The Horse and His Boy- 第15部分

this　seemed　to　exasperate　the　prince。　〃dog；〃　he　shouted；　directing　a　series　　of　well…aimed　kicks　at　the　hindquarters　of　the　vizier；　〃do　not　dare　to　quote　the　poets　to　　me。　i　have　had　maxims　and　verses　flung　at　me　all　day　and　i　can　endure　them　no　more。〃　i　am　　afraid　aravis　did　not　feel　at　all　sorry　for　the　vizier。

the　tisroc　was　apparently　sunk　in　thought；　but　when；　after　a　long　pause；　he　　noticed　what　was　happening；　he　said　tranquilly：　　〃my　son；　by　all　means　desist　from　kicking　the　venerable　and　enlightened　　vizier：　for　as　a　costly　jewel　retains　its　value　even　if　hidden　in　a　dung…hill；　so　old　age　　and　discretion　are　to　be　respected　even　in　the　vile　persons　of　our　subjects。　desist　therefore；　　and　tell　us　what　you　desire　and　propose。”

〃i　desire　and　propose；　o　my　father；〃　said　rabadash；　〃that　you　immediately　　call　out　your　invincible　armies　and　invade　the　thrice…accursed　land　of　narnia　and　waste　　it　with　fire　and　sword　and　add　it　to　your　illimitable　empire；　killing　their　high　king　and　　all　of　his　blood　except　the　queen　susan。　for　i　must　have　her　as　my　wife；　though　she　shall　　learn　a　sharp　lesson　first。”

〃understand；　o　my　son；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃that　no　words　you　can　speak　will　　move　me　to　open　war　against　narnia。”

〃if　you　were　not　my　father；　o　ever…living　tisroc；　〃　said　the　prince；　　grinding　his　teeth；　〃i　should　say　that　was　the　word　of　a　coward。”

〃and　if　you　were　not　my　son；　o　most　inflammable　rabadash；〃　replied　his　　father；　〃your　life　would　be　short　and　your　death　slow　when　you　had　said　it。〃　（the　cool；　　placid　voice　in　which　he　spoke　these　words　made　araviss　blood　run　cold。）

〃but　why；　o　my　father；〃　said　the　prince　…　this　time　in　a　much　more　　respectful　voice；　〃why　should　we　think　twice　about　punishing　narnia　any　more　than　about　hanging　an　　idle　slave　or　sending　a　worn…out　horse　to　be　made　into　dogsmeat？　it　is　not　the　fourth　　size　of　one　of　your　least　provinces。　a　thousand　spears　could　conquer　it　in　five　weeks。　it　　is　an　unseemly　blot　on　the　skirts　of　your　empire。”

〃most　undoubtedly；〃　said　the　tisroc。　〃these　little　barbarian　countries　that　　call　themselves　free　（which　is　as　much　as　to　say；　idle；　disordered；　and　unprofitable）　are　　hateful　to　the　gods　and　to　all　persons　of　discernment。”

〃then　why　have　we　suffered　such　a　land　as　narnia　to　remain　thus　long　　unsubdued？”

〃know；　o　enlightened　prince；〃　said　the　grand　vizier；　〃that　until　the　year　　in　which　your　exalted　father　began　his　salutary　and　unending　reign；　the　land　of　narnia　　was　covered　with　ice　and　snow　and　was　moreover　ruled　by　a　most　powerful　enchantress。”

〃this　i　know　very　well；　o　loquacious　vizier；〃　answered　the　prince。　〃but　i　　know　also　that　the　enchantress　is　dead。　and　the　ice　and　snow　have　vanished；　so　that　narnia　　is　now　wholesome；　fruitful；　and　delicious。”

〃and　this　change；　o　most　learned　prince；　has　doubtless　been　brought　to　pass　　by　the　powerful　incantations　of　those　wicked　persons　who　now　call　themselves　kings　　and　queens　of　narnia。”

〃i　am　rather　of　the　opinion；〃　said　rabadash；　〃that　it　has　e　about　by　the　　alteration　of　the　stars　and　the　operation　of　natural　causes。”

〃all　this；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃is　a　question　for　the　disputations　of　learned　　men。　i　will　never　believe　that　so　great　an　alteration；　and　the　killing　of　the　old　　enchantress；　were　effected　without　the　aid　of　strong　magic。　and　such　things　are　to　be　expected　in　that　　land；　which　is　chiefly　inhabited　by　demons　in　the　shape　of　beasts　that　talk　like　men；　and　　monsters　that　are　half　man　and　half　beast。　it　is　monly　reported　that　the　high　king　of　　narnia　（whom　may　the　gods　utterly　reject）　is　supported　by　a　demon　of　hideous　aspect　and　　irresistible　maleficence　who　appears　in　the　shape　of　a　lion。　therefore　the　attacking　of　　narnia　is　a　dark　and　doubtful　enterprise；　and　i　am　determined　not　to　put　my　hand　out　　farther　than　i　can　draw　it　back。”

〃how　blessed　is　calormen；〃　said　the　vizier；　popping　up　his　face　again；　〃on　　whose　ruler　the　gods　have　been　pleased　to　bestow　prudence　and　circumspection！　yet　as　　the　irrefutable　and　sapient　tisroc　has　said　it　is　very　grievous　to　be　constrained　to　keep　　our　hands　off　such　a　dainty　dish　as　narnia。　gifted　was　that　poet　who　said　…〃　but　at　this　　point　ahoshta　noticed　an　impatient　movement　of　the　princes　toe　and　became　suddenly　　silent。

〃it　is　very　grievous；〃　said　the　tisroc　in　his　deep；　quiet　voice。　〃every　　morning　the　sun　is　darkened　in　my　eyes；　and　every　night　my　sleep　is　the　less　refreshing；　　because　i　remember　that　narnia　is　still　free。”

〃o　my　father；〃　said　rabadash。　〃how　if　i　show　you　a　way　by　which　you　can　　stretch　out　your　arm　to　take　narnia　and　yet　draw　it　back　unharmed　if　the　attempt　prove　　unfortunate？”

〃if　you　can　show　me　that；　o　rabadash；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃you　will　be　the　　best　of　sons。”

〃hear　then；　0　father。　this　very　night　and　in　this　hour　i　will　take　but　two　　hundred　horse　and　ride　across　the　desert。　and　it　shall　seem　to　all　men　that　you　know　　nothing　of　my　going。　on　the　second　morning　i　shall　be　at　the　gates　of　king　lunes　castle　　of　anvard　in　archenland。　they　are　at　peace　with　us　and　unprepared　and　i　shall　take　　anvard　before　they　have　bestirred　themselves。　then　i　will　ride　through　the　pass　above　　anvard　and　down　through　narnia　to　cair　paravel。　the　high　king　will　not　be　there；　when　i　　left　them　he　was　already　preparing　a　raid　against　the　giants　on　his　northern　border。　i　shall　　find　cair　paravel；　most　likely　with　open　gates；　and　ride　in。　i　shall　exercise　　prudence　and　courtesy　and　spill　as　little　narnian　blood　as　i　can。　and　what　then　remains　but　to　　sit　there　till　the　splendour　hyaline　puts　in；　with　queen　susan　on　board；　catch　my　strayed　bird　　as　she　sets　foot　ashore；　swing　her　into　the　saddle；　and　then；　ride；　ride；　ride　back　to　　anvard？”

〃but　is　it　not　probable；　o　my　son；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃that　at　the　taking　of　　the　woman　either　king　edmund　or　you　will　lose　his　life？”

〃they　will　be　a　small　pany；〃　said　rabadash；　〃and　i　will　order　ten　of　my　　men　to　disarm　and　bind　him：　restraining　my　vehement　desire　for　his　blood　so　that　　there　shall　be　no　deadly　cause　of　war　between　you　and　the　high　king。”

〃and　how　if　the　splendour　hyaline　is　at　cair　paravel　before　you？”

〃i　do　not　look　for　that　with　these　winds；　o　my　father。”

〃and　lastly；　o　my　resourceful　son；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃you　have　made　clear　　how　all　this　might　give　you　the　barbarian　woman；　but　not　how　it　helps　me　to　the　over…　throwing　of　narnia。”

〃o　my　father；　can　it　have　escaped　you　that　though　i　and　my　horsemen　will　　e　and　go　through　narnia　like　an　arrow　from　a　bow；　yet　we　shall　have　anvard　for　ever？　　and　when　you　hold　anvard　you　sit　in　the　very　gate　of　narnia；　and　your　garrison　in　　anvard　can　be　increased　by　little　and　little　till　it　is　a　great　host。”

〃it　is　spoken　with　understanding　and　foresight。　but　how　do　i　draw　back　my　　arm　if　all　this　miscarries？”

〃you　shall　say　that　i；　did　it　without　your　knowledge　and　against　your　will；　　and　without　your　blessing；　being　constrained　by　the　violence　of　my　love　and　the　　impetuosity　of　youth。”

〃and　how　if　the　high　king　then　demands　that　we　send　back　the　barbarian　　woman；　his　sister？”

〃o　my　father；　be　assured　that　he　will　not。　for　though　the　fancy　of　a　woman　　has　rejected　this　marriage；　the　high　king　peter　is　a　man　of　prudence　and　understanding　　who　will　in　no　way　wish　to　lose　the　high　honour　and　advantage　of　being　allied　to　our　　house　and　seeing　his　nephew　and　grand　nephew　on　the　throne　of　calormen。”

〃he　will　not　see　that　if　i　live　for　ever　as　is　no　doubt　your　wish；〃　said　　the　tisroc　in　an　even　drier　voice　than　usual。

〃and　also；　o　my　father　and　o　the　delight　of　my　eyes；〃　said　the　prince；　　after　a　moment　of　awkward　silence；　〃we　shall　write　letters　as　if　from　the　queen　to　say　that　　she　loves　me　and　has　no　desire　to　return　to　narnia。　for　it　is　well　known　that　women　are　as　　changeable　as　weathercocks。　and　even　if　they　do　not　wholly　believe　the　letters；　they　will　　not　dare　to　e　to　tashbaan　in　arms　to　fetch　her。”

〃o　enlightened　vizier；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃bestow　your　wisdom　upon　us　　concerning　this　strange　proposal。”

〃o　eternal　tisroc；〃　answered　ahosta；　〃the　strength　of　paternal　affection　is　　not　unknown　to　me　and　i　have　often　heard　that　sons　are　in　the　eyes　of　their　fathers　　more　precious　than　carbuncles。　how　then　shall　i　dare　freely　to　unfold　to　you　my　mind　in　a　　matter　which　may　imperil　the　life　of　this　exalted　prince？”

〃undoubtedly　you　will　dare；〃　replied　the　tisroc。

〃because　you　will　find　that　the　dangers　of　not　doing　so　are　at　least　　equally　great。”

〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　moaned　the　wretched　man。　〃know　then；　o　most　　reasonable　tisroc；　in　the　first　place；　that　the　danger　of　the　prince　is　not　altogether　so　　great　as　might　appear。

for　the　gods　have　withheld　from　the　barbarians　the　light　of　discretion；　as　　that　their　poetry　is　not；　like　ours；　full　of　choice　apophthegms　and　useful　maxims；　but　is　all　　of　love　and　war。　therefore　nothing　will　appear　to　them　more　noble　and　admirable　than　　such　a　mad　enterprise　as　this　of　ow！〃　for　the　prince；　at　the　word　〃mad〃；　had　kicked　　him　again。

〃desist；　o　my　son；〃　said　the　tisroc。　〃and　you；　estimable　vizier；　whether　he　　desists　or　not；　by　no　means　allow　the　flow　of　your　eloquence　to　be　interrupted。　for　　nothing　is　more　suitable