Till We Have Faces - A Myth Retold

147 Pages·2009·1.42 MB·English

TillWeHaveFaces:AMythRetoldbyC.S.Lewis(1956) Стр. 1из146
TILL WE HAVE FACES: A MYTH RETOLD
by C.S. LEWIS (1956)
(version 2.0)
Loveistooyoungtoknowwhatconscienceis
TOJOYDAVIDMAN
PART ONE
ONE
Iamoldnowandhavenotmuchtofearfromtheangerofgods.Ihavenohusbandnor
child,norhardlyafriend,throughwhom theycanhurtme.Mybody,thisleancarrionthat
stillhastobewashedandfedandhaveclotheshungaboutitdaily withsomanychanges,
theymaykillassoonastheyplease.Thesuccessionisprovidedfor.Mycrownpassestomy
nephew.
Being,forallthesereasons,freefromfear,Iwillwriteinthisbookwhatnoonewhohas
happinesswoulddaretowrite.Iwillaccusethegods,especiallythegodwholivesonthe
GreyMountain.That is,Iwilltellallhehasdonetomefromtheverybeginning,asifIwere
makingmycomplaintofhimbeforeajudge.Butthereisnojudgebetweengodsandmen,
andthegodofthemountainwillnotanswerme.Terrorsandplaguesarenotananswer.I
writeinGreekasmyoldmastertaughtittome.Itmaysomedayhappenthatatraveller
fromtheGreeklandswillagainlodgeinthispalaceandreadthebook.Thenhewilltalkofit
amongtheGreeks,wherethereisgreatfreedomofspeechevenaboutthegodsthemselves.
Perhapstheirwisemenwillknowwhethermycomplaintisrightorwhetherthegodcould
havedefendedhimselfifhehadmadeananswer.
IwasOrualtheeldestdaughterofTrom,KingofGlome.ThecityofGlomestandsontheleft
handoftheriverShennittoatravellerwhoiscomingupfromthesouth-east,notmorethan
aday'sjourneyaboveRingal,whichisthelasttownsouthwardthatbelongstothelandof
Glome.Thecityisbuiltaboutasfarbackfromtheriverasawomancanwalkinthethirdof
anhour,fortheShennitoverflowsherbanksinthespring.Insummertherewasthendry
mudoneachsideofit,andreeds,andplentyofwaterfowl.Aboutasfarbeyondthefordof
theShennitasourcityisonthissideofityoucometotheholyhouseofUngit.Andbeyond
thehouseofUngit(goingallthetimeeastandnorth)youcomequicklytothefoothillsof
theGreyMountain.ThegodoftheGreyMountain,whohatesme,isthesonofUngit.He
doesnot,however,liveinthehouseofUngit,butUngitsitstherealone.Inthefurthest
recessofherhousewhereshesitsitissodarkthatyoucannotseeherwell,butinsummer
enoughlightmaycomedownfromthesmoke-holesintherooftoshowheralittle.Sheisa
blackstonewithoutheadorhandsorface,andaverystronggoddess.Myoldmaster,whom
wecalledtheFox,saidshewasthesamewhomtheGreekscallAphrodite;butIwriteallthe
namesofpeopleandplacesinourownlanguage.
16-May-06
TillWeHaveFaces:AMythRetoldbyC.S.Lewis(1956) Стр.2 из146
Iwillbeginmywritingwiththedaymymotherdiedandtheycutoffmyhair,asthecustom
is.TheFox—buthewasnotwithusthen —saiditisacustomwelearnedfromtheGreeks.
Batta,thenurse,shoremeandandmysisterRedivaloutsidethepalaceatthefootofthe
gardenwhichrunssteeplyupthehillbehind.Redivalwasmysister,threeyearsyounger
thanI,andwetwowerestilltheonlychildren.WhileBattawasusingtheshearsmanyother
oftheslavewomenwerestandinground,fromtimetotimewailingfortheQueen'sdeath
andbeatingtheirbreasts;butinbetweentheywereeatingnutsandjoking.Astheshears
snippedandRedival'scurlsfelloff,theslavessaid,"Oh,whatapity!Allthegoldgone!"
TheyhadnotsaidanythinglikethatwhileIwasbeingshorn.ButwhatIrememberbestis
thecoolnessofmyheadandthehotsunonthe backofmyneckwhenwewerebuilding
mudhouses,RedivalandI,allthatsummerafternoon.
OurnurseBattawasabig-boned,fair-haired,hard-handedwomanwhommyfatherhad
boughtfromtraderswhogotherfurthernorth.Whenweplaguedhershewouldsay,"Only
waittillyourfatherbringshomeanewqueentobeyourstepmother.It'llbechangedtimes
foryouthen.You'llhavehardcheeseinsteadofhoney-cakesthenandskimmilkinsteadof
redwine.Waitandsee."
Asthingsfellout,wegotsomethingelsebeforewegotastepmother.Therewasabitterfrost
thatday.RedivalandIwerebooted(wemostlywentbarefootorsandalled) andtryingto
slideintheyardwhichisatthebackoftheoldestpartofthepalace,wherethewallsare
wooden.Therewasiceenoughallthewayfromthebyre-doortothebigdunghill,whatwith
frozenspillsofmilkandpuddlesandthestaleofthebeasts,buttooroughforsliding.And
outcomesBatta,withthecoldreddeninghernose,callingout,"Quick,quick!Ah,you
filthies!Comeand becleanedandthentotheKing.You'llseewho'swaitingforyouthere.
Myword!This'llbeachangeforyou."
"IsittheStepmother?"saidRedival.
"Oh,worsethanthat,worsethanthat;you'llsee,"saidBatta,polishingRedival'sfacewith
theendofherapron."Lotsofwhippings forthepairofyou,lotsofear-pullings,lotsofhard
work."Thenwewereledoffandovertothenewpartsofthepalace,whereitisbuiltof
paintedbrick,andtherewereguardsintheirarmour,andskinsandheadsofanimalshung
uponthe walls.InthePillarRoomourfatherwasstandingbythehearth,andoppositehim
therewerethreemenintravellingdresswhomweknewwellenough—traderswho cameto
Glomethreetimesayear.Theywerejustpackinguptheirscales,soweknewtheyhadbeen
paidforsomething,andonewasputtingupafetter,soweknewtheymusthavesoldour
fatheraslave.Therewasashort,thick-setmanstanding beforethem,andweknewthis
mustbethemantheyhadsold,foryoucouldstillseethesoreplacesonhislegswherethe
ironshadbeen.Buthedidnotlooklikeanyother slavewehadeverknown.Hewasvery
bright-eyed,andwhateverofhishairandbeardwasnotgreywasreddish.
"Now,Greekling,"saidmyfathertothisman,"Itrusttobegetaprinceoneofthesedays
andIhaveamindtoseehimbroughtupinallthewisdomofyourpeople.Meanwhile
practiceonthem."(Hepointedatuschildren.)"Ifamancanteachagirl,hecanteach
anything."Then,justbeforehesentusaway,hesaid,"Especiallytheelder.Seeifyoucan
makeherwise;it'saboutallshe'lleverbegoodfor."Ididn'tunderstandthat,butIknewit
waslikethingsIhad heardpeoplesayofmeeversinceIcouldremember.
IlovedtheFox,asmyfather calledhim,betterthananyoneIhadyetknown.Youwould
havethoughtthatamanwhohadbeenfreeintheGreeklands,andthenbeentakeninwar
andsoldfarawayamongthebarbarians,wouldbedowncast.Andsohewassometimes,
possiblymoreoftenthanI,inmychildishness,guessed.ButIneverheardhimcomplain;
16-May-06
TillWeHaveFaces:AMythRetoldbyC.S.Lewis(1956) Стр.3 из146
andIneverheardhimboast(asalltheotherforeignslavesdid)aboutthegreatmanhehad
beeninhisowncountry.Hehadallsortsofsayingstocheerhimselfupwith:"Nomancan
beanexileifheremembersthatalltheworldisonecity,"and,"Everythingisasgoodorbad
asouropinionmakesit."ButIthinkwhatreallykepthimcheerfulwashisinquisitiveness.I
neverknewsuchamanforquestions.Hewantedtoknoweverythingaboutourcountryand
languageandancestorsandgods,andevenourplantsandflowers.
ThatwashowIcametotellhimallaboutUngit,aboutthegirlswhoarekeptinherhouse,
andthepresentsthatbrideshavetomaketoher,andhowwesometimes, inabadyear,
havetocutsomeone'sthroatandpourthebloodoverher.HeshudderedwhenIsaidthat
andmutteredsomethingunderhisbreath;butamomentlaterhesaid,"Yes,sheis
undoubtedlyAphrodite,thoughmoreliketheBabylonianthantheGreek.Butcome,I'lltell
youataleofourAphrodite."
Thenhedeepenedand liltedhisvoiceandtoldhowtheirAphroditeoncefellinlovewiththe
princeAnchiseswhilehekepthisfather'ssheepontheslopesofamountaincalledIda.And
asshecamedownthegrassyslopestowardshisshepherd'shut,lionsandlynxesand bears
andallsortsofbeastscameaboutherfawninglikedogs,andallwentfromheragainin
pairstothedelightsoflove.Butshedimmedhergloryandmadeherselflikeamortal
womanandcametoAnchisesandbeguiledhimandtheywentuptogetherintohisbed.I
thinktheFoxhadmeanttoendhere,butthesongnowhadhiminitsgrip,andhewenton
totellwhatfollowed;howAnchiseswokefromsleepandsawAphrodite standinginthe
doorofthehut,notnowlikeamortalbutwiththeglory.Soheknewhehadlainwitha
goddess,andhecoveredhiseyesandshrieked,"Killmeat once."
"Notthatthiseverreallyhappened,"theFoxsaidinhaste."It'sonlyliesofpoets,liesof
poets,child.Notinaccordancewithnature."Buthehadsaidenough toletmeseethatifthe
goddesswasmorebeautifulinGreece thaninGlomeshewasequallyterribleineach.
ItwasalwayslikethatwiththeFox;hewasashamedoflovingpoetry("Allfolly,child")and
Ihadtoworkmuchatmyreadingandwritingandwhathecalledphilosophyinordertoget
apoemoutofhim.Butthus,littlebylittle,hetaughtmemany.Virtue,soughtbymanwith
travailandtoilwastheonehepraisedmost,butIwasneverdeceivedbythat.Thereallilt
cameintohisvoiceand therealbrightnessintohiseyeswhenwewereoffintoTakemeto
theapple-ladenlandor
TheMoon'sgonedown,but
AloneIlie.
Healwayssangthatoneverytenderlyandasifhepitiedmeforsomething.Helikedme
betterthanRedival,whohatedstudyandmockedandplaguedhimandsettheotherslaves
ontoplaytricksonhim.
Weworkedmostoften(insummer)onthelittlegrassplotbehindthepeartrees,anditwas
thereonedaythattheKingfoundus.Weallstoodup,ofcourse,twochildrenandaslave
withoureyesonthegroundandourhandscrossedonourbreasts.TheKingsmackedthe
Foxheartilyonthebackandsaid,"Courage,Fox.There'llbeaprinceforyoutoworkonyet,
pleasethegods.Andthankthemtoo,Fox,foritcan'toftenhavefallentothelotofamere
Greeklingtorulethegrandsonofsogreatakingasmyfather-in-lawthatistobe.Notthat
you'llknoworcaremoreaboutitthananass.You'reallpedlarsandhuckstersdowninthe
Greeklands,eh?"
16-May-06
TillWeHaveFaces:AMythRetoldbyC.S.Lewis(1956) Стр.4 из146
"Arenotallmenofoneblood,Master?"saidtheFox.
"Ofoneblood?"saidtheKingwithastareandagreatbull-laugh."I'dbesorrytothinkso."
ThusintheenditwastheKinghimselfandnotBattawhofirsttoldusthattheStepmother
wasreallyathand.Myfatherhadmadeagreatmatch.Hewastohavethethirddaughterof
theKingofCaphad,whoisthebiggestkinginallourpartoftheworld.(Iknownowwhy
Caphadwantedanalliancewithsopoorakingdomasweare,andIhavewonderedhowmy
fatherdidnotseethathisfather-in-lawmustalreadybeasinkingman.Themarriageitself
wasaproofofit.)
Itcannothavebeenmanyweeksbeforethemarriagetookplace,butinmymemorythe
preparationsseemtohavelastedforalmostayear.Allthebrickworkroundthegreatgate
waspaintedscarlet,andtherewerenewhangingsforthePillarRoom,andagreatnewroyal
bedwhichcosttheKingfarmorethanhewaswisetogive.Itwasmadeofaneasternwood
whichwassaidtohavesuchvirtuethatfourofeveryfivechildrenbegotteninsuchabed
wouldbemale.("Allfolly,child,"saidtheFox,"thesethingscomeaboutbynatural
causes.")Andasthedaydrewnearertherewasnothingbutdrivinginofbeastsand
slaughteringofbeasts—thewholecourtyardreekedwiththeskinsofthem —andbaking
andbrewing.Butwechildrenhadnotmuchtimetowanderfromroomtoroomandstare
andhinder,fortheKingsuddenlytookitintohisheadthatRedivalandIandtwelveother
girls,daughtersofnobles,weretosingthebridalhymn.Andnothingwoulddohimbuta
Greekhymn,whichwasathingnootherneighbouringkingcouldhaveprovided."But,
Master—" saidtheFox,almostwithtearsinhiseyes."Teach'em,Fox,teach'em,"roared
myfather."What'stheuseofmyspendinggoodfoodanddrinkonyourGreekbellyifI'm
nottogetaGreeksongout ofyouonmyweddingnight?What'sthat?Noone'saskingyou
toteachthemGreek.Ofcoursetheywon'tunderstandwhat they'resinging,buttheycan
makethenoises.Seetoit,oryourback'llberedderthaneveryourbeardwas."
Itwasacrazyscheme,andtheFoxsaidafterwardsthattheteachingofthathymntous
barbarianswaswhatgreyedthelastredhair."Iwasafox,"hesaid,"nowIamabadger."
WhenwehadmadesomeprogressinourtasktheKingbroughtthePriestofUngitinto
hearus.IhadafearofthatPriestwhichwasquitedifferentfrommyfearofmyfather. I
thinkthatwhatfrightenedme(inthoseearlydays)wastheholinessofthesmellthathung
abouthim—atemple-smellofblood(mostlypigeons'blood,buthehadsacrificedmen,
too)and burntfatandsingedhairandwineandstaleincense.ItistheUngitsmell.Perhaps
Iwasafraidofhisclothestoo;alltheskinstheyweremadeof,andthedriedbladders,and
thegreatmaskshapedlikeabird'sheadwhichhungonhischest.Itlookedasiftherewerea
birdgrowingout ofhisbody.
Hedidnotunderstand awordofthehymn,northemusiceither,butheasked,"Arethe
youngwomentobeveiledorunveiled?"
"Needyouask?"saidtheKingwithoneofhisgreatlaughs,jerkinghisthumbinmy
direction."DoyouthinkIwantmyqueenfrightenedout ofhersenses?Veilsofcourse.And
goodthickveilstoo."Oneoftheothergirlstittered,andIthinkthatwasthefirsttimeI
clearlyunderstoodthatIamugly.
ThismadememoreafraidoftheStepmotherthanever.Ithoughtshewouldbecruellerto
methantoRedivalbecauseofmyugliness.Itwasn'tonlywhatBattahadsaidthat
frightenedme;Ihadheardofstepmothersinplentyofstories.Andwhenthenightcame
andwewereallinthepillaredporch,nearlydazzledwiththetorchesandtryinghardtosing
16-May-06
TillWeHaveFaces:AMythRetoldbyC.S.Lewis(1956) Стр.5 из146
ourhymnastheFoxhadtaughtusto— andhekeptonfrowningandsmilingandnodding
atuswhilewesang,andoncehehelduphishandsinhorror—picturesofthingsthathad
beendonetogirlsinthestoriesweredancinginmymind.Thencametheshoutsfrom
outside,andmoretorches,andnextmomenttheywereliftingthebrideoutofthechariot.
Shewasasthicklyveiledaswe,andallIcouldseewasthatshewasverysmall;itwasasif
theywereliftingachild.Thatdidn'teasemyfears;"thelittlearethespiteful,"ourproverb
says.Then(stillsinging)wegotherintothebridalchamberandtookoffherveil.
IknownowthatthefaceIsawwasbeautiful,butIdidnotthinkofthatthen.AllIsawwas
thatshewasfrightened,morefrightenedthanI— indeedterrified.Itmademeseemy
fatherashemusthavelookedtoher,amomentsince,whenshehadherfirstsightofhim
standingtogreetherintheporch.Hiswasnotabrow,amouth,agirth,astance,oravoice
toquietagirl'sfear.
Wetookofflayerafterlayerofherfinery,makingheryetsmaller,and lefttheshivering,
whitebodywithitsstaringeyesintheKing'sbed,andfiledout.Wehadsungverybadly.
16-May-06
TillWeHaveFaces:AMythRetoldbyC.S.Lewis(1956) Стр.6 из146
TWO
Icansayverylittleaboutmyfather'ssecondwife,forshedidnotlivetilltheendofherfirst
yearinGlome.Shewaswithchildassoonasanyonecouldreasonablylookforit,andthe
KingwasinhighspiritsandhardlyeverranacrosstheFoxwithoutsayingsomethingabout
theprincewhowastobeborn.HemadegreatsacrificestoUngiteverymonthafterthat.
HowitwasbetweenhimandtheQueenIdonotknow;exceptthatonce,aftermessengers
hadcomefromCaphad,IheardtheKingsaytoher,"Itbeginstolook,girl,asifIhaddriven
mysheeptoabadmarket.Ilearnnowthatyourfatherhaslosttwotowns—no,three,
thoughhetriestomincethematter.Iwouldthankhimtohavetoldmehewassinking
beforehepersuadedmetoembarkinthesamebottom."(Iwasleaningmyheadonmy
window-silltodrymyhairafterthebath,andtheywerewalkinginthegarden.)However
thatmightbe,itiscertainthatshewasveryhomesick,andIthinkourwinterwastoohard
forhersouthernbody.Shewassoonpaleandthin.IlearnedthatIhadnothingtofearfrom
her.Shewasatfirstmoreafraidofme;afterthat,verylovinginhertimidway,andmore
likeasisterthanastepmother.
Ofcoursenooneinthehousewenttobedonthe nightofthebirth,forthat,theysay,will
makethechildrefusetowakeintotheworld.WeallsatinthegreathallbetweenthePillar
RoomandtheBedchamber,inaredglareofbirth-torches.Theflamesswayedandguttered
terribly,foralldoorsmustbeopen;theshuttingofadoormightshutupthemother's
womb.Inthemiddleofthehallburnedagreatfire.EveryhourthePriestofUngitwalked
rounditninetimesandthrewintheproperthings.TheKingsatinhischairandnever
movedallnight,notevenhishead.IwassittingnexttotheFox.
"Grandfather,"Iwhisperedtohim,"Iamterribly afraid."
"Wemustlearn,child,nottofearanythingthatnaturebrings,"hewhisperedback.
Imusthavesleptafterthat,forthenextthingIknewwasthesoundofwomenwailingand
beatingthebreastasIhadheardthemdoitthe daymymotherdied.Everythinghad
changedwhileIslept.Iwasshiveringwithcold.Thefirehadsunklow,theKing'schairwas
empty,thedooroftheBedchamberwasatlastshut,andtheterriblesoundsfromwithinit
hadstopped.Theremusthavebeensomesacrificetoo,fortherewasasmellofslaughtering,
andbloodonthefloor,andthePriestwascleaninghisholyknife.Iwasallinadazefrom
mysleep,forIstartedupwiththewildestidea;IwouldgoandseetheQueen.TheFoxwas
aftermelongbeforeIreachedthedooroftheBedchamber."Daughter,daughter,"hewas
saying."Notnow.Areyoumad?TheKing—"
Atthatmomentthedoorwasflungopenandoutcamemyfather.Hisfaceshockedmefull
awake,forhewasinhispalerage.Iknewthatinhisredragehewouldstormandthreaten,
andlittlemightcomeofit,butwhenhewaspalehewasdeadly."Wine,"hesaid,notvery
loud;andthattoowasabadsign.Theotherslavespushedforwardaboywhowasrathera
favourite,asslavesdowhentheyareafraid.Thechild,whiteashismasterandinallhis
finery(myfatherdressedtheyounger slavesveryfine)camerunningwiththeflagonand
theroyalcup,slippedintheblood,reeled,anddroppedboth.Quickasthought,myfather
whippedouthisdaggerandstabbedhimintheside.Theboydroppeddeadinthebloodand
wine,andthefallofhisbodysenttheflagonrollingoverand over.Itmadeagreatnoisein
thatsilence;Ihadn'tthoughttillthenthatthefloorofthehallwassouneven.(Ihavere-
paveditsince.)
Myfatherstaredforamomentathisowndagger;stupidly,itseemed.Thenhewentvery
gentlyuptothePriest.
16-May-06
TillWeHaveFaces:AMythRetoldbyC.S.Lewis(1956) Стр.7из146
"WhathaveyoutosayforUngitnow?"heasked,stillinthatlowvoice."Youhadbetter
recoverwhatsheowesme.Whenareyougoingtopaymeformygoodcattle?"Then,aftera
pause,"Tellme,prophet,whatwouldhappenifIhammeredUngitintopowderandtiedyou
betweenthehammersandthestone?"
ButthePriestwasnotintheleastafraidoftheKing.
"Ungithears,King,evenatthismoment,"hesaid.
"AndUngitwillremember.Youhavealreadysaidenoughtocalldowndoomuponallyour
descendants."
"Descendants,"saystheKing."Youtalkofdescendants,"stillveryquiet,butnowhewas
shaking.Theiceofhisragewouldbreakanymoment.Thebodyofthedeadboycaughthis
eye."Whodidthat?"heasked.ThenhesawtheFoxandme.Allthebloodrushedintohis
face,andnowatlastthevoicecameroaringoutofhischestloudenoughtolifttheroof.
"Girls,girls,girls!"hebellowed."Andnowonegirlmore.Istherenoendtoit?Istherea
plagueofgirlsinheaventhatthegodssendmethisfloodofthem?You—you—" Hecaught
mebythehair,shookmetoandfro,andflungmefromhimsothatIfellinaheap.There
aretimeswhenevenachildknowsbetterthantocry.WhentheblacknesspassedandI
couldseeagain,hewasshakingtheFoxbyhisthroat.
"Here'sanoldbabblerwhohaseatenmybreadlongenough,"hesaid."Itwouldhavepaid
mebettertobuyadogasthingsturnout.ButI'llfeedyouinidlenessnolonger.Someof
youtakehimtotheminestomorrow.Theremightbeaweek'sworkinhisoldboneseven
now."
Againtherewasdeadsilenceinthehall.SuddenlytheKingflunguphishands,stamped,
andcried,"Faces,faces,faces!Whatareyouallgapingat?It'dmakeamanmad.Beoff!
Away!Outofmysight,thewholepackofyou!"
Wewereoutofthehallasquickasthedoorwayswouldletus.
TheFoxandIwentoutofthelittledoorbytheherb-gardenontheeast.Itwasnearly
daylightnowandtherewasasmallrainbeginning.
"Grandfather,"saidI,sobbing,"youmustflyatonce.Thismoment,beforetheycometo
takeyoutothemines."
Heshookhishead."I'mtoooldtorunfar,"hesaid."AndyouknowwhattheKingdoesto
runawayslaves."
"Butthemines,themines!Look,I'llcomewithyou.Ifwe'recaughtI'llsayImadeyou
come.Weshall bealmostoutofGlomeoncewe'reoverthat."Ipointedtotheridgeofthe
GreyMountain,nowdarkwithawhitedaybreakbehindit,seen throughtheslantingrain.
"Thatisfoolishness,daughter,"saidhe,pettingmelikeasmallchild."TheywouldthinkI
wasstealingyoutosell.No;Imustflyfurther.Andhelpmeyoushall.Downbytheriver;
youknowthelittleplantwiththepurplespotsonitsstalk.It'stherootsofitIneed."
"Thepoison?"
16-May-06
TillWeHaveFaces:AMythRetoldbyC.S.Lewis(1956) Стр. 8из146
"Why,yes.(Child,child,don'tcryso.)HaveInottoldyouoftenthattodepartfromlifeofa
man'sownwillwhenthere'sgoodreason isoneofthethingsthatareaccordingtonature?
Wearetolookonlifeas—"
"Theysaythatthosewhogothatwayliewallowinginfilth —downthereinthelandofthe
dead."
"Hush,hush.Areyoualsostillabarbarian?Atdeathweareresolvedintoourelements.
ShallIacceptbirthandcavilat—"
"Oh,Iknow,Iknow.But,Grandfather,doyoureallyinyourheartbelievenothingofwhatis
saidaboutthegodsandThoseBelow?Butyoudo,youdo.Youaretrembling."
"That'smydisgrace.Thebodyisshaking.Ineedn'tletitshakethegodwithinme.Have I
notalreadycarriedthisbodytoolongifitmakessuchafoolofmeattheend?Butweare
wastingtime."
"Listen!"saidI."What'sthat?"ForIwasinastatetobescaredbyeverysound.
"Horses,"saidtheFox,peeringthroughthequick-hedgewithhiseyesscreweduptosee
againsttherain."Theyarecomingtothegreatdoor.MessengersfromPhars,bythelookof
them.AndthatwillnotsweetentheKing'smoodeither.Willyou—ah,Zeus,itisalready
toolate."Fortherewasacallfromwithin-doors,"TheFox,theFox,theFoxtotheKing."
"Aswellgoasbedragged,"saidtheFox."Farewell,daughter,"andhekissedme,Greek
fashion,ontheeyesandthehead.ButIwentinwithhim.IhadanideaIwouldfacethe
King;thoughwhetherImeanttobeseechhimorcursehimorkillhimIhardlyknew.Butas
wecametothePillarRoomwesawmanystrangerswithin,andtheKingshoutedthrough
theopendoor,"Here,Fox,I'veworkforyou."Thenhesawmeandsaid,"Andyou,curd-
face,beofftothewomen'squartersanddon'tcomeheretosourthemorningdrinkforthe
men."
IdonotknowthatIhaveever(tospeakofthingsmerelymortal)beeninsuchdreadasI
wasfortherestofthatday—dreadthatfeelsasiftherewereanemptyplacebetweenyour
bellyandyourchest.Ididn'tknowwhetherIdaredbecomfortedbytheKing'slastwordsor
not,fortheysoundedasifhisangerhadpassed,butitmightblazeoutagain.Moreover,I
hadknownhimdoacruelthingnotinangerbutinakindofmurderousjoke,orbecausehe
rememberedhehadsworn todoitwhenhewasangry.Hehadsentoldhouse-slavestothe
minesbefore.AndIcouldnotbealonewithmyterror,fornowcomesBattatoshearmy
headandRedival'sagainastheyhadbeenshornwhenmymotherdied,andtomakeagreat
tale(clickinghertongue)ofhowtheQueenwasdeadinchildbed,whichIhadknownever
sinceIheardthemourning,andhowshehadborneadaughteralive.Isatfortheshearing
andthoughtthat,iftheFoxmustdieinthemines,itwasveryfitIshouldoffermyhair.
LankanddullandlittleitlayonthefloorbesideRedival'sringsofgold.
IntheeveningtheFoxcameandtoldmethattherewasnomoretalkofthemines— forthe
present.Athingthathadoftenirkedmehadnowbeenoursalvation.Moreandmore,of
late,the KinghadtakentheFoxawayfromusgirlstoworkforhiminthePillarRoom;he
hadbeguntofindthattheFoxcouldcalculateandreadandwriteletters(atfirstonlyin
Greekbutnowinthespeechofourpartstoo)andgiveadvicebetterthananymanin
Glome.Thisverydaythe FoxhadtaughthimtodriveabetterbargainwiththeKingof
Pharsthanhewouldeverhavethoughtofforhimself.TheFoxwasatrueGreek;wheremy
fathercouldgiveonlyaYesoraNotosomeneighbouringkingordangerousnoble,hecould
16-May-06
TillWeHaveFaces:AMythRetoldbyC.S.Lewis(1956) Стр.9 из146
paretheYestotheveryquickandsweetentheNotillitwentdownlikewine.Hecould
makeyourweakenemybelievethatyouwerehisbestfriendandmakeyourstrongenemy
believeyouweretwiceasstrongasyoureallywere.Hewasfartoousefultobesenttothe
mines.
TheyburntthedeadQueenonthethirdday,andmyfathernamedthechildIstra."Itisa
goodname,"saidtheFox,"averygoodname.Andyouknowenough nowtotellmewhatit
wouldbeinGreek."
"ItwouldbePsyche,Grandfather,"saidI.
New-bornchildrenwerenorarityinthepalace;theplacesprawledwiththeslaves'babies
andmyfather'sbastards.Sometimesmyfatherwouldsay,"Lecherousrascals!Anyone'd
thinkthiswasUngit'shouse,notmine,"andthreatentodrownadozenofthemlikeblind
puppies.Butinhishearthethoughtthebetterofaman-slaveifhecouldgethalfthemaids
intheplacewithchild,especiallyiftheyboreboys.(Thegirls,unless theytookhisown
fancy,weremostlysoldwhentheywereripe;someweregiventothehouseofUngit.)
Nevertheless,becauseIhad(alittle)lovedtheQueen,IwenttoseePsychethatvery
eveningassoonastheFoxhadsetmymindatrest.Andso,inonehour,Ipassedoutofthe
worstanguishIhadyetsufferedintothe beginningofallmyjoys.
Thechildwasverybig,notawearishlittlethingasyoumighthaveexpectedfromher
mother'sstature,andveryfairofskin.Youwouldhavethoughtshemadebrightallthe
corneroftheroominwhichshelay.Sheslept(tinywasthesoundofherbreathing).But
thereneverwasachildlikePsycheforquietnessinhercradledays.AsIgazedatherthe
Foxcameinontiptoesandlookedovermyshoulder."Nowbyallthegods,"hewhispered,
"oldfoolthatIam,Icouldalmostbelievethattherereallyisdivinebloodinyourfamily.
Helenherself,new-hatched,musthavelookedso."
Battahadputhertonursewithared-hairedwomanwhowassullenand(likeBattaherself)
toofondofthewine-jar.Isoonhadthechildoutoftheirhands.Igotforhernurseafree
woman,apeasant'swife,ashonestandwholesomeasIcouldfind,andafterthatbothwere
inmyownchamberdayandnight.Battawasonlytoopleasedtohaveherworkdonefor
her,andtheKingknewandcarednothingaboutit.TheFoxsaidtome,"Don'twearyourself
out,daughter,withtoomuchtoil,evenifthechildisasbeautifulasagoddess."ButI
laughedinhisface.IthinkIlaughedmoreinthosedaysthaninallmylifebefore.Toil?I
lostmoresleeplookingonPsycheforthejoyofitthaninanyotherway.AndIlaughed
becauseshewasalwayslaughing.Shelaughedbeforethethirdmonth.Sheknewmefor
certain(thoughtheFoxsaidnot)beforethesecond.
Thiswasthebeginningofmybesttimes.TheFox'sloveforthechildwaswonderful;I
guessedthatlongbefore,whenhewasfree,hemusthavehadadaughterofhisown.Hewas
likeatruegrandfathernow.Anditwasnowalwayswethree—theFox,andPsyche,andI —
alonetogether.Redivalhadalwayshatedourlessonsand,butforthefearoftheKing,
wouldneverhavecomeneartheFox.Now,itseemed,theKinghadputallhisthree
daughtersoutofhismind,andRedivalhadherownway.Shewasgrowingtall,herbreasts
rounding,herlonglegsgettingtheirshape.Shepromisedtohavebeautyenough,butnot
likePsyche's.
OfPsyche'sbeauty—ateveryagethebeautypropertothatage —thereisonlythistobe
said,thattherewerenotwoopinionsaboutit,frommanorwoman,onceshehadbeen
seen.Itwasbeautythatdidnotastonishyoutillafterwardswhenyouhadgoneoutofsight
ofherandreflectedonit.Whileshewaswithyou,youwerenotastonished.Itseemedthe
16-May-06