tanglewood tales-第32章

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me　time；　he　could　not　help　laughing　to　behold　these　mighty　men　punishing　each　other　for　an　offense　which　he　himself　had　committed。　In　an　incredibly　short　space　of　time　（almost　as　short；　indeed；　as　it　had　taken　them　to　grow　up）；　all　but　one　of　the　heroes　of　the　dragon's　teeth　were　stretched　lifeless　on　the　field。　The　last　survivor；　the　bravest　and　strongest　of　the　whole；　had　just　force　enough　to　wave　his　crimson　sword　over　his　head　and　give　a　shout　of　exultation；　crying；　〃Victory！　Victory！　Immortal　fame！〃　when　he　himself　fell　down；　and　lay　quietly　among　his　slain　brethren。

And　there　was　the　end　of　the　army　that　had　sprouted　from　the　dragon's　teeth。　That　fierce　and　feverish　fight　was　the　only　enjoyment　which　they　had　tasted　on　this　beautiful　earth。

〃Let　them　sleep　in　the　bed　of　honor；〃　said　the　Princess　Medea；　with　a　sly　smile　at　Jason。　〃The　world　will　always　have　simpletons　enough；　just　like　them；　fighting　and　dying　for　they　know　not　what；　and　fancying　that　posterity　will　take　the　trouble　to　put　laurel　wreaths　on　their　rusty　and　battered　helmets。　Could　you　help　smiling；　Prince　Jason；　to　see　the　self…conceit　of　that　last　fellow；　just　as　he　tumbled　down？〃

〃It　made　me　very　sad；〃　answered　Jason；　gravely。　〃And；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　princess；　the　Golden　Fleece　does　not　appear　so　well　worth　the　winning；　after　what　I　have　here　beheld！〃

〃You　will　think　differently　in　the　morning；〃　said　Medea。　〃True；　the　Golden　Fleece　may　not　be　so　valuable　as　you　have　thought　it；　but　then　there　is　nothing　better　in　the　world；　and　one　must　needs　have　an　object；　you　know。　Come！　Your　night's　work　has　been　well　performed；　and　to…morrow　you　can　inform　King　Aetes　that　the　first　part　of　your　allotted　task　is　fulfilled。〃

Agreeably　to　Medea's　advice；　Jason　went　betimes　in　the　morning　to　the　palace　of　King　Aetes。　Entering　the　presence　chamber；　he　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　throne；　and　made　a　low　obeisance。

〃Your　eyes　look　heavy；　Prince　Jason；〃　observed　the　king；　〃you　appear　to　have　spent　a　sleepless　night。　I　hope　you　have　been　considering　the　matter　a　little　more　wisely；　and　have　concluded　not　to　get　yourself　scorched　to　a　cinder；　in　attempting　to　tame　my　brazen…lunged　bulls。〃

〃That　is　already　accomplished；　may　it　please　your　majesty；〃　replied　Jason。　〃The　bulls　have　been　tamed　and　yoked；　the　field　has　been　plowed；　the　dragon's　teeth　have　been　sown　broadcast；　and　harrowed　into　the　soil；　the　crop　of　armed　warriors　have　sprung　up；　and　they　have　slain　one　another；　to　the　last　man。　And　now　I　solicit　your　majesty's　permission　to　encounter　the　dragon；　that　I　may　take　down　the　Golden　Fleece　from　the　tree；　and　depart；　with　my　nine　and　forty　comrades。〃

King　Aetes　scowled；　and　looked　very　angry　and　excessively　disturbed；　for　he　knew　that；　in　accordance　with　his　kingly　promise；　he　ought　now　to　permit　Jason　to　win　the　Fleece；　if　his　courage　and　skill　should　enable　him　to　do　so。　But；　since　the　young　man　had　met　with　such　good　luck　in　the　matter　of　the　brazen　bulls　and　the　dragon's　teeth；　the　king　feared　that　he　would　be　equally　successful　in　slaying　the　dragon。　And　therefore；　though　he　would　gladly　have　seen　Jason　snapped　up　at　a　mouthful；　he　was　resolved　（and　it　was　a　very　wrong　thing　of　this　wicked　potentate）　not　to　run　any　further　risk　of　losing　his　beloved　Fleece。

〃You　never　would　have　succeeded　in　this　business；　young　man；〃　said　he；　〃if　my　undutiful　daughter　Medea　had　not　helped　you　with　her　enchantments。　Had　you　acted　fairly；　you　would　have　been；　at　this　instant；　a　black　cinder；　or　a　handful　of　white　ashes。　I　forbid　you；　on　pain　of　death；　to　make　any　more　attempts　to　get　the　Golden　Fleece。　To　speak　my　mind　plainly；　you　shall　never　set　eyes　on　so　much　as　one　of　its　glistening　locks。〃

Jason　left　the　king's　presence　in　great　sorrow　and　anger。　He　could　think　of　nothing　better　to　be　done　than　to　summon　together　his　forty…nine　brave　Argonauts；　march　at　once　to　the　Grove　of　Mars；　slay　the　dragon；　take　possession　of　the　Golden　Fleece；　get　on　board　the　Argo；　and　spread　all　sail　for　Iolchos。　The　success　of　this　scheme　depended；　it　is　true；　on　the　doubtful　point　whether　all　the　fifty　heroes　might　not　be　snapped　up；　at　so　many　mouthfuls；　by　the　dragon。　But；　as　Jason　was　hastening　down　the　palace　steps；　the　Princess　Medea　called　after　him；　and　beckoned　him　to　return。　Her　black　eyes　shone　upon　him　with　such　a　keen　intelligence；　that　he　felt　as　if　there　were　a　serpent　peeping　out　of　them；　and；　although　she　had　done　him　so　much　service　only　the　night　before；　he　was　by　no　means　very　certain　that　she　would　not　do　him　an　equally　great　mischief　before　sunset。　These　enchantresses；　you　must　know；　are　never　to　be　depended　upon。

〃What　says　King　Aetes；　my　royal　and　upright　father？〃　inquired　Medea；　slightly　smiling。　〃Will　he　give　you　the　Golden　Fleece；　without　any　further　risk　or　trouble？〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　answered　Jason；　〃he　is　very　angry　with　me　for　taming　the　brazen　bulls　and　sowing　the　dragon's　teeth。　And　he　forbids　me　to　make　any　more　attempts；　and　positively　refuses　to　give　up　the　Golden　Fleece；　whether　I　slay　the　dragon　or　no。〃

〃Yes；　Jason；〃　said　the　princess；　〃and　I　can　tell　you　more。　Unless　you　set　sail　from　Colchis　before　to…morrow's　sunrise；　the　king　means　to　burn　your　fifty…oared　galley；　and　put　yourself　and　your　forty…nine　brave　comrades　to　the　sword。　But　be　of　good　courage。　The　Golden　Fleece　you　shall　have；　if　it　lies　within　the　power　of　my　enchantments　to　get　it　for　you。　Wait　for　me　here　an　hour　before　midnight。〃

At　the　appointed　hour　you　might　again　have　seen　Prince　Jason　and　the　Princess　Medea；　side　by　side；　stealing　through　the　streets　of　Colchis；　on　their　way　to　the　sacred　grove；　in　the　center　of　which　the　Golden　Fleece　was　suspended　to　a　tree。　While　they　were　crossing　the　pasture　ground；　the　brazen　bulls　came　towards　Jason；　lowing；　nodding　their　heads；　and　thrusting　forth　their　snouts；　which；　as　other　cattle　do；　they　loved　to　have　rubbed　and　caressed　by　a　friendly　hand。　Their　fierce　nature　was　thoroughly　tamed；　and；　with　their　fierceness；　the　two　furnaces　in　their　stomachs　had　likewise　been　extinguished；　insomuch　that　they　probably　enjoyed　far　more　comfort　in　grazing　and　chewing　their　cuds　than　ever　before。　Indeed；　it　had　heretofore　been　a　great　inconvenience　to　these　poor　animals；　that；　whenever　they　wished　to　eat　a　mouthful　of　grass；　the　fire　out　of　their　nostrils　had　shriveled　it　up；　before　they　could　manage　to　crop　it。　How　they　contrived　to　keep　themselves　alive　is　more　than　I　can　imagine。　But　now；　instead　of　emitting　jets　of　flame　and　streams　of　sulphurous　vapor；　they　breathed　the　very　sweetest　of　cow　breath。

After　kindly　patting　the　bulls；　Jason　followed　Medea's　guidance　into　the　Grove　of　Mars；　where　the　great　oak　trees；　that　had　been　growing　for　centuries；　threw　so　thick　a　shade　that　the　moonbeams　struggled　vainly　to　find　their　way　through　it。　Only　here　and　there　a　glimmer　fell　upon　the　leaf…strewn　earth；　or　now　and　then　a　breeze　stirred　the　boughs　aside；　and　gave　Jason　a　glimpse　of　the　sky；　lest；　in　that　deep　obscurity；　he　might　forget　that　there　was　one；　overhead。　At　length；　when　they　had　gone　farther　and　farther　into　the　heart　of　the　duskiness；　Medea　squeezed　Jason's　hand。

〃Look　yonder；〃　she　whispered。　〃Do　you　see　it？〃

Gleaming　among　the　venerable　oaks；　there　was　a　radiance；　not　like　the　moonbeams；　but　rather　resembling　the　golden　glory　of　the　setting　sun。　It　proceeded　from　an　object；　which　appeared　to　be　suspended　at　about　a　man's　height　from　the　ground；　a　little　farther　within　the　wood。

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Jason。

〃Have　you　come　so　far　to　seek　it；〃　exclaimed　Medea；　〃and　do　you　not　recognize　the　meed　of　all　your　toils　and　perils；　when　it　glitters　before　your　eyes？　It　is　the　Golden　Fleece。〃

Jason　went　onward　a　few　steps　farther；　and　then　stopped　to　gaze。　O；　how　beautiful　it　looked；　shining　with　a　marvelous　light　of　its　own；　that　inestimable　prize　which　so　many　heroes　had　longed　to　behold；　but　had　perished　in　the　quest　of　it；　either　by　the　perils　of　their　voyage；　or　by　the　fiery　breath　of　the　brazen…　lunged　bulls。

〃How　gloriously　it　shines！〃　cried　Jason；　in　a　rapture。　〃It　has　surely　been　dipped　in　the　richest　gold　of　sunset。　Let　me　hasten　onward；　and　take　it　to　my　bosom。〃

〃Stay；〃　said　Medea；　holding　him　back。　〃Have　you　forgotten　what　guards　it？〃

To　say　the　truth；　in　the　joy　of　beholding　the　object　of　his　desires；　the　terrible　dragon　had　quite　slipped　out　of　Jason's　memory。　Soon；　however；　something　came　to　pass；　that　reminded　him　what　perils　were　still　to　be　encountered。　An　antelope；　that　probably　mistook　the　yellow　radiance　for　sunrise；　came　bounding　fleetly　through　the　grove。　He　was　rushing　straight　towards　the　Golden　Fleece；　when　suddenly　there　was　a　frightful　hiss；　and　the　immense　head　and　half　the　scaly　body　of　the　dragon　was　thrust　forth　（for　he　was　twisted　round　the　trunk　of　the　tree　on　which　the　Fleece　hung）；　and　seizing　the　poor　antelope；　swallowed　him　with　one　snap　of　his　jaws。

After　this　feat；　the　dragon　seemed　sensible　that　some　other　living　creature　was　within　reach；　on　which　he　felt　inclined　to　finish　his　meal。　In　various　directions　he　kept　poking　his　ugly　snout　among　the　trees；　stretching　out　his　neck　a　terrible　long　way；　now　here；　now　there；　and　now　close　to　the　spot　where　Jason　and　the　princess　were　hiding　behind　an　oak。　Upon　my　word；　as　the　head　came　waving　and　undulating　through　the　air；　and　reaching　almost　within　arm's　length　of　Prince　Jason；　it　was　a　very　hideous　and　uncomfortable　sight。　The　gape　of　his　enormous　jaws　was　nearly　as　wide　as　the　gateway　of　the　king's　palace。

〃Well；　Jason；〃　whispered　Medea　（for　she　was　ill　natured；　as　all　enchantresses　are；　and　wanted　to　make　the　bold　youth　tremble）；　〃what　do　you　think　now　of　your　prospect　of　winning　the　Golden　Fleece？〃

Jason　answered　only　by　drawing　his　sword；　and　making　a　step　forward。

〃Stay；　foolish　youth；〃　said　Medea；　grasping　his　arm。　〃Do　not　you　see　you　are　lost；　without　me　as　your　good　angel？　In　this　gold　box　I　have　a　magic　potion；　which　will　do　the　dragon's　business　far　more　effectually　than　your　sword。〃

The　dragon　had　probably　heard　the　voices；　for　swift　as　lightning；　his　black　head　and　forked　tongue　came　hissing　among　the　trees　again；　darting　full　forty　feet　at　a　stretch。　As　it　approached；　Medea　tossed　the　contents　of　the　gold　box　right　down　the　monster's　wide…open　throat。　Immediately；　with　an　outrageous　hiss　and　a　tremendous　wriggleflinging　his　tail　up　to　the　tip…top　of　the　tallest　tree；　and　shattering　all　its　branches　as　it　crashed　heavily　down　againthe　dragon　fell　at　full　length　upon　the　ground；　and　lay　quite　motionless。

〃It　is　only　a　sleeping　potion；〃　said　the　enchantress　to　Prince　Jason。　〃One　always　finds　a　use　for　these　mischievous　creatures；　sooner　or　later；　so　I　did　not　wish　to　kill　him　outright。　Quick！　Snatch　the　prize；　and　let　us　begone。　You　have　won　the　Golden　Fleece。〃

Jason　caught　the　fleece　from　the　tree；　and　hurried　through　the　grove；　the　deep　shadows　of　which　were　illuminated　as　he　passed　by　the　golden　glory　of　the　precious　object　that　he　bore　along。　A　little　way　before　him；　he　beheld　the　old　woman　whom　he　had　helped　over　the　stream；　with　her　peacock　beside　her。　She　clapped　her　hands　for　joy；　and　beckoning　him　to　make　haste；　disappeared　among　the　duskiness　of　the　trees。　Espying　the　two　winged　sons　of　the　Nor