《The Horse and His Boy》第22章

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　wi