tanglewood tales-第28章

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h　he　was　just　going　to　cut　the　bull's　throat；　turned　angrily　about；　and　fixed　his　eyes　on　Jason。　The　people　had　now　withdrawn　from　around　him；　so　that　the　youth　stood　in　an　open　space；　near　the　smoking　altar；　front　to　front　with　the　angry　King　Pelias。

〃Who　are　you？〃　　cried　the　king；　with　a　terrible　frown。　〃And　how　dare　you　make　this　disturbance；　while　I　am　sacrificing　a　black　bull　to　my　father　Neptune？〃

〃It　is　no　fault　of　mine；〃　answered　Jason。　〃Your　majesty　must　blame　the　rudeness　of　your　subjects；　who　have　raised　all　this　tumult　because　one　of　my　feet　happens　to　be　bare。〃

When　Jason　said　this；　the　king　gave　a　quick　startled　glance　down　at　his　feet。

〃Ha！〃　muttered　he；　〃here　is　the　one…sandaled　fellow；　sure　enough！　What　can　I　do　with　him？〃

And　he　clutched　more　closely　the　great　knife　in　his　hand；　as　if　he　were　half　a　mind　to　slay　Jason；　instead　of　the　black　bull。　The　people　round　about　caught　up　the　king's　words；　indistinctly　as　they　were　uttered；　and　first　there　was　a　murmur　amongst　them；　and　then　a　loud　shout。

〃The　one…sandaled　man　has　come！　The　prophecy　must　be　fulfilled！〃

For　you　are　to　know；　that；　many　years　before；　King　Pelias　had　been　told　by　the　Speaking　Oak　of　Dodona；　that　a　man　with　one　sandal　should　cast　him　down　from　his　throne。　On　this　account；　he　had　given　strict　orders　that　nobody　should　ever　come　into　his　presence；　unless　both　sandals　were　securely　tied　upon　his　feet；　and　he　kept　an　officer　in　his　palace；　whose　sole　business　it　was　to　examine　people's　sandals；　and　to　supply　them　with　a　new　pair；　at　the　expense　of　the　royal　treasury；　as　soon　as　the　old　ones　began　to　wear　out。　In　the　whole　course　of　the　king's　reign；　he　had　never　been　thrown　into　such　a　fright　and　agitation　as　by　the　spectacle　of　poor　Jason's　bare　foot。　But；　as　he　was　naturally　a　bold　and　hard…hearted　man；　he　soon　took　courage；　and　began　to　consider　in　what　way　he　might　rid　himself　of　this　terrible　one…sandaled　stranger。

〃My　good　young　man；〃　said　King　Pelias；　taking　the　softest　tone　imaginable；　in　order　to　throw　Jason　off　his　guard；　〃you　are　excessively　welcome　to　my　kingdom。　Judging　by　your　dress；　you　must　have　traveled　a　long　distance；　for　it　is　not　the　fashion　to　wear　leopard　skins　in　this　part　of　the　world。　Pray　what　may　I　call　your　name？　and　where　did　you　receive　your　education？〃

〃My　name　is　Jason；〃　answered　the　young　stranger。　〃Ever　since　my　infancy；　I　have　dwelt　in　the　cave　of　Chiron　the　Centaur。　He　was　my　instructor；　and　taught　me　music；　and　horsemanship；　and　how　to　cure　wounds；　and　likewise　how　to　inflict　wounds　with　my　weapons！〃

〃I　have　heard　of　Chiron　the　schoolmaster；〃　replied　King　Pelias；　〃and　how　that　there　is　an　immense　deal　of　learning　and　wisdom　in　his　head；　although　it　happens　to　be　set　on　a　horse's　body。　It　gives　me　great　delight　to　see　one　of　his　scholars　at　my　court。　But　to　test　how　much　you　have　profited　under　so　excellent　a　teacher；　will　you　allow　me　to　ask　you　a　single　question？〃

〃I　do　not　pretend　to　be　very　wise；〃　said　Jason。　〃But　ask　me　what　you　please；　and　I　will　answer　to　the　best　of　my　ability。〃

Now　King　Pelias　meant　cunningly　to　entrap　the　young　man；　and　to　make　him　say　something　that　should　be　the　cause　of　mischief　and　distraction　to　himself。　So；　with　a　crafty　and　evil　smile　upon　his　face；　he　spoke　as　follows：

〃What　would　you　do；　brave　Jason；〃　asked　he；　〃if　there　were　a　man　in　the　world；　by　whom；　as　you　had　reason　to　believe；　you　were　doomed　to　be　ruined　and　slainwhat　would　you　do；　I　say；　if　that　man　stood　before　you；　and　in　your　power？〃

When　Jason　saw　the　malice　and　wickedness　which　King　Pelias　could　not　prevent　from　gleaming　out　of　his　eyes；　he　probably　guessed　that　the　king　had　discovered　what　he　came　for；　and　that　he　intended　to　turn　his　own　words　against　himself。　Still　he　scorned　to　tell　a　falsehood。　Like　an　upright　and　honorable　prince　as　he　was；　he　determined　to　speak　out　the　real　truth。　Since　the　king　had　chosen　to　ask　him　the　question；　and　since　Jason　had　promised　him　an　answer；　there　was　no　right　way　save　to　tell　him　precisely　what　would　be　the　most　prudent　thing　to　do；　if　he　had　his　worst　enemy　in　his　power。

Therefore；　after　a　moment's　consideration；　he　spoke　up；　with　a　firm　and　manly　voice。

〃I　would　send　such　a　man；〃　said　he；　〃in　quest　of　the　Golden　Fleece！〃

This　enterprise；　you　will　understand；　was；　of　all　others；　the　most　difficult　and　dangerous　in　the　world。　In　the　first　place　it　would　be　necessary　to　make　a　long　voyage　through　unknown　seas。　There　was　hardly　a　hope；　or　a　possibility；　that　any　young　man　who　should　undertake　this　voyage　would　either　succeed　in　obtaining　the　Golden　Fleece；　or　would　survive　to　return　home；　and　tell　of　the　perils　he　had　run。　The　eyes　of　King　Pelias　sparkled　with　joy；　therefore；　when　he　heard　Jason's　reply。

〃Well　said；　wise　man　with　the　one　sandal！〃　cried　he。　〃Go；　then；　and　at　the　peril　of　your　life；　bring　me　back　the　Golden　Fleece。〃

〃I　go；〃　answered　Jason；　composedly。　〃If　I　fail；　you　need　not　fear　that　I　will　ever　come　back　to　trouble　you　again。　But　if　I　return　to　Iolchos　with　the　prize；　then；　King　Pelias；　you　must　hasten　down　from　your　lofty　throne；　and　give　me　your　crown　and　sceptre。〃

〃That　I　will；〃　said　the　king；　with　a　sneer。　〃Meantime；　I　will　keep　them　very　safely　for　you。〃

The　first　thing　that　Jason　thought　of　doing；　after　he　left　the　king's　presence；　was　to　go　to　Dodona；　and　inquire　of　the　Talking　Oak　what　course　it　was　best　to　pursue。　This　wonderful　tree　stood　in　the　center　of　an　ancient　wood。　Its　stately　trunk　rose　up　a　hundred　feet　into　the　air；　and　threw　a　broad　and　dense　shadow　over　more　than　an　acre　of　ground。　Standing　beneath　it；　Jason　looked　up　among　the　knotted　branches　and　green　leaves；　and　into　the　mysterious　heart　of　the　old　tree；　and　spoke　aloud；　as　if　he　were　addressing　some　person　who　was　hidden　in　the　depths　of　the　foliage。

〃What　shall　I　do；〃　said　he；　〃in　order　to　win　the　Golden　Fleece？〃

At　first　there　was　a　deep　silence；　not　only　within　the　shadow　of　the　Talking　Oak；　but　all　through　the　solitary　wood。　In　a　moment　or　two；　however；　the　leaves　of　the　oak　began　to　stir　and　rustle；　as　if　a　gentle　breeze　were　wandering　amongst　them；　although　the　other　trees　of　the　wood　were　perfectly　still。　The　sound　grew　louder；　and　became　like　the　roar　of　a　high　wind。　By　and　by；　Jason　imagined　that　he　could　distinguish　words；　but　very　confusedly；　because　each　separate　leaf　of　the　tree　seemed　to　be　a　tongue；　and　the　whole　myriad　of　tongues　were　babbling　at　once。　But　the　noise　waxed　broader　and　deeper；　until　it　resembled　a　tornado　sweeping　through　the　oak；　and　making　one　great　utterance　out　of　the　thousand　and　thousand　of　little　murmurs　which　each　leafy　tongue　had　caused　by　its　rustling。　And　now；　though　it　still　had　the　tone　of　a　mighty　wind　roaring　among　the　branches；　it　was　also　like　a　deep　bass　voice；　speaking　as　distinctly　as　a　tree　could　be　expected　to　speak；　the　following　words：

〃Go　to　Argus；　the　shipbuilder；　and　bid　him　build　a　galley　with　fifty　oars。〃

Then　the　voice　melted　again　into　the　indistinct　murmur　of　the　rustling　leaves；　and　died　gradually　away。　When　it　was　quite　gone；　Jason　felt　inclined　to　doubt　whether　he　had　actually　heard　the　words；　or　whether　his　fancy　had　not　shaped　them　out　of　the　ordinary　sound　made　by　a　breeze；　while　passing　through　the　thick　foliage　of　the　tree。

But　on　inquiry　among　the　people　of　Iolchos；　he　found　that　there　was　really　a　man　in　the　city；　by　the　name　of　Argus；　who　was　a　very　skilful　builder　of　vessels。　This　showed　some　intelligence　in　the　oak；　else　how　should　it　have　known　that　any　such　person　existed？　At　Jason's　request；　Argus　readily　consented　to　build　him　a　galley　so　big　that　it　should　require　fifty　strong　men　to　row　it；　although　no　vessel　of　such　a　size　and　burden　had　heretofore　been　seen　in　the　world。　So　the　head　carpenter　and　all　his　journeymen　and　apprentices　began　their　work；　and　for　a　good　while　afterwards；　there　they　were；　busily　employed；　hewing　out　the　timbers；　and　making　a　great　clatter　with　their　hammers；　until　the　new　ship；　which　was　called　the　Argo；　seemed　to　be　quite　ready　for　sea。　And；　as　the　Talking　Oak　had　already　given　him　such　good　advice；　Jason　thought　that　it　would　not　be　amiss　to　ask　for　a　little　more。　He　visited　it　again；　therefore；　and　standing　beside　its　huge；　rough　trunk；　inquired　what　he　should　do　next。

This　time；　there　was　no　such　universal　quivering　of　the　leaves；　throughout　the　whole　tree；　as　there　had　been　before。　But　after　a　while；　Jason　observed　that　the　foliage　of　a　great　branch　which　stretched　above　his　head　had　begun　to　rustle；　as　if　the　wind　were　stirring　that　one　bough；　while　all　the　other　boughs　of　the　oak　were　at　rest。

〃Cut　me　off！〃　said　the　branch；　as　soon　as　it　could　speak　distinctly；　〃cut　me　off！　cut　me　off！　and　carve　me　into　a　figure…head　for　your　galley。〃

Accordingly；　Jason　took　the　branch　at　its　word；　and　lopped　it　off　the　tree。　A　carver　in　the　neighborhood　engaged　to　make　the　figurehead。　He　was　a　tolerably　good　workman；　and　had　already　carved　several　figure…heads；　in　what　he　intended　for　feminine　shapes；　and　looking　pretty　much　like　those　which　we　see　nowadays　stuck　up　under　a　vessel's　bowsprit；　with　great　staring　eyes；　that　never　wink　at　the　dash　of　the　spray。　But　（what　was　very　strange）　the　carver　found　that　his　hand　was　guided　by　some　unseen　power；　and　by　a　skill　beyond　his　own；　and　that　his　tools　shaped　out　an　image　which　he　had　never　dreamed　of。　When　the　work　was　finished；　it　turned　out　to　be　the　figure　of　a　beautiful　woman；　with　a　helmet　on　her　head；　from　beneath　which　the　long　ringlets　fell　down　upon　her　shoulders。　On　the　left　arm　was　a　shield；　and　in　its　center　appeared　a　lifelike　representation　of　the　head　of　Medusa　with　the　snaky　locks。　The　right　arm　was　extended；　as　if　pointing　onward。　The　face　of　this　wonderful　statue；　though　not　angry　or　forbidding；　was　so　grave　and　majestic；　that　perhaps　you　might　call　it　severe；　and　as　for　the　mouth；　it　seemed　just　ready　to　unclose　its　lips；　and　utter　words　of　the　deepest　wisdom。

Jason　was　delighted　with　the　oaken　image；　and　gave　the　carver　no　rest　until　it　was　completed；　and　set　up　where　a　figure…head　has　always　stood；　from　that　time　to　this；　in　the　vessel's　prow。

〃And　now；〃　cried　he；　as　he　stood　gazing　at　the　calm；　majestic　face　of　the　statue；　〃I　must　go　to　the　Talking　Oak　and　inquire　what　next　to　do。〃

〃There　is　no　need　of　that；　Jason；〃　said　a　voice　which；　though　it　was　far　lower；　reminded　him　of　the　mighty　tones　of　the　great　oak。　〃When　you　desire　good　advice；　you　can　seek　it　of　me。〃

Jason　had　been　looking　straight　into　the　face　of　the　image　when　these　words　were　spoken。　But　he　could　hardly　believe　either　his　ears　or　his　eyes。　The　truth　was；　however；　that　the　oaken　lips　had　moved；　and；　to　all　appearance；　the　voice　had　proceeded　from　the　statue's　mouth。　Recovering　a　little　from　his　surprise；　Jason　bethought　himself　that　the　image　had　been　carved　out　of　the　wood　of　the　Talking　Oak；　and　that；　therefore；　it　was　really　no　great　wonder；　but　on　the　contrary；　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world；　that　it　should　possess　the　faculty　of　speech。　It　would　have　been　very　odd；　indeed；　if　it　had　not。　But　certainly　it　was　a　great　piece　of　good　fortune　that　he　should　be　able　to　carry　so　wise　a　block　of　wood　along　with　him　in　his　perilous　voyage。

〃Tell　me；　wondrous　imag