tanglewood tales-第11章

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r　afraid　of　him；　he　grew　overjoyed；　and　could　hardly　contain　himself　for　delight。　He　frisked　about　the　meadow；　now　here；　now　there；　making　sprightly　leaps；　with　as　little　effort　as　a　bird　expends　in　hopping　from　twig　to　twig。　Indeed；　his　motion　was　as　light　as　if　he　were　flying　through　the　air；　and　his　hoofs　seemed　hardly　to　leave　their　print　in　the　grassy　soil　over　which　he　trod。　With　his　spotless　hue；　he　resembled　a　snow　drift；　wafted　along　by　the　wind。　Once　he　galloped　so　far　away　that　Europa　feared　lest　she　might　never　see　him　again；　so；　setting　up　her　childish　voice；　called　him　back。

〃Come　back；　pretty　creature！〃　she　cried。　〃Here　is　a　nice　clover　blossom。〃

And　then　it　was　delightful　to　witness　the　gratitude　of　this　amiable　bull；　and　how　he　was　so　full　of　joy　and　thankfulness　that　he　capered　higher　than　ever。　He　came　running；　and　bowed　his　head　before　Europa；　as　if　he　knew　her　to　be　a　king's　daughter；　or　else　recognized　the　important　truth　that　a　little　girl　is　everybody's　queen。　And　not　only　did　the　bull　bend　his　neck；　he　absolutely　knelt　down　at　her　feet；　and　made　such　intelligent　nods；　and　other　inviting　gestures；　that　Europa　understood　what　he　meant　just　as　well　as　if　he　had　put　it　in　so　many　words。

〃Come；　dear　child；〃　was　what　he　wanted　to　say；　〃let　me　give　you　a　ride　on　my　back。〃

At　the　first　thought　of　such　a　thing；　Europa　drew　back。　But　then　she　considered　in　her　wise　little　head　that　there　could　be　no　possible　harm　in　taking　just　one　gallop　on　the　back　of　this　docile　and　friendly　animal；　who　would　certainly　set　her　down　the　very　instant　she　desired　it。　And　how　it　would　surprise　her　brothers　to　see　her　riding　across　the　green　meadow！　And　what　merry　times　they　might　have；　either　taking　turns　for　a　gallop；　or　clambering　on　the　gentle　creature；　all　four　children　together；　and　careering　round　the　field　with　shouts　of　laughter　that　would　be　heard　as　far　off　as　King　Agenor's　palace！

〃I　think　I　will　do　it；〃　said　the　child　to　herself。

And；　indeed；　why　not？　She　cast　a　glance　around；　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　Cadmus；　Phoenix；　and　Cilix；　who　were　still　in　pursuit　of　the　butterfly；　almost　at　the　other　end　of　the　meadow。　It　would　be　the　quickest　way　of　rejoining　them；　to　get　upon　the　white　bull's　back。　She　came　a　step　nearer　to　him　therefore；　andsociable　creature　that　he　washe　showed　so　much　joy　at　this　mark　of　her　confidence；　that　the　child　could　not　find　in　her　heart　to　hesitate　any　longer。　Making　one　bound　（for　this　little　princess　was　as　active　as　a　squirrel）；　there　sat　Europa　on　the　beautiful　bull；　holding　an　ivory　horn　in　each　hand；　lest　she　should　fall　off。

〃Softly；　pretty　bull；　softly！〃　she　said；　rather　frightened　at　what　she　had　done。　〃Do　not　gallop　too　fast。〃

Having　got　the　child　on　his　back；　the　animal　gave　a　leap　into　the　air；　and　came　down　so　like　a　feather　that　Europa　did　not　know　when　his　hoofs　touched　the　ground。　He　then　began　a　race　to　that　part　of　the　flowery　plain　where　her　three　brothers　were；　and　where　they　had　just　caught　their　splendid　butterfly。　Europa　screamed　with　delight；　and　Phoenix；　Cilix；　and　Cadmus　stood　gaping　at　the　spectacle　of　their　sister　mounted　on　a　white　bull；　not　knowing　whether　to　be　frightened　or　to　wish　the　same　good　luck　for　themselves。　The　gentle　and　innocent　creature　（for　who　could　possibly　doubt　that　he　was　so？）　pranced　round　among　the　children　as　sportively　as　a　kitten。　Europa　all　the　while　looked　down　upon　her　brothers；　nodding　and　laughing；　but　yet　with　a　sort　of　stateliness　in　her　rosy　little　face。　As　the　bull　wheeled　about　to　take　another　gallop　across　the　meadow；　the　child　waved　her　hand；　and　said；　〃Good…bye；〃　playfully　pretending　that　she　was　now　bound　on　a　distant　journey；　and　might　not　see　her　brothers　again　for　nobody　could　tell　how　long。

〃Good…bye；〃　shouted　Cadmus；　Phoenix；　and　Cilix；　all　in　one　breath。

But；　together　with　her　enjoyment　of　the　sport；　there　was　still　a　little　remnant　of　fear　in　the　child's　heart；　so　that　her　last　look　at　the　three　boys　was　a　troubled　one；　and　made　them　feel　as　if　their　dear　sister　were　really　leaving　them　forever。　And　what　do　you　think　the　snowy　bull　did　next？　Why；　he　set　off；　as　swift　as　the　wind；　straight　down　to　the　seashore；　scampered　across　the　sand；　took　an　airy　leap；　and　plunged　right　in　among　the　foaming　billows。　The　white　spray　rose　in　a　shower　over　him　and　little　Europa；　and　fell　spattering　down　upon　the　water。

Then　what　a　scream　of　terror　did　the　poor　child　send　forth！　The　three　brothers　screamed　manfully；　likewise；　and　ran　to　the　shore　as　fast　as　their　legs　would　carry　them；　with　Cadmus　at　their　head。　But　it　was　too　late。　When　they　reached　the　margin　of　the　sand；　the　treacherous　animal　was　already　far　away　in　the　wide　blue　sea；　with　only　his　snowy　head　and　tail　emerging；　and　poor　little　Europa　between　them；　stretching　out　one　hand　towards　her　dear　brothers；　while　she　grasped　the　bull's　ivory　horn　with　the　other。　And　there　stood　Cadmus；　Phoenix；　and　Cilix；　gazing　at　this　sad　spectacle；　through　their　tears；　until　they　could　no　longer　distinguish　the　bull's　snowy　head　from　the　white…capped　billows　that　seemed　to　boil　up　out　of　the　sea's　depths　around　him。　Nothing　more　was　ever　seen　of　the　white　bullnothing　more　of　the　beautiful　child。

This　was　a　mournful　story；　as　you　may　well　think；　for　the　three　boys　to　carry　home　to　their　parents。　King　Agenor；　their　father；　was　the　ruler　of　the　whole　country；　but　he　loved　his　little　daughter　Europa　better　than　his　kingdom；　or　than　all　his　other　children；　or　than　anything　else　in　the　world。　Therefore；　when　Cadmus　and　his　two　brothers　came　crying　home；　and　told　him　how　that　a　white　bull　had　carried　off　their　sister；　and　swam　with　her　over　the　sea；　the　king　was　quite　beside　himself　with　grief　and　rage。　Although　it　was　now　twilight；　and　fast　growing　dark；　he　bade　them　set　out　instantly　in　search　of　her。

〃Never　shall　you　see　my　face　again；〃　he　cried；　〃unless　you　bring　me　back　my　little　Europa；　to　gladden　me　with　her　smiles　and　her　pretty　ways。　Begone；　and　enter　my　presence　no　more；　till　you　come　leading　her　by　the　hand。〃

As　King　Agenor　said　this；　his　eyes　flashed　fire　（for　he　was　a　very　passionate　king）；　and　he　looked　so　terribly　angry　that　the　poor　boys　did　not　even　venture　to　ask　for　their　suppers；　but　slunk　away　out　of　the　palace；　and　only　paused　on　the　steps　a　moment　to　consult　whither　they　should　go　first。　While　they　were　standing　there；　all　in　dismay；　their　mother；　Queen　Telephassa　（who　happened　not　to　be　by　when　they　told　the　story　to　the　king）；　came　hurrying　after　them；　and　said　that　she　too　would　go　in　quest　of　her　daughter。

〃O；　no；　mother！〃　cried　the　boys。　〃The　night　is　dark；　and　there　is　no　knowing　what　troubles　and　perils　we　may　meet　with。〃

〃Alas！　my　dear　children；〃　answered　poor　Queen　Telephassa；　weeping　bitterly；　〃that　is　only　another　reason　why　I　should　go　with　you。　If　I　should　lose　you；　too；　as　well　as　my　little　Europa；　what　would　become　of　me！〃

〃And　let　me　go　likewise！〃　said　their　playfellow　Thasus；　who　came　running　to　join　them。

Thasus　was　the　son　of　a　seafaring　person　in　the　neighborhood；　he　had　been　brought　up　with　the　young　princes；　and　was　their　intimate　friend；　and　loved　Europa　very　much；　so　they　consented　that　he　should　accompany　them。　The　whole　party；　therefore；　set　forth　together。　Cadmus；　Phoenix；　Cilix；　and　Thasus　clustered　round　Queen　Telephassa；　grasping　her　skirts；　and　begging　her　to　lean　upon　their　shoulders　whenever　she　felt　weary。　In　this　manner　they　went　down　the　palace　steps；　and　began　a　journey；　which　turned　out　to　be　a　great　deal　longer　than　they　dreamed　of。　The　last　that　they　saw　of　King　Agenor；　he　came　to　the　door；　with　a　servant　holding　a　torch　beside　him；　and　called　after　them　into　the　gathering　darkness：

〃Remember！　Never　ascend　these　steps　again　without　the　child！〃

〃Never！〃　sobbed　Queen　Telephassa；　and　the　three　brothers　and　Thasus　answered；　〃Never！　Never！　Never！　Never！〃

And　they　kept　their　word。　Year　after　year；　King　Agenor　sat　in　the　solitude　of　his　beautiful　palace；　listening　in　vain　for　their　returning　footsteps；　hoping　to　hear　the　familiar　voice　of　the　queen；　and　the　cheerful　talk　of　his　sons　and　their　playfellow　Thasus；　entering　the　door　together；　and　the　sweet；　childish　accents　of　little　Europa　in　the　midst　of　them。　But　so　long　a　time　went　by；　that；　at　last；　if　they　had　really　come；　the　king　would　not　have　known　that　this　was　the　voice　of　Telephassa；　and　these　the　younger　voices　that　used　to　make　such　joyful　echoes；　when　the　children　were　playing　about　the　palace。　We　must　now　leave　King　Agenor　to　sit　on　his　throne；　and　must　go　along　with　Queen　Telephassa；　and　her　four　youthful　companions。

They　went　on　and　on；　and　traveled　a　long　way；　and　passed　over　mountains　and　rivers；　and　sailed　over　seas。　Here；　and　there；　and　everywhere；　they　made　continual　inquiry　if　any　person　could　tell　them　what　had　become　of　Europa。　The　rustic　people；　of　whom　they　asked　this　question；　paused　a　little　while　from　their　labors　in　the　field；　and　looked　very　much　surprised。　They　thought　it　strange　to　behold　a　woman　in　the　garb　of　a　queen　（for　Telephassa　in　her　haste　had　forgotten　to　take　off　her　crownand　her　royal　robes）；　roaming　about　the　country；　with　four　lads　around　her；　on　such　an　errand　as　this　seemed　to　be。　But　nobody　could　give　them　any　tidings　of　Europa；　nobody　had　seen　a　little　girl　dressed　like　a　princess；　and　mounted　on　a　snow…　white　bull；　which　galloped　as　swiftly　as　the　wind。

I　cannot　tell　you　how　long　Queen　Telephassa；　and　Cadmus；　Phoenix；　and　Cilix；　her　three　sons；　and　Thasus；　their　playfellow；　went　wandering　along　the　highways　and　bypaths；　or　through　the　pathless　wildernesses　of　the　earth；　in　this　manner。　But　certain　it　is；　that；　before　they　reached　any　place　of　rest；　their　splendid　garments　were　quite　worn　out。　They　all　looked　very　much　travel…stained；　and　would　have　had　the　dust　of　many　countries　on　their　shoes；　if　the　streams；　through　which　they　waded；　had　not　washed　it　all　away。　When　they　had　been　gone　a　year；　Telephassa　threw　away　her　crown；　because　it　chafed　her　forehead。

〃It　has　given　me　many　a　headache；〃　said　the　poor　queen；　〃and　it　cannot　cure　my　heartache。〃

As　fast　as　their　princely　robes　got　torn　and　tattered；　they　exchanged　them　for　such　mean　attire　as　ordinary　people　wore。　By　and　by；　they　come　to　have　a　wild　and　homeless　aspect；　so　that　you　would　much　sooner　have　taken　them　for　a　gypsy　family　than　a　queen　and　three　princes；　and　a　young　nobleman；　who　had　once　a　palace　for　a　home；　and　a　train　of　servants　to　do　their　bidding。　The　four　boys　grew　up　to　be　tall　young　men；　with　sunburnt　faces。　Each　of　them　girded　on　a　sword；　to　defend　themselves　against　the　perils　of　the　way。　When　the　husbandmen；　at　whose　farmhouses　they　sought　hospitality；　needed　their　assistance　in　the　harvest　field；　they　gave　it　willingly；　and　Queen　Telephassa　（who　had　done　no　work　in　her　palace；　save　to　braid　silk　threads　with　golden　ones）　came　behind　them　to　bind　the　sheaves。　If　payment　was　offered；　they　shook　their　heads；　and　only　asked　for　tidings　of　Europa。

〃There　are　bulls　enough　in　my　pasture；〃　the　old　farmers　would　reply；　〃but　I　never　heard　of　one　like　this　you　tell　me　of。　A　snow…white　bull　with　a　little　princess　on　his　back！　Ho！　ho！　I　ask　your　pardon；　good　folks；　but　there　never　such　a　sight　seen　hereabouts。〃

At　last；　whe