the　officer　of　the　guard　signified　to　us　that　we　were　expected　

to　advance；　which　we　did　with　the　best　grace　that　we　could　muster；　

all　except　Alphonse；　whose　irrepressible　teeth　instantly　began　

to　chatter。　　In　a　few　seconds　we　were　out　of　the　court　and　looking　

at　a　vast　sea　of　human　faces　stretching　away　to　the　farthest　

limits　of　the　great　circle；　all　straining　to　catch　a　glimpse　

of　the　mysterious　strangers　who　had　committed　sacrilege；　the　

first　strangers；　mind　you；　who；　to　the　knowledge　of　the　multitude；　

had　ever　set　foot　in　Zu…Vendis　since　such　time　that　the　memory　

of　man　runneth　not　to　the　contrary。



As　we　appeared　there　was　a　murmur　through　the　vast　crowd　that　

went　echoing　away　up　the　great　dome；　and　we　saw　a　visible　blush　

of　excitement　grow　on　the　thousands　of　faces；　like　a　pink　light　

on　a　stretch　of　pale　cloud；　and　a　very　curious　effect　it　was。　　

On　we　passed　down　a　lane　cut　through　the　heart　of　the　human　

mass；　till　presently　we　stood　upon　the　brazen　patch　of　flooring　

to　the　east　of　the　central　altar；　and　immediately　facing　it。　　

For　some　thirty　feet　around　the　golden…winged　figures　the　space　

was　roped　off；　and　the　multitudes　stood　outside　the　ropes。　　Within　

were　a　circle　of　white…robed　gold…cinctured　priests　holding　long　

golden　trumpets　in　their　hands；　and　immediately　in　front　of　us　

was　our　friend　Agon；　the　High　Priest；　with　his　curious　cap　upon　

his　head。　　His　was　the　only　covered　head　in　that　vast　assemblage。　　

We　took　our　stand　upon　the　brazen　space；　little　knowing　what　

was　prepared　for　us　beneath；　but　I　noticed　a　curious　hissing　

sound　proceeding　apparently　from　the　floor　for　which　I　could　

not　account。　　Then　came　a　pause；　and　I　looked　around　to　see　if　

there　was　any　sign　of　the　two　Queens；　Nyleptha　and　Sorais；　but　

they　were　not　there。　　To　the　right　of　us；　however；　was　a　bare　

space　that　I　guessed　was　reserved　for　them。



We　waited；　and　presently　a　far…off　trumpet　blew；　apparently　high　

up　in　the　dome。　　Then　came　another　murmur　from　the　multitude；　

and　up　a　long　lane；　leading　to　the　open　space　to　our　right；　we　

saw　the　two　Queens　walking　side　by　side。　　Behind　them　were　some　

nobles　of　the　Court；　among　whom　I　recognized　the　great　lord　Nasta；　

and　behind　them　again　a　body　of　about　fifty　guards。　　These　last　

I　was　very　glad　to　see。　　Presently　they　had　all　arrived　and　taken　

their　stand；　the　two　Queens　in　the　front；　the　nobles　to　the　right　

and　left；　and　the　guards　in　a　double　semicircle　behind　them。



Then　came　another　silence；　and　Nyleptha　looked　up　and　caught　

my　eye；　it　seemed　to　me　that　there　was　meaning　in　her　glance；　

and　I　watched　it　narrowly。　　From　my　eye　it　travelled　down　to　

the　brazen　flooring；　on　the　outer　edge　of　which　we　stood。　　Then　

followed　a　slight　and　almost　imperceptible　sidelong　movement　

of　the　head。　　I　did　not　understand　it；　and　it　was　repeated。　　

Then　I　guessed　that　she　meant　us　to　move　back　off　the　brazen　

floor。　　One　more　glance　and　I　was　sure　of　it　　there　was　danger　

in　standing　on　the　floor。　　Sir　Henry　was　placed　on　one　side　of　

me；　Umslopogaas　on　the　other。　　Keeping　my　eyes　fixed　straight　

before　me；　I　whispered　to　them；　first　in　Zulu　and　then　in　English；　

to　draw　slowly　back　inch　by　inch　till　half　their　feet　were　resting　

on　the　marble　flooring　where　the　brass　ceased。　　Sir　Henry　whispered　

on　to　Good　and　Alphonse；　and　slowly；　very　very　slowly；　we　shifted　

backwards；　so　slowly　that　nobody；　except　Nyleptha　and　Sorais；　

who　saw　everything　seemed　to　notice　the　movement。　　Then　I　glanced　

again　at　Nyleptha；　and　saw　that；　by　an　almost　imperceptible　nod；　

she　indicated　approval。　　All　the　while　Agon's　eyes　were　fixed　

upon　the　altar　before　him　apparently　in　an　ecstasy　of　contemplation；　

and　mine　were　fixed　upon　the　small　of　his　back　in　another　sort　

of　ecstasy。　　Suddenly　he　flung　up　his　long　arm；　and　in　a　solemn　

and　resounding　voice　commenced　a　chant；　of　which　for　convenience'　

sake　I　append　a　rough；　a　very　rough；　translation　here；　though；　

of　course；　I　did　not　then　comprehend　its　meaning。　　It　was　

an　invocation　to　the　Sun；　and　ran　somewhat　as　follows：　





There　is　silence　upon　the　face　of　the　Earth　and　the　waters　thereof！

Yea；　the　silence　doth　brood　on　the　waters　like　a　nesting　bird；

The　silence　sleepeth　also　upon　the　bosom　of　the　profound　darkness；

Only　high　up　in　the　great　spaces　star　doth　speak　unto　star；

The　Earth　is　faint　with　longing　and　wet　with　the　tears　of　her　desire；

The　star…girdled　night　doth　embrace　her；　but　she　is　not　comforted。

She　lies　enshrouded　in　mists　like　a　corpse　in　the　grave…clothes；

And　stretches　her　pale　hands　to　the　East。



Lo！　away　in　the　farthest　East　there　is　the　shadow　of　a　light；

The　Earth　seeth　and　lifts　herself。　　She　looks　out　from　beneath　

the　hollow　of　her　hand。

Then　thy　great　angels　fly　forth　from　the　Holy　Place；　oh　Sun；

They　shoot　their　fiery　swords　into　the　darkness　and　shrivel　it　up。

They　climb　the　heavens　and　cast　down　the　pale　stars　from　their　thrones；

Yea；　they　hurl　the　changeful　stars　back　into　the　womb　of　the　night；

They　cause　the　moon　to　become　wan　as　the　face　of　a　dying　man；

And　behold！　　Thy　glory　comes；　oh　Sun！



Oh；　Tho