tanglewood tales-第26章

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〃It　is　the　only　one　in　the　world；〃　said　the　servant。

He　set　down　the　golden　salver；　with　the　wizened　pomegranate　upon　it；　and　left　the　room。　When　he　was　gone；　Proserpina　could　not　help　coming　close　to　the　table；　and　looking　at　this　poor　specimen　of　dried　fruit　with　a　great　deal　of　eagerness；　for；　to　say　the　truth；　on　seeing　something　that　suited　her　taste；　she　felt　all　the　six　months'　appetite　taking　possession　of　her　at　once。　To　be　sure；　it　was　a　very　wretched…looking　pomegranate；　and　seemed　to　have　no　more　juice　in　it　than　an　oyster　shell。　But　there　was　no　choice　of　such　things　in　King　Pluto's　palace。　This　was　the　first　fruit　she　had　seen　there；　and　the　last　she　was　ever　likely　to　see；　and　unless　she　ate　it　up　immediately；　it　would　grow　drier　than　it　already　was；　and　be　wholly　unfit　to　eat。

〃At　least；　I　may　smell　it；〃　thought　Proserpina。

So　she　took　up　the　pomegranate；　and　applied　it　to　her　nose；　and；　somehow　or　other；　being　in　such　close　neighborhood　to　her　mouth；　the　fruit　found　its　way　into　that　little　red　cave。　Dear　me！　what　an　everlasting　pity！　Before　Proserpina　knew　what　she　was　about；　her　teeth　had　actually　bitten　it；　of　their　own　accord。　Just　as　this　fatal　deed　was　done；　the　door　of　the　apartment　opened；　and　in　came　King　Pluto；　followed　by　Quicksilver；　who　had　been　urging　him　to　let　his　little　prisoner　go。　At　the　first　noise　of　their　entrance；　Proserpina　withdrew　the　pomegranate　from　her　mouth。　But　Quicksilver　（whose　eyes　were　very　keen；　and　his　wits　the　sharpest　that　ever　anybody　had）　perceived　that　the　child　was　a　little　confused；　and　seeing　the　empty　salver；　he　suspected　that　she　had　been　taking　a　sly　nibble　of　something　or　other。　As　for　honest　Pluto；　he　never　guessed　at　the　secret。

〃My　little　Proserpina；〃　said　the　king；　sitting　down；　and　affectionately　drawing　her　between　his　knees；　〃here　is　Quicksilver；　who　tells　me　that　a　great　many　misfortunes　have　befallen　innocent　people　on　account　of　my　detaining　you　in　my　dominions。　To　confess　the　truth；　I　myself　had　already　reflected　that　it　was　an　unjustifiable　act　to　take　you　away　from　your　good　mother。　But；　then；　you　must　consider；　my　dear　child；　that　this　vast　palace　is　apt　to　be　gloomy　（although　the　precious　stones　certainly　shine　very　bright）；　and　that　I　am　not　of　the　most　cheerful　disposition；　and　that　therefore　it　was　a　natural　thing　enough　to　seek　for　the　society　of　some　merrier　creature　than　myself。　I　hoped　you　would　take　my　crown　for　a　plaything；　and　meah；　you　laugh；　naughty　Proserpiname；　grim　as　I　am；　for　a　playmate。　It　was　a　silly　expectation。〃

〃Not　so　extremely　silly；〃　whispered　Proserpina。　〃You　have　really　amused　me　very　much；　sometimes。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　King　Pluto；　rather　dryly。　〃But　I　can　see　plainly　enough；　that　you　think　my　palace　a　dusky　prison；　and　me　the　iron…hearted　keeper　of　it。　And　an　iron　heart　I　should　surely　have；　if　I　could　detain　you　here　any　longer；　my　poor　child；　when　it　is　now　six　months　since　you　tasted　food。　I　give　you　your　liberty。　Go　with　Quicksilver。　Hasten　home　to　your　dear　mother。〃

Now；　although　you　may　not　have　supposed　it；　Proserpina　found　it　impossible　to　take　leave　of　poor　King　Pluto　without　some　regrets；　and　a　good　deal　of　compunction　for　not　telling　him　about　the　pomegranate。　She　even　shed　a　tear　or　two；　thinking　how　lonely　and　cheerless　the　great　palace　would　seem　to　him；　with　all　its　ugly　glare　of　artificial　light；　after　she　herselfhis　one　little　ray　of　natural　sunshine；　whom　he　had　stolen；　to　be　sure；　but　only　because　he　valued　her　so　muchafter　she　should　have　departed。　I　know　not　how　many　kind　things　she　might　have　said　to　the　disconsolate　king　of　the　mines；　had　not　Quicksilver　hurried　her　way。

〃Come　along　quickly；〃　whispered　he　in　her　ear；　〃or　his　majesty　may　change　his　royal　mind。　And　take　care；　above　all　things；　that　you　say　nothing　of　what　was　brought　you　on　the　golden　salver。〃

In　a　very　short　time；　they　had　passed　the　great　gateway　（leaving　the　three…headed　Cerberus；　barking；　and　yelping；　and　growling；　with　threefold　din；　behind　them）；　and　emerged　upon　the　surface　of　the　earth。　It　was　delightful　to　behold；　as　Proserpina　hastened　along；　how　the　path　grew　verdant　behind　and　on　either　side　of　her。　Wherever　she　set　her　blessed　foot；　there　was　at　once　a　dewy　flower。　The　violets　gushed　up　along　the　wayside。　The　grass　and　the　grain　began　to　sprout　with　tenfold　vigor　and　luxuriance；　to　make　up　for　the　dreary　months　that　had　been　wasted　in　barrenness。　The　starved　cattle　immediately　set　to　work　grazing；　after　their　long　fast；　and　ate　enormously；　all　day；　and　got　up　at　midnight　to　eat　more。

But　I　can　assure　you　it　was　a　busy　time　of　year　with　the　farmers；　when　they　found　the　summer　coming　upon　them　with　such　a　rush。　Nor　must　I　forget　to　say；　that　all　the　birds　in　the　whole　world　hopped　about　upon　the　newly…blossoming　trees；　and　sang　together；　in　a　prodigious　ecstasy　of　joy。

Mother　Ceres　had　returned　to　her　deserted　home；　and　was　sitting　disconsolately　on　the　doorstep；　with　her　torch　burning　in　her　hand。　She　had　been　idly　watching　the　flame　for　some　moments　past；　when；　all　at　once；　it　flickered　and　went　out。

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　thought　she。　〃It　was　an　enchanted　torch；　and　should　have　kept　burning　till　my　child　came　back。〃

Lifting　her　eyes；　she　was　surprised　to　see　a　sudden　verdure　flashing　over　the　brown　and　barren　fields；　exactly　as　you　may　have　observed　a　golden　hue　gleaming　far　and　wide　across　the　landscape；　from　the　just　risen　sun。

〃Does　the　earth　disobey　me？〃　　xclaimed　Mother　Ceres；　indignantly。　〃Does　it　presume　to　be　green；　when　I　have　bidden　it　be　barren；　until　my　daughter　shall　be　restored　to　my　arms？〃

〃Then　open　your　arms；　dear　mother；〃　cried　a　well…known　voice；　〃and　take　your　little　daughter　into　them。〃

And　Proserpina　came　running；　and　flung　herself　upon　her　mother's　bosom。　Their　mutual　transport　is　not　to　be　described。　The　grief　of　their　separation　had　caused　both　of　them　to　shed　a　great　many　tears；　and　now　they　shed　a　great　many　more；　because　their　joy　could　not　so　well　express　itself　in　any　other　way。

When　their　hearts　had　grown　a　little　more　quiet；　Mother　Ceres　looked　anxiously　at　Proserpina。

〃My　child；〃　said　she；　〃did　you　taste　any　food　while　you　were　in　King　Pluto's　palace？〃

〃Dearest　mother；〃　exclaimed　Proserpina；　〃I　will　tell　you　the　whole　truth。　Until　this　very　morning；　not　a　morsel　of　food　had　passed　my　lips。　But　to…day；　they　brought　me　a　pomegranate　（a　very　dry　one　it　was；　and　all　shriveled　up；　till　there　was　little　left　of　it　but　seeds　and　skin）；　and　having　seen　no　fruit　for　so　long　a　time；　and　being　faint　with　hunger；　I　was　tempted　just　to　bite　it。　The　instant　I　tasted　it；　King　Pluto　and　Quicksilver　came　into　the　room。　I　had　not　swallowed　a　morsel；　butdear　mother；　I　hope　it　was　no　harmbut　six　of　the　pomegranate　seeds；　I　am　afraid；　remained　in　my　mouth。〃

〃Ah；　unfortunate　child；　and　miserable　me！〃　exclaimed　Ceres。　〃For　each　of　those　six　pomegranate　seeds　you　must　spend　one　month　of　every　year　in　King　Pluto's　palace。　You　are　but　half　restored　to　your　mother。　Only　six　months　with　me；　and　six　with　that　good…for…nothing　King　of　Darkness！〃

〃Do　not　speak　so　harshly　of　poor　King　Pluto；〃　said　Prosperina；　kissing　her　mother。　〃He　has　some　very　good　qualities；　and　I　really　think　I　can　bear　to　spend　six　months　in　his　palace；　if　he　will　only　let　me　spend　the　other　six　with　you。　He　certainly　did　very　wrong　to　carry　me　off；　but　then；　as　he　says；　it　was　but　a　dismal　sort　of　life　for　him；　to　live　in　that　great　gloomy　place；　all　alone；　and　it　has　made　a　wonderful　change　in　his　spirits　to　have　a　little　girl　to　run　up　stairs　and　down。　There　is　some　comfort　in　making　him　so　happy；　and　so；　upon　the　whole；　dearest　mother；　let　us　be　thankful　that　he　is　not　to　keep　me　the　whole　year　round。〃



THE　GOLDEN　FLEECE。

When　Jason；　the　son　of　the　dethroned　King　of　Iolchos；　was　a　little　boy；　he　was　sent　away　from　his　parents；　and　placed　under　the　queerest　schoolmaster　that　ever　you　heard　of。　This　learned　person　was　one　of　the　people；　or　quadrupeds；　called　Centaurs。　He　lived　in　a　cavern；　and　had　the　body　and　legs　of　a　white　horse；　with　the　head　and　shoulders　of　a　man。　His　name　was　Chiron；　and；　in　spite　of　his　odd　appearance；　he　was　a　very　excellent　teacher；　and　had　several　scholars；　who　afterwards　did　him　credit　by　making　a　great　figure　in　the　world。　The　famous　Hercules　was　one；　and　so　was　Achilles；　and　Philoctetes　likewise；　and　Aesculapius；　who　acquired　immense　repute　as　a　doctor。　The　good　Chiron　taught　his　pupils　how　to　play　upon　the　harp；　and　how　to　cure　diseases；　and　how　to　use　the　sword　and　shield；　together　with　various　other　branches　of　education；　in　which　the　lads　of　those　days　used　to　be　instructed；　instead　of　writing　and　arithmetic。

I　have　sometimes　suspected　that　Master　Chiron　was　not　really　very　different　from　other　people；　but　that；　being　a　kind…hearted　and　merry　old　fellow；　he　was　in　the　habit　of　making　believe　that　he　was　a　horse；　and　scrambling　about　the　schoolroom　on　all　fours；　and　letting　the　little　boys　ride　upon　his　back。　And　so；　when　his　scholars　had　grown　up；　and　grown　old；　and　were　trotting　their　grandchildren　on　their　knees；　they　told　them　about　the　sports　of　their　school　days；　and　these　young　folks　took　the　idea　that　their　grandfathers　had　been　taught　their　letters　by　a　Centaur；　half　man　and　half　horse。　Little　children；　not　quite　understanding　what　is　said　to　them；　often　get　such　absurd　notions　into　their　heads；　you　know。

Be　that　as　it　may；　it　has　always　been　told　for　a　fact　（and　always　will　be　told；　as　long　as　the　world　lasts）；　that　Chiron；　with　the　head　of　a　schoolmaster；　had　the　body　and　legs　of　a　horse。　Just　imagine　the　grave　old　gentleman　clattering　and　stamping　into　the　schoolroom　on　his　four　hoofs；　perhaps　treading　on　some　little　fellow's　toes；　flourishing　his　switch　tail　instead　of　a　rod；　and；　now　and　then；　trotting　out　of　doors　to　eat　a　mouthful　of　grass！　I　wonder　what　the　blacksmith　charged　him　for　a　set　of　iron　shoes？

So　Jason　dwelt　in　the　cave；　with　this　four…footed　Chiron；　from　the　time　that　he　was　an　infant；　only　a　few　months　old；　until　he　had　grown　to　the　full　height　of　a　man。　He　became　a　very　good　harper；　I　suppose；　and　skilful　in　the　use　of　weapons；　and　tolerably　acquainted　with　herbs　and　other　doctor's　stuff；　and；　above　all；　an　admirable　horseman；　for；　in　teaching　young　people　to　ride；　the　good　Chiron　must　have　been　without　a　rival　among　schoolmasters。　At　length；　being　now　a　tall　and　athletic　youth；　Jason　resolved　to　seek　his　fortune　in　the　world；　without　asking　Chiron's　advice；　or　telling　him　anything　about　the　matter。　This　was　very　unwise；　to　be　sure；　and　I　hope　none　of　you；　my　little　hearers；　will　ever　follow　Jason's　example。

But；　you　are　to　understand；　he　had　heard　how　that　he　himself　was　a　prince　royal；　and　how　his　father；　King　Jason；　had　been　deprived　of　the　kingdom　of　Iolchos　by　a　certain　Pelias；　who　would　also　have　killed　Jason；　had　he　not　been　hidden　in　the　Centaur's　cave。　And；　being　come　to　the　strength　of　a　man；　Jason　determined　to　set　all　this　business　to　rights；　and　to　punish　the　wicked　Pelias　for　wronging　his　dear　father；　and　to　cast　him　down　from　the　throne；　and　seat　himself　there　instead。

With　this　intention；　he　took　a　spear　in　each　hand；　and　threw　a　leopard's　skin　over　his　shoulders；　to　keep　off　the　rain；　and　set　fo