annr.pandora-第24部分

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！


ce　as　beautiful　as　Tuscany；　but　maybe　this　place　was　beautiful　too。
　I　went　out　of　the　courtyard；　before　the　steps；　and　into　the　Forum。
　I　approached　a　man　under　the　arches　who　was　teaching　a　group　of　young　boys　all　of　what　Diogenes　has　espoused；　that　we　give　up　the　flesh　and　all　its　pleasures；　that　we　live　pure　lives　in　denial　of　the　senses。
　It　was　so　much　as　Flavius　had　described　it。　But　the　man　meant　his　words；　and　was　well　versed。　He　spoke　of　a　liberating　resignation。　He　caught　my　fancy。　For　this　is　what　I　thought　had　e　to　me　in　the　Temple；　a　liberating　resignation。
　The　boys　who　listened　were　too　young　to　know　this。　But　I　knew　it。　I　liked　him。　He　had　gray　hair　and　wore　a　simple　long　tunic。　He　was　not　ostentatiously　in　rags。
　I　at　once　interrupted。　With　a　humble　smile　I　offered　the　counsel　of　Epicurus；　that　the　senses　wouldn't　have　been　given　us　were　they　not　good。　Wasn't　this　so'？　〃Must　we　deny　ourselves？　Look；　back　at　the　courtyard　of　the　Temple　of　Isis；　look　at　the　flowers　covering　the　top　of　the　wall！　Is　this　not　something　to　savor？　Look　at　the　roaring　red　of　those　flowers！　Those　flowers　are　in　themselves　enough　to　lift　a　person　out　of　sorrow。　WE　is　to　say　that　eyes　are　wiser　than　hands　or　lips？〃
　The　young　men　turned　to　me。　I　fell　into　discussions　with　several　of　them。　How　fresh　and　pretty　they　were。　There　were　long…haired　men　from　Babylon　and　even　highborn　Hebrews　here；　all　with　very　hairy　arms　and　chests；　and　many　colonial　Romans　who　were　dazzled　by　the　points　I　made；　that　in　the　flesh　and　in　the　wine；　we　find　the　truth　of　life。
　〃The　flowers；　the　stars；　the　wine；　the　kisses　of　one's　lover；　all　is　part　of　Nature；　surely；〃　I　said。　I　was　of　course　on　fire；　having　just　e　from　the　Temple；　having　just　unburdened　all　fears　and　having　resolved　all　doubts。　I　was　for　the　moment　invincible。　The　world　was　new。
　The　Teacher；　whose　name　was　Marcellus；　came　from　under　the　arch　to　greet　me。
　〃Ah；　Gracious　Lady；　you　amaze　me；〃　he　said。　〃But　from　whom　did　you　really　learn　what　you　believe？　Was　it　from　Lucretius？　Or　was　it　from　experience？　You　realize　that　we　must　not　ever　encourage　people　to　abandon　themselves　to　the　senses！〃
　〃Have　I　said　anything　about　abandon？〃　I　asked。　〃To　yield　is　not　to　abandon。　It　is　to　honor。　I　speak　of　a　prudent　life；　I　speak　of　listening　to　the　wisdom　of　our　bodies。　I　speak　of　the　ultimate　intelligence　of　kindness；　and　enjoyment。　And　if　you　will　know；　Lucretius　didn't　teach　me　as　much　as　one　might　think。　He　was　always　too　dry　for　me；　you　know。　I　learned　to　embrace　the　glory　of　life　from　poets　like　Ovid。〃
　The　crowd　of　boys　cheered。
　〃I　learnt　from　Ovid；〃　came　shout　after　shout。
　〃Well；　that's　fine；　but　remember　your　manners　as　well　as　your　lessons；〃　I　said　firmly。
　More　cheering。　Then　the　young　men　began　tossing　out　verses　from　Ovid's　Metamorphoses。
　〃That's　splendid；〃　I　declared。　〃How　many　here？　Fifteen。　Why　don't　you　e　to　my　house　for　a　supper　Y'　I　asked。　〃Five　nights　from　now；　all　of　you。　I　need　the　time　to　prepare。　I　have　many　books　I　want　to　show　you。　I　promise　you；　I　will　show　you　what　a　delicious　feast　can　do　for　the　soul！〃
　My　invitation　was　accepted　with　amusement　and　laughter。　I　disclosed　the　location　of　my　house。
　〃I　am　a　widow。　My　name　is　Pandora。　I　invite　you　with　all　propriety；　and　the　feast　awaits　you。　Don't　expect　dancing　boys　and　girls；　for　you　will　not　find　them　under　my　roof。　Expect　delicious　food。　Expect　poetry。　Which　of　you　can　sing　the　verses　of　Homer'？　Truly　sing　them？　Which　of　you　sings　them　now　from　memory　for　pleasure！〃
　Laughter；　conviviality。　Victory。　It　seemed　everybody　could　do　this；　and　weled　the　opportunity。　Someone　made　a　soft　mention　of　another　Roman　woman　who　would　be　most　jealous　when　she　discovered　she　had　petition　in　Antioch。
　〃Nonsense；〃　said　another；　〃her　table　is　overcrowded。　Lady；　may　I　kiss　your　hand？〃
　〃You　must　tell　me　who　she　is；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　wele　her。　I　want　to　know　her；　and　what　I　can　learn　from　her。〃
　The　Teacher　was　smiling。　I　slipped　him　some　money。
　It　was　getting　dusk。　I　sighed。　Look。　The　rising　stars　of　the　tinted　evening　that　precedes　blackness。
　I　received　the　boys'　chaste　kisses　and　confirmed　our　feast。
　But　something　had　changed。　It　was　as　quick　as　the　opening　of　one's　eyes。　Ah；　painted　eyes；　no。
　Perhaps　it　was　only　the　awful　pall　of　twilight。
　I　felt　a　shudder。　It　is　I　who　summoned　you。　Who　spoke　those　words？　Beware；　for　you　would　be　stolen　from　me　now　and　I　will　not　have　it。
　I　was　dumbstruck。　I　held　the　teacher's　hand　warmly。　He　talked　about　moderation　in　living。　〃Look　at　my　plain　tunic；〃　he　said。　〃These　boys　have　so　much　money；　they　can　destroy　themselves。〃
　The　boys　protested。
　But　this　was　dim　to　me。　I　tried　to　listen。　My　eyes　roved。　Whence　came　that　voice！　Who　spoke　those　words！　Who　summoned　me　and　who　would　attempt　the　theft？
　Then　to　my　silent　astonishment　I　saw　a　man；　his　head　covered　by　his　toga；　watching　me。　I　knew　him　immediately；　by　his　forehead　and　his　eyes。　I　recognized　his　walk　now　as　he　moved　steadily　away。
　This　was　my　brother；　the　youngest；　Lucius；　the　one　I　despised。　It　had　to　be　him。　And　behold　the　sly　manner　in　which　he　fled　from　notice　into　the　shadows。
　I　knew　the　whole　person。　Lucius。　He　waited　at　the　end　of　the　long　portico。
　I　couldn't　move；　and　it　was　getting　dark。　All　the　merchants　who　are　open　only　in　the　day　were　gone。　The　taverns　were　putting　out　their　lanterns　or　torches。　One　bookseller　remained　open；　with　great　displays　of　books　under　the　lamps　above。
　Lucius　…　my　much　detested　youngest　brother　…　not　ing　to　wele　me　with　tears　but　gliding　in　the　shadows　of　the　portico。　Why'？
　I　feared　I　knew。
　Meantime；　the　boys　were　begging　me　to　go　to　the　nearby　wine　garden　with　them；　a　lovely　place。　They　were　fighting　over　who　would　pay　for　my　supper　there。
　Think；　Pandora。　This　sweet　little　invitation　is　some　keen　test　of　the　degree　of　my　daring　and　freedom。　And　I　should　not　go　to　a　mon　tavern　with　the　boys！　But　within　moments　I　would　be　alone。
　The　Forum　grew　quiet。　The　fires　blazed　before　the　Temples。　But　there　were　great　spaces　of　darkness。　The　man　in　the　toga　waited。
　〃No；　I　must　be　off　now；〃　I　said。　Desperately　I　thought；　what　I　shall　I　do　for　a　torchbearer？　Dare　I　ask　these　youths　to　see　me　home'？　I　could　see　their　slaves　waiting　about；　some　already　lighting　their　torches　or　lanterns。
　Singing　came　from　the　Temple　of　Isis。
　It　was　I　who　summoned　you。　Beware。。。　for　me　and　my　purpose！
　〃This　is　madness；〃　I　muttered；　waving　goodnight　to　those　who　left　in　pairs　or　trios。　I　forced　smiles　and　kind　words。
　I　glared　at　the　distant　figure　of　Lucius；　who　now　slouched　at　the　end　of　the　portico　in　front　of　doors　closed　for　the　night。　His　very　posture　was　furtive　and　cowardly。
　Quite　suddenly；　I　felt　a　hand　on　my　shoulder。　I　brushed　it　off　immediately；　wishing　to　lay　down　limits　to　such　familiarity；　and　then　I　realized　a　man　was　whispering　in　my　ear：
　〃The　Priest　at　the　Temple　begs　for　you　to　e　back；　Madam。　He　needs　to　talk　with　you。　He　did　not　mean　for　you　to　leave　without　talking。〃
　I　turned　to　see　a　Priest　there　beside　me；　in　full　Egyptian　headdress　and　impeccable　white　linen　and　wearing　a　medallion　of　the　goddess　around　his　neck。
　Oh；　thank　Heaven。
　But　before　I　could　recover　myself　or　answer；　another　man　had　stepped　up　boldly；　heaving　forward　his　ivory　leg　and　foot。　Two　torchbearers　acpanied　him。　We　were　embraced　by　a　warm　light。
　〃Does　my　Mistress　wish　to　talk　to　this　Priest？〃　he　asked。
　It　was　Flavius。　He　had　followed　my　mands。　He　was　wonderfully　dressed　as　a　Roman　gentleman　in　the　long　tunic　and　a　loose　cloak。　As　a　slave；　he　couldn't　wear　a　toga。　His　hair　was　neat　and　trimmed　and　looked　as　impressive　as　any　free　man's。　He　was　shining　dean　and　appeared　pletely　confident。
　Marcellus；　the　Philosopher…Teacher；　lingered。　〃Lady　Pandora；　you　are　most　gracious；　and　let　me　assure　you　that　the　tavern　these　boys　frequent　may　give　rise　to　another　Aristotle　or　Plato　but　it　is　not　a　fit　place　for　you。〃
　〃I　know　that；〃　I　said。　〃Don't　worry。〃
　The　Teacher　looked　warily　at　the　Priest　and　at　the　handsome　Flavius。　I　slipped　my　arm　about　Flavius's　waist。　〃This　is　my　steward；　who　will　wele　you　the　night　you　e　to　me。　Thank　you　for　letting　me　disrupt　your　teaching。　You're　a　kind　man。〃
　The　Teacher's　face　stiffened。　Then　he　leaned　doser。　〃There's　a　man　under　the　portico；　don't　look　at　him　now；　but　you　need　more　slaves　to　protect　you。　This　city　is　divided；　dangerous。〃
　〃Yes；　so　you　see　him　too；〃　I　said。　〃And　his　glorious　toga；　the　mark　of　his　genteel　birth！〃
　〃It's　getting　dark；〃　Flavius　said。　〃I'll　hire　more　torchbearers　now　and　a　litter。　Right　over　there。〃
　He　thanked　the　Teacher；　who　reluctantly　slipped　away。
　The　Priest。　He　was　still　waiting。　Flavius　gestured　for　two　more　torchbearers　and　they　came　trotting　to　join　us。　We　now　had　a　plenitude　of　light。
　I　turned　to　the　Priest。　〃I　will　e　to　the　Temple　directly；　but　I　must　first　talk　with　that　man　over　there！　The　man　in　the　shadows？〃　I　pointed　quite　visibly。　I　stood　in　a　flood　of　light。　I　might　as　well　have　been　on　a　stage。
　I　saw　the　distant　figure　cringe　and　try　to　fade　into　the　wall。
　〃Why？〃　Flavius　asked　with　about　as　much　humility　as　a　Roman　Senator。　〃Something　is　very　wrong　about　tha