Копи царя Соломона
We Abandon Hope
Asforthesubterraneanriverinthebowelsofthemountain,Heavenonlyknowswhatitis,orwhenceitflows,orwhitheritgoes. I,forone,havenoanxietytotraceitscourse.
Lighteritgrew,andlighteryet. Wecouldseeeachothernow,andsuchaspectacleaswepresentedIhaveneverseteyesonbeforeorsince. Gaunt-cheeked,hollow-eyedwretches,smearedalloverwithdustandmud,bruised,bleeding, thelongfearofimminentdeathyetwrittenonourcountenances,wewere,indeed,asighttofrightenthedaylight. AndyetitisasolemnfactthatGood’seye-glasswasstillfixedinGood’seye. Idoubtwhetherhehadevertakenitoutatall. Neitherthedarkness,northeplungeinthesubterraneanriver,northerolldowntheslope,hadbeenabletoseparateGoodandhiseye-glass.
Presentlywerose,fearingthatourlimbswouldstiffenifwestoppedtherelonger,andcommencedwithslowandpainfulstepstostruggleuptheslopingsidesofthegreatpit. Foranhourormorewetoiledsteadfastlyuptheblueclay,draggingourselvesonbythehelpoftherootsandgrasseswithwhichitwasclothed. ButnowIhadnomorethoughtofleavingthebasket; indeed,nothingbutdeathshouldhavepartedus.
Atlastitwasdone,andwestoodbythegreatroad,onthatsideofthepitwhichisoppositetotheColossi.
Atthesideoftheroad,ahundredyardsoff,afirewasburninginfrontofsomehuts,androundthefirewerefigures. Westaggeredtowardsthem,supportingoneanother,andhaltingeveryfewpaces.
