tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第29章
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〃Not yet； dark Hecate；〃 replied Ceres。 〃But do you first come with
your torch； and help me to seek for my lost child。 And when there shall be
no more hope of finding her （if that black day is ordained to come）； then；
if you will give me room to fling myself down； either on these withered
leaves or on the naked rock； I will show what it is to be miserable。 But；
until I know that she has perished from the face of the earth； I will not
allow myself space even to grieve。〃
The dismal Hecate did not much like the idea of going abroad into the
sunny world。 But then she reflected that the sorrow of the disconsolate
Ceres would be like a gloomy twilight round about them both； let the sun
shine ever so brightly； and that therefore she might enjoy her bad spirits
quite as well as if she were to stay in the cave。 So she finally consented to
go； and they set out together； both carrying torches； although it was broad
daylight and clear sunshine。 The torchlight seemed to make a gloom； so
that the people whom they met； along the road； could not very distinctly
see their figures； and； indeed； if they once caught a glimpse of Hecate；
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with the wreath of snakes round her forehead； they generally thought it
prudent to run away； without waiting for a second glance。
As the pair traveled along in this woe…begone manner； a thought struck
Ceres。
〃There is one person；〃 she exclaimed； 〃who must have seen my poor
child； and can doubtless tell what has become of her。 Why did not I think
of him before？ It is Phoebus。〃
〃What；〃 said Hecate； 〃the young man that always sits in the sunshine？
O； pray do not think of going near him。 He is a gay； light； frivolous young
fellow； and will only smile in your face。 And besides； there is such a glare
of the sun about him； that he will quite blind my poor eyes； which I have
almost wept away already。〃
〃You have promised to be my companion；〃 answered Ceres。 〃Come；
let us make haste； or the sunshine will be gone； and Phoebus along with
it。〃
Accordingly； they went along in quest of Phoebus； both of them
sighing grievously； and Hecate； to say the truth； making a great deal worse
lamentation than Ceres； for all the pleasure she had； you know； lay in
being miserable； and therefore she made the most of it。 By and by； after a
pretty long journey； they arrived at the sunniest spot in the whole world。
There they beheld a beautiful young man； with long； curling ringlets；
which seemed to be made of golden sunbeams； his garments were like
light summer clouds； and the expression of his face was so exceedingly
vivid； that Hecate held her hands before her eyes； muttering that he ought
to wear a black veil。 Phoebus （for this was the very person whom they
were seeking） had a lyre in his hands； and was making its chords tremble
with sweet music； at the same time singing a most exquisite song； which
he had recently composed。 For； beside a great many other
accomplishments； this young man was renowned for his admirable poetry。
As Ceres and her dismal companion approached him； Phoebus smiled
on them so cheerfully that Hecate's wreath of snakes gave a spiteful hiss；
and Hecate heartily wished herself back in her cave。 But as for Ceres； she
was too earnest in her grief either to know or care whether Phoebus smiled
or frowned。
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〃Phoebus！〃 exclaimed she； 〃I am in great trouble； and have come to
you for assistance。 Can you tell me what has become of my dear child
Proserpina？〃
〃Proserpina！ Proserpina； did you call her name？〃 answered Phoebus；
endeavoring to recollect； for there was such a continual flow of pleasant
ideas in his mind； that he was apt to forget what had happened no longer
ago than yesterday。 〃Ah； yes； I remember her now。 A very lovely child；
indeed。 I am happy to tell you； my dear madam； that I did see the little
Proserpina not many days ago。 You may make yourself perfectly easy
about her。 She is safe； and in excellent hands。〃
〃O； where is my dear child？〃 cried Ceres； clasping her hands； and
flinging herself at his feet。
〃Why；〃 said Phoebusand as he spoke he kept touching his lyre so as
to make a thread of music run in and out among his words〃as the little
damsel was gathering flowers （and she has really a very exquisite taste for
flowers）； she was suddenly snatched up by King Pluto； and carried off to
his dominions。 I have never been in that part of the universe； but the royal
palace； I am told； is built in a very noble style of architecture； and of the
most splendid and costly materials。 Gold； diamonds； pearls； and all
manner of precious stones will be your daughter's ordinary playthings。 I
recommend to you； my dear lady； to give yourself no uneasiness。
Proserpina's sense of beauty will be duly gratified； and even in spite of the
lack of sunshine； she will lead a very enviable life。〃
〃Hush！ Say not such a word！〃 answered Ceres； indignantly。 〃What is
there to gratify her heart？ What are all the splendors you speak of without
affection？ I must have her back again。 Will you go with me you go with
me； Phoebus； to demand my daughter of this wicked Pluto？〃
〃Pray excuse me；〃 replied Phoebus； with an elegant obeisance。 〃I
certainly wish you success； and regret that my own affairs are so
immediately pressing that I cannot have the pleasure of attending you。
Besides； I am not upon the best of terms with King Pluto。 To tell you the
truth； his three…headed mastiff would never let me pass the gateway； for I
should be compelled to take a sheaf of sunbeams along with me； and those；
you know； are forbidden things in Pluto's kingdom。〃
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〃Ah； Phoebus；〃 said Ceres； with bitter meaning in her words； 〃you
have a harp instead of a heart。 Farewell。〃
〃Will not you stay a moment；〃 asked Phoebus； 〃 nd hear me turn the
pretty and touching story of Proserpina into extemporary verses？〃
But Ceres shook her head； and hastened away； along with Hecate。
Phoebus （who； as I have told you； was an exquisite poet） forthwith began
to make an ode about the poor mother's grief； and； if we were to judge of
his sensibility by this beautiful production； he must have been endowed
with a very tender heart。 But when a poet gets into the habit of using his
heartstrings to make chords for his lyre； he may thrum upon them as much
as he will； without any great pain to himself。 Accordingly； though Phoebus
sang a very sad song； he was as merry all the while as were the sunbeams
amid which he dwelt。
Poor Mother Ceres had now found out what had become of her
daughter； but was not a whit happier than before。 Her case； on the contrary；
looked more desperate than ever。 As long as Proserpina was above ground；
there might have been hopes of regaining her。 But now that the poor child
was shut up within the iron gates of the king of the mines； at the threshold
of which lay the three…headed Cerberus； there seemed no possibility of her
ever making her escape。 The dismal Hecate； who loved to take the darkest
view of things； told Ceres that she had better come with her to the cavern；
and spend the rest of her life in being miserable。 Ceres answered； that
Hecate was welcome to go back thither herself； but that； for her part； she
would wander about the earth in quest of the entrance to King Pluto's
dominions。 And Hecate took her at her word； and hurried back to her
beloved cave； frightening a great many little children with a glimpse of her
dog's face as she went。
Poor Mother Ceres！ It is melancholy to think of her； pursuing her
toilsome way； all alone； and holding up that never…dying torch； the flame
of which seemed an emblem of the grief and hope that burned together in
her heart。
So much did she suffer； that； though her aspect had been quite youthful
when her troubles began； she grew to look like an elderly person in a very
brief time。 She cared not how she was dressed； nor had she ever thought of
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flinging away the wreath of withered poppies； which she put on the very
morning of Proserpina's disappearance。 She roamed about in so wild a
way； and with her hair so disheveled； that people took her for some
distracted creature； and never dreamed that this was Mother Ceres； who
had the oversight of every seed which the husbandman planted。 Nowadays；
however； she gave herself no trouble about seed time nor harvest； but left
the farmers to take care of their own affairs； and the crops to fade or
flourish； as the case might be。 There was nothing； now； in which Ceres
seemed to feel an interest； unless when she saw children at play； or
gathering flowers along the wayside。 Then； indeed； she would stand and
gaze at them with tears in her eyes。 The children； too； appeared to have a
sympathy with her grief； and would cluster themselves in a little group
about her knees； and look up wistfully in her face； and Ceres； after giving
them a kiss all round； would lead them to their homes； and advise their
mothers never to let them stray out of sight。
〃For if they do；〃 said she； 〃it may happen to you； as it has to me； that
the iron…hearted King Pluto will take a liking to your darlings； and snatch
them up in his chariot； and carry them away。〃
One day； during her pilgrimage in quest of the entrance to Pluto's
kingdom； she came to the palace of King Cereus； who reigned at Eleusis。
Ascending a lofty flight of steps； she entere
