《石榴之屋》第5章

the　bithynian　slave　of　hadrian。 he　had　passed　a　whole　night　in
noting　the　effect　of　the　moonlight　on　a　silver　image　of　endymion。
all　rare　and　costly　materials　had　certainly　a　great　fascination　for
him；　and　in　his　eagerness　to　procure　them　he　had　sent　away　many
merchants；　some　to　traffic　for　amber　with　the　rough　fisher…folk　of
the　north　seas；　some　to　egypt　to　look　for　that　curious　green
turquoise　which　is　found　only　in　the　tombs　of　kings；　and　is　said　to
possess　magical　properties；　some　to　persia　for　silken　carpets　and
painted　pottery；　and　others　to　india　to　buy　gauze　and　stained
ivory；　moonstones　and　bracelets　of　jade；　sandal…wood　and　blue
enamel　and　shawls　of　fine　wool。
but　what　had　occupied　him　most　was　the　robe　he　was　to　wear　at　his
coronation；　the　robe　of　tissued　gold；　and　the　ruby…studded　crown；
and　the　sceptre　with　its　rows　and　rings　of　pearls。 indeed；　it　was
of　this　that　he　was　thinking　to…night；　as　he　lay　back　on　his
luxurious　couch；　watching　the　great　pinewood　log　that　was　burning
itself　out　on　the　open　hearth。 the　designs；　which　were　from　the
hands　of　the　most　famous　artists　of　the　time；　had　been　submitted　to
him　many　months　before；　and　he　had　given　orders　that　the　artificers
were　to　toil　night　and　day　to　carry　them　out；　and　that　the　whole
world　was　to　be　searched　for　jewels　that　would　be　worthy　of　their
work。 he　saw　himself　in　fancy　standing　at　the　high　altar　of　the
cathedral　in　the　fair　raiment　of　a　king；　and　a　smile　played　and
lingered　about　his　boyish　lips；　and　lit　up　with　a　bright　lustre　his
dark　woodland　eyes。
after　some　time　he　rose　from　his　seat；　and　leaning　against　the
carved　penthouse　of　the　chimney；　looked　round　at　the　dimly…lit
room。 the　walls　were　hung　with　rich　tapestries　representing　the
triumph　of　beauty。 a　large　press；　inlaid　with　agate　and　lapis…
lazuli；　filled　one　corner；　and　facing　the　window　stood　a　curiously
wrought　cabinet　with　lacquer　panels　of　powdered　and　mosaiced　gold；
on　which　were　placed　some　delicate　goblets　of　venetian　glass；　and　a
cup　of　dark…veined　onyx。 pale　poppies　were　broidered　on　the　silk
coverlet　of　the　bed；　as　though　they　had　fallen　from　the　tired　hands
of　sleep；　and　tall　reeds　of　fluted　ivory　bare　up　the　velvet　canopy；
from　which　great　tufts　of　ostrich　plumes　sprang；　like　white　foam；
to　the　pallid　silver　of　the　fretted　ceiling。 a　laughing　narcissus
in　green　bronze　held　a　polished　mirror　above　its　head。 on　the
table　stood　a　flat　bowl　of　amethyst。
outside　he　could　see　the　huge　dome　of　the　cathedral；　looming　like　a
bubble　over　the　shadowy　houses；　and　the　weary　sentinels　pacing　up
and　down　on　the　misty　terrace　by　the　river。 far　away；　in　an
orchard；　a　nightingale　was　singing。 a　faint　perfume　of　jasmine
came　through　the　open　window。 he　brushed　his　brown　curls　back　from
his　forehead；　and　taking　up　a　lute；　let　his　fingers　stray　across
the　cords。 his　heavy　eyelids　drooped；　and　a　strange　languor　came
over　him。 never　before　had　he　felt　so　keenly；　or　with　such
exquisite　joy；　the　magic　and　the　mystery　of　beautiful　things。
when　midnight　sounded　from　the　clock…tower　he　touched　a　bell；　and
his　pages　entered　and　disrobed　him　with　much　ceremony；　pouring
rose…water　over　his　hands；　and　strewing　flowers　on　his　pillow。 a
few　moments　after　that　they　had　left　the　room；　he　fell　asleep。
and　as　he　slept　he　dreamed　a　dream；　and　this　was　his　dream。
he　thought　that　he　was　standing　in　a　long；　low　attic；　amidst　the
whir　and　clatter　of　many　looms。 the　meagre　daylight　peered　in
through　the　grated　windows；　and　showed　him　the　gaunt　figures　of　the
weavers　bending　over　their　cases。 pale；　sickly…looking　children
were　crouched　on　the　huge　crossbeams。 as　the　shuttles　dashed
through　the　warp　they　lifted　up　the　heavy　battens；　and　when　the
shuttles　stopped　they　let　the　battens　fall　and　pressed　the　threads
together。 their　faces　were　pinched　with　famine；　and　their　thin
hands　shook　and　trembled。 some　haggard　women　were　seated　at　a
table　sewing。 a　horrible　odour　filled　the　place。 the　air　was　foul
and　heavy；　and　the　walls　dripped　and　streamed　with　damp。
the　young　king　went　over　to　one　of　the　weavers；　and　stood　by　him
and　watched　him。
and　the　weaver　looked　at　him　angrily；　and　said；　why　art　thou
watching　me？ art　thou　a　spy　set　on　us　by　our　master？
who　is　thy　master？　asked　the　young　king。
our　master！　cried　the　weaver；　bitterly。 he　is　a　man　like
myself。 indeed；　there　is　but　this　difference　between　us　…　that　he
wears　fine　clothes　while　i　go　in　rags；　and　that　while　i　am　weak
from　hunger　he　suffers　not　a　little　from　overfeeding。
the　land　is　free；　said　the　young　king；　and　thou　art　no　mans
slave。
in　war；　answered　the　weaver；　the　strong　make　slaves　of　the　weak；
and　in　peace　the　rich　make　slaves　of　the　poor。 we　must　work　to
live；　and　they　give　us　such　mean　wages　that　we　die。 we　toil　for
them　all　day　long；　and　they　heap　up　gold　in　their　coffers；　and　our
children　fade　away　before　their　time；　and　the　faces　of　those　we
love　bee　hard　and　evil。 we　tread　out　the　grapes；　and　another
drinks　the　wine。 we　sow　the　corn；　and　our　own　board　is　empty。 we
have　chains；　though　no　eye　beholds　them；　and　are　slaves；　though　men
call　us　free。
is　it　so　with　all？　he　asked；
it　is　so　with　all；　answered　the　weaver；　with　the　young　as　well
as　with　the　old；　with　the　women　as　well　as　with　the　men；　with　the
little　children　as　well　as　with　those　who　are　stricken　in　years。
the　merchants　grind　us　down；　and　we　must　needs　do　their　bidding。
the　priest　rides　by　and　tells　his　beads；　and　no　man　has　care　of　us。
through　our　sunless　lanes　creeps　poverty　with　her　hungry　eyes；　and
sin　with　his　sodden　face　follows　close　behind　her。 misery　wakes　us
in　the　morning；　and　shame　sits　with　us　at　night。 but　what　are
these　things　to　thee？ thou　art　not　one　of　us。 thy　face　is　too
happy。 and　he　turned　away　scowling；　and　threw　the　shuttle　across
the　loom；　and　the　young　king　saw　that　it　was　threaded　with　a　thread
of　gold。
and　a　great　terror　seized　upon　him；　and　he　said　to　the