tanglewood tales-第19章

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〃Begone　to　your　sty！〃　cried　the　enchantress；　giving　them　some　smart　strokes　with　her　wand；　and　then　she　turned　to　the　serving　men〃Drive　out　these　swine；　and　throw　down　some　acorns　for　them　to　eat。〃

The　door　of　the　saloon　being　flung　open；　the　drove　of　hogs　ran　in　all　directions　save　the　right　one；　in　accordance　with　their　hoggish　perversity；　but　were　finally　driven　into　the　back　yard　of　the　palace。　It　was　a　sight　to　bring　tears　into　one's　eyes　（and　I　hope　none　of　you　will　be　cruel　enough　to　laugh　at　it）；　to　see　the　poor　creatures　go　snuffing　along；　picking　up　here　a　cabbage　leaf　and　there　a　turnip　top；　and　rooting　their　noses　in　the　earth　for　whatever　they　could　find。　In　their　sty；　moreover；　they　behaved　more　piggishly　than　the　pigs　that　had　been　born　so；　for　they　bit　and　snorted　at　one　another；　put　their　feet　in　the　trough；　and　gobbled　up　their　victuals　in　a　ridiculous　hurry；　and；　when　there　was　nothing　more　to　be　had；　they　made　a　great　pile　of　themselves　among　some　unclean　straw；　and　fell　fast　asleep。　If　they　had　any　human　reason　left；　it　was　just　enough　to　keep　them　wondering　when　they　should　be　slaughtered；　and　what　quality　of　bacon　they　should　make。

Meantime；　as　I　told　you　before；　Eurylochus　had　waited；　and　waited；　and　waited；　in　the　entrance　hall　of　the　palace；　without　being　able　to　comprehend　what　had　befallen　his　friends。　At　last；　when　the　swinish　uproar　resounded　through　the　palace；　and　when　he　saw　the　image　of　a　hog　in　the　marble　basin；　he　thought　it　best　to　hasten　back　to　the　vessel；　and　inform　the　wise　Ulysses　of　these　marvelous　occurrences。　So　he　ran　as　fast　as　he　could　down　the　steps；　and　never　stopped　to　draw　breath　till　he　reached　the　shore。

〃Why　do　you　come　alone？〃　asked　King　Ulysses；　as　soon　as　he　saw　him。　〃Where　are　your　two　and　twenty　comrades？〃

At　these　questions；　Eurylochus　burst　into　tears。

〃Alas！〃　he　cried；　〃I　greatly　fear　that　we　shall　never　see　one　of　their　faces　again。〃

Then　he　told　Ulysses　all　that　had　happened；　as　far　as　he　knew　it；　and　added　that　he　suspected　the　beautiful　woman　to　be　a　vile　enchantress；　and　the　marble　palace；　magnificent　as　it　looked；　to　be　only　a　dismal　cavern　in　reality。　As　for　his　companions；　he　could　not　imagine　what　had　become　of　them；　unless　they　had　been　given　to　the　swine　to　be　devoured　alive。　At　this　intelligence；　all　the　voyagers　were　greatly　affrighted。　But　Ulysses　lost　no　time　in　girding　on　his　sword；　and　hanging　his　bow　and　quiver　over　his　shoulders；　and。　taking　a　spear　in　his　right　hand。　When　his　followers　saw　their　wise　leader　making　these　preparations；　they　inquired　whither　he　was　going；　and　earnestly　besought　him　not　to　leave　them。

〃You　are　our　king；〃　cried　they；　〃and　what　is　more；　you　are　the　wisest　man　in　the　whole　world；　and　nothing　but　your　wisdom　and　courage　can　get　us　out　of　this　danger。　If　you　desert　us；　and　go　to　the　enchanted　palace；　you　will　suffer　the　same　fate　as　our　poor　companions；　and　not　a　soul　of　us　will　ever　see　our　dear　Ithaca　again。〃

〃As　I　am　your　king；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃and　wiser　than　any　of　you；　it　is　therefore　the　more　my　duty　to　see　what　has　befallen　our　comrades；　and　whether　anything　can　yet　be　done　to　rescue　them。　Wait　for　me　here　until　tomorrow。　If　I　do　not　then　return；　you　must　hoist　sail；　and　endeavor　to　find　your　way　to　our　native　land。　For　my　part；　I　am　answerable　for　the　fate　of　these　poor　mariners；　who　have　stood　by　my　side　in　battle；　and　been　so　often　drenched　to　the　skin；　along　with　me；　by　the　same　tempestuous　surges。　I　will　either　bring　them　back　with　me；　or　perish。〃

Had　his　followers　dared；　they　would　have　detained　him　by　force。　But　King　Ulysses　frowned　sternly　on　them；　and　shook　his　spear；　and　bade　them　stop　him　at　their　peril。　Seeing　him　so　determined；　they　let　him　go；　and　sat　down　on　the　sand；　as　disconsolate　a　set　of　people　as　could　be；　waiting　and　praying　for　his　return。

It　happened　to　Ulysses；　just　as　before；　that；　when　he　had　gone　a　few　steps　from　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　the　purple　bird　came　fluttering　towards　him；　crying；　〃Peep；　peep；　peweep！〃　and　using　all　the　art　it　could　to　persuade　him　to　go　no　farther。

〃What　mean　you；　little　bird？〃　cried　Ulysses。　〃You　are　arrayed　like　a　king　in　purple　and　gold；　and　wear　a　golden　crown　upon　your　head。　Is　it　because　I　too　am　a　king；　that　you　desire　so　earnestly　to　speak　with　me？　If　you　can　talk　in　human　language；　say　what　you　would　have　me　do。〃

〃Peep！〃　answered　the　purple　bird；　very　dolorously。　〃Peep；　peep；　pewee！〃

Certainly　there　lay　some　heavy　anguish　at　the　little　bird's　heart；　and　it　was　a　sorrowful　predicament　that　he　could　not；　at　least；　have　the　consolation　of　telling　what　it　was。　But　Ulysses　had　no　time　to　waste　in　trying　to　get　at　the　mystery。　He　therefore　quickened　his　pace；　and　had　gone　a　good　way　along　the　pleasant　wood　path；　when　there　met　him　a　young　man　of　very　brisk　and　intelligent　aspect；　and　clad　in　a　rather　singular　garb。　He　wore　a　short　cloak　and　a　sort　of　cap　that　seemed　to　be　furnished　with　a　pair　of　wings；　and　from　the　lightness　of　his　step；　you　would　have　supposed　that　there　might　likewise　be　wings　on　his　feet。　To　enable　him　to　walk　still　better　（for　he　was　always　on　one　journey　or　another）　he　carried　a　winged　staff；　around　which　two　serpents　were　wriggling　and　twisting。　In　short；　I　have　said　enough　to　make　you　guess　that　it　was　Quicksilver；　and　Ulysses　（who　knew　him　of　old；　and　had　learned　a　great　deal　of　his　wisdom　from　him）　recognized　him　in　a　moment。

〃Whither　are　you　going　in　such　a　hurry；　wise　Ulysses？〃　asked　Quicksilver。　〃Do　you　not　know　that　this　island　is　enchanted？　The　wicked　enchantress　（whose　name　is　Circe；　the　sister　of　King　Aetes）　dwells　in　the　marble　palace　which　you　see　yonder　among　the　trees。　By　her　magic　arts　she　changes　every　human　being　into　the　brute；　beast；　or　fowl　whom　he　happens　most　to　resemble。〃

〃That　little　bird；　which　met　me　at　the　edge　of　the　cliff；〃　exclaimed　Ulysses；　〃was　he　a　human　being　once？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Quicksilver。　〃He　was　once　a　king；　named　Picus；　and　a　pretty　good　sort　of　a　king；　too；　only　rather　too　proud　of　his　purple　robe；　and　his　crown；　and　the　golden　chain　about　his　neck；　so　he　was　forced　to　take　the　shape　of　a　gaudy…feathered　bird。　The　lions；　and　wolves；　and　tigers；　who　will　come　running　to　meet　you；　in　front　of　the　palace；　were　formerly　fierce　and　cruel　　men；　resembling　in　their　disposition　the　wild　beasts　whose　forms　they　now　rightfully　wear。〃

〃And　my　poor　companions；〃　said　Ulysses。　〃Have　they　undergone　a　similar　change；　through　the　arts　of　this　wicked　Circe？〃

〃You　well　know　what　gormandizers　they　were；〃　replied　Quicksilver；　and　rogue　that　he　was；　he　could　not　help　laughing　at　the　joke。　〃So　you　will　not　be　surprised　to　hear　that　they　have　all　taken　the　shapes　of　swine！　If　Circe　had　never　done　anything　worse；　I　really　should　not　think　her　so　very　much　to　blame。〃

〃But　can　I　do　nothing　to　help　them？〃　inquired　Ulysses。

〃It　will　require　all　your　wisdom；〃　said　Quicksilver；　〃and　a　little　of　my　own　into　the　bargain；　to　keep　your　royal　and　sagacious　self　from　being　transformed　into　a　fox。　But　do　as　I　bid　you；　and　the　matter　may　end　better　than　it　has　begun。〃

While　he　was　speaking；　Quicksilver　seemed　to　be　in　search　of　something；　he　went　stooping　along　the　ground；　and　soon　laid　his　hand　on　a　little　plant　with　a　snow…white　flower；　which　he　plucked　and　smelt　of。　Ulysses　had　been　looking　at　that　very　spot　only　just　before；　and　it　appeared　to　him　that　the　plant　had　burst　into　full　flower　the　instant　when　Quicksilver　touched　it　with　his　fingers。

〃Take　this　flower；　King　Ulysses；〃　said　he。　〃Guard　it　as　you　do　your　eyesight；　for　I　can　assure　you　it　is　exceedingly　rare　and　precious；　and　you　might　seek　the　whole　earth　over　without　ever　finding　another　like　it。　Keep　it　in　your　hand；　and　smell　of　it　frequently　after　you　enter　the　palace；　and　while　you　are　talking　with　the　enchantress。　Especially　when　she　offers　you　food；　or　a　draught　of　wine　out　of　her　goblet；　be　careful　to　fill　your　nostrils　with　the　flower's　fragrance。　Follow　these　directions；　and　you　may　defy　her　magic　arts　to　change　you　into　a　fox。〃

Quicksilver　then　gave　him　some　further　advice　how　to　behave；　and　bidding　him　be　bold　and　prudent；　again　assured　him　that；　powerful　as　Circe　was；　he　would　have　a　fair　prospect　of　coming　safely　out　of　her　enchanted　palace。　After　listening　attentively；　Ulysses　thanked　his　good　friend；　and　resumed　his　way。　But　he　had　taken　only　a　few　steps；　when；　recollecting　some　other　questions　which　he　wished　to　ask；　he　turned　round　again；　and　beheld　nobody　on　the　spot　where　Quicksilver　had　stood；　for　that　winged　cap　of　his；　and　those　winged　shoes；　with　the　help　of　the　winged　staff；　had　carried　him　quickly　out　of　sight。

When　Ulysses　reached　the　lawn；　in　front　of　the　palace；　the　lions　and　other　savage　animals　came　bounding　to　meet　him；　and　would　have　fawned　upon　him　and　licked　his　feet。　But　the　wise　king　struck　at　them　with　his　long　spear；　and　sternly　bade　them　begone　out　of　his　path；　for　he　knew　that　they　had　once　been　bloodthirsty　men；　and　would　now　tear　him　limb　from　limb；　instead　of　fawning　upon　him；　could　they　do　the　mischief　that　was　in　their　hearts。　The　wild　beasts　yelped　and　glared　at　him；　and　stood　at　a　distance；　while　he　ascended　the　palace　steps。

On　entering　the　hall；　Ulysses　saw　the　magic　fountain　in　the　center　of　it。　The　up…gushing　water　had　now　again　taken　the　shape　of　a　man　in　a　long；　white；　fleecy　robe；　who　appeared　to　be　making　gestures　of　welcome。　The　king　likewise　heard　the　noise　of　the　shuttle　in　the　loom　and　the　sweet　melody　of　the　beautiful　woman's　song；　and　then　the　pleasant　voices　of　herself　and　the　four　maidens　talking　together；　with　peals　of　merry　laughter　intermixed。　But　Ulysses　did　not　waste　much　time　in　listening　to　the　laughter　or　the　song。　He　leaned　his　spear　against　one　of　the　pillars　of　the　hall；　and　then；　after　loosening　his　sword　in　the　scabbard；　stepped　boldly　forward；　and　threw　the　folding　doors　wide　open。　The　moment　she　beheld　his　stately　figure　standing　in　the　doorway；　the　beautiful　woman　rose　from　the　loom；　and　ran　to　meet　him　with　a　glad　smile　throwing　its　sunshine　over　her　face；　and　both　her　hands　extended。

〃Welcome；　brave　stranger！〃　cried　she。　〃We　were　expecting　you。〃

And　the　nymph　with　the　sea…green　hair　made　a　courtesy　down　to　the　ground；　and　likewise　bade　him　welcome；　so　did　her　sister　with　the　bodice　of　oaken　bark；　and　she　that　sprinkled　dew…drops　from　her　fingers'　ends；　and　the　fourth　one　with　some　oddity　which　I　cannot　remember。　And　Circe；　as　the　beautiful　enchantress　was　called　（who　had　deluded　so　many　persons　that　she　did　not　doubt　of　being　able　to　delude　Ulysses；　not　imagining　how　wise　he　was）；　again　addressed　him：

〃Your　companions；〃　said　she；　〃have　already　been　received　into　my　palace；　and　have　enjoyed　the　hospitable　treatment　to　which　the　propriety　of　their　behavior　so　well　entitles　them。　If　such　be　your　pleasure；　you　shall　first　take　some　refreshment；　and　then　join　them　in　the　elegant　apartment　which　they　now　occupy。　See；　I　and　my　maidens　have　been　weaving　their　figures　into　this　piece　of　tapestry。〃

She　pointed　to　the　web　of　beautifully…woven　cloth　in　the　loom。　Circe　and　the　four　nymphs　must　have　been　very　diligently　at　work　since　the　arrival　of　the　mariners；　for　a　great　many　yards　of　tapestry　had　nw　been　wrought；　in　addition　to