tanglewood tales-第5章

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The　nigher　the　vessel　came；　the　more　Theseus　wondered　what　this　immense　giant　could　be；　and　whether　it　actually　had　life　or　no。　For；　though　it　walked；　and　made　other　lifelike　motions；　there　yet　was　a　kind　of　jerk　in　its　gait；　which；　together　with　its　brazen　aspect；　caused　the　young　prince　to　suspect　that　it　was　no　true　giant；　but　only　a　wonderful　piece　of　machinery。　The　figure　looked　all　the　more　terrible　because　it　carried　an　enormous　brass　club　on　its　shoulder。

〃What　is　this　wonder？〃　Theseus　asked　of　the　master　of　the　vessel；　who　was　now　at　leisure　to　answer　him。

〃It　is　Talus；　the　Man　of　Brass；〃　said　the　master。

〃And　is　he　a　live　giant；　or　a　brazen　image？〃　asked　Theseus。

〃That；　truly；〃　replied　the　master；　〃is　the　point　which　has　always　perplexed　me。　Some　say；　indeed；　that　this　Talus　was　hammered　out　for　King　Minos　by　Vulcan　himself；　the　skilfullest　of　all　workers　in　metal。　But　who　ever　saw　a　brazen　image　that　had　sense　enough　to　walk　round　an　island　three　times　a　day；　as　this　giant　walks　round　the　island　of　Crete；　challenging　every　vessel　that　comes　nigh　the　shore？　And；　on　the　other　hand；　what　living　thing；　unless　his　sinews　were　made　of　brass；　would　not　be　weary　of　marching　eighteen　hundred　miles　in　the　twenty…four　hours；　as　Talus　does；　without　ever　sitting　down　to　rest？　He　is　a　puzzler；　take　him　how　you　will。〃

Still　the　vessel　went　bounding　onward；　and　now　Theseus　could　hear　the　brazen　clangor　of　the　giant's　footsteps；　as　he　trod　heavily　upon　the　sea…beaten　rocks；　some　of　which　were　seen　to　crack　and　crumble　into　the　foaming　waves　beneath　his　weight。　As　they　approached　the　entrance　of　the　port；　the　giant　straddled　clear　across　it；　with　a　foot　firmly　planted　on　each　headland；　and　uplifting　his　club　to　such　a　height　that　its　butt…end　was　hidden　in　the　cloud；　he　stood　in　that　formidable　posture；　with　the　sun　gleaming　all　over　his　metallic　surface。　There　seemed　nothing　else　to　be　expected　but　that；　the　next　moment；　he　would　fetch　his　great　club　down；　slam　bang；　and　smash　the　vessel　into　a　thousand　pieces；　without　heeding　how　many　innocent　people　he　might　destroy；　for　there　is　seldom　any　mercy　in　a　giant；　you　know；　and　quite　as　little　in　a　piece　of　brass　clockwork。　But　just　when　Theseus　and　his　companions　thought　the　blow　was　coming；　the　brazen　lips　unclosed　themselves；　and　the　figure　spoke。

〃Whence　come　you；　strangers？〃

And　when　the　ringing　voice　ceased；　there　was　just　such　a　reverberation　as　you　may　have　heard　within　a　great　church　bell；　for　a　moment　or　two　after　the　stroke　of　the　hammer。

〃From　Athens！〃　shouted　the　master　in　reply。

〃On　what　errand？〃　thundered　the　Man　of　Brass。

And　he　whirled　his　club　aloft　more　threateningly　than　ever；　as　if　he　were　about　to　smite　them　with　a　thunderstroke　right　amidships；　because　Athens；　so　little　while　ago；　had　been　at　war　with　Crete。

〃We　bring　the　seven　youths　and　the　seven　maidens；〃　answered　the　master；　〃to　be　devoured　by　the　Minotaur！〃

〃Pass！〃　cried　the　brazen　giant。

That　one　loud　word　rolled　all　about　the　sky；　while　again　there　was　a　booming　reverberation　within　the　figure's　breast。　The　vessel　glided　between　the　headlands　of　the　port；　and　the　giant　resumed　his　march。　In　a　few　moments；　this　wondrous　sentinel　was　far　away；　flashing　in　the　distant　sunshine；　and　revolving　with　immense　strides　round　the　island　of　Crete；　as　it　was　his　never…ceasing　task　to　do。

No　sooner　had　they　entered　the　harbor　than　a　party　of　the　guards　of　King　Minos　came　down　to　the　water　side；　and　took　charge　of　the　fourteen　young　men　and　damsels。　Surrounded　by　these　armed　warriors；　Prince　Theseus　and　his　companions　were　led　to　the　king's　palace；　and　ushered　into　his　presence。　Now；　Minos　was　a　stern　and　pitiless　king。　If　the　figure　that　guarded　Crete　was　made　of　brass；　then　the　monarch；　who　ruled　over　it；　might　be　thought　to　have　a　still　harder　metal　in　his　breast；　and　might　have　been　called　a　man　of　iron。　He　bent　his　shaggy　brows　upon　the　poor　Athenian　victims。　Any　other　mortal；　beholding　their　fresh　and　tender　beauty；　and　their　innocent　looks；　would　have　felt　himself　sitting　on　thorns　until　he　had　made　every　soul　of　them　happy　by　bidding　them　go　free　as　the　summer　wind。　But　this　immitigable　Minos　cared　only　to　examine　whether　they　were　plump　enough　to　satisfy　the　Minotaur's　appetite。　For　my　part；　I　wish　he　himself　had　been　the　only　victim；　and　the　monster　would　have　found　him　a　pretty　tough　one。

One　after　another；　King　Minos　called　these　pale；　frightened　youths　and　sobbing　maidens　to　his　footstool；　gave　them　each　a　poke　in　the　ribs　with　his　sceptre　（to　try　whether　they　were　in　good　flesh　or　no）；　and　dismissed　them　with　a　nod　to　his　guards。　But　when　his　eyes　rested　on　Theseus；　the　king　looked　at　him　more　attentively；　because　his　face　was　calm　and　brave。

〃Young　man；〃　asked　he；　with　his　stern　voice；　〃are　you　not　appalled　at　the　certainty　of　being　devoured　by　this　terrible　Minotaur？〃

〃I　have　offered　my　life　in　a　good　cause；〃　answered　Theseus；　〃and　therefore　I　give　it　freely　and　gladly。　But　thou；　King　Minos；　art　thou　not　thyself　appalled；　who；　year　after　year；　hast　perpetrated　this　dreadful　wrong；　by　giving　seven　innocent　youths　and　as　many　maidens　to　be　devoured　by　a　monster？　Dost　thou　not　tremble；　wicked　king；　to　turn　shine　eyes　inward　on　shine　own　heart？　Sitting　there　on　thy　golden　throne；　and　in　thy　robes　of　majesty；　I　tell　thee　to　thy　face；　King　Minos；　thou　art　a　more　hideous　monster　than　the　Minotaur　himself！〃

〃Aha！　do　you　think　me　so？〃　cried　the　king；　laughing　in　his　cruel　way。　〃To…morrow；　at　breakfast　time；　you　shall　have　an　opportunity　of　judging　which　is　the　greater　monster；　the　Minotaur　or　the　king！　Take　them　away；　guards；　and　let　this　free…spoken　youth　be　the　Minotaur's　first　morsel。〃

Near　the　king's　throne　（though　I　had　no　time　to　tell　you　so　before）　stood　his　daughter　Ariadne。　She　was　a　beautiful　and　tender…hearted　maiden；　and　looked　at　these　poor　doomed　captives　with　very　different　feelings　from　those　of　the　iron…breasted　King　Minos。　She　really　wept　indeed；　at　the　idea　of　how　much　human　happiness　would　be　needlessly　thrown　away；　by　giving　so　many　young　people；　in　the　first　bloom　and　rose　blossom　of　their　lives；　to　be　eaten　up　by　a　creature　who；　no　doubt；　would　have　preferred　a　fat　ox；　or　even　a　large　pig；　to　the　plumpest　of　them。　And　when　she　beheld　the　brave；　spirited　figure　of　Prince　Theseus　bearing　himself　so　calmly　in　his　terrible　peril；　she　grew　a　hundred　times　more　pitiful　than　before。　As　the　guards　were　taking　him　away；　she　flung　herself　at　the　king's　feet；　and　besought　him　to　set　all　the　captives　free；　and　especially　this　one　young　man。

〃Peace；　foolish　girl！〃　answered　King　Minos。

〃What　hast　thou　to　do　with　an　affair　like　this？　It　is　a　matter　of　state　policy；　and　therefore　quite　beyond　thy　weak　comprehension。　Go　water　thy　flowers；　and　think　no　more　of　these　Athenian　caitiffs；　whom　the　Minotaur　shall　as　certainly　eat　up　for　breakfast　as　I　will　eat　a　partridge　for　my　supper。〃

So　saying；　the　king　looked　cruel　enough　to　devour　Theseus　and　all　the　rest　of　the　captives　himself；　had　there　been　no　Minotaur　to　save　him　the　trouble。　As　he　would　hear　not　another　word　in　their　favor；　the　prisoners　were　now　led　away；　and　clapped　into　a　dungeon；　where　the　jailer　advised　them　to　go　to　sleep　as　soon　as　possible；　because　the　Minotaur　was　in　the　habit　of　calling　for　breakfast　early。　The　seven　maiden　s　and　six　of　the　young　men　soon　sobbed　themselves　to　slumber。　But　Theseus　was　not　like　them。　He　felt　conscious　that　he　was　wiser；　and　braver；　and　stronger　than　his　companions；　and　that　therefore　he　had　the　responsibility　of　all　their　lives　upon　him；　and　must　consider　whether　there　was　no　way　to　save　them；　even　in　this　last　extremity。　So　he　kept　himself　awake；　and　paced　to　and　fro　across　the　gloomy　dungeon　in　which　they　were　shut　up。

Just　before　midnight；　the　door　was　softly　unbarred；　and　the　gentle　Ariadne　showed　herself；　with　a　torch　in　her　hand。

〃Are　you　awake；　Prince　Theseus？〃　she　whispered。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Theseus。　〃With　so　little　time　to　live；　I　do　not　choose　to　waste　any　of　it　in　sleep。〃

〃Then　follow　me；〃　said　Ariadne；　〃and　tread　softly。〃

What　had　become　of　the　jailer　and　the　guards；　Theseus　never　knew。　But；　however　that　might　be；　Ariadne　opened　all　the　doors；　and　led　him　forth　from　the　darksome　prison　into　the　pleasant　moonlight。

〃Theseus；〃　said　the　maiden；　〃you　can　now　get　on　board　your　vessel；　and　sail　away　for　Athens。〃

〃No；〃　answered　the　young　man；　〃I　will　never　leave　Crete　unless　I　can　first　slay　the　Minotaur；　and　save　my　poor　companions；　and　deliver　Athens　from　this　cruel　tribute。〃

〃I　knew　that　this　would　be　your　resolution；〃　said　Ariadne。　〃Come；　then；　with　me；　brave　Theseus。　Here　is　your　own　sword；　which　the　guards　deprived　you　of。　You　will　need　it；　and　pray　Heaven　you　may　use　it　well。〃

Then　she　led　Theseus　along　by　the　hand　until　they　came　to　a　dark；　shadowy　grove；　where　the　moonlight　wasted　itself　on　the　tops　of　the　trees；　without　shedding　hardly　so　much　as　a　glimmering　beam　upon　their　pathway。　After　going　a　good　way　through　this　obscurity；　they　reached　a　high　marble　wall；　which　was　overgrown　with　creeping　plants；　that　made　it　shaggy　with　their　verdure。　The　wall　seemed　to　have　no　door；　nor　any　windows；　but　rose　up；　lofty；　and　massive；　and　mysterious；　and　was　neither　to　be　clambered　over；　nor；　as　far　as　Theseus　could　perceive；　to　be　passed　through。　Nevertheless；　Ariadne　did　but　press　one　of　her　soft　little　fingers　against　a　particular　block　of　marble　and；　though　it　looked　as　solid　as　any　other　part　of　the　wall；　it　yielded　to　her　touch；　disclosing　an　entrance　just　wide　enough　to　admit　them　They　crept　through；　and　the　marble　stone　swung　back　into　its　place。

〃We　are　now；〃　said　Ariadne；　〃in　the　famous　labyrinth　which　Daedalus　built　before　he　made　himself　a　pair　of　wings；　and　flew　away　from　our　island　like　a　bird。　That　Daedalus　was　a　very　cunning　workman；　but　of　all　his　artful　contrivances；　this　labyrinth　is　the　most　wondrous。　Were　we　to　take　but　a　few　steps　from　the　doorway；　we　might　wander　about　all　our　lifetime；　and　never　find　it　again。　Yet　in　the　very　center　of　this　labyrinth　is　the　Minotaur；　and；　Theseus；　you　must　go　thither　to　seek　him。〃

〃But　how　shall　I　ever　find　him；〃　asked　Theseus；　〃if　the　labyrinth　so　bewilders　me　as　you　say　it　will？〃

Just　as　he　spoke；　they　heard　a　rough　and　very　disagreeable　roar；　which　greatly　resembled　the　lowing　of　a　fierce　bull；　but　yet　had　some　sort　of　sound　like　the　human　voice。　Theseus　even　fancied　a　rude　articulation　in　it；　as　if　the　creature　that　uttered　it　were　trying　to　shape　his　hoarse　breath　into　words。　It　was　at　some　distance；　however；　and　he　really　could　not　tell　whether　it　sounded　most　like　a　bull's　roar　or　a　man's　harsh　voice。

〃That　is　the　Minotaur's　noise；〃　whispered　Ariadne；　closely　grasping　the　hand　of　Theseus；　and　pressing　one　of　her　own　hands　to　her　heart；　which　was　all　in　a　tremble。　〃You　must　follow　that　sound　through　the　windings　of　the　labyrinth；　and；　by　and　by；　you　will　find　him。　Stay！　take　the　end　of　this　silken　string；　I　will　hold　the　other　end；　and　then；　if　you　win　the　victory。　it　will　lead　you　again　to　this　spot。　Farewell；　brave　Theseus。〃

So　the　young　man　took　the　end　of　the　silken　string　in　his　left　hand；　and　his　gold…hilled　sword；　ready　drawn　from　its　scabbard；　in　the