tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第13章
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was a flower with wings。 Europa； who was a little wearied with playing all
day long； did not chase the butterfly with her brothers； but sat still where
they had left her； and closed her eyes。 For a while； she listened to the
pleasant murmur of the sea； which was like a voice saying 〃Hush！〃 and
bidding her go to sleep。 But the pretty child； if she slept at all； could not
have slept more than a moment； when she heard something trample on the
grass； not far from her； and； peeping out from the heap of flowers； beheld
a snow…white bull。
And whence could this bull have com ？ Europa and her brothers had
been a long time playing in the meadow； and had seen no cattle； nor other
living thing； either there or on the neighboring hills。
〃Brother Cadmus！〃 cried Europa； starting up out of the midst of the
roses and lilies。 〃Phoenix！ Cilix！ Where are you all？ Help！ Help！ Come
and drive away this bull！〃
But her brothers were too far off to hear； especially as the fright took
away Europa's voice； and hindered her from calling very loudly。 So there
she stood； with her pretty mouth wide open； as pale as the white lilies that
were twisted among the other flowers in her garlands。
Nevertheless； it was the suddenness with which she had perceived the
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bull； rather than anything frightful in his appearance； that caused Europa
so much alarm。 On looking at him more attentively； she began to see that
he was a beautiful animal； and even fancied a particularly amiable
expression in his face。 As for his breaththe breath of cattle； you know； is
always sweetit was as fragrant as if he had been grazing on no other food
than rosebuds； or at least； the most delicate of clover blossoms。 Never
before did a bull have such bright and tender eyes； and such smooth horns
of ivory； as this one。 And the bull ran little races； and capered sportively
around the child； so that she quite forgot how big and strong he was； and；
from the gentleness and playfulness of his actions； soon came to consider
him as innocent a creature as a pet lamb。
Thus； frightened as she at first was； you might by and by have seen
Europa stroking the bull's forehead with her small white hand； and taking
the garlands off her own head to hang them on his neck and ivory horns。
Then she pulled up some blades of grass； and he ate them out of her hand；
not as if he were hungry； but because he wanted to be friends with the
child； and took pleasure in eating what she had touched。 Well； my stars！
was there ever such a gentle； sweet； pretty； and amiable creature as this
bull； and ever such a nice playmate for a little girl？
When the animal saw （for the bull had so much intelligence that it is
really wonderful to think of）； when he saw that Europa was no longer
afraid of him； he grew overjoyed； and could hardly contain himself for
delight。 He frisked about the meadow； now here； now there； making
sprightly leaps； with as little effort as a bird expends in hopping from twig
to twig。 Indeed； his motion was as light as if he were flying through the air；
and his hoofs seemed hardly to leave their print in the grassy soil over
which he trod。 With his spotless hue； he resembled a snow drift； wafted
along by the wind。 Once he galloped so far away that Europa feared lest
she might never see him again； so； setting up her childish voice； called
him back。
〃Come back； pretty creature！〃 she cried。 〃Here is a nice clover
blossom。〃
And then it was delightful to witness the gratitude of this amiable bull；
and how he was so full of joy and thankfulness that he capered higher than
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ever。 He came running； and bowed his head before Europa； as if he knew
her to be a king's daughter； or else recognized the important truth that a
little girl is everybody's queen。 And not only did the bull bend his neck； he
absolutely knelt down at her feet； and made such intelligent nods； and
other inviting gestures； that Europa understood what he meant just as well
as if he had put it in so many words。
〃Come； dear child；〃 was what he wanted to say； 〃let me give you a ride
on my back。〃
At the first thought of such a thing； Europa drew back。 But then she
considered in her wise little head that there could be no possible harm in
taking just one gallop on the back of this docile and friendly animal； who
would certainly set her down the very instant she desired it。 And how it
would surprise her brothers to see her riding across the green meadow！
And what merry times they might have； either taking turns for a gallop； or
clambering on the gentle creature； all four children together； and careering
round the field with shouts of laughter that would be heard as far off as
King Agenor's palace！
〃I think I will do it；〃 said the child to herself。
And； indeed； why not？ She cast a glance around； and caught a glimpse
of Cadmus； Phoenix； and Cilix； who were still in pursuit of the butterfly；
almost at the other end of the meadow。 It would be the quickest way of
rejoining them； to get upon the white bull's back。 She came a step nearer
to him therefore； andsociable creature that he washe showed so much
joy at this mark of her confidence； that the child could not find in her heart
to hesitate any longer。 Making one bound （for this little princess was as
active as a squirrel）； there sat Europa on the beautiful bull； holding an
ivory horn in each hand； lest she should fall off。
〃Softly； pretty bull； softly！〃 she said； rather frightened at what she had
done。 〃Do not gallop too fast。〃
Having got the child on his back； the animal gave a leap into the air；
and came down so like a feather that Europa did not know when his hoofs
touched the ground。 He then began a race to that part of the flowery plain
where her three brothers were； and where they had just caught their
splendid butterfly。 Europa screamed with delight； and Phoenix； Cilix； and
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Cadmus stood gaping at the spectacle of their sister mounted on a white
bull； not knowing whether to be frightened or to wish the same good luck
for themselves。 The gentle and innocent creature （for who could possibly
doubt that he was so？） pranced round among the children as sportively as
a kitten。 Europa all the while looked down upon her brothers； nodding and
laughing； but yet with a sort of stateliness in her rosy little face。 As the
bull wheeled about to take another gallop across the meadow； the child
waved her hand； and said； 〃Good…bye；〃 playfully pretending that she was
now bound on a distant journey； and might not see her brothers again for
nobody could tell how long。
〃Good…bye；〃 shouted Cadmus； Phoenix； and Cilix； all in one breath。
But； together with her enjoyment of the sport； there was still a little
remnant of fear in the child's heart； so that her last look at the three boys
was a troubled one； and made them feel as if their dear sister were really
leaving them forever。 And what do you think the snowy bull did next？
Why； he set off； as swift as the wind； straight down to the seashore；
scampered across the sand； took an airy leap； and plunged right in among
the foaming billows。 The white spray rose in a shower over him and little
Europa； and fell spattering down upon the water。
Then what a scream of terror did the poor child send forth！ The three
brothers screamed manfully； likewise； and ran to the shore as fast as their
legs would carry them； with Cadmus at their head。 But it was too late。
When they reached the margin of the sand； the treacherous animal was
already far away in the wide blue sea； with only his snowy head and tail
emerging； and poor little Europa between them； stretching out one hand
towards her dear brothers； while she grasped the bull's ivory horn with the
other。 And there stood Cadmus； Phoenix； and Cilix； gazing at this sad
spectacle； through their tears； until they could no longer distinguish the
bull's snowy head from the white…capped billows that seemed to boil up
out of the sea's depths around him。 Nothing more was ever seen of the
white bullnothing more of the beautiful child。
This was a mournful story； as you may well think； for the three boys to
carry home to their parents。 King Agenor； their father； was the ruler of the
whole country； but he loved his little daughter Europa better than his
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kingdom； or than all his other children； or than anything else in the world。
Therefore； when Cadmus and his two brothers came crying home； and told
him how that a white bull had carried off their sister； and swam with her
over the sea； the king was quite beside himself with grief and rage。
Although it was now twilight； and fast growing dark； he bade them set out
instantly in search of her。
〃Never shall you see my face again；〃 he cried； 〃unless you bring me
back my little Europa； to gladden me with her smiles and her pretty ways。
Begone； and enter my presence no more； till you come leading her by the
hand。〃
As King Agenor said this； his eyes flashed fire （for he was a very
passionate king）； and he looked so terribly angry that the poor boys did not
even venture to ask for their suppers； but slunk away out of the palace； and
only paused on the steps a moment to consult whither they should go first。
While they were standing there； all in dismay； their mother； Queen
Telephassa （who happened not to be by when they told the story to the
king）； came hurrying after them； and said that she too would go in quest of
her daughter。
〃O； no； mother！〃 cried the boys。 〃The night is dark； and there is
