第 6 节
作者:
暖暖 更新:2021-02-20 05:01 字数:9322
out of his garbled Scripture created new gods and made incantation
before strange altars。
〃And I was well pleased; for I thought it good that church and
state go hand in hand; and I had certain plans of my own concerning
the state。 Events were shaping as I had foreseen。 Good temper and
smiling faces had vanished from the village。 The people were
morose and sullen。 There were quarrels and fighting; and things
were in an uproar night and day。 Moosu's cards were duplicated and
the hunters fell to gambling among themselves。 Tummasook beat his
wife horribly; and his mother's brother objected and smote him with
a tusk of walrus till he cried aloud in the night and was shamed
before the people。 Also; amid such diversions no hunting was done;
and famine fell upon the land。 The nights were long and dark; and
without meat no hooch could be bought; so they murmured against the
chief。 This I had played for; and when they were well and hungry;
I summoned the whole village; made a great harangue; posed as
patriarch; and fed the famishing。 Moosu made harangue likewise;
and because of this and the thing I had done I was made chief。
Moosu; who had the ear of God and decreed his judgments; anointed
me with whale blubber; and right blubberly he did it; not
understanding the ceremony。 And between us we interpreted to the
people the new theory of the divine right of kings。 There was
hooch galore; and meat and feastings; and they took kindly to the
new order。
〃So you see; O man; I have sat in the high places; and worn the
purple; and ruled populations。 And I might yet be a king had the
tobacco held out; or had Moosu been more fool and less knave。 For
he cast eyes upon Esanetuk; eldest daughter to Tummasook; and I
objected。
〃'O brother;' he explained; 'thou hast seen fit to speak of
introducing new institutions amongst this people; and I have
listened to thy words and gained wisdom thereby。 Thou rulest by
the God…given right; and by the God…given right I marry。'
〃I noted that he 'brothered' me; and was angry and put my foot
down。 But he fell back upon the people and made incantations for
three days; in which all hands joined; and then; speaking with the
voice of God; he decreed polygamy by divine fiat。 But he was
shrewd; for he limited the number of wives by a property
qualification; and because of which he; above all men; was favoured
by his wealth。 Nor could I fail to admire; though it was plain
that power had turned his head; and he would not be satisfied till
all the power and all the wealth rested in his own hands。 So he
became swollen with pride; forgot it was I that had placed him
there; and made preparations to destroy me。
〃But it was interesting; for the beggar was working out in his own
way an evolution of primitive society。 Now I; by virtue of the
hooch monopoly; drew a revenue in which I no longer permitted him
to share。 So he meditated for a while and evolved a system of
ecclesiastical taxation。 He laid tithes upon the people; harangued
about fat firstlings and such things; and twisted whatever twisted
texts he had ever heard to serve his purpose。 Even this I bore in
silence; but when he instituted what may be likened to a graduated
income…tax; I rebelled; and blindly; for this was what he worked
for。 Thereat; he appealed to the people; and they; envious of my
great wealth and well taxed themselves; upheld him。 'Why should we
pay;' they asked; 'and not you? Does not the voice of God speak
through the lips of Moosu; the shaman?' So I yielded。 But at the
same time I raised the price of hooch; and lo; he was not a whit
behind me in raising my taxes。
〃Then there was open war。 I made a play for Neewak and Tummasook;
because of the traditionary rights they possessed; but Moosu won
out by creating a priesthood and giving them both high office。 The
problem of authority presented itself to him; and he worked it out
as it has often been worked before。 There was my mistake。 I
should have been made shaman; and he chief; but I saw it too late;
and in the clash of spiritual and temporal power I was bound to be
worsted。 A great controversy waged; but it quickly became one…
sided。 The people remembered that he had anointed me; and it was
clear to them that the source of my authority lay; not in me; but
in Moosu。 Only a few faithful ones clung to me; chief among whom
Angeit was; while he headed the popular party and set whispers
afloat that I had it in mind to overthrow him and set up my own
gods; which were most unrighteous gods。 And in this the clever
rascal had anticipated me; for it was just what I had intended
forsake my kingship; you see; and fight spiritual with spiritual。
So he frightened the people with the iniquities of my peculiar
godsespecially the one he named 'Biz…e…Nass'and nipped the
scheme in the bud。
〃Now; it happened that Kluktu; youngest daughter to Tummasook; had
caught my fancy; and I likewise hers。 So I made overtures; but the
ex…chief refused bluntlyafter I had paid the purchase priceand
informed me that she was set aside for Moosu。 This was too much;
and I was half of a mind to go to his igloo and slay him with my
naked hands; but I recollected that the tobacco was near gone; and
went home laughing。 The next day he made incantation; and
distorted the miracle of the loaves and fishes till it became
prophecy; and I; reading between the lines; saw that it was aimed
at the wealth of meat stored in my caches。 The people also read
between the lines; and; as he did not urge them to go on the hunt;
they remained at home; and few caribou or bear were brought in。
〃But I had plans of my own; seeing that not only the tobacco but
the flour and molasses were near gone。 And further; I felt it my
duty to prove the white man's wisdom and bring sore distress to
Moosu; who had waxed high…stomached; what of the power I had given
him。 So that night I went to my meat caches and toiled mightily;
and it was noted next day that all the dogs of the village were
lazy。 No one suspected; and I toiled thus every night; and the
dogs grew fat and fatter; and the people lean and leaner。 They
grumbled and demanded the fulfilment of prophecy; but Moosu
restrained them; waiting for their hunger to grow yet greater。 Nor
did he dream; to the very last; of the trick I had been playing on
the empty caches。
〃When all was ready; I sent Angeit; and the faithful ones whom I
had fed privily; through the village to call assembly。 And the
tribe gathered on a great space of beaten snow before my door; with
the meat caches towering stilt…legged in the rear。 Moosu came
also; standing on the inner edge of the circle opposite me;
confident that I had some scheme afoot; and prepared at the first
break to down me。 But I arose; giving him salutation before all
men。
〃'O Moosu; thou blessed of God;' I began; 'doubtless thou hast
wondered in that I have called this convocation together; and
doubtless; because of my many foolishnesses; art thou prepared for
rash sayings and rash doings。 Not so。 It has been said; that
those the gods would destroy they first make mad。 And I have been
indeed mad。 I have crossed thy will; and scoffed at thy authority;
and done divers evil and wanton things。 Wherefore; last night a
vision was vouchsafed me; and I have seen the wickedness of my
ways。 And thou stoodst forth like a shining star; with brows
aflame; and I knew in mine own heart thy greatness。 I saw all
things clearly。 I knew that thou didst command the ear of God; and
that when you spoke he listened。 And I remembered that whatever of
the good deeds that I had done; I had done through the grace of
God; and the grace of Moosu。
〃'Yes; my children;' I cried; turning to the people; 'whatever
right I have done; and whatever good I have done; have been because
of the counsel of Moosu。 When I listened to him; affairs
prospered; when I closed my ears; and acted according to my folly;
things came to folly。 By his advice it was that I laid my store of
meat; and in time of darkness fed the famishing。 By his grace it
was that I was made chief。 And what have I done with my chiefship?
Let me tell you。 I have done nothing。 My head was turned with
power; and I deemed myself greater than Moosu; and; behold I have
come to grief。 My rule has been unwise; and the gods are angered。
Lo; ye are pinched with famine; and the mothers are dry…breasted;
and the little babies cry through the long nights。 Nor do I; who
have hardened my heart against Moosu; know what shall be done; nor
in what manner of way grub shall be had。'
〃At this there was nodding and laughing; and the people put their
heads together; and I knew they whispered of the loaves and fishes。
I went on hastily。 'So I was made aware of my foolishness and of
Moosu's wisdom; of my own unfitness and of Moosu's fitness。 And
because of this; being