stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第27章
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as the magic music stole out upon the air； every man forgot his weariness
and the smart of his wounds； and thought of the honor he had won； and of
the comrade who had died beside him； and of the safety of his wife and
children。 Then the song would swell out louder； and every warrior would
remember only the glory he had helped win for the king； and each man
would rise at the great tables his cup in his hand； and shout 〃Long live the
King！〃
There came a time when the Fomorians and the golden…haired men
were at war； and in the midst of a great battle； while the Dagda's hall was
not so well guarded as usual； some of the chieftains of the Fomorians stole
the great harp from the wall； where it hung； and fled away with it。 Their
wives and children and some few of their soldiers went with them； and
they fled fast and far through the night； until they were a long way from
the battlefield。 Then they thought they were safe； and they turned aside
into a vacant castle； by the road； and sat down to a banquet； hanging the
stolen harp on the wall。
The Dagda； with two or three of his warriors； had followed hard on
their track。 And while they were in the midst of their banqueting； the door
was suddenly burst open； and the Dagda stood there； with his men。 Some
of the Fomorians sprang to their feet； but before any of them could grasp a
weapon； the Dagda called out to his harp on the wall； 〃Come to me； O my
harp！〃
The great harp recognized its master's voice； and leaped from the wall。
Whirling through the hall； sweeping aside and killing the men who got in
its way； it sprang to its master's hand。 And the Dagda took his harp and
swept his hand across the strings in three great； solemn chords。 The harp
answered with the magic Music of Tears。 As the wailing harmony smote
upon the air； the women of the Fomorians bowed their heads and wept
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bitterly； the strong men turned their faces aside； and the little children
sobbed。
Again the Dagda touched the strings； and this time the magic Music of
Mirth leaped from the harp。 And when they heard that Music of Mirth； the
young warriors of the Fomorians began to laugh； they laughed till the cups
fell from their grasp； and the spears dropped from their hands； while the
wine flowed from the broken bowls； they laughed until their limbs were
helpless with excess of glee。
Once more the Dagda touched his harp； but very； very softly。 And now
a music stole forth as soft as dreams； and as sweet as joy： it was the magic
Music of Sleep。 When they heard that； gently； gently； the Fomorian
women bowed their heads in slumber； the little children crept to their
mothers' laps； the old men nodded； and the young warriors drooped in
their seats and closed their eyes： one after another all the Fomorians sank
into sleep。
When they were all deep in slumber； the Dagda took his magic harp；
and he and his golden…haired warriors stole softly away； and came in
safety to their own homes again。
THE TAILOR AND THE THREE BEASTS＇1＇
＇1＇ From Beside the Fire； Douglas Hyde （David Nutt； London）。
There was once a tailor in Galway； and he started out on a journey to
go to the king's court at Dublin。
He had not gone far till he met a white horse； and he saluted him。
〃God save you；〃 said the tailor。
〃God save you；〃 said the horse。 〃Where are you going？〃
〃I am going to Dublin；〃 said the tailor； 〃to build a court for the king
and to get a lady for a wife； if I am able to do it。〃 For； it seems the king
had promised his daughter and a great lot of money to any one who should
be able to build up his court。 The trouble was； that three giants lived in the
wood near the court； and every night they came out of the wood and threw
down all that was built by day。 So nobody could get the court built。
〃Would you make me a hole；〃 said the old white garraun； 〃where I
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could go a…hiding whenever the people are for bringing me to the mill or
the kiln； so that they won't see me； for they have me perished doing work
for them。〃
〃I'll do that； indeed；〃 said the tailor； 〃and welcome。〃
He brought his spade and shovel； and he made a hole； and he said to
the old white horse to go down into it till he would see if it would fit him。
The white horse went down into the hole； but when he tried to come up
again； he was not able。
〃Make a place for me now；〃 said the white horse； 〃by which I'll come
up out of the hole here； whenever I'll be hungry。〃
〃I will not；〃 said the tailor； 〃remain where you are until I come back；
and I'll lift you up。〃
The tailor went forward next day； and the fox met him。
〃God save you；〃 said the fox。
〃God save you；〃 said the tailor。
〃Where are you going；〃 said the fox。
〃I'm going to Dublin； to try will I be able to make a court for the king。〃
〃Would you make a place for me where I'd go hiding？〃 said the fox。
〃The rest of the foxes do be beating me； and they don't allow me to eat
anything with them。〃
〃I'll do that for you；〃 said the tailor。
He took his axe and his saw； and he made a thing like a crate； and he
told the fox to get into it till he would see whether it would fit him。 The
fox went into it； and when the tailor got him down； he shut him in。 When
the fox was satisfied at last that he had a nice place of it within； he asked
the tailor to let him out； and the tailor answered that he would not。
〃Wait there until I come back again；〃 says he。
The tailor went forward the next day； and he had not walked very far
until he met a modder…alla； and the lion greeted him。
〃God save you；〃 said the lion。
〃God save you；〃 said the tailor。
〃Where are you going？〃 said the lion。
〃I'm going to Dublin till I make a court for the king if I'm able to make
it；〃 said the tailor。
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〃If you were to make a plough for me；〃 said the lion； 〃I and the other
lions could be ploughing and harrowing until we'd have a bit to eat in the
harvest。〃
〃I'll do that for you；〃 said the tailor。
He brought his axe and his saw； and he made a plough。 When the
plough was made he put a hole in the beam of it； and he said to the lion to
go in under the plough till he'd see was he any good of a ploughman。 He
placed the lion's tail in the hole he had made for it； and then clapped in a
peg； and the lion was not able to draw out his tail again。
〃Loose me out now；〃 said the lion； 〃and we'll fix ourselves and go
ploughing。〃
The tailor said he would not loose him out until he came back himself。
He left him there then； and he came to Dublin。
When he came to Dublin； he got workmen and began to build the court。
At the end of the day he had the workmen put a great stone on top of the
work。 When the great stone was raised up； the tailor put some sort of
contrivance under it； that he might be able to throw it down as soon as the
giant would come as far as it。 The workpeople went home then； and the
tailor went in hiding behind the big stone。
When the darkness of the night was come； he saw the three giants
arriving； and they began throwing down the court until they came as far as
the place where the tailor was in hiding up above； and a man of them
struck a blow of his sledge on the place where he was。 The tailor threw
down the stone； and it fell on him and killed him。 They went home then
and left all of the court that was remaining without throwing it down； since
a man of themselves was dead。
The tradespeople came again the next day； and they were working
until night； and as they were going home the tailor told them to put up the
big stone on the top of the work； as it had been the night before。 They did
that for him； went home； and the tailor went in hiding the same as he did
the evening before。
When the people had all gone to rest； the two giants came； and they
were throwing down all that was before them； and as soon as they began；
they put two shouts out of them。 The tailor was going on manoeuvring
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until he threw down the great stone； and it fell upon the skull of the giant
that was under him； and it killed him。 There was only the one giant left in
it then； and he never came again until the court was finished。
Then when the work was over； the tailor went to the king and told him
to give him his wife and his money； as he had the court finished； and the
king said he would not give him any wife until he would kill the other
giant； for he said that it was not by his strength he killed the two giants
before that； and that he would give him nothing now until he killed the
other one for him。 Then the tailor said that he would kill the other giant for
him； and welcome； that there was no delay at all about that。
The tailor went then till he came to the place where the other giant was；
and asked did he want a servant…boy。 The giant said he did want one； if he
could get one who would do everything that he would do himself。
〃Anything that you will do； I will do it；〃 said the tailor。
They went to their dinner then； and when they had it eaten； the giant
asked the tailor 〃would it come with him to swallow as much broth as
himself； up out of its boiling。〃 The tailor said； 〃It will come with me to do
that； but that you must give me an hour before we begin on it。〃 The tailor
went out then； and he got a sheep… skin； and he sewed it up till he made a
bag of it； and he slipped it down under his coat。 He came in then and said
to the giant to drink a gallon of the broth himself first。 The giant drank that
up out of its boiling。 〃I'll do that；〃 said the tailor。 He was going on until he
had it all poured into the skin； and the giant thought he had it drunk。 The
giant drank another
