The Horse and His Boy-第5章

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〃still；〃　she　said　after　a　moments　pause；　〃i　dont　know　that　theres　so　　much　point　in　all　going　together。　arent　we　more　likely　to　be　noticed？”

〃less；〃　said　bree；　and　the　mare　said；　〃oh　do　lets。　i　should　feel　much　more　　fortable。

were　not　even　certain　of　the　way。　im　sure　a　great　charger　like　this　knows　　far　more　than　we　do。”

〃oh　e　on；　bree；〃　said　shasta；　〃and　let　them　go　their　own　way。　cant　you　　see　they　dont　want　us？”

〃we　do；〃　said　hwin。

〃look　here；〃　said　the　girl。　〃i　dont　mind　going　with　you；　mr　war…horse；　but　　what　about　this　boy？　how　do　i　know　hes　not　a　spy？”

〃why　dont　you　say　at　once　that　you　think　im　not　good　enough　for　you？〃　　said　shasta。

〃be　quiet；　shasta；〃　said　bree。　〃the　tarkheenas　question　is　quite　　reasonable。　ill　vouch　for　the　boy；　tarkheena。　hes　been　true　to　me　and　a　good　friend。　and　hes　　certainly　either　a　narnian　or　an　archenlander。”

〃all　right；　then。　lets　go　together。〃　but　she　didnt　say　anything　to　shasta　　and　it　was　obvious　that　she　wanted　bree；　not　him。

〃splendid！〃　said　bree。　〃and　now　that　weve　got　the　water　between　us　and　　those　dreadful　animals；　what　about　you　two　humans　taking　off　our　saddles　and　our　all　　having　a　rest　and　hearing　one　anothers　stories。”

both　the　children　unsaddled　their　horses　and　the　horses　had　a　little　grass　　and　aravis　produced　rather　nice　things　to　eat　from　her　saddle…bag？　but　shasta　sulked　　and　said　no　thanks；　and　that　he　wasnt　hungry。　and　he　tried　to　put　on　what　he　thought　　very　grand　and　stiff　manners；　but　as　a　fishermans　but　is　not　usually　a　good　place　for　　learning　grand　　

manners；　the　result　was　dreadful。　and　he　half　knew　that　it　wasnt　a　success　　and　then　became　sulkier　and　more　awkward　than　ever。　meanwhile　the　two　horses　were　　getting　on　splendidly。　they　remembered　the　very　same　places　in　narnia　…　〃the　　grasslands　up　above　beaversdam〃　and　found　that　they　were　some　sort　of　second　cousins　once　　removed。　this　made　things　more　and　more　unfortable　for　the　humans　until　at　last　bree　　said；　〃and　now；　tarkheena；　tell　us　your　story。　and　dont　hurry　it　…　im　feeling　　fortable　now。”

aravis　immediately　began；　sitting　quite　still　and　using　a　rather　different　　tone　and　style　from　her　usual　one。　for　in　calormen；　story…telling　（whether　the　stories　are　　true　or　made　up）　is　a　thing　youre　taught；　just　as　english　boys　and　girls　are　taught　　essay…writing。　the　difference　is　that　people　want　to　hear　the　stories；　whereas　i　never　heard　　of　anyone　who　wanted　to　read　the　essays。

。。



CHAPTER　THREE

，小，说'网
at　the　gates　of　tashbaan　　〃mr　name；〃　said　the　girl　at　once；　〃is　aravis　tarkheena　and　i　am　the　only　　daughter　of　kidrash　tarkaan；　the　son　of　rishti　tarkaan；　the　son　of　kidrash　tarkaan；　the　　son　of　ilsombreh　tisroc；　the　son　of　ardeeb　tisroc　who　was　descended　in　a　right　　line　from　the　god　tash。　my　father　is　the　lord　of　the　province　of　calavar　and　is　one　who　　has　the　right　of　standing　on　his　feet　in　his　shoes　before　the　face　of　tisroc　himself　（may　he　　live　for　ever）。

my　mother　（on　whom　be　the　peace　of　the　gods）　is　dead　and　my　father　has　　married　another　wife。　one　of　my　brothers　has　fallen　in　battle　against　the　rebels　in　　the　far　west　and　the　other　is　a　child。　now　it　came　to　pass　that　my　fathers　wife；　my　step…　mother；　hated　me；　and　the　sun　appeared　dark　in　her　eyes　as　long　as　i　lived　in　my　fathers　　house。　and　so　she　persuaded　my　father　to　promise　me　in　marriage　to　ahoshta　tarkaan。　now　this　　ahoshta　is　of　base　birth；　though　in　these　latter　years　he　has　won　the　favour　of　the　　tisroc　（may　he　live　for　ever）　by　flattery　and　evil　counsels；　and　is　now　made　a　tarkaan　and　the　　lord　of　many　cities　and　is　likely　to　be　chosen　as　the　grand　vizier　when　the　present　　grand　vizier　dies。

moreover　he　is　at　least　sixty　years　old　and　has　a　hump　on　his　back　and　his　　face　resembles　that　of　an　ape。　nevertheless　my　father；　because　of　the　wealth　and　power　of　　this　ahoshta；　and　being　persuaded　by　his　wife；　sent　messengers　offering　me　in　marriage；　　and　the　offer　was　favourably　accepted　and　ahoshta　sent　word　that　he　would　marry　me　this　　very　year　at　the　time　of　high　summer。

〃when　this　news　was　brought　to　me　the　sun　appeared　dark　in　my　eyes　and　i　　laid　myself　on　my　bed　and　wept　for　a　day。　but　on　the　second　day　i　rose　up　and　washed　my　　face　and　caused　my　mare　hwin　to　be　saddled　and　took　with　me　a　sharp　dagger　which　my　　brother　had　carried　in　the　western　wars　and　rode　out　alone。　and　when　my　fathers　　house　was　out　of　sight　and　i　was　e　to　a　green　open　place　in　a　certain　wood　where　there　　were　no　dwellings　of　men；　i　dismounted　from　hwin　my　mare　and　took　out　the　dagger。　　then　i　parted　my　clothes　where　i　thought　the　readiest　way　lay　to　my　heart　and　i　　prayed　to　all　the　　

gods　that　as　soon　as　i　was　dead　i　might　find　myself　with　my　brother。　after　　that　i　shut　my　eyes　and　my　teeth　and　prepared　to　drive　the　dagger　into　my　heart。　but　　before　i　had　done　so；　this　mare　spoke　with　the　voice　of　one　of　the　daughters　of　men　and　said；　　〃o　my　mistress；　do　not　by　any　means　destroy　yourself；　for　if　you　live　you　may　yet　　have　good　fortune　but　all　the　dead　are　dead　alike。”

〃i　didnt　say　it　half　so　well　as　that；〃　muttered　the　mare。

〃hush；　maam；　hush；〃　said　bree；　who　was　thoroughly　enjoying　the　story。　　〃shes　telling　it　in　the　grand　calormene　manner　and　no　story…teller　in　a　tisrocs　court　could　　do　it　better。

pray　go　on；　tarkheena。”

〃when　i　heard　the　language　of　men　uttered　by　my　mare；〃　continued　aravis；　〃i　　said　to　myself；　the　fear　of　death　has　disordered　my　reason　and　subjected　me　to　　delusions。　and　i　became　full　of　shame　for　none　of　my　lineage　ought　to　fear　death　more　than　　the　biting　of　a　gnat。　therefore　i　addressed　myself　a　second　time　to　the　stabbing；　but　hwin　　came　near　to　me　and　put　her　head　in　between　me　and　the　dagger　and　discoursed　to　me　most　　excellent　reasons　and　rebuked　me　as　a　mother　rebukes　her　daughter。　and　now　my　wonder　　was　so　great　that　i　forgot　about　killing　myself　and　about　ahoshta　and　said；　‘o　my　　mare；　how　have　you　learned　to　speak　like　one　of　the　daughters　of　men？　and　hwin　told　　me　what　is　known　to　all　this　pany；　that　in　narnia　there　are　beasts　that　talk；　and　　how　she　herself　was　stolen　from　thence　when　she　was　a　little　foal。　she　told　me　also　of　the　　woods　and　waters　of　narnia　and　the　castles　and　the　great　ships；　till　i　said；　‘in　the　　name　of　tash　and　azaroth　and　zardeenah　lady　of　the　night；　i　have　a　great　wish　to　be　in　that　　country　of　narnia。　‘o　my　mistress；　answered　the　mare；　‘if　you　were　in　narnia　you　　would　be　happy；　for　in　that　land　no　maiden　is　forced　to　marry　against　her　will。　　〃and　when　we　had　talked　together　for　a　great　time　hope　returned　to　me　and　i　　rejoiced　that　i　had　not　killed　myself。　moreover　it　was　agreed　between　hwin　and　me　　that　we　should　steal　ourselves　away　together　and　we　planned　it　in　this　fashion。　we　　returned　to　my　fathers　house　and　i　put　on　my　gayest　clothes　and　sang　and　danced　before　my　　father　and　pretended　to　be　delighted　with　the　marriage　which　he　had　prepared　for　me。　　also　i　said　to　him；　‘o　my　father　and　o　the　delight　of　my　eyes；　give　me　your　licence　and　　permission　to　go　with　one　of　my　maidens　alone　for　three　days　into　the　woods　to　do　secret　　sacrifices　to　zardeenah；　lady　of　the　night　and　of　maidens；　as　is　proper　and　customary　for　　damsels　when　they　must　bid　farewell　to　the　service　of　zardeenah　and　prepare　　themselves　for　marriage。　and　he　answered；　‘o　my　daughter　and　o　the　delight　of　my　eyes；　so　　shall　it　be。　　〃but　when　i　came　out　from　the　presence　of　my　father　i　went　immediately　to　　the　oldest　of　his　slaves；　his　secretary；　who　had　dandled　me　on　his　knees　when　i　was　a　　baby　and　loved　me　more　than　the　air　and　the　light。　and　i　swore　him　to　be　secret　and　begged　　him　to　write　a　certain　letter　for　me。　and　he　wept　and　implored　me　to　change　my　　resolution　but　in　the　end　he　said；　‘to　hear　is　to　obey；　and　did　all　my　will。　and　i　sealed　the　　letter　and　hid　it　in　my　bosom。”

〃but　what　was　in　the　letter？〃　asked　shasta。

〃be　quiet；　youngster；〃　said　bree。　〃youre　spoiling　the　story。　shell　tell　　us　all　about　the　letter　in　the　right　place。　go　on；　tarkheena。”

〃then　i　called　the　maid　who　was　to　go　with　me　to　the　woods　and　perform　the　　rites　of　zardeenah　and　told　her　to　wake　me　very　early　in　the　morning。　and　i　became　　merry　with　her　and　gave　her　wine　to　drink；　but　i　had　mixed　such　things　in　her　cup　that　　i　knew　she　must　sleep　for　a　night　and　a　day。　as　soon　as　the　household　of　my　father　had　　mitted　themselves　to　sleep　i　arose　and　put　on　an　armour　of　my　brothers　which　i　　always　kept　in　my　chamber　in　his　memory。　i　put　into　my　girdle　all　the　money　i　had　and　　certain　choice　jewels　and　provided　myself　also　with　food；　and　saddled　the　mare　with　my　own　　hands　and　rode　away　in　the　second　watch　of　the　night。　i　directed　my　course　not　to　the　　woods　where　my　father　supposed　that　i　would　go　but　north　and　east　to　tashbaan。

〃now　for　three　days　and　more　i　knew　that　my　father　would　not　seek　me；　being　　deceived　by　the　words　i　had　said　to　him。　and　on　the　fourth　day　we　arrived　at　the　　city　of　azim　balda。　now　azim　balda　stands　at　the　meeting　of　many　roads　and　from　it　the　　posts　of　the　tisroc　（may　he　live　for　ever）　ride　on　swift　horses　to　every　part　of　the　　empire：　and　it　is　one　of　the　rights　and　privileges　of　the　greater　tarkaans　to　send　messages　by　　them。　i　therefore　went