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