登陆注册
5381600000010

第10章

Four days on the water from the mouth of a mighty river were we cast away, and some were drowned and some died of sickness.But us wild men took through wastes and marshes, where the sea-fowl hid the sky, bearing us ten days' journey till we came to a hollow mountain, where a great city had been and fallen, and where there are caves of which no man hath seen the end; and they brought us to the Queen of the people who place pots upon the heads of strangers, who is a magician having a knowledge of all things, and life and loveliness that does not die.And she cast eyes of love upon thy father, Kallikrates, and would have slain me, and taken him to husband, but he loved me and feared her, and would not.Then did she take us, and lead us by terrible ways, by means of dark magic, to where the great pit is, in the mouth of which the old philosopher lay dead, and showed to us the rolling Pillar of Life that dies not, whereof the voice is as the voice of thunder; and she did stand in the flames, and come forth unharmed, and yet more beautiful.Then did she swear to make thy father undying even as she is, if he would but slay me, and give himself to her, for me she could not slay because of the magic of my own people that I have, and that prevailed thus far against her.And he held his hand before his eyes to hide her beauty, and would not.Then in her rage did she smite him by her magic, and he died; but she wept over him, and bore him thence with lamentations: and being afraid, me she sent to the mouth of the great river where the ships come, and I was carried far away on the ships where I gave thee birth, and hither to Athens I came at last after many wanderings.Now I say to thee, my son, Tisisthenes, seek out the woman, and learn the secret of Life, and if thou mayest find a way slay her, because of thy father Kallikrates; and if thou dost fear or fail, this I say to all of thy seed who come after thee, till at last a brave man be found among them who shall bathe in the fire and sit in the place of the Pharaohs.I speak of those things, that though they be past belief, yet I have known, and I lie not.""May the Lord forgive her for that," groaned Job, who had been listening to this marvellous composition with his mouth open.

As for myself, I said nothing: my first idea being that my poor friend, being demented, had composed the whole thing, though it scarcely seemed likely that such a story could have been invented by anybody.It was too original.To solve my doubts I took up the potsherd and began to read the close uncial Greek writing on it; and very good Greek of the period it is, considering that it came from the pen of an Egyptian born.

Besides the uncial writing on the convex side of the sherd at the top, painted in dull red, on what had once been the lip of the amphora, was the cartouche already mentioned as being on the _i_ scarabaeus _i_ , which we had also found in the casket.The hieroglyphics or symbols, however, were reversed, just as though they had been pressed on wax.Whether this was the cartouche of the original Kallikrates, or of some prince or Pharaoh from whom his wife Amenartas was descended, I am not sure, nor can I tell if it was drawn upon the sherd at the same time that the uncial Greek was inscribed, or, copied on more recently from the Scarab by some other member of the family.Nor was this all.At the foot of the writing, painted in the same dull red, was the faint outline of a somewhat rude drawing of the head and shoulders of a sphinx wearing two feathers, symbols of majesty, which, though common enough upon the effigies of sacred bulls and gods, I have never before met with on a sphinx.

Also on the right-hand side of this surface of the sherd, painted obliquely in red on the space not covered by the uncial, and signed in blue paint, was the following quaint inscription:

IN EARTH AND SKIE AND SEA

STRANGE THYNGES THER BE.

HOC FECIT

DOROTHEA VINCEY.

Perfectly bewildered, I turned the relic over.It was covered from top to bottom with notes and signatures in Greek, Latin, and English.The first in Uncial Greek was by Tisisthenes, the son to whom the writing was addressed.It was, "I could not go.Tisisthenes to his son, Kallikrates."This Kallikrates (probably, in the Greek fashion, so named after his grandfather) evidently made some attempt to start on the quest, for his entry, written in very faint and almost illegible uncial, is, "Iceased from my going, the gods being against me.

KaIlikrates to his son."

Between these two ancient writingsthe second of which was inscribed upside down and was so faint and worn that, had it not been for the transcript of it executed by Vincey, I should scarcely have been able to read it, since, owing to its having been written on that portion of the tile which had, in the course of ages, undergone the most handling, it was nearly rubbed outwas the bold, modern-looking signature of one Lionel Vincey, "AEtate sua 17," which was written thereon, I think, by Leo's grandfather.To the right of this were the initials "J.B.V.," and below came a variety of Greek signatures, in uncial and cursive character, and what appeared to be some carelessly executed repetitions of the sentence "to my son,"showing that the relic was religiously passed on from generation to generation.

The next legible thing after the Greek signatures was the word "ROMAE, A.U.C.," showing-that the family had now migrated to Rome.Unfortunately, however, with the exception of its termination (cvi) the date of their settlement there is forever lost, for just where it had been placed a piece of the potsherd is broken away.

同类推荐
  • 集文字禅

    集文字禅

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 开元天宝遗事

    开元天宝遗事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 词综

    词综

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 养正遗规

    养正遗规

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说金刚场庄严般若波罗蜜多教中一分

    佛说金刚场庄严般若波罗蜜多教中一分

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 回乡做食神

    回乡做食神

    很久很久以前,在古老家族间口口相传着一则预言,‘当恐怖大魔王从天而降时,有一个英俊潇洒的伟大吃货拯救了世界。’
  • 长生诠经

    长生诠经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 摄大乘论释论

    摄大乘论释论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 禀告国师:丞相大人已跑路

    禀告国师:丞相大人已跑路

    他是年少有为的少年丞相,她是皇后所出的嫡公主。十年前一场变故,失踪后的她成了他。可没想到一纸婚约竟将她绑在了国师这条船上。什么?嫁人?怎么可能!世人皆知天苍丞相与国师不和,此后更是针锋相对,殊不知丞相大人千金女儿身!某日,两人在湖上泛舟相见。某丞相:国师好兴致,听说昨日大婚之时被公主逃婚?国师大人竟还爱泛舟游湖?某国师:呵呵,拜了堂也就算是国师夫人了,丞相大人你说可是?气的丞相大人咬碎一口银牙!(不定时更新,作为我们这边新高考第一届实验小白鼠,压力山大。)
  • 商门重生之纨绔邪妻

    商门重生之纨绔邪妻

    ★新文求收:戚言《豪门谋婚之大佬宠妻入骨》为了报仇,顾君柯算计了世人忌惮的神秘安家少主,成为众人倾羡的豪门主母。一个性格阴晴多变,做事不择手段,甚至包养男人。一个谦和有礼,风雅绝伦,却手握重权,薄情寡欲,一切成谜,毫无弱点。开始的时候,她说:“美人,我喜欢你~”后来,她说:“安少,我们离婚吧~”一对一,男主身心干净,男强女强,强强联手!女主负责爽文,男主负责宠文~本文简介:孟水心,最强异能家族少主,为了一个男人放弃家族,甘为废柴!一场深情换来惊天骗局,家族毁灭,家人惨死!当他搂着爱人,看着自己被折磨致死,最后一丝信念终于土崩瓦解!噬心疼痛之后,竟然重生?!这一次,她定是要将那些欺她深情,灭她家族,阴谋算计,狠心毒害之人挫骨扬灰,永世不得安宁!◆意外的是,重活一世,自己竟然得到了神秘的“魔阴异能”!元素操控;百兽之语;读心之法;空间隐身,甚至早已失传的远古时间秘术都能为她用!◆本以为是一个人的战役,可是这身边与她狼狈为奸的男人又是为哪般?这一世,她将如何在荆棘密布,豺狼环厮中,一步步夺回她的一切,登上世界巅峰的宝座?!本文一对一,男主身心干净,都市异能励志成长爽文,女强男强,强强联手!
  • 殿下,孤要养你!

    殿下,孤要养你!

    凌珏想养一只乖巧可人,最重要的是死不了的宠物,所以当浑身是伤的某殿下倒在她面前,第一反应是:好弱!但是,这货的体质真心绝佳,玩爆各种凌虐翘不了?那么,就决定是你了!凌大Boss开杀招,男人,孤要养你!君黎觉得自己从来都是吊打别人的存在,人前高岭之花,人后地狱修罗。谁料一朝失意,被某个冷心冷血的女人捡了。然后。。。他被单方宣布沦为私宠,君殿下暴起,老子死也不从!小剧场——某天,君殿下收到来自某位损友的礼物,述其上位历程的宝册一卷,大有为先人提点后辈之意。某君殿不屑一顾,甩手转身,宝贝!求抚摸!求投喂!
  • 家有一个兵

    家有一个兵

    大清早,九兰刚进茅房解裤带还未蹲下,低矮的土墙外发出一声凄厉的嚎叫:家有一个兵,我是光荣军属呢……是疯家公老木在嚎!九兰差点尿了裤子,胡乱系紧裤带飞奔出茅房就傻眼了,已疯十余年的家公独自住在老木屋里,近几日感冒卧床不起,昨晚还大病恹恹的,今早行动奔走怎么就如常人?况且,他怀里还抱着红木箱子。红木箱子可是小牛的命根子,谁也不能乱动,包括九兰。小牛用油布把箱子包裹起来塞进床底,自己也从未打开过,挂在扣皮上的那把锁已生了锈。九兰惊魂未定,她刚从房间出来进茅厕,老木轻飘飘的就来了,鬼神一样。
  • 带着宝宝玩转后宫

    带着宝宝玩转后宫

    【凤行深宫】她本卑微,他却无情他拉她出牢笼,却推她进地狱夜色中倍受屈辱,裂帛声何其凄惨她侍候的却是他的父皇他亲手送她至皇榻前,她定如他所愿,叫他后悔为了争宠她不择手段终于她成为了墨轩史上最年轻的后只为有朝一日,笑靥如花,唤他“皇儿”以江山为代价,以社稷为砝码,要他痛不欲生“母后,你恨我,对付我就好!”高贵如他,屈膝下跪。“皇儿,千万不要如此,我有今天,第一个要感谢的人就是你!”她唇带微笑,眼若寒冰。“母后,助我登基,不然,你和二哥的丑事…”四皇子威胁道。“那,那昨晚你在母后寝宫的事,我是不是也该告诉你父皇呢?”她浅笑连连,眼带讽刺。“母后,告诉我,这一切都不是你做的?”七皇子一脸悲伤道。“你爱的人,就是这样心狠手辣。你后悔当初爱上我吗,皇儿?”她笑容不改,已然不若当初。【凤行深宫】苏琳卡,一个温婉的乖乖女孩,亲眼撞见自己未婚夫与某富婆男上女下从此她魑魅邪笑,妩媚众生夜店里,她疯狂、纵欲、魅惑…犹如黑夜里的蛇舞、魔鬼、精灵,每个男人都爱她,宠她,她,苏琳卡,重获新生。然后意外发生了,竟然怀孕了,可是却不知道孩子的爹地是谁!突然,她收到未婚夫的一个邮包打开瞬间,白光夺目,一阵眩晕她竟然,莫名其妙地,穿越了而且肚子里还有个不知是谁的小baby!天啊……穿越后她是一个待嫁的郡主新婚之夜,她揭开红盖头怎么会?他就是那个混世魔王?他竟然会长了一张和他一模一样的脸?有没有搞错?而第一夜,他,暄国的王子,他竟然不要她,看着她隆起的肚子,顿时失去了兴趣,抱着反正后宫里有的是女人,多一个也无所谓的心态,他勉强将这个二手货收了下来,却将之束之高阁,不宠不爱不理不睬,晾在后宫,与冷宫无异!三年后,当一个全天下至尊可爱无敌的宝宝出现在他面前时,他的心竟然起了异样,为什么会对她的宝宝会如此疼惜呢?继而,对她也产生了柔情蜜意,母凭子贵,那也要是自己的种啊——(先保密,按下)…………接着往下看吧,伏笔都埋了,解密吧。本书已加入五折书库。一次订阅全部章节,可享受五折优惠,已定章节不重复收费。
  • 穿裘皮的维纳斯

    穿裘皮的维纳斯

    《穿裘皮的维纳斯》是马索克最主要的虐恋作品。这是一位贵族男子自愿成为一位女士的奴隶的故事。他愿意受她的驱使,受她的惩罚,使自己成为她对之握有生杀予夺权利的财产。在他们两人相处的过程中,女方始终比较勉强,最后她移情别恋,残忍地结束了他们之间的关系。
  • 傀儡公主们的守护骑士

    傀儡公主们的守护骑士

    一场带着阴谋的大火,为了滔天权势,烧掉了顾倾的家,烧死了她的父母亲,烧碎了她的幸福……而她,又该何去何从……一曲名为贪婪的交响曲被奏响,听,那人笑得多么得意,听,她哭得有多绝望……看,一部名为背叛的剧己然开幕,全家皆被屠杀,血染成河。她,用冰冷无情来保护自己;她,用妖娆妩媚来伪装自己,两个极端的她们走到了一起,只因她们都有着同样悲惨的过去……