tanglewood tales-第6章

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　its　scabbard；　in　the　other；　and　trod　boldly　into　the　inscrutable　labyrinth。　How　this　labyrinth　was　built　is　more　than　I　can　tell　you。　But　so　cunningly　contrived　a　mizmaze　was　never　seen　in　the　world；　before　nor　since。　There　can　be　nothing　else　so　intricate；　unless　it　were　the　brain　of　a　man　like　Daedalus；　who　planned　it；　or　the　heart　of　any　ordinary　man；　which　last；　to　be　sure；　is　ten　times　as　great　a　mystery　as　the　labyrinth　of　Crete。　Theseus　had　not　taken　five　steps　before　he　lost　sight　of　Ariadne；　and　in　five　more　his　head　was　growing　dizzy。　But　still　he　went　on；　now　creeping　through　a　low　arch；　now　ascending　a　flight　of　steps；　now　in　one　crooked　passage　and　now　in　another；　with　here　a　door　opening　before　him；　and　there　one　banging　behind；　until　it　really　seemed　as　if　the　walls　spun　round；　and　whirled　him　round　along　with　them。　And　all　the　while；　through　these　hollow　avenues；　now　nearer；　now　farther　off　again；　resounded　the　cry　of　the　Minotaur；　and　the　sound　was　so　fierce；　so　cruel；　so　ugly；　so　like　a　bull's　roar；　and　withal　so　like　a　human　voice；　and　yet　like　neither　of　them；　that　the　brave　heart　of　Theseus　grew　sterner　and　angrier　at　every　step；　for　he　felt　it　an　insult　to　the　moon　and　sky；　and　to　our　affectionate　and　simple　Mother　Earth；　that　such　a　monster　should　have　the　audacity　to　exist。

As　he　passed　onward；　the　clouds　gathered　over　the　moon；　and　the　labyrinth　grew　so　dusky　that　Theseus　could　no　longer　discern　the　bewilderment　through　which　he　was　passing。　He　would　have　left　quite　lost；　and　utterly　hopeless　of　ever　again　walking　in　a　straight　path；　if；　every　little　while；　he　had　not　been　conscious　of　a　gentle　twitch　at　the　silken　cord。　Then　he　knew　that　the　tender…hearted　Ariadne　was　still　holding　the　other　end；　and　that　she　was　fearing　for　him；　and　hoping　for　him；　and　giving　him　just　as　much　of　her　sympathy　as　if　she　were　close　by　his　side。　O；　indeed；　I　can　assure　you；　there　was　a　vast　deal　of　human　sympathy　running　along　that　slender　thread　of　silk。　But　still　he　followed　the　dreadful　roar　of　the　Minotaur；　which　now　grew　louder　and　louder；　and　finally　so　very　loud　that　Theseus　fully　expected　to　come　close　upon　him；　at　every　new　zizgag　and　wriggle　of　the　path。　And　at　last；　in　an　open　space；　at　the　very　center　of　the　labyrinth；　he　did　discern　the　hideous　creature。

Sure　enough；　what　an　ugly　monster　it　was！　Only　his　horned　head　belonged　to　a　bull；　and　yet；　somehow　or　other；　he　looked　like　a　bull　all　over；　preposterously　waddling　on　his　hind　legs；　or；　if　you　happened　to　view　him　in　another　way；　he　seemed　wholly　a　man；　and　all　the　more　monstrous　for　being　so。　And　there　he　was；　the　wretched　thing；　with　no　society；　no　companion；　no　kind　of　a　mate；　living　only　to　do　mischief；　and　incapable　of　knowing　what　affection　means。　Theseus　hated　him；　and　shuddered　at　him；　and　yet　could　not　but　be　sensible　of　some　sort　of　pity；　and　all　the　more；　the　uglier　and　more　detestable　the　creature　was。　For　he　kept　striding　to　and　fro；　in　a　solitary　frenzy　of　rage；　continually　emitting　a　hoarse　roar；　which　was　oddly　mixed　up　with　half…shaped　words；　and；　after　listening　a　while；　Theseus　understood　that　the　Minotaur　was　saying　to　himself　how　miserable　he　was；　and　how　hungry；　and　how　he　hated　everybody；　and　how　he　longed　to　eat　up　the　human　race　alive。

Ah！　the　bull…headed　villain！　And　O；　my　good　little　people；　you　will　perhaps　see；　one　of　these　days；　as　I　do　now；　that　every　human　being　who　suffers　any　thing　evil　to　get　into　his　nature；　or　to　remain　there；　is　a　kind　of　Minotaur；　an　enemy　of　his　fellow…creatures；　and　separated　from　all　good　companionship；　as　this　poor　monster　was。

Was　Theseus　afraid？　By　no　means；　my　dear　auditors。　What！　a　hero　like　Theseus　afraid；　Not　had　the　Minotaur　had　twenty　bull…heads　instead　of　one。　Bold　as　he　was；　however；　I　rather　fancy　that　it　strengthened　his　valiant　heart；　just　at　this　crisis；　to　feel　a　tremulous　twitch　at　the　silken　cord；　which　he　was　still　holding　in　his　left　hand。　It　was　as　if　Ariadne　were　giving　him　all　her　might　and　courage；　and　much　as　he　already　had；　and　little　as　she　had　to　give；　it　made　his　own　seem　twice　as　much。　And　to　confess　the　honest　truth；　he　needed　the　whole；　for　now　the　Minotaur；　turning　suddenly　about；　caught　sight　of　Theseus；　and　instantly　lowered　his　horribly　sharp　horns；　exactly　as　a　mad　bull　does　when　he　means　to　rush　against　an　enemy。　At　the　same　time；　he　belched　forth　a　tremendous　roar；　in　which　there　was　something　like　the　words　of　human　language；　but　all　disjointed　and　shaken　to　pieces　by　passing　through　the　gullet　of　a　miserably　enraged　brute。

Theseus　could　only　guess　what　the　creature　intended　to　say；　and　that　rather　by　his　gestures　than　his　words；　for　the　Minotaur's　horns　were　sharper　than　his　wits；　and　of　a　great　deal　more　service　to　him　than　his　tongue。　But　probably　this　was　the　sense　of　what　he　uttered：

〃Ah；　wretch　of　a　human　being！　I'll　stick　my　horns　through　you；　and　toss　you　fifty　feet　high；　and　eat　you　up　the　moment　you　come　down。〃

〃Come　on；　then；　and　try　it！〃　was　all　that　Theseus　deigned　to　reply；　for　he　was　far　too　magnanimous　to　assault　his　enemy　with　insolent　language。

Without　more　words　on　either　side；　there　ensued　the　most　awful　fight　between　Theseus　and　the　Minotaur　that　ever　happened　beneath　the　sun　or　moon。　I　really　know　not　how　it　might　have　turned　out；　if　the　monster；　in　his　first　headlong　rush　against　Theseus；　had　not　missed　him；　by　a　hair's　breadth；　and　broken　one　of　his　horns　short　off　against　the　stone　wall。　On　this　mishap；　he　bellowed　so　intolerably　that　a　part　of　the　labyrinth　tumbled　down；　and　all　the　inhabitants　of　Crete　mistook　the　noise　for　an　uncommonly　heavy　thunder　storm。　Smarting　with　the　pain；　he　galloped　around　the　open　space　in　so　ridiculous　a　way　that　Theseus　laughed　at　it；　long　afterwards；　though　not　precisely　at　the　moment。　After　this；　the　two　antagonists　stood　valiantly　up　to　one　another；　and　fought；　sword　to　horn；　for　a　long　while。　At　last；　the　Minotaur　made　a　run　at　Theseus；　grazed　his　left　side　with　his　horn；　and　flung　him　down；　and　thinking　that　he　had　stabbed　him　to　the　heart；　he　cut　a　great　caper　in　the　air；　opened　his　bull　mouth　from　ear　to　ear；　and　prepared　to　snap　his　head　off。　But　Theseus　by　this　time　had　leaped　up；　and　caught　the　monster　off　his　guard。　Fetching　a　sword　stroke　at　him　with　all　his　force；　he　hit　him　fair　upon　the　neck；　and　made　his　bull　head　skip　six　yards　from　his　human　body；　which　fell　down　flat　upon　the　ground。

So　now　the　battle　was　ended。　Immediately　the　moon　shone　out　as　brightly　as　if　all　the　troubles　of　the　world；　and　all　the　wickedness　and　the　ugliness　that　infest　human　life；　were　past　and　gone　forever。　And　Theseus；　as　he　leaned　on　his　sword；　taking　breath；　felt　another　twitch　of　the　silken　cord；　for　all　through　the　terrible　encounter；　he　had　held　it　fast　in　his　left　hand。　Eager　to　let　Ariadne　know　of　his　success；　he　followed　the　guidance　of　the　thread；　and　soon　found　himself　at　the　entrance　of　the　labyrinth。

〃Thou　hast　slain　the　monster；〃　cried　Ariadne；　clasping　her　hands。

〃Thanks　to　thee；　dear　Ariadne；〃　answered　Theseus；　〃I　return　victorious。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Ariadne；　〃we　must　quickly　summon　thy　friends；　and　get　them　and　thyself　on　board　the　vessel　before　dawn。　If　morning　finds　thee　here；　my　father　will　avenge　the　Minotaur。〃

To　make　my　story　short；　the　poor　captives　were　awakened；　and；　hardly　knowing　whether　it　was　not　a　joyful　dream；　were　told　of　what　Theseus　had　done；　and　that　they　must　set　sail　for　Athens　before　daybreak。　Hastening　down　to　the　vessel；　they　all　clambered　on　board；　except　Prince　Theseus；　who　lingered　behind　them　on　the　strand；　holding　Ariadne's　hand　clasped　in　his　own。

〃Dear　maiden；〃　said　he；　〃thou　wilt　surely　go　with　us。　Thou　art　too　gentle　and　sweet　a　child　for　such　an　iron…hearted　father　as　King　Minos。　He　cares　no　more　for　thee　than　a　granite　rock　cares　for　the　little　flower　that　grows　in　one　of　its　crevices。　But　my　father；　King　Aegeus；　and　my　dear　mother；　Aethra；　and　all　the　fathers　and　mothers　in　Athens；　and　all　the　sons　and　daughters　too；　will　love　and　honor　thee　as　their　benefactress。　Come　with　us；　then；　for　King　Minos　will　be　very　angry　when　he　knows　what　thou　hast　done。〃

Now；　some　low…minded　people；　who　pretend　to　tell　the　story　of　Theseus　and　Ariadne；　have　the　face　to　say　that　this　royal　and　honorable　maiden　did　really　flee　away；　under　cover　of　the　night；　with　the　young　stranger　whose　life　she　had　preserved。　They　say；　too；　that　Prince　Theseus　（who　would　have　died　sooner　than　wrong　the　meanest　creature　in　the　world）　ungratefully　deserted　Ariadne；　on　a　solitary　island；　where　the　vessel　touched　on　its　voyage　to　Athens。　But；　had　the　noble　Theseus　heard　these　falsehoods；　he　would　have　served　their　slanderous　authors　as　he　served　the　Minotaur！　Here　is　what　Ariadne　answered；　when　the　brave　prince　of　Athens　besought　her　to　accompany　him：

〃No；　Theseus；〃　the　maiden　said；　pressing　his　hand；　and　then　drawing　back　a　step　or　two；　〃I　cannot　go　with　you。　My　father　is　old；　and　has　nobody　but　myself　to　love　him。　Hard　as　you　think　his　heart　is；　it　would　break　to　lose　me。　At　first；　King　Minos　will　be　angry；　but　he　will　soon　forgive　his　only　child；　and；　by　and　by；　he　will　rejoice；　I　know；　that　no　more　youths　and　maidens　must　come　from　Athens　to　be　devoured　by　the　Minotaur。　I　have　saved　you；　Theseus；　as　much　for　my　father's　sake　as　for　your　own。　Farewell！　Heaven　bless　you！〃

All　this　was　so　true；　and　so　maiden…like；　and　was　spoken　with　so　sweet　a　dignity；　that　Theseus　would　have　blushed　to　urge　her　any　longer。　Nothing　remained　for　him；　therefore；　but　to　bid　Ariadne　an　affectionate　farewell；　and　to　go　on　board　the　vessel；　and　set　sail。

In　a　few　moments　the　white　foam　was　boiling　up　before　their　prow；　as　Prince　Theseus　and　his　companions　sailed　out　of　the　harbor；　with　a　whistling　breeze　behind　them。　Talus；　the　brazen　giant；　on　his　never…ceasing　sentinel's　march；　happened　to　be　approaching　that　part　of　the　coast；　and　they　saw　him；　by　the　glimmering　of　the　moonbeams　on　his　polished　surface；　while　he　was　yet　a　great　way　off。　As　the　figure　moved　like　clockwork；　however；　and　could　neither　hasten　his　enormous　strides　nor　retard　them；　he　arrived　at　the　port　when　they　were　just　beyond　the　reach　of　his　club。　Nevertheless；　straddling　from　headland　to　headland；　as　his　custom　was；　Talus　attempted　to　strike　a　blow　at　the　vessel；　and；　overreaching　himself；　tumbled　at　full　length　into　the　sea；　which　splashed　high　over　his　gigantic　shape；　as　when　an　iceberg　turns　a　somerset。　There　he　lies　yet；　and　whoever　desires　to　enrich　himself　by　means　of　brass　had　better　go　thither　with　a　diving　bell；　and　fish　up　Talus。

On　the　homeward　voyage；　the　fourteen　youths　and　damsels　were　in　excellent　spirits；　as　you　will　easily　suppose。　They　spent　most　of　their　time　in　dancing；　unless　when　the　sidelong　breeze　made　the　deck　slope　too　much。　In　due　season；　they　came　within　sight　of　the　coast　of　Attica；　which　was　their　native　country。　But　here；　I　am　grieved　to　tell　you；　happened　a　sad　misfortune。

You　will　remember　（what　Theseus　unfortunately　forgot）　that　his　father；　King　Aegeus；　had　enjoined　it　upon　him　to　hoist　sunshiny　sails；　instead　of　black　ones；　in　case　he　should　overcome　the　Minotaur；　and　return　victorious。　In　the　joy　of　their　success；　however；　and　amidst　the　sports；　dancing；　and　other　merriment；