tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第4章
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to drink a goblet of wine。 Your majesty is well aware that I sometimes
amuse myself by distilling very powerful medicines。 Here is one of them
in this small phial。 As to what it is made of； that is one of my secrets of
state。 Do but let me put a single drop into the goblet； and let the young
man taste it； and I will answer for it； he shall quite lay aside the bad
designs with which he comes hither。〃
As she said this； Medea smiled； but； for all her smiling face； she meant
nothing less than to poison the poor innocent Theseus； before his father's
eyes。 And King Aegeus； like most other kings； thought any punishment
mild enough for a person who was accused of plotting against his life。 He
therefore made little or no objection to Medea's scheme； and as soon as the
poisonous wine was ready； gave orders that the young stranger should be
admitted into his presence。
The goblet was set on a table beside the king's throne； and a fly；
meaning just to sip a little from the brim； immediately tumbled into it；
dead。 Observing this； Medea looked round at the nephews； and smiled
again。
When Theseus was ushered into the royal apartment； the only object
that he seemed to behold was the white…bearded old king。 There he sat on
his magnificent throne； a dazzling crown on his head； and a scepter in his
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hand。 His aspect was stately and majestic； although his years and
infirmities weighed heavily upon him； as if each year were a lump of lead；
and each infirmity a ponderous stone； and all were bundled up together；
and laid upon his weary shoulders。 The tears both of joy and sorrow
sprang into the young man's eyes； for he thought how sad it was to see his
dear father so infirm； and how sweet it would be to support him with his
own youthful strength； and to cheer him up with the alacrity of his loving
spirit。 When a son takes a father into his warm heart it renews the old
man's youth in a better way than by the heat of Medea's magic caldron。
And this was what Theseus resolved to do。 He could scarcely wait to see
whether King Aegeus would recognize him； so eager was he to throw
himself into his arms。
Advancing to the foot of the throne； he attempted to make a little
speech； which he had been thinking about； as he came up the stairs。 But he
was almost choked by a great many tender feelings that gushed out of his
heart and swelled into his throat； all struggling to find utterance together。
And therefore； unless he could have laid his full； over… brimming heart
into the king's hand； poor Theseus knew not what to do or say。 The
cunning Medea observed what was passing in the young man's mind。 She
was more wicked at that moment than ever she had been before； for （and it
makes me tremble to tell you of it） she did her worst to turn all this
unspeakable love with which Theseus was agitated to his own ruin and
destruction。
〃Does your majesty see his confusion？〃 she whispered in the king's ear。
〃He is so conscious of guilt； that he trembles and cannot speak。 The
wretch lives too long！ Quick！ offer him the wine！〃
Now King Aegeus had been gazing earnestly at the young stranger； as
he drew near the throne。 There was something； he knew not what； either in
his white brow； or in the fine expression of his mouth； or in his beautiful
and tender eyes； that made him indistinctly feel as if he had seen this
youth before； as if； indeed； he had trotted him on his knee when a baby；
and had beheld him growing to be a stalwart man； while he himself grew
old。 But Medea guessed how the king felt； and would not suffer him to
yield to these natural sensibilities； although they were the voice of his
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deepest heart； telling him as plainly as it could speak； that here was our
dear son； and Aethra's son； coming to claim him for a father。 The
enchantress again whispered in the king's ear； and compelled him； by her
witchcraft； to see everything under a false aspect。
He made up his mind； therefore； to let Theseus drink off the poisoned
wine。
〃Young man；〃 said he； 〃you are welcome！ I am proud to show
hospitality to so heroic a youth。 Do me the favor to drink the contents of
this goblet。 It is brimming over； as you see； with delicious wine； such as I
bestow only on those who are worthy of it！ None is more worthy to quaff
it than yourself！〃
So saying； King Aegeus took the golden goblet from the table； and was
about to offer it to Theseus。 But； partly through his infirmities； and partly
because it seemed so sad a thing to take away this young man's life。
however wicked he might be； and partly； no doubt； because his heart was
wiser than his head； and quaked within him at the thought of what he was
going to dofor all these reasons； the king's hand trembled so much that a
great deal of the wine slopped over。 In order to strengthen his purpose； and
fearing lest the whole of the precious poison should be wasted； one of his
nephews now whispered to him：
〃Has your Majesty any doubt of this stranger's guilt？ This is the very
sword with which he meant to slay you。 How sharp； and bright； and
terrible it is！ Quick！let him taste the wine； or perhaps he may do the deed
even yet。〃
At these words； Aegeus drove every thought and feeling out of his
breast； except the one idea of how justly the young man deserved to be put
to death。 He sat erect on his throne； and held out the goblet of wine with a
steady hand； and bent on Theseus a frown of kingly severity； for； after all；
he had too noble a spirit to murder even a treacherous enemy with a
deceitful smile upon his face。
〃Drink！〃 said he； in the stern tone with which he was wont to condemn
a criminal to be beheaded。 〃You have well deserved of me such wine as
this！〃
Theseus held out his hand to take the wine。 But； before he touched it；
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King Aegeus trembled again。 His eyes had fallen on the gold…hilled sword
that hung at the young man's side。 He drew back the goblet。
〃That sword！〃 he exclaimed： 〃how came you by it？〃
〃It was my father's sword；〃 replied Theseus； with a tremulous voice。
〃These were his sandals。 My dear mother （her name is Aethra） told me his
story while I was yet a little child。 But it is only a month since I grew
strong enough to lift the heavy stone； and take the sword and sandals from
beneath it； and come to Athens to seek my father。〃
〃My son！ my son！〃 cried King Aegeus； flinging away the fatal goblet；
and tottering down from the throne to fall into the arms of Theseus。 〃Yes；
these are Aethra's eyes。 It is my son。〃
I have quite forgotten what became of the king's nephews。 But when
the wicked Medea saw this new turn of affairs； she hurried out of the room；
and going to her private chamber； lost no time to setting her enchantments
to work。 In a few moments； she heard a great noise of hissing snakes
outside of the chamber window； and behold！ there was her fiery chariot；
and four huge winged serpents； wriggling and twisting in the air；
flourishing their tails higher than the top of the palace； and all ready to set
off on an aerial journey。 Medea staid only long enough to take her son
with her； and to steal the crown jewels； together with the king's best robes；
and whatever other valuable things she could lay hands on； and getting
into the chariot； she whipped up the snakes； and ascended high over the
city。
The king； hearing the hiss of the serpents； scrambled as fast as he
could to the window； and bawled out to the abominable enchantress never
to come back。 The whole people of Athens； too； who had run out of doors
to see this wonderful spectacle； set up a shout of joy at the prospect of
getting rid of her。 Medea； almost bursting with rage； uttered precisely such
a hiss as one of her own snakes； only ten times more venomous and
spiteful； and glaring fiercely out of the blaze of the chariot； she shook her
hands over the multitude below； as if she were scattering a million of
curses among them。 In so doing； however； she unintentionally let fall
about five hundred diamonds of the first water； together with a thousand
great pearls； and two thousand emeralds； rubies； sapphires； opals； and
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topazes； to which she had helped herself out of the king's strong box。 All
these came pelting down； like a shower of many… colored hailstones； upon
the heads of grown people and children； who forthwith gathered them up；
and carried them back to the palace。 But King Aegeus told them that they
were welcome to the whole； and to twice as many more； if he had them；
for the sake of his delight at finding his son； and losing the wicked Medea。
And； indeed； if you had seen how hateful was her last look； as the flaming
chariot flew upward； you would not have wondered that both king and
people should think her departure a good riddance。
And now Prince Theseus was taken into great favor by his royal father。
The old king was never weary of having him sit beside him on his throne
（which was quite wide enough for two）； and of hearing him tell about his
dear mother； and his childhood； and his many boyish efforts to lift the
ponderous stone。 Theseus； however； was much too brave and active a
young man to be willing to spend all his time in relating things which had
already happened。 His ambition was to perform other and more heroic
deeds； which should be better worth telling in pro
