tanglewood tales-第31章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


speak？　Are　you　an　enchantress？〃

〃Yes；　Prince　Jason；〃　answered　Medea；　with　a　smile；　〃you　have　hit　upon　the　truth。　I　am　an　enchantress。　Circe；　my　father's　sister；　taught　me　to　be　one；　and　I　could　tell　you；　if　I　pleased；　who　was　the　old　woman　with　the　peacock；　the　pomegranate；　and　the　cuckoo　staff；　whom　you　carried　over　the　river；　and；　likewise；　who　it　is　that　speaks　through　the　lips　of　the　oaken　image；　that　stands　in　the　prow　of　your　galley。　I　am　acquainted　with　some　of　your　secrets；　you　perceive。　It　is　well　for　you　that　I　am　favorably　inclined；　for；　otherwise；　you　would　hardly　escape　being　snapped　up　by　the　dragon。〃

〃I　should　not　so　much　care　for　the　dragon；〃　replied　Jason；　〃if　I　only　knew　how　to　manage　the　brazen…footed　and　fiery…lunged　bulls。〃

〃If　you　are　as　brave　as　I　think　you；　and　as　you　have　need　to　be；〃　said　Medea；　〃your　own　bold　heart　will　teach　you　that　there　is　but　one　way　of　dealing　with　a　mad　bull。　What　it　is　I　leave　you　to　find　out　in　the　moment　of　peril。　As　for　the　fiery　breath　of　these　animals；　I　have　a　charmed　ointment　here；　which　will　prevent　you　from　being　burned　up；　and　cure　you　if　you　chance　to　be　a　little　scorched。〃

So　she　put　a　golden　box　into　his　hand；　and　directed　him　how　to　apply　the　perfumed　unguent　which　it　contained；　and　where　to　meet　her　at　midnight。

〃Only　be　brave；〃　added　she；　〃and　before　daybreak　the　brazen　bulls　shall　be　tamed。〃

The　young　man　assured　her　that　his　heart　would　not　fail　him。　He　then　rejoined　his　comrades；　and　told　them　what　had　passed　between　the　princess　and　himself；　and　warned　them　to　be　in　readiness　in　case　there　might　be　need　of　their　help。　At　the　appointed　hour　he　met　the　beautiful　Medea　on　the　marble　steps　of　the　king's　palace。　She　gave　him　a　basket；　in　which　were　the　dragon's　teeth；　just　as　they　had　been　pulled　out　of　the　monster's　jaws　by　Cadmus；　long　ago。　Medea　then　led　Jason　down　the　palace　steps；　and　through　the　silent　streets　of　the　city；　and　into　the　royal　pasture　ground；　where　the　two　brazen…footed　bulls　were　kept。　It　was　a　starry　night；　with　a　bright　gleam　along　the　eastern　edge　of　the　sky；　where　the　moon　was　soon　going　to　show　herself。　After　entering　the　pasture；　the　princess　paused　and　looked　around。

〃There　they　are；〃　said　she；　〃reposing　them。　selves　and　chewing　their　fiery　cuds　in　that　farthest　corner　of　the　field。　It　will　be　excellent　sport；　I　assure　you；　when　they　catch　a　glimpse　of　your　figure。　My　father　and　all　his　court　delight　in　nothing　so　much　as　to　see　a　stranger　trying　to　yoke　them；　in　order　to　come　at　the　Golden　Fleece。　It　makes　a　holiday　in　Colchis　whenever　such　a　thing　happens。　For　my　part；　I　enjoy　it　immensely。　You　cannot　imagine　in　what　a　mere　twinkling　of　an　eye　their　hot　breath　shrivels　a　young　man　into　a　black　cinder。〃

〃Are　you　sure；　beautiful　Medea；〃　asked　Jason；　〃quite　sure；　that　the　unguent　in　the　gold　box　will　prove　a　remedy　against　those　terrible　burns？〃

〃If　you　doubt；　if　you　are　in　the　least　afraid；〃　said　the　princess；　looking　him　in　the　face　by　the　dim　starlight；　〃you　had　better　never　have　been　born　than　to　go　a　step　nigher　to　the　bulls。〃

But　Jason　had　set　his　heart　steadfastly　on　getting　the　Golden　Fleece；　and　I　positively　doubt　whether　he　would　have　gone　back　without　it；　even　had　he　been　certain　of　finding　himself　turned　into　a　red…hot　cinder；　or　a　handful　of　white　ashes；　the　instant　he　made　a　step　farther。　He　therefore　let　go　Medea's　hand；　and　walked　boldly　forward　in　the　direction　whither　she　had　pointed。　At　some　distance　before　him　he　perceived　four　streams　of　fiery　vapor；　regularly　appearing　and　again　vanishing；　after　dimly　lighting　up　the　surrounding　obscurity。　These；　you　will　understand；　were　caused　by　the　breath　of　the　brazen　bulls；　which　was　quietly　stealing　out　of　their　four　nostrils；　as　they　lay　chewing　their　cuds。

At　the　first　two　or　three　steps　which　Jason　made；　the　four　fiery　streams　appeared　to　gush　out　somewhat　more　plentifully；　for　the　two　brazen　bulls　had　heard　his　foot　tramp；　and　were　lifting　up　their　hot　noses　to　snuff　the　air。　He　went　a　little　farther；　and　by　the　way　in　which　the　red　vapor　now　spouted　forth；　he　judged　that　the　creatures　had　got　upon　their　feet。　Now　he　could　see　glowing　sparks；　and　vivid　jets　of　flame。　At　the　next　step；　each　of　the　bulls　made　the　pasture　echo　with　a　terrible　roar；　while　the　burning　breath；　which　they　thus　belched　forth；　lit　up　the　whole　field　with　a　momentary　flash。　One　other　stride　did　bold　Jason　make；　and；　suddenly　as　a　streak　of　lightning；　on　came　these　fiery　animals；　roaring　like　thunder；　and　sending　out　sheets　of　white　flame；　which　so　kindled　up　the　scene　that　the　young　man　could　discern　every　object　more　distinctly　than　by　daylight。　Most　distinctly　of　all　he　saw　the　two　horrible　creatures　galloping　right　down　upon　him；　their　brazen　hoofs　rattling　and　ringing　over　the　ground；　and　their　tails　sticking　up　stiffly　into　the　air；　as　has　always　been　the　fashion　with　angry　bulls。　Their　breath　scorched　the　herbage　before　them。　So　intensely　hot　it　was；　indeed；　that　it　caught　a　dry　tree　under　which　Jason　was　now　standing；　and　set　it　all　in　a　light　blaze。　But　as　for　Jason　himself　（thanks　to　Medea's　enchanted　ointment）；　the　white　flame　curled　around　his　body；　without　injuring　him　a　jot　more　than　if　he　had　been　made　of　asbestos。

Greatly　encouraged　at　finding　himself　not　yet　turned　into　a　cinder；　the　young　man　awaited　the　attack　of　the　bulls。　Just　as　the　brazen　brutes　fancied　themselves　sure　of　tossing　him　into　the　air；　he　caught　one　of　them　by　the　horn；　and　the　other　by　his　screwed…up　tail；　and　held　them　in　a　gripe　like　that　of　an　iron　vice；　one　with　his　right　hand；　the　other　with　his　left。　Well；　he　must　have　been　wonderfully　strong　in　his　arms；　to　be　sure。　But　the　secret　of　the　matter　was；　that　the　brazen　bulls　were　enchanted　creatures；　and　that　Jason　had　broken　the　spell　of　their　fiery　fierceness　by　his　bold　way　of　handling　them。　And；　ever　since　that　time；　it　has　been　the　favorite　method　of　brave　men；　when　danger　assails　them；　to　do　what　they　call　〃　taking　the　bull　by　the　horns〃；　and　to　gripe　him　by　the　tail　is　pretty　much　the　same　thingthat　is；　to　throw　aside　fear；　and　overcome　the　peril　by　despising　it。　It　was　now　easy　to　yoke　the　bulls；　and　to　harness　them　to　the　plow；　which　had　lain　rusting　on　the　ground　for　a　great　many　years　gone　by；　so　long　was　it　before　anybody　could　be　found　capable　of　plowing　that　piece　of　land。　Jason；　I　suppose；　had　been　taught　how　to　draw　a　furrow　by　the　good　old　Chiron；　who；　perhaps；　used　to　allow　himself　to　be　harnessed　to　the　plow。　At　any　rate；　our　hero　succeeded　perfectly　well　in　breaking　up　the　greensward；　and；　by　the　time　that　the　moon　was　a　quarter　of　her　journey　up　the　sky；　the　plowed　field　lay　before　him；　a　large　tract　of　black　earth；　ready　to　be　sown　with　the　dragon's　teeth。　So　Jason　scattered　them　broadcast；　and　harrowed　them　into　the　soil　with　a　brush…harrow；　and　took　his　stand　on　the　edge　of　the　field；　anxious　to　see　what　would　happen　next。

〃Must　we　wait　long　for　harvest　time？〃　he　inquired　of　Medea；　who　was　now　standing　by　his　side。

〃Whether　sooner　or　later；　it　will　be　sure　to　come；〃　answered　the　princess。　〃A　crop　of　armed　men　never　fails　to　spring　up；　when　the　dragon's　teeth　have　been　sown。〃


The　moon　was　now　high　aloft　in　the　heavens；　and　threw　its　bright　beams　over　the　plowed　field；　where　as　yet　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen。　Any　farmer；　on　viewing　it；　would　have　said　that　Jason　must　wait　weeks　before　the　green　blades　would　peep　from　among　the　clods；　and　whole　months　before　the　yellow　grain　would　be　ripened　for　the　sickle。　But　by　and　by；　all　over　the　field；　there　was　something　that　glistened　in　the　moonbeams；　like　sparkling　drops　of　dew。　These　bright　objects　sprouted　higher；　and　proved　to　be　the　steel　heads　of　spears。　Then　there　was　a　dazzling　gleam　from　a　vast　number　of　polished　brass　helmets；　beneath　which；　as　they　grew　farther　out　of　the　soil；　appeared　the　dark　and　bearded　visages　of　warriors；　struggling　to　free　themselves　from　the　imprisoning　earth。　The　first　look　that　they　gave　at　the　upper　world　was　a　glare　of　wrath　and　defiance。　Next　were　seen　their　bright　breastplates；　in　every　right　hand　there　was　a　sword　or　a　spear；　and　on　each　left　arm　a　shield；　and　when　this　strange　crop　of　warriors　had　but　half　grown　out　of　the　earth；　they　struggledsuch　was　their　impatience　of　restraintand；　as　it　were；　tore　themselves　up　by　the　roots。　Wherever　a　dragon's　tooth　had　fallen；　there　stood　a　man　armed　for　battle。　They　made　a　clangor　with　their　swords　against　their　shields；　and　eyed　one　another　fiercely；　for　they　had　come　into　this　beautiful　world；　and　into　the　peaceful　moonlight；　full　of　rage　and　stormy　passions；　and　ready　to　take　the　life　of　every　human　brother；　in　recompense　of　the　boon　of　their　own　existence。

There　have　been　many　other　armies　in　the　world　that　seemed　to　possess　the　same　fierce　nature　with　the　one　which　had　now　sprouted　from　the　dragon's　teeth；　but　these；　in　the　moonlit　field；　were　the　more　excusable；　because　they　never　had　women　for　their　mothers。　And　how　it　would　have　rejoiced　any　great　captain；　who　was　bent　on　conquering　the　world；　like　Alexander　or　Napoleon；　to　raise　a　crop　of　armed　soldiers　as　easily　as　Jason　did！　For　a　while；　the　warriors　stood　flourishing　their　weapons；　clashing　their　swords　against　their　shields；　and　boiling　over　with　the　red…hot　thirst　for　battle。　Then　they　began　to　shout〃Show　us　the　enemy！　Lead　us　to　the　charge！　Death　or　victory！〃　〃Come　on；　brave　comrades！　Conquer　or　die！〃　and　a　hundred　other　outcries；　such　as　men　always　bellow　forth　on　a　battle　field；　and　which　these　dragon　people　seemed　to　have　at　their　tongues'　ends。　At　last；　the　front　rank　caught　sight　of　Jason；　who；　beholding　the　flash　of　so　many　weapons　in　the　moonlight；　had　thought　it　best　to　draw　his　sword。　In　a　moment　all　the　sons　of　the　dragon's　teeth　appeared　to　take　Jason　for　an　enemy；　and　crying　with　one　voice；　〃Guard　the　Golden　Fleece！〃　they　ran　at　him　with　uplifted　swords　and　protruded　spears。　Jason　knew　that　it　would　be　impossible　to　withstand　this　blood…thirsty　battalion　with　his　single　arm；　but　determined；　since　there　was　nothing　better　to　be　done；　to　die　as　valiantly　as　if　he　himself　had　sprung　from　a　dragon's　tooth。

Medea；　however；　bade　him　snatch　up　a　stone　from　the　ground。

〃Throw　it　among　them　quickly！〃　cried　she。　〃It　is　the　only　way　to　save　yourself。〃

The　armed　men　were　now　so　nigh　that　Jason　could　discern　the　fire　flashing　out　of　their　enraged　eyes；　when　he　let　fly　the　stone；　and　saw　it　strike　the　helmet　of　a　tall　warrior；　who　was　rushing　upon　him　with　his　blade　aloft。　The　stone　glanced　from　this　man's　helmet　to　the　shield　of　his　nearest　comrade；　and　thence　flew　right　into　the　angry　face　of　another；　hitting　him　smartly　between　the　eyes。　Each　of　the　three　who　had　been　struck　by　the　stone　took　it　for　granted　that　his　next　neighbor　had　given　him　a　blow；　and　instead　of　running　any　farther　towards　Jason；　they　began　to　fight　among　themselves。　The　confusion　spread　through　the　host；　so　that　it　seemed　scarcely　a　moment　before　they　were　all　hacking；　hewing；　and　stabbing　at　one　another；　lopping　off　arms；　heads；　and　legs　and　doing　such　memorable　deeds　that　Jason　was　filled　with　immense　admiration；　although；　at　the　same　time；　he　could　not　help　laughing　to　behold　these　mighty　men　punishing　each　other　for　an　offense　w