tanglewood tales-第23章

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er　feet。

〃Where　is　Proserpina？〃　cried　Ceres。　〃Where　is　my　child？　Tell　me；　you　naughty　sea　nymphs；　have　you　enticed　her　under　the　sea？〃

〃O；　no；　good　Mother　Ceres；〃　said　the　innocent　sea　nymphs；　tossing　back　their　green　ringlets；　and　looking　her　in　the　face。　〃We　never　should　dream　of　such　a　thing。　Proserpina　has　been　at　play　with　us；　it　is　true；　but　she　left　us　a　long　while　ago；　meaning　only　to　run　a　little　way　upon　the　dry　land；　and　gather　some　flowers　for　a　wreath。　This　was　early　in　the　day；　and　we　have　seen　nothing　of　her　since。〃

Ceres　scarcely　waited　to　hear　what　the　nymphs　had　to　say；　before　she　hurried　off　to　make　inquiries　all　through　the　neighborhood。　But　nobody　told　her　anything　that　would　enable　the　poor　mother　to　guess　what　had　become　of　Proserpina。　A　fisherman；　it　is　true；　had　noticed　her　little　footprints　in　the　sand；　as　he　went　homeward　along　the　beach　with　a　basket　of　fish；　a　rustic　had　seen　the　child　stooping　to　gather　flowers；　several　persons　had　heard　either　the　rattling　of　chariot　wheels；　or　the　rumbling　of　distant　thunder；　and　one　old　woman；　while　plucking　vervain　and　catnip；　had　heard　a　scream；　but　supposed　it　to　be　some　childish　nonsense；　and　therefore　did　not　take　the　trouble　to　look　up。　The　stupid　people！　It　took　them　such　a　tedious　while　to　tell　the　nothing　that　they　knew；　that　it　was　dark　night　before　Mother　Ceres　found　out　that　she　must　seek　her　daughter　elsewhere。　So　she　lighted　a　torch；　and　set　forth；　resolving　never　to　come　back　until　Proserpina　was　discovered。

In　her　haste　and　trouble　of　mind；　she　quite　forgot　her　car　and　the　winged　dragons；　or；　it　may　be；　she　thought　that　she　could　follow　up　the　search　more　thoroughly　on　foot。　At　all　events；　this　was　the　way　in　which　she　began　her　sorrowful　journey；　holding　her　torch　before　her；　and　looking　carefully　at　every　object　along　the　path。　And　as　it　happened；　she　had　not　gone　far　before　she　found　one　of　the　magnificent　flowers　which　grew　on　the　shrub　that　Proserpina　had　pulled　up。

〃Ha！〃　thought　Mother　Ceres；　examining　it　by　torchlight。　〃Here　is　mischief　in　this　flower！　The　earth　did　not　produce　it　by　any　help　of　mine；　nor　of　its　own　accord。　It　is　the　work　of　enchantment；　and　is　therefore　poisonous；　and　perhaps　it　has　poisoned　my　poor　child。〃

But　she　put　the　poisonous　flower　in　her　bosom；　not　knowing　whether　she　might　ever　find　any　other　memorial　of　Proserpina。

All　night　long；　at　the　door　of　every　cottage　and　farm…house；　Ceres　knocked；　and　called　up　the　weary　laborers　to　inquire　if　they　had　seen　her　child；　and　they　stood；　gaping　and　half…　asleep；　at　the　threshold；　and　answered　her　pityingly；　and　besought　her　to　come　in　and　rest。　At　the　portal　of　every　palace；　too；　she　made　so　loud　a　summons　that　the　menials　hurried　to　throw　open　the　gate；　thinking　that　it　must　be　some　great　king　or　queen；　who　would　demand　a　banquet　for　supper　and　a　stately　chamber　to　repose　in。　And　when　they　saw　only　a　sad　and　anxious　woman；　with　a　torch　in　her　hand　and　a　wreath　of　withered　poppies　on　her　head；　they　spoke　rudely；　and　sometimes　threatened　to　set　the　dogs　upon　her。　But　nobody　had　seen　Proserpina；　nor　could　give　Mother　Ceres　the　least　hint　which　way　to　seek　her。　Thus　passed　the　night；　and　still　she　continued　her　search　without　sitting　down　to　rest；　or　stopping　to　take　food；　or　even　remembering　to　put　out　the　torch　although　first　the　rosy　dawn；　and　then　the　glad　light　of　the　morning　sun；　made　its　red　flame　look　thin　and　pale。　But　I　wonder　what　sort　of　stuff　this　torch　was　made　of；　for　it　burned　dimly　through　the　day；　and；　at　night；　was　as　bright　as　ever；　and　never　was　extinguished　by　the　rain　or　wind；　in　all　the　weary　days　and　nights　while　Ceres　was　seeking　for　Proserpina。

It　was　not　merely　of　human　beings　that　she　asked　tidings　of　her　daughter。　In　the　woods　and　by　the　streams；　she　met　creatures　of　another　nature；　who　used；　in　those　old　times；　to　haunt　the　pleasant　and　solitary　places；　and　were　very　sociable　with　persons　who　understood　their　language　and　customs；　as　Mother　Ceres　did。　Sometimes；　for　instance；　she　tapped　with　her　finger　against　the　knotted　trunk　of　a　majestic　oak；　and　immediately　its　rude　bark　would　cleave　asunder；　and　forth　would　step　a　beautiful　maiden；　who　was　the　hamadryad　of　the　oak；　dwelling　inside　of　it；　and　sharing　its　long　life；　and　rejoicing　when　its　green　leaves　sported　with　the　breeze。　But　not　one　of　these　leafy　damsels　had　seen　Proserpina。　Then；　going　a　little　farther；　Ceres　would；　perhaps；　come　to　a　fountain；　gushing　out　of　a　pebbly　hollow　in　the　earth；　and　would　dabble　with　her　hand　in　the　water。　Behold；　up　through　its　sandy　and　pebbly　bed；　along　with　the　fountain's　gush；　a　young　woman　with　dripping　hair　would　arise；　and　stand　gazing　at　Mother　Ceres；　half　out　of　the　water；　and　undulating　up　and　down　with　its　ever…　restless　motion。　But　when　the　mother　asked　whether　her　poor　lost　child　had　stopped　to　drink　out　of　the　fountain；　the　naiad；　with　weeping　eyes　（for　these　water…nymphs　had　tears　to　spare　for　everybody's　grief；　would　answer　〃No！〃　in　a　murmuring　voice；　which　was　just　like　the　murmur　of　the　stream。

Often；　likewise；　she　encountered　fauns；　who　looked　like　sunburnt　country　people；　except　that　they　had　hairy　ears；　and　little　horns　upon　their　foreheads；　and　the　hinder　legs　of　goats；　on　which　they　gamboled　merrily　about　the　woods　and　fields。　They　were　a　frolicsome　kind　of　creature　but　grew　as　sad　as　their　cheerful　dispositions　would　allow；　when　Ceres　inquired　for　her　daughter；　and　they　had　no　good　news　to　tell。　But　sometimes　she　same　suddenly　upon　a　rude　gang　of　satyrs；　who　had　faces　like　monkeys；　and　horses'　tails　behind　them；　and　who　were　generally　dancing　in　a　very　boisterous　manner；　with　shouts　of　noisy　laughter。　When　she　stopped　to　question　them；　they　would　only　laugh　the　louder；　and　make　new　merriment　out　of　the　lone　woman's　distress。　How　unkind　of　those　ugly　satyrs！　And　once；　while　crossing　a　solitary　sheep　pasture；　she　saw　a　personage　named　Pan；　seated　at　the　foot　of　a　tall　rock；　and　making　music　on　a　shepherd's　flute。　He；　too；　had　horns；　and　hairy　ears；　and　goats'　feet；　but；　being　acquainted　with　Mother　Ceres；　he　answered　her　question　as　civilly　as　he　knew　how；　and　invited　her　to　taste　some　milk　and　honey　out　of　a　wooden　bowl。　But　neither　could　Pan　tell　her　what　had　become　of　Proserpina；　any　better　than　the　rest　of　these　wild　people。

And　thus　Mother　Ceres　went　wandering　about　for　nine　long　days　and　nights；　finding　no　trace　of　Proserpina；　unless　it　were　now　and　then　a　withered　flower；　and　these　she　picked　up　and　put　in　her　bosom；　because　she　fancied　that　they　might　have　fallen　from　her　poor　child's　hand。　All　day　she　traveled　onward　through　the　hot　sun；　and；　at　night　again；　the　flame　of　the　torch　would　redden　and　gleam　along　the　pathway；　and　she　continued　her　search　by　its　light；　without　ever　sitting　down　to　rest。

On　the　tenth　day；　she　chanced　to　espy　the　mouth　of　a　cavern　within　which　（though　it　was　bright　noon　everywhere　else）　there　would　have　been　only　a　dusky　twilight；　but　it　so　happened　that　a　torch　was　burning　there。　It　flickered；　and　struggled　with　the　duskiness；　but　could　not　half　light　up　the　gloomy　cavern　with　all　its　melancholy　glimmer。　Ceres　was　resolved　to　leave　no　spot　without　a　search；　so　she　peeped　into　the　entrance　of　the　cave；　and　lighted　it　up　a　little　more；　by　holding　her　own　torch　before　her。　In　so　doing；　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　what　seemed　to　be　a　woman；　sitting　on　the　brown　leaves　of　the　last　autumn；　a　great　heap　of　which　had　been　swept　into　the　cave　by　the　wind。　This　woman　（if　woman　it　were）　was　by　no　means　so　beautiful　as　many　of　her　sex；　for　her　head；　they　tell　me；　was　shaped　very　much　like　a　dog's；　and；　by　way　of　ornament；　she　wore　a　wreath　of　snakes　around　it。　But　Mother　Ceres；　the　moment　she　saw　her；　knew　that　this　was　an　odd　kind　of　a　person；　who　put　all　her　enjoyment　in　being　miserable；　and　never　would　have　a　word　to　say　to　other　people；　unless　they　were　as　melancholy　and　wretched　as　she　herself　delighted　to　be。

〃I　am　wretched　enough　now；〃　thought　poor　Ceres；　〃to　talk　with　this　melancholy　Hecate；　were　she　ten　times　sadder　than　ever　she　was　yet。〃　So　she　stepped　into　the　cave；　and　sat　down　on　the　withered　leaves　by　the　dog…headed　woman's　side。　In　all　the　world；　since　her　daughter's　loss；　she　had　found　no　other　companion。

〃O　Hecate；〃　said　she；　〃if　ever　you　lose　a　daughter；　you　will　know　what　sorrow　is。　Tell　me；　for　pity's　sake；　have　you　seen　my　poor　child　Proserpina　pass　by　the　mouth　of　your　cavern？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Hecate；　in　a　cracked　voice；　and　sighing　betwixt　every　word　or　two；　〃no；　Mother　Ceres；　I　have　seen　nothing　of　your　daughter。　But　my　ears；　you　must　know；　are　made　in　such　a　way；　that　all　cries　of　distress　and　affright　all　over　the　world　are　pretty　sure　to　find　their　way　to　them；　and　nine　days　ago；　as　I　sat　in　my　cave；　making　myself　very　miserable；　I　heard　the　voice　of　a　young　girl；　shrieking　as　if　in　great　distress。　Something　terrible　has　happened　to　the　child；　you　may　rest　assured。　As　well　as　I　could　judge；　a　dragon；　or　some　other　cruel　monster；　was　carrying　her　away。〃

〃You　kill　me　by　saying　so；〃　cried　Ceres；　almost　ready　to　faint。　〃Where　was　the　sound；　and　which　way　did　it　seem　to　go？〃

〃It　passed　very　swiftly　along；〃　said　Hecate；　〃and；　at　the　same　time；　there　was　a　heavy　rumbling　of　wheels　towards　the　eastward。　I　can　tell　you　nothing　more；　except　that；　in　my　honest　opinion；　you　will　never　see　your　daughter　again。　The　best　advice　I　can　give　you　is；　to　take　up　your　abode　in　this　cavern；　where　we　will　be　the　two　most　wretched　women　in　the　world。〃

〃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；　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　abou