tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第17章
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brindled cow never offered to lie down。 On she went at the quiet pace of a
cow going homeward to the barn yard； and； every moment； Cadmus
expected to see a milkmaid approaching with a pail； or a herdsman
running to head the stray animal； and turn her back towards the pasture。
But no milkmaid came； no herdsman drove her back； and Cadmus
followed the stray Brindle till he was almost ready to drop down with
fatigue。
〃O brindled cow；〃 cried he； in a tone of despair； 〃do you never mean to
stop？〃
He had now grown too intent on following her to think of lagging
behind； however long the way； and whatever might be his fatigue。 Indeed；
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it seemed as if there were something about the animal that bewitched
people。 Several persons who happened to see the brindled cow； and
Cadmus following behind； began to trudge after her； precisely as he did。
Cadmus was glad of somebody to converse with； and therefore talked very
freely to these good people。 He told them all his adventures； and how he
had left King Agenor in his palace； and Phoenix at one place； and Cilix at
another； and Thasus at a third； and his dear mother； Queen Telephassa；
under a flowery sod； so that now he was quite alone； both friendless and
homeless。 He mentioned； likewise； that the oracle had bidden him be
guided by a cow； and inquired of the strangers whether they supposed that
this brindled animal could be the one。
〃Why； 'tis a very wonderful affair；〃 answered one of his new
companions。 〃I am pretty well acquainted with the ways of cattle； and I
never knew a cow； of her own accord； to go so far without stopping。 If my
legs will let me； I'll never leave following the beast till she lies down。〃
〃Nor I！〃 said a second。
〃Nor I！〃 cried a third。 〃If she goes a hundred miles farther； I am
determined to see the end of it。〃
The secret of it was； you must know； that the cow was an enchanted
cow； and that； without their being conscious of it； she threw some of her
enchantment over everybody that took so much as half a dozen steps
behind her。 They could not possibly help following her； though all the time
they fancied themselves doing it of their own accord。 The cow was by no
means very nice in choosing her path； so that sometimes they had to
scramble over rocks； or wade through mud and mire； and all in a terribly
bedraggled condition； and tired to death； and very hungry； into the bargain。
What a weary business it was！
But still they kept trudging stoutly forward； and talking as they went。
The strangers grew very fond of Cadmus； and resolved never to leave him；
but to help him build a city wherever the cow might lie down。 In the center
of it there should be a noble palace； in which Cadmus might dwell； and be
their king； with a throne； a crown； a sceptre； a purple robe； and everything
else that a king ought to have； for in him there was the royal blood； and
the royal heart； and the head that knew how to rule。
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While they were talking of these schemes； and beguiling the
tediousness of the way with laying out the plan of the new city； one of the
company happened to look at the cow。
〃Joy！ joy！〃 cried he； clapping his hands。 〃Brindle is going to lie
down。〃
They all looked； and； sure enough； the cow had stopped； and was
staring leisurely about her； as other cows do when on the point of lying
down。 And slowly； slowly did she recline herself on the soft grass； first
bending her forelegs； and then crouching her hind ones。 When Cadmus
and his companions came up with her； there was the brindled cow taking
her ease； chewing her cud； and looking them quietly in the face； as if this
was just the spot she had been seeking for； and as if it were all a matter of
course。
〃This； then；〃 said Cadmus； gazing around him； 〃this is to be my
home。〃
It was a fertile and lovely plain； with great trees flinging their sun…
speckled shadows over it； and hills fencing it in from the rough weather At
no great distance； they beheld a river gleaming in the sunshine。 A home
feeling stole into the heart of poor Cadmus。 He was very glad to know that
here he might awake in the morning without the necessity of putting on his
dusty sandals to travel farther and farther。 The days and the years would
pass over him； and find him still in this pleasant spot。 If he could have had
his brothers with him； and his friend Thasus； and could have seen his dear
mother under a roof of his own； he might here have been happy after all
their disappointments。 Some day or other； too； his sister Europa might
have come quietly to the door of his home； and smiled round upon the
familiar faces。 But； indeed； since there was no hope of regaining the
friends of his boyhood； or ever seeing his dear sister again； Cadmus
resolved to make himself happy with these new companions； who had
grown so fond of him while following the cow。
〃Yes； my friends；〃 said he to them； 〃this is to be our home。 Here we
will build our habitations。 The brindled cow； which has led us hither； will
supply us with milk。 We will cultivate the neighboring soil。 and lead an
innocent and happy life。〃
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His companions joyfully assented to this plan； and； in the first place；
being very hungry and thirsty； they looked about them for the means of
providing a comfortable meal。 Not far off they saw a tuft of trees； which
appeared as if there might be a spring of water beneath them。 They went
thither to fetch some； leaving Cadmus stretched on the ground along with
the brindled cow； for； now that he had found a place of rest； it seemed as if
all the weariness of his pilgrimage； ever since he left King Agenor's palace；
had fallen upon him at once。 But his new friends had not long been gone；
when he was suddenly startled by cries； shouts； and screams； and the noise
of a terrible struggle； and in the midst of it all； a most awful hissing； which
went right through his ears like a rough saw。
Running towards the tuft of trees； he beheld the head and fiery eyes of
an immense serpent or dragon； with the widest jaws that ever a dragon had；
and a vast many rows of horribly sharp teeth。 Before Cadmus could reach
the spot； this pitiless reptile had killed his poor companions； and was
busily devouring them； making but a mouthful of each man。
It appears that the fountain of water was enchanted； and that the
dragon had been set to guard it； so that no mortal might ever quench his
thirst there。 As the neighboring inhabitants carefully avoided the spot； it
was now a long time （not less than a hundred years or thereabouts） since
the monster had broken his fast； and； as was natural enough； his appetite
had grown to be enormous； and was not half satisfied by the poor people
whom he had just eaten up。 When he caught sight of Cadmus； therefore；
he set up another abominable hiss； and flung back his immense jaws； until
his mouth looked like a great red cavern； at the farther end of which were
seen the legs of his last victim； whom he had hardly had time to swallow。
But Cadmus was so enraged at the destruction of his friends that he
cared neither for the size of the dragon's jaws nor for his hundreds of sharp
teeth。 Drawing his sword； he rushed at the monster； and flung himself right
into his cavernous mouth。 This bold method of attacking him took the
dragon by surprise； for； in fact； Cadmus had leaped so far down into his
throat； that the rows of terrible teeth could not close upon him； nor do him
the least harm in the world。 Thus； though the struggle was a tremendous
one； and though the dragon shattered the tuft of trees into small splinters
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by the lashing of his tail； yet； as Cadmus was all the while slashing and
stabbing at his very vitals； it was not long before the scaly wretch
bethought himself of slipping away。 He had not gone his length； however；
when the brave Cadmus gave him a sword thrust that finished the battle；
and creeping out of the gateway of the creature's jaws； there he beheld him
still wriggling his vast bulk； although there was no longer life enough in
him to harm a little child。
But do not you suppose that it made Cadmus sorrowful to think of the
melancholy fate which had befallen those poor； friendly people； who had
followed the cow along with him？ It seemed as if he were doomed to lose
everybody whom he loved； or to see them perish in one way or another。
And here he was； after all his toils and troubles； in a solitary place； with
not a single human being to help him build a hut。
〃What shall I do？〃 cried he aloud。 〃It were better for me to have been
devoured by the dragon； as my poor companions were。〃
〃Cadmus；〃 said a voice but whether it came from above or below him；
or whether it spoke within his own breast； the young man could not tell
〃Cadmus； pluck out the dragon's teeth； and plant them in the earth。〃
This was a strange thing to do； nor was it very easy； I should imagine；
to dig out all those deep…rooted fangs from the dead dragon's jaws。 But
Cadmus toiled and tugged； and after pounding the monstrous head almost
to pieces with a great stone； he at last collected as many teeth as might
have filled a bushel or two。 The next thing was to plant them。 This；
likewise； was a tedious piece of work； especially as Cadmus was already
exhausted with killing the dragon and knocking his head to pieces； and
had nothing to dig the earth with； that I know of； unless it were his sword
blade。 Finally； however； a sufficiently large trac
