tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第2章
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me。 Indeed； except that there was a necessity for itand that the inner life
of the legends cannot be come at save by making them entirely one's own
propertythere is no defense to be made。
Eustace informed me that he had told his stories to the children in
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various situationsin the woods； on the shore of the lake； in the dell of
Shadow Brook； in the playroom； at Tanglewood fireside； and in a
magnificent palace of snow； with ice windows； which he helped his little
friends to build。 His auditors were even more delighted with the contents
of the present volume than with the specimens which have already been
given to the world。 The classically learned Mr。 Pringle； too； had listened to
two or three of the tales； and censured them even more bitterly than he did
THE THREE GOLDEN APPLES； so that； what with praise； and what
with criticism； Eustace Bright thinks that there is good hope of at least as
much success with the public as in the case of the 〃WonderBook。〃
I made all sorts of inquiries about the children； not doubting that there
would be great eagerness to hear of their welfare； among some good little
folks who have written to me； to ask for another volume of myths。 They
are all； I am happy to say （unless we except Clover）； in excellent health
and spirits。 Primrose is now almost a young lady； and； Eustace tells me； is
just as saucy as ever。 She pretends to consider herself quite beyond the age
to be interested by such idle stories as these； but； for all that； whenever a
story is to be told； Primrose never fails to be one of the listeners； and to
make fun of it when finished。 Periwinkle is very much grown； and is
expected to shut up her baby house and throw away her doll in a month or
two more。 Sweet Fern has learned to read and write； and has put on a
jacket and pair of pantaloonsall of which improvements I am sorry for。
Squash Blossom； Blue Eye； Plantain； and Buttercup have had the scarlet
fever； but came easily through it。 Huckleberry； Milkweed； and Dandelion
were attacked with the whooping cough； but bore it bravely； and kept out
of doors whenever the sun shone。 Cowslip； during the autumn； had either
the measles； or some eruption that looked very much like it； but was
hardly sick a day。 Poor Clover has been a good deal troubled with her
second teeth； which have made her meagre in aspect and rather fractious
in temper； nor； even when she smiles； is the matter much mended； since it
discloses a gap just within her lips； almost as wide as the barn door。 But all
this will pass over； and it is predicted that she will turn out a very pretty
girl。
As for Mr。 Bright himself； he is now in his senior year at Williams
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College； and has a prospect of graduating with some degree of honorable
distinction at the next Commencement。 In his oration for the bachelor's
degree； he gives me to understand； he will treat of the classical myths；
viewed in the aspect of baby stories； and has a great mind to discuss the
expediency of using up the whole of ancient history； for the same purpose。
I do not know what he means to do with himself after leaving college； but
trust that； by dabbling so early with the dangerous and seductive business
of authorship； he will not bc tempted to become an author by profession。 If
so I shall be very sorry for the little that I have had to do with the matter；
in encouraging these first beginnings。
I wish there were any likelihood of my soon seeing Primrose；
Periwinkle； Dandelion； Sweet Fern； Clover Plantain； Huckleberry；
Milkweed； Cowslip； Buttercup； Blue Eye； and Squash Blossom again。 But
as I do not know when I shall re…visit Tanglewood； and as Eustace Bright
probably will not ask me to edit a third 〃WonderBook；〃 the public of little
folks must not expect to hear any more about those dear children from me。
Heaven bless them； and everybody else； whether grown people or
children！
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THE MINOTAUR。
In the old city of Troezene； at the foot of a lofty mountain； there lived；
a very long time ago； a little boy named Theseus。 His grandfather； King
Pittheus； was the sovereign of that country； and was reckoned a very wise
man； so that Theseus； being brought up in the royal palace； and being
naturally a bright lad； could hardly fail of profiting by the old king's
instructions。 His mother's name was Aethra。 As for his father； the boy had
never seen him。 But； from his earliest remembrance； Aethra used to go
with little Theseus into a wood； and sit down upon a moss…grown rock；
which was deeply sunken into the earth。 Here she often talked with her son
about his father； and said that he was called Aegeus； and that he was a
great king； and ruled over Attica； and dwelt at Athens； which was as
famous a city as any in the world。 Theseus was very fond of hearing about
King Aegeus； and often asked his good mother Aethra why he did not
come and live with them at Troezene。
〃Ah； my dear son；〃 answered Aethra； with a sigh； 〃a monarch has his
people to take care of。 The men and women over whom he rules are in the
place of children to him； and he can seldom spare time to love his own
children as other parents do。 Your father will never be able to leave his
kingdom for the sake of seeing his little boy。〃
〃Well； but； dear mother；〃 asked the boy； 〃why cannot I go to this
famous city of Athens； and tell King Aegeus that I am his son？〃
〃That may happen by and by；〃 said Aethra。 〃Be patient； and we shall
see。 You are not yet big and strong enough to set out on such an errand。〃
〃And how soon shall I be strong enough？〃 Theseus persisted in
inquiring。
〃You are but a tiny boy as yet；〃 replied his mother。 〃See if you can lift
this rock on which we are sitting？〃
The little fellow had a great opinion of his own strength。 So； grasping
the rough protuberances of the rock； he tugged and toiled amain； and got
himself quite out of breath； without being able to stir the heavy stone。 It
seemed to be rooted into the ground。 No wonder he could not move it； for
it would have taken all the force of a very strong man to lift it out of its
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earthy bed。
His mother stood looking on； with a sad kind of a smile on her lips and
in her eyes； to see the zealous and yet puny efforts of her little boy。 She
could not help being sorrowful at finding him already so impatient to
begin his adventures in the world。
〃You see how it is； my dear Theseus；〃 said she。 〃You must possess far
more strength than now before I can trust you to go to Athens； and tell
King Aegeus that you are his son。 But when you can lift this rock； and
show me what is hidden beneath it； I promise you my permission to
depart。〃
Often and often； after this； did Theseus ask his mother whether it was
yet time for him to go to Athens； and still his mother pointed to the rock；
and told him that； for years to come； he could not be strong enough to
move it。 And again and again the rosy…checked and curly…headed boy
would tug and strain at the huge mass of stone； striving； child as he was； to
do what a giant could hardly have done without taking both of his great
hands to the task。 Meanwhile the rock seemed to be sinking farther and
farther into the ground。 The moss grew over it thicker and thicker； until at
last it looked almost like a soft green seat； with only a few gray knobs of
granite peeping out。 The overhanging trees； also； shed their brown leaves
upon It； as often as the autumn came； and at its base grew ferns and wild
flowers； some of which crept quite over its surface。 To all appearance； the
rock was as firmly fastened as any other portion of the earth's substance。
But； difficult as the matter looked； Theseus was now growing up to be
such a vigorous youth； that； in his own opinion； the time would quickly
come when he might hope to get the upper hand of this ponderous lump of
stone。
〃Mother； I do believe it has started！〃 cried he； after one of his attempts。
〃The earth around it is certainly a little cracked！〃
〃No； no； child！〃 his mother hastily answered。 〃It is not possible you
can have moved it； such a boy as you still are！〃
Nor would she be convinced； although Theseus showed her the place
where he fancied that the stem of a flower had been partly uprooted by the
movement of the rock。 But Aethra sighed； and looked disquieted； for； no
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doubt； she began to be conscious that her son was no longer a child； and
that； in a little while hence； she must send him forth among the perils and
troubles of the world。
It was not more than a year afterwards when they were again sitting on
the moss…covered stone。 Aethra had once more told him the oft…repeated
story of his father； and how gladly he would receive Theseus at his stately
palace； and how he would present him to his courtiers and the people； and
tell them that here was the heir of his dominions。 The eyes of Theseus
glowed with enthusiasm； and he would hardly sit still to hear his mother
speak。
〃Dear mother Aethra；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I never felt half so strong as
now！ I am no longer a child； nor a boy； nor a mere youth！ I feel myself a
man！ It is now time to make one earnest trial to remove the stone。〃
〃Ah； my dearest Theseus；〃 replied his mother 〃not yet！ not yet！〃
〃Yes； mother；〃 said he； resolutely； 〃the time has come！〃
Then Theseus bent himself in good earnest t
