tanglewood tales-第17章

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But　scarcely　had　they　made　half　a　dozen　steps　from　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　when　a　bird　came　fluttering　to　meet　them。　It　was　the　same　pretty　little　bird；　with　the　purple　wings　and　body；　the　yellow　legs；　the　golden　collar　round　its　neck；　and　the　crown…like　tuft　upon　its　head；　whose　behavior　had　so　much　surprised　Ulysses。　It　hovered　about　Eurylochus；　and　almost　brushed　his　face　with　its　wings。

〃Peep；　peep；　peweep！〃　chirped　the　bird。

So　plaintively　intelligent　was　the　sound；　that　it　seemed　as　if　the　little　creature　were　going　to　break　its　heart　with　some　mighty　secret　that　it　had　to　tell；　and　only　this　one　poor　note　to　tell　it　with。

〃My　pretty　bird；〃　said　Eurylochusfor　he　was　a　wary　person；　and　let　no　token　of　harm　escape　his　notice〃my　pretty　bird；　who　sent　you　hither？　And　what　is　the　message　which　you　bring？〃

〃Peep；　peep；　peweep！　〃　replied　the　bird；　very　sorrowfully。

Then　it　flew　towards　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　and　looked　around　at　them；　as　if　exceedingly　anxious　that　they　should　return　whence　they　came。　Eurylochus　and　a　few　of　the　others　were　inclined　to　turn　back。　They　could　not　help　suspecting　that　the　purple　bird　must　be　aware　of　something　mischievous　that　would　befall　them　at　the　palace；　and　the　knowledge　of　which　affected　its　airy　spirit　with　a　human　sympathy　and　sorrow。　But　the　rest　of　the　voyagers；　snuffing　up　the　smoke　from　the　palace　kitchen；　ridiculed　the　idea　of　returning　to　the　vessel。　One　of　them　（more　brutal　than　his　fellows；　and　the　most　notorious　gormandizer　in　the　crew）　said　such　a　cruel　and　wicked　thing；　that　I　wonder　the　mere　thought　did　not　turn　him　into　a　wild　beast；　in　shape；　as　he　already　was　in　his　nature。

〃This　troublesome　and　impertinent　little　fowl；〃　said　he；　〃would　make　a　delicate　titbit　to　begin　dinner　with。　Just　one　plump　morsel；　melting　away　between　the　teeth。　If　he　comes　within　my　reach；　I'll　catch　him；　and　give　him　to　the　palace　cook　to　be　roasted　on　a　skewer。〃

The　words　were　hardly　out　of　his　mouth；　before　the　purple　bird　flew　away；　crying；　〃Peep；　peep；　peweep；〃　more　dolorously　than　ever。

〃That　bird；〃　remarked　Eurylochus；　〃knows　more　than　we　do　about　what　awaits　us　at　the　palace。〃

〃Come　on；　then；〃　cried　his　comrades；　〃and　we'll　soon　know　as　much　as　he　does。〃

The　party；　accordingly；　went　onward　through　the　green　and　pleasant　wood。　Every　little　while　they　caught　new　glimpses　of　the　marble　palace；　which　looked　more　and　more　beautiful　the　nearer　they　approached　it。　They　soon　entered　a　broad　pathway；　which　seemed　to　be　very　neatly　kept；　and　which　went　winding　along；　with　streaks　of　sunshine　falling　across　it　and　specks　of　light　quivering　among　the　deepest　shadows　that　fell　from　the　lofty　trees。　It　was　bordered；　too；　with　a　great　many　sweet…smelling　flowers；　such　as　the　mariners　had　never　seen　before。　So　rich　and　beautiful　they　were；　that；　if　the　shrubs　grew　wild　here；　and　were　native　in　the　soil；　then　this　island　was　surely　the　flower　garden　of　the　whole　earth；　or；　if　transplanted　from　some　other　clime；　it　must　have　been　from　the　Happy　Islands　that　lay　towards　the　golden　sunset。

〃There　has　been　a　great　deal　of　pains　foolishly　wasted　on　these　flowers；〃　observed　one　of　the　company；　and　I　tell　you　what　he　said；　that　you　may　keep　in　mind　what　gormandizers　they　were。　〃For　my　part；　if　I　were　the　owner　of　the　palace；　I　would　bid　my　gardener　cultivate　nothing　but　savory　pot　herbs　to　make　a　stuffing　for　roast　meat；　or　to　flavor　a　stew　with。〃

〃　Well　said！〃　cried　the　others。　〃But　I'll　warrant　you　there's　a　kitchen　garden　in　the　rear　of　the　palace。〃

At　one　place　they　came　to　a　crystal　spring；　and　paused　to　drink　at　it　for　want　of　liquor　which　they　liked　better。　Looking　into　its　bosom；　they　beheld　their　own　faces　dimly　reflected；　but　so　extravagantly　distorted　by　the　gush　and　motion　of　the　water；　that　each　one　of　them　appeared　to　be　laughing　at　himself　and　all　his　companions。　So　ridiculous　were　these　images　of　themselves；　indeed；　that　they　did　really　laugh　aloud；　and　could　hardly　be　grave　again　as　soon　as　they　wished。　And　after　they　had　drank；　they　grew　still　merrier　than　before。

〃It　has　a　twang　of　the　wine　cask　in　it；〃　said　one；　smacking　his　lips。

〃Make　haste！〃　cried　his　fellows：　〃we'll　find　the　wine　cask　itself　at　the　palace；　and　that　will　be　better　than　a　hundred　crystal　fountains。〃

Then　they　quickened　their　pace；　and　capered　for　joy　at　the　thought　of　the　savory　banquet　at　which　they　hoped　to　be　guests。　But　Eurylochus　told　them　that　he　felt　as　if　he　were　walking　in　a　dream。

〃If　I　am　really　awake；〃　continued　he；　〃then；　in　my　opinion；　we　are　on　the　point　of　meeting　with　some　stranger　adventure　than　any　that　befell　us　in　the　cave　of　Polyphemus；　or　among　the　gigantic　man…eating　Laestrygons；　or　in　the　windy　palace　of　King　Aeolus；　which　stands　on　a　brazen…walled　island。　This　kind　of　dreamy　feeling　always　comes　over　me　before　any　wonderful　occurrence。　If　you　take　my　advice；　you　will　turn　back。〃

〃No；　no；〃　answered　his　comrades；　snuffing　the　air；　in　which　the　scent　from　the　palace　kitchen　was　now　very　perceptible。　〃We　would　not　turn　back；　though　we　were　certain　that　the　king　of　the　Laestrygons；　as　big　as　a　mountain；　would　sit　at　the　head　of　the　table；　and　huge　Polyphemus；　the　one…eyed　Cyclops；　at　its　foot。〃

At　length　they　came　within　full　sight　of　the　palace；　which　proved　to　be　very　large　and　lofty；　with　a　great　number　of　airy　pinnacles　upon　its　roof。　Though　it　was　midday；　and　the　sun　shone　brightly　over　the　marble　front；　yet　its　snowy　whiteness；　and　its　fantastic　style　of　architecture；　made　it　look　unreal；　like　the　frost　work　on　a　window　pane；　or　like　the　shapes　of　castles　which　one　sees　among　the　clouds　by　moonlight。　But；　just　then；　a　puff　of　wind　brought　down　the　smoke　of　the　kitchen　chimney　among　them；　and　caused　each　man　to　smell　the　odor　of　the　dish　that　he　liked　best；　and；　after　scenting　it；　they　thought　everything　else　moonshine；　and　nothing　real　save　this　palace；　and　save　the　banquet　that　was　evidently　ready　to　be　served　up　in　it。

So　they　hastened　their　steps　towards　the　portal；　but　had　not　got　half　way　across　the　wide　lawn；　when　a　pack　of　lions；　tigers；　and　wolves　came　bounding　to　meet　them。　The　terrified　mariners　started　back；　expecting　no　better　fate　than　to　be　torn　to　pieces　and　devoured。　To　their　surprise　and　joy；　however；　these　wild　beasts　merely　capered　around　them；　wagging　their　tails；　offering　their　heads　to　be　stroked　and　patted；　and　behaving　just　like　so　many　well…bred　house　dogs；　when　they　wish　to　express　their　delight　at　meeting　their　master；　or　their　master's　friends。　The　biggest　lion　licked　the　feet　of　Eurylochus；　and　every　other　lion；　and　every　wolf　and　tiger；　singled　out　one　of　his　two　and　twenty　followers；　whom　the　beast　fondled　as　if　he　loved　him　better　than　a　beef　bone。

But；　for　all　that；　Eurylochus　imagined　that　he　saw　something　fierce　and　savage　in　their　eyes；　nor　would　he　have　been　surprised；　at　any　moment；　to　feel　the　big　lion's　terrible　claws；　or　to　see　each　of　the　tigers　make　a　deadly　spring；　or　each　wolf　leap　at　the　throat　of　the　man　whom　he　had　fondled。　Their　mildness　seemed　unreal；　and　a　mere　freak；　but　their　savage　nature　was　as　true　as　their　teeth　and　claws。

Nevertheless；　the　men　went　safely　across　the　lawn　with　the　wild　beasts　frisking　about　them；　and　doing　no　manner　of　harm；　although；　as　they　mounted　the　steps　of　the　palace；　you　might　possibly　have　heard　a　low　growl；　particularly　from　the　wolves；　as　if　they　thought　it　a　pity；　after　all；　to　let　the　strangers　pass　without　so　much　as　tasting　what　they　were　made　of。

Eurylochus　and　his　followers　now　passed　under　a　lofty　portal；　and　looked　through　the　open　doorway　into　the　interior　of　the　palace。　The　first　thing　that　they　saw　was　a　spacious　hall；　and　a　fountain　in　the　middle　of　it；　gushing　up　towards　the　ceiling　out　of　a　marble　basin；　and　falling　back　into　it　with　a　continual　plash。　The　water　of　this　fountain；　as　it　spouted　upward；　was　constantly　taking　new　shapes；　not　very　distinctly；　but　plainly　enough　for　a　nimble　fancy　to　recognize　what　they　were。　Now　it　was　the　shape　of　a　man　in　a　long　robe；　the　fleecy　whiteness　of　which　was　made　out　of　the　fountain's　spray；　now　it　was　a　lion；　or　a　tiger；　or　a　wolf；　or　an　ass；　or；　as　often　as　anything　else；　a　hog；　wallowing　in　the　marble　basin　as　if　it　were　his　sty。　It　was　either　magic　or　some　very　curious　machinery　that　caused　the　gushing　waterspout　to　assume　all　these　forms。　But；　before　the　strangers　had　time　to　look　closely　at　this　wonderful　sight；　their　attention　was　drawn　off　by　a　very　sweet　and　agreeable　sound。　A　woman's　voice　was　singing　melodiously　in　another　room　of　the　palace；　and　with　her　voice　was　mingled　the　noise　of　a　loom；　at　which　she　was　probably　seated；　weaving　a　rich　texture　of　cloth；　and　intertwining　the　high　and　low　sweetness　of　her　voice　into　a　rich　tissue　of　harmony。

By　and　by；　the　song　came　to　an　end；　and　then；　all　at　once；　there　were　several　feminine　voices；　talking　airily　and　cheerfully；　with　now　and　then　a　merry　burst　of　laughter；　such　as　you　may　always　hear　when　three　or　four　young　women　sit　at　work　together。

〃What　a　sweet　song　that　was！〃　exclaimed　one　of　the　voyagers。

〃Too　sweet；　indeed；〃　answered　Eurylochus；　shaking　his　head。　〃Yet　it　was　not　so　sweet　as　the　song　of　the　Sirens；　those　bird…like　damsels　who　wanted　to　tempt　us　on　the　rocks；　so　that　our　vessel　might　be　wrecked；　and　our　bones　left　whitening　along　the　shore。〃

〃But　just　listen　to　the　pleasant　voices　of　those　maidens；　and　that　buzz　of　the　loom；　as　the　shuttle　passes　to　and　fro；〃　said　another　comrade。　〃What　a　domestic；　household；　home…like　sound　it　is！　Ah；　before　that　weary　siege　of　Troy；　I　used　to　hear　the　buzzing　loom　and　the　women's　voices　under　my　own　roof。　Shall　I　never　hear　them　again？　nor　taste　those　nice　little　savory　dishes　which　my　dearest　wife　knew　how　to　serve　up？〃

〃Tush！　we　shall　fare　better　here；〃　said　another。　〃But　how　innocently　those　women　are　babbling　together；　without　guessing　that　we　overhear　them！　And　mark　that　richest　voice　of　all；　so　pleasant　and　so　familiar；　but　which　yet　seems　to　have　the　authority　of　a　mistress　among　them。　Let　us　show　ourselves　at　once。　What　harm　can　the　lady　of　the　palace　and　her　maidens　do　to　mariners　and　warriors　like　us？〃

〃Remember；〃　said　Eurylochus；　〃that　it　was　a　young　maiden　who　beguiled　three　of　our　friends　into　the　palace　of　the　king　of　the　Laestrygons；　who　ate　up　one　of　them　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye。〃

No　warning　or　persuasion；　however；　had　any　effect　on　his　companions。　They　went　up　to　a　pair　of　folding　doors　at　the　farther　end　of　the　hall；　and　throwing　them　wide　open；　passed　into　the　next　room。　Eurylochus；　meanwhile；　had　stepped　behind　a　pillar。　In　the　short　moment　while　the　folding　doors　opened　and　closed　again；　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　very　beautiful　woman　rising　from　the　loom；　and　coming　to　meet　the　poor　weather…beaten　wanderers；　with　a　hospitable　smile；　and　her　hand　stretched　out　in　welcome。　There　were　four　other　young　women；　who　joined　their　hands　and　danced　merrily　forward；　making　gestures　of　obeisance　to　the　strangers。　They　were　only　less　beautiful　than　the　lady　who　seemed　to　be　their　mistress。　Yet　Eurylochus　fancied　that　one　of　them　had　sea…green　hair；　and　that　the　close…fitting　bodice　of　a　second　looked　like　the　bark　of　a　tree；　and　that　both　the　others　had　something　odd　in　thei