tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第25章
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though the greater part were hogs by birth and education； there was
wonderfully little difference to be seen betwixt them and their new
brethren； who had so recently worn the human shape。 To speak critically；
indeed； the latter rather carried the thing to excess； and seemed to make it
a point to wallow in the miriest part of the sty； and otherwise to outdo the
original swine in their own natural vocation。 When men once turn to
brutes； the trifle of man's wit that remains in them adds tenfold to their
brutality。
The comrades of Ulysses； however； had not quite lost the
remembrance of having formerly stood erect。 When he approached the sty；
two and twenty enormous swine separated themselves from the herd； and
scampered towards him； with such a chorus of horrible squealing as made
him clap both hands to his ears。 And yet they did not seem to know what
they wanted； nor whether they were merely hungry； or miserable from
some other cause。 It was curious； in the midst of their distress； to observe
them thrusting their noses into the mire； in quest of something to eat。 The
nymph with the bodice of oaken bark （she was the hamadryad of an oak）
threw a handful of acorns among them； and the two and twenty hogs
scrambled and fought for the prize； as if they had tasted not so much as a
noggin of sour milk for a twelvemonth。
〃These must certainly be my comrades；〃 said Ulysses。 〃I recognize
their dispositions。 They are hardly worth the trouble of changing them into
the human form again。 Nevertheless； we will have it done； lest their bad
example should corrupt the other hogs。 Let them take their original shapes；
therefore； Dame Circe； if your skill is equal to the task。 It will require
greater magic； I trow； than it did to make swine of them。〃
So Circe waved her wand again； and repeated a few magic words； at
the sound of which the two and twenty hogs pricked up their pendulous
ears。 It was a wonder to behold how their snouts grew shorter and shorter；
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and their mouths （which they seemed to be sorry for； because they could
not gobble so expeditiously） smaller and smaller； and how one and another
began to stand upon his hind legs； and scratch his nose with his fore
trotters。 At first the spectators hardly knew whether to call them hogs or
men； but by and by came to the conclusion that they rather resembled the
latter。 Finally； there stood the twenty…two comrades of Ulysses； looking
pretty much the same as when they left the vessel。
You must not imagine； however； that the swinish quality had entirely
gone out of them。 When once it fastens itself into a person's character； it is
very difficult getting rid of it。 This was proved by the hamadryad； who；
being exceedingly fond of mischief； threw another handful of acorns
before the twenty… two newly…restored people； whereupon down they
wallowed in a moment； and gobbled them up in a very shameful way。
Then； recollecting themselves； they scrambled to their feet； and looked
more than commonly foolish。
〃Thanks； noble Ulysses！〃 they cried。 〃From brute beasts you have
restored us to the condition of men again。〃
〃Do not put yourselves to the trouble of thanking me；〃 said the wise
king。 〃I fear I have done but little for you。〃
To say the truth； there was a suspicious kind of a grunt in their voices；
and； for a long time afterwards； they spoke gruffly； and were apt to set up
a squeal。
〃It must depend on your own future behavior；〃 added Ulysses；
〃whether you do not find your way back to the sty。〃
At this moment； the note of a bird sounded from the branch of a
neighboring tree。
〃Peep； peep； peweee！〃
It was the purple bird； who； all this while； had been sitting over their
heads； watching what was going forward； and hoping that Ulysses would
remember how he had done his utmost to keep him and his followers out
of harm's way。 Ulysses ordered Circe instantly to make a king of this good
little fowl； and leave him exactly as she found him。 Hardly were the words
spoken； and before the bird had time to utter another 〃peweep；〃 King
Picus leaped down from the bough of a tree； as majestic a sovereign as any
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in the world； dressed in a long purple robe and gorgeous yellow stockings；
with a splendidly wrought collar about his neck； and a golden crown upon
his head。 He and King Ulysses exchanged with one another the courtesies
which belong to their elevated rank。 But from that time forth； King Picus
was no longer proud of his crown and his trappings of royalty； nor of the
fact of his being a king； he felt himself merely the upper servant of his
people； and that it must be his life…long labor to make them better and
happier。
As for the lions； tigers； and wolves （though Circe would have restored
them to their former shapes at his slightest word）； Ulysses thought it
advisable that they should remain as they now were； and thus give
warning of their cruel dispositions； instead of going about under the guise
of men； and pretending to human sympathies； while their hearts had the
blood… thirstiness of wild beasts。 So he let them howl as much as they
liked； but never troubled his head about them。 And； when everything was
settled according to his pleasure； he sent to summon the remainder of his
comrades； whom he had left at the sea…shore。 These being arrived； with the
prudent Eurylochus at their head； they all made themselves comfortable in
Circe's enchanted palace； until quite rested and refreshed from the toils
and hardships of their voyage。
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THE POMEGRANATE SEEDS。
Mother Ceres was exceedingly fond of her daughter Proserpina； and
seldom let her go alone into the fields。 But； just at the time when my story
begins； the good lady was very busy； because she had the care of the wheat；
and the Indian corn； and the rye and barley and； in short； of the crops of
every kind； all over the earth； and as the season had thus far been
uncommonly backward； it was necessary to make the harvest ripen more
speedily than usual。 So she put on her turban； made of poppies （a kind of
flower which she was always noted for wearing）； and got into her car
drawn by a pair of winged dragons； and was just ready to set off。
〃Dear mother；〃 said Proserpina； 〃I shall be very lonely while you are
away。 May I not run down to the shore； and ask some of the sea nymphs to
come up out of the waves and play with me？〃
〃Yes； child；〃 answered Mother Ceres。 〃The sea nymphs are good
creatures； and will never lead you into any harm。 But you must take care
not to stray away from them； nor go wandering about the fields by
yourself。 Young girls； without their mothers to take care of them； are very
apt to get into mischief。〃
The child promised to be as prudent as if she were a grown…up woman；
and； by the time the winged dragons had whirled the car out of sight； she
was already on the shore； calling to the sea nymphs to come and play with
her。 They knew Proserpina's voice； and were not long in showing their
glistening faces and sea…green hair above the water； at the bottom of which
was their home。 They brought along with them a great many beautiful
shells； and sitting down on the moist sand； where the surf wave broke over
them； they busied themselves in making a necklace； which they hung
round Proserpina's neck。 By way of showing her gratitude； the child
besought them to go with her a little way into the fields； so that they might
gather abundance of flowers； with which she would make each of her kind
playmates a wreath。
〃O no； dear Proserpina；〃 cried the sea nymphs； 〃we dare not go with
you upon the dry land。 We are apt to grow faint； unless at every breath we
can snuff up the salt breeze of the ocean。 And don't you see how careful
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we are to let the surf wave break over us every moment or two； so as to
keep ourselves comfortably moist？ If it were not for that； we should look
like bunches of uprooted seaweed dried in the sun。
〃It is a great pity；〃 said Proserpina。 〃But do you wait for me here； and I
will run and gather my apron full of flowers； and be back again before the
surf wave has broken ten times over you。 I long to make you some wreaths
that shall be as lovely as this necklace of many colored shells。〃
〃We will wait； then；〃 answered the sea nymphs。 〃But while you are
gone； we may as well lie down on a bank of soft sponge under the water。
The air to…day is a little too dry for our comfort。 But we will pop up our
heads every few minutes to see if you are coming。〃
The young Proserpina ran quickly to a spot where； only the day before；
she had seen a great many flowers。 These； however； were now a little past
their bloom； and wishing to give her friends the freshest and loveliest
blossoms； she strayed farther into the fields； and found some that made her
scream with delight。 Never had she met with such exquisite flowers
beforeviolets so large and fragrantroses with so rich and delicate a
blushsuch superb hyacinths and such aromatic pinksand many others；
some of which seemed to be of new shapes and colors。 Two or three times；
moreover； she could not help thinking that a tuft of most splendid flowers
had suddenly sprouted out of the earth before her very eyes； as if on
purpose to tempt her a few steps farther。 Proserpina's apron was soon filled；
and brimming over with delightful blossoms。 She was on the point of
