按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Herodias
by Gustave Flaubert
CHAPTER I
In the eastern side of the Dead Sea rose the citadel of Machaerus。 It
was built upon a conical peak of basalt； and was surrounded by four
deep valleys； one on each side； another in front； and the fourth in
the rear。 At the base of the citadel； crowding against one another； a
group of houses stood within the circle of a wall； whose outlines
undulated with the unevenness of the soil。 A zigzag road； cutting
through the rocks； joined the city to the fortress； the walls of which
were about one hundred and twenty cubits high； having numerous angles
and ornamental towers that stood out like jewels in this crown of
stone overhanging an abyss。
Within the high walls stood a palace； adorned with many richly carved
arches； and surrounded by a terrace that on one side of the building
spread out below a wide balcony made of sycamore wood； upon which tall
poles had been erected to support an awning。
One morning； just before sunrise； the tetrarch； Herod…Antipas； came
out alone upon the balcony。 He leaned against one of the columns and
looked about him。
The crests of the hill…tops in the valley below the palace were just
discernible in the light of the false dawn； although their bases；
extending to the abyss； were still plunged in darkness。 A light mist
floated in the air； presently it lifted； and the shores of the Dead
Sea became visible。 The sun； rising behind Machaerus； spread a rosy
flush over the sky； lighting up the stony shores； the hills； and the
desert； and illuming the distant mountains of Judea； rugged and grey
in the early dawn。 En…gedi； the central point of the group； threw a
deep black shadow； Hebron； in the background； was round…topped like a
dome； Eschol had her pomegranates； Sorek her vineyards； Carmel her
fields of sesame； and the tower of Antonia； with its enormous cube；
dominated Jerusalem。 The tetrarch turned his gaze from it to
contemplate the palms of Jericho on his right； and his thoughts dwelt
upon other cities of his beloved Galilee；Capernaum； Endor； Nazareth；
Tiberiaswhither it might be he would never return。
The Jordan wound its way through the arid plains that met his gaze；
white and glittering under the clear sky； it dazzled the eye like snow
in the rays of the sun。
The Dead Sea now looked like a sheet of lapis…lazuli； and at its
southern extremity； on the coast of Yemen； Antipas recognised clearly
what at first he had been able only dimly to perceive。 Several tents
could now be plainly seen； men carrying spears were moving about among
a group of horses； and dying camp…fires shone faintly in the beams of
the rising sun。
This was a troop belonging to the sheikh of the Arabs； the daughter of
whom the tetrarch had repudiated in order to wed Herodias； already
married to one of his brothers； who lived in Italy but who had no
pretensions to power。
Antipas was waiting for assistance and reinforcements from the Romans；
but as Vitellius； the Governor of Syria； had not yet arrived； he was
consumed with impatience and anxiety。 Perhaps Agrippa had ruined his
cause with the Emperor； he thought。 Philip； his third brother；
sovereign of Batania； was arming himself clandestinely。 The Jews were
becoming intolerant of the tetrarch's idolatries； he knew that many
were weary of his rule； and he hesitated now between adopting one of
two projects： to conciliate the Arabs and win back their allegiance；
or to conclude an alliance with the Parthians。 Under the pretext of
celebrating his birthday； he had planned to bring together； at a grand
banquet； the chiefs of his troops； the stewards of his domains； and
the most important men from the region about Galilee。
Antipas threw a keen glance along all the roads leading to Machaerus。
They were deserted。 Eagles were sweeping through the air high above
his head； the soldiers of the guard； placed at intervals along the
ramparts； slept or dozed； leaning against the walls； all was silent
within the castle。
Suddenly he heard the sound of a distant voice； seeming to come from
the very depths of the earth。 His cheek paled。 After an instant's
hesitation； he leaned far over the balcony railing； listening
intently； but the voice had died away。 Presently it rose again upon
the quiet air； Antipas clapped his hands together loudly； crying：
〃Mannaeus！ Mannaeus！〃
Instantly a man appeared； naked to the waist； after the fashion of a
masseur at the bath。 Although emaciated； and somewhat advanced in
years； he was a giant in stature； and on his hip he wore a cutlass in
a bronze scabbard。 His bushy hair； gathered up and held in place by a
kind of comb； exaggerated the apparent size of his massive head。 His
eyes were heavy with sleep； but his white teeth shone； his step was
light on the flagstones； and his body had the suppleness of an ape；
although his countenance was as impassive as that of a mummy。
〃Where is he？〃 demanded the tetrarch of this strange being。
Mannaeus made a movement over his shoulder with his thumb； saying：
〃Over therestill there！〃
〃I thought I heard him cry out。〃
And Antipas； after drawing a deep breath； asked for news of Iaokanann；
afterwards known as St。 John the Baptist。 Had he been allowed to see
the two men who had asked permission to visit his dungeon a few days
before； and since that time； had any one discovered for what purpose
the men desired to see him？
〃They exchanged some strange words with him；〃 Mannaeus replied； 〃with
the mysterious air of robbers conspiring at the cross…roads。 Then they
departed towards Upper Galilee； saying that they were the bearers of
great tidings。〃
Antipas bent his head for a moment； then raising it quickly； said in a
tone full of alarm：
〃Guard him！ watch him well！ Do not allow any one else to see him。 Keep
the gates shut and the entrance to the dungeon closed fast。 It must
not even be suspected that he still lives！〃
Mannaeus had already attended to all these details； because Iaokanann
was a Jew； and； like all the Samaritans； Mannaeus hated the Jews。
Their temple on the Mount of Gerizim； which Moses had designed to be
the centre of Israel； had been destroyed since the reign of King
Hyrcanus； and the temple at Jerusalem made the Samaritans furious；
they regarded its presence as an outrage against themselves； and a
permanent injustice。 Mannaeus； indeed； had forcibly entered it； for
the purpose of defiling its altar with the bones of corpses。 Several
of his companions； less agile than he； had been caught and beheaded。
From the tetrarch's balcony； the temple was visible through an opening
between two hills。 The sun； now fully risen； shed a dazzling splendour
on its walls of snowy marble and the plates of purest gold that formed
its roof。 The structure shone like a luminous mountain； and its
radiant purity indicated something almost superhuman； eclipsing even
its suggestion of opulence and pride。
Mannaeus stretched out his powerful arm towards Zion； and； with
clenched fist and his great body drawn to its full height； he launched
a bitter anathema at the city； with perfect faith that eventually his
curse must be effective。
Antipas listened； without appearing to be shocked at the strength of
the invectives。
When the Samaritan had become somewhat calmer； he returned to the
subject of the prisoner。
〃Sometimes he grows excited；〃 said he； 〃then he longs to escape or
talks about a speedy deliverance。 At other times he is as quiet as a
sick animal； although I often find him pacing to and fro in his gloomy
dungeon； murmuring； 'In order that His glory may increase； mine must
diminish。'〃
Antipas and Mannaeus looked at each other a moment in silence。 But the
tetrarch was weary of pondering on this troublesome matter。
The mountain peaks surrounding the palace； looking like great
petrified waves； the black depths among the cliffs； the immensity of
the blue sky； the rising sun； and the gloomy valley of the abyss；
filled the soul of Antipas with a vague unrest； he felt an
overwhelming sense of oppression at the sight of the desert； whose
uneven piles of sand suggested crumbling ampitheatres or ruined
palaces。 The hot wind brought an odour of sulphur； as if it had rolled
up from cities accursed and buried deeper than the river…bed of the
slow…running Jordan。
These aspects of nature； which seemed to his troubled fancy signs of
the wrath of the gods； terrified him； and he leaned heavily against
the balcony railing； his eyes fixed； his head resting upon his hands。
Presently he felt a light touch upon his shoulder。 He turned； and saw
Herodias standing beside him。 A purple robe enveloped her； falling to
her sandaled feet。 Having left her chamber hurriedly； she wore no
jewels nor other ornaments。 A thick tress of rippling black hair hung
over her shoulder and hid itself in her bosom； her nostrils； a