Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert
page 20 of 386 (05%)
page 20 of 386 (05%)
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the sun.
It appeared, and Spendius raised his arms with a cry. Everything stirred in a diffusion of red, for the god, as if he were rending himself, now poured full-rayed upon Carthage the golden rain of his veins. The beaks of the galleys sparkled, the roof of Khamon appeared to be all in flames, while far within the temples, whose doors were opening, glimmerings of light could be seen. Large chariots, arriving from the country, rolled their wheels over the flagstones in the streets. Dromedaries, baggage-laden, came down the ramps. Money-changers raised the pent-houses of their shops at the cross ways, storks took to flight, white sails fluttered. In the wood of Tanith might be heard the tabourines of the sacred courtesans, and the furnaces for baking the clay coffins were beginning to smoke on the Mappalian point. Spendius leaned over the terrace; his teeth chattered and he repeated: "Ah! yes--yes--master! I understand why you scorned the pillage of the house just now." Matho was as if he had just been awaked by the hissing of his voice, and did not seem to understand. Spendius resumed: "Ah! what riches! and the men who possess them have not even the steel to defend them!" Then, pointing with his right arm outstretched to some of the populace who were crawling on the sand outside the mole to look for gold dust: |
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