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When the World Shook-Part31_H.Rider Haggard(1856-1925)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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huge building of glorious proportions that was constructed of

black stone or marble. It is impossible for me to give any idea



of the frightfulsolemnity of this doomed edifice, for as I think

I have said, it alone had a roof, standing there in the midst of



that brilliant, unvarying and most unnaturalillumination which

came from nowhere and yet was everywhere. Thus, when one lifted a



foot, there it was between the sole of the boot and the floor, or

to express it better, the boot threw no shadow. I think this



absence of shadows was perhaps the most terrifying circumstance

connected with that universal and pervading light. Through it we



walked on to the temple. We passed three courts, pillared all of

them, and came to the building which was larger than St. Paul's



in London. We entered through huge doors which still stood open,

and presently found ourselves beneath the towering dome. There



were no windows, why should there be in a place that was full of

light? There was no ornamentation, there was nothing except black



walls. And yet the general effect was magnificent in its majestic

grace.



"In this place," said Yva, and her sweet voice went whispering

round the walls and the arching dome, "were buried the Kings of



the Sons of Wisdom. They lie beneath, each in his sepulchre. Its

entrance is yonder," and she pointed to what seemed to be a



chapel on the right. "Would you wish to see them?"

"Somehow I don't care to," said Bastin. "The place is dreary



enough as it is without the company of a lot of dead kings."

"I should like to dissect one of them, but I suppose that would



not be allowed," said Bickley.

"No," she answered. "I think that the Lord Oro would not wish



you to cut up his forefathers."

"When you and he went to sleep, why did you not choose the



family vault?" asked Bastin.

"Would you have found us there?" she queried by way of answer.



Then, understanding that the invitation was refused by general

consent, though personally I should have liked to accept it, and



have never ceased regretting that I did not, she moved towards a

colossal object which stood beneath the centre of the dome.



On a stepped base, not very different from that in the cave but

much larger, sat a figure, draped in a cloak on which was graved



a number of stars, doubtless to symbolise the heavens. The

fastening of the cloak was shaped like the crescent moon, and the



foot-stool on which rested the figure's feet was fashioned to

suggest the orb of the sun. This was of gold or some such metal,



the only spot of brightness in all that temple. It was impossible

to say whether the figure were male or female, for the cloak



falling in long, straight folds hid its outlines. Nor did the

head tell us, for the hair also was hidden beneath the mantle and



the face might have been that of either man or woman. It was

terrible in its solemnity and calm, and its expression was as



remote and mystic as that of Buddha. only more stern. Also

without doubt it was blind; it was impossible to mistake the



sightlessness of those staring orbs. Across the knees lay a naked

sword and beneath the cloak the arms were hidden. In its complete



simplicity the thing was marvelous.

On either side upon the pedestal knelt a figure of the size of



life. One was an old and withered man with death stamped upon his

face; the other was a beautiful, naked woman, her hands clasped



in the attitude of prayer and with vague terror written on her

vivid features.



Such was this glorious group of which the meaning could not be

mistaken. It was Fate throned upon the sun, wearing the



constellations as his garment, armed with the sword of Destiny

and worshipped by Life and Death. This interpretation I set out



to the others.

Yva knelt before the statue for a little while, bowing her head



in prayer, and really I felt inclined to follow her example,

though in the end I compromised, as did Bickley, by taking off my



hat, which, like the others, I still wore from force of habit,

though in this place none were needed. Only Bastin remained



covered.

"Behold the god of my people," said Yva. "Have you no reverence



for it, O Bastin?"

"Not much," he answered, "except as a work of art. You see I



worship Fate's Master. I might add that your god doesn't seem to

have done much for you, Lady Yva, as out of all your greatness



there's nothing left but two people and a lot of old walls and

caves."






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