portico of Alexandria； and accompanied the bematists of Evergetes； who
measure the sky by calculating the number of their steps； as far as
Cyrene； so that there was now growing in his thoughts a religion of
his own； with no distinct formula； and on that very account full of
infatuation and fervour。 He no longer believed that the earth was
formed like a fir…cone； he believed it to be round； and eternally
falling through immensity with such prodigious speed that its fall was
not perceived。
From the position of the sun above the moon he inferred the
predominance of Baal； of whom the planet itself is but the reflection
and figure； moreover； all that he saw in terrestrial things compelled
him to recognise the male exterminating principle as supreme。 And then
he secretly charged Rabbet with the misfortune of his life。 Was it not
for her that the grand…pontiff had once advanced amid the tumult of
cymbals； and with a patera of boiling water taken from him his future
virility？ And he followed with a melancholy gaze the men who were
disappearing with the priestesses in the depths of the turpentine
trees。
His days were spent in inspecting the censers； the gold vases； the
tongs； the rakes for the ashes of the altar； and all the robes of the
statues down to the bronze bodkin that served to curl the hair of an
old Tanith in the third aedicule near the emerald vine。 At the same
hours he would raise the great hangings of the same swinging doors；
would remain with his arms outspread in the same attitude； or prayed
prostrate on the same flag…stones； while around him a people of
priests moved barefooted through the passages filled with an eternal
twilight。
But Salammbo was in the barrenness of his life like a flower in the
cleft of a sepulchre。 Nevertheless he was hard upon her； and spared
her neither penances nor bitter words。 His condition established； as
it were； the equality of a common sex between them； and he was less
angry with the girl for his inability to possess her than for finding
her so beautiful； and above all so pure。 Often he saw that she grew
weary of following his thought。 Then he would turn away sadder than
before； he would feel himself more forsaken； more empty； more alone。
Strange words escaped him sometimes； which passed before Salammbo like
broad lightnings illuminating the abysses。 This would be at night on
the terrace when； both alone； they gazed upon the stars； and Carthage
spread below under their feet； with the gulf and the open sea dimly
lost in the colour of the darkness。
He would set forth to her the theory of the souls that descend upon
the earth； following the same route as the sun through the signs of
the zodiac。 With outstretched arm he showed the gate of human
generation in the Ram； and that of the return to the gods in
Capricorn； and Salammbo strove to see them； for she took these
conceptions for realities； she accepted pure symbols and even manners
of speech as being true in themselves； a distinction not always very
clear even to the priest。
〃The souls of the dead；〃 said he； 〃resolve themselves into the moon；
as their bodies do into the earth。 Their tears compose its humidity；
'tis a dark abode full of mire； and wreck； and tempest。〃
She asked what would become of her then。
〃At first you will languish as light as a vapour hovering upon the
waves； and after more lengthened ordeals and agonies； you will pass
into the forces of the sun； the very source of Intelligence！〃
He did not speak； however； of Rabbet。 Salammbo imagined that it was
through some shame for his vanquished goddess； and calling her by a
common name which designated the moon； she launched into blessings
upon the soft and fertile planet。 At last he exclaimed：
〃No！ no！ she draws all her fecundity from the other！ Do you not see
her hovering about him like an amorous woman running after a man in a
field？〃 And he exalted the virtue of light unceasingly。
Far from depressing her mystic desires； he sought； on the contrary； to
excite them； and he even seemed to take joy in grieving her by the
revelation of a pitiless doctrine。 In spite of the pains of her love
Salammbo threw herself upon it with transport。
But the more that Schahabarim felt himself in doubt about Tanith； the
more he wished to believe in her。 At the bottom of his soul he was
arrested by remorse。 He needed some proof； some manifestation from the
gods； and in the hope of obtaining it the priest devised an enterprise
which might save at once his country and his belief。
Thenceforward he set himself to deplore before Salammbo the sacrilege
and the misfortunes which resulted from it even in the regions of the
sky。 Then he suddenly announced the peril of the Suffet； who was
assailed by three armies under the command of Mathofor on account of
the veil Matho was； in the eyes of the Carthaginians； the king； as it
were； of the Barbarians；and he added that the safety of the Republic
and of her father depended upon her alone。
〃Upon me！〃 she exclaimed。 〃How can I？〃
But the priest； with a smile of disdain said：
〃You will never consent！〃
She entreated him。 At last Schahabarim said to her：
〃You must go to the Barbarians and recover the zaimph！〃
She sank down upon the ebony stool； and remained with her arms
stretched out between her knees and shivering in all her limbs； like a
victim at the altar's foot awaiting the blow of the club。 Her temples
were ringing； she could see fiery circles revolving； and in her stupor
she had lost the understanding of all things save one； that she was
certainly going to die soon。
But if Rabbetna triumphed； if the zaimph were restored and Carthage
delivered； what mattered a woman's life？ thought Schahabarim。
Moreover； she would perhaps obtain the veil and not perish。
He stayed away for three days； on the evening of the fourth she sent
for him。
The better to inflame her heart he reported to her all the invectives
howled against Hamilcar in open council； he told her that she had
erred； that she owed reparation for her crime； and that Rabbetna
commanded the sacrifice。
A great uproar came frequently across the Mappalian district to
Megara。 Schahabarim and Salammbo went out quickly； and gazed from the
top of the galley staircase。
There were people in the square of Khamon shouting for arms。 The
Ancients would not provide them； esteeming such an effort useless；
others who had set out without a general had been massacred。 At last
they were permitted to depart； and as a sort of homage to Moloch； or
from a vague need of destruction； they tore up tall cypress trees in
the woods of the temples； and having kindled them at the torches of
the Kabiri； were carrying them through the streets singing。 These
monstrous flames advanced swaying gently； they transmitted fires to
the glass balls on the crests of the temples； to the ornaments of the
colossuses and the beaks of the ships； passed beyond the terraces and
formed suns as it were； which rolled through the town。 They descended
the Acropolis。 The gate of Malqua opened。
〃Are you ready？〃 exclaimed Schahabarim； 〃or have you asked them to
tell your father that you abandoned him？〃 She hid her face in her
veils； and the great lights retired； sinking gradually the while to
the edge of the waves。
An indeterminate dread restrained her； she was afraid of Moloch and of
Matho。 This man； with his giant stature； who was master of the zaimph；
ruled Rabbetna as much as did Baal； and seemed to her to be surrounded
by the same fulgurations； and then the souls of the gods sometimes
visited the bodies of men。 Did not Schahabarim in speaking of him say
that she was to vanquish Moloch？ They were mingled with each other；
she confused them together； both of them were pursuing her。
She wished to learn the future； and approached the serpent； for
auguries were drawn from the attitudes of serpents。 But the basket was
empty； Salammbo was disturbed。
She found him with his tail rolled round one of the silver balustrades
beside the hanging bed； which he was rubbing in order to free himself
from his old yellowish skin； while his body stretched forth gleaming
and clear like a sword half out of the sheath。
Then on the days following； in proportion as she allowed herself to be
convinced； and was more disposed to succour Tanith； the python
recovered and grew； he seemed to be reviving。
The certainty that Salammbo was giving expression to the will of the
gods then became established in her conscience。 One morning she awoke
resolved； and she asked what was necessary to make Matho restore the
veil。
〃To claim it；〃 said Schahabarim。
〃But if he refuses？〃 she rejoined。
The priest scanned her fixedly with a smile such as she had never
seen。
〃Yes； what is to be done？〃 repeated Salammbo。
He rolled between his fingers the extremities of the bands