tanglewood tales-第8章

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If　the　truth　must　be　told；　they　were　sometimes　as　troublesome　to　the　Giant　as　a　swarm　of　ants　or　mosquitoes；　especially　as　they　had　a　fondness　for　mischief；　and　liked　to　prick　his　skin　with　their　little　swords　and　lances；　to　see　how　thick　and　tough　it　was。　But　Antaeus　took　it　all　kindly　enough；　although；　once　in　a　while；　when　he　happened　to　be　sleepy；　he　would　grumble　out　a　peevish　word　or　two；　like　the　muttering　of　a　tempest；　and　ask　them　to　have　done　with　their　nonsense。　A　great　deal　oftener；　however；　he　watched　their　merriment　and　gambols　until　his　huge；　heavy；　clumsy　wits　were　completely　stirred　up　by　them；　and　then　would　he　roar　out　such　a　tremendous　volume　of　immeasurable　laughter；　that　the　whole　nation　of　Pygmies　had　to　put　their　hands　to　their　ears；　else　it　would　certainly　have　deafened　them。

〃Ho！　ho！　ho！〃　quoth　the　Giant；　shaking　his　mountainous　sides。　〃What　a　funny　thing　it　is　to　be　little！　If　I　were　not　Antaeus；　I　should　like　to　be　a　Pygmy；　just　for　the　joke's　sake。〃

The　Pygmies　had　but　one　thing　to　trouble　them　in　the　world。　They　were　constantly　at　war　with　the　cranes；　and　had　always　been　so；　ever　since　the　long…　lived　Giant　could　remember。　From　time　to　time；　very　terrible　battles　had　been　fought　in　which　sometimes　the　little　men　won　the　victory；　and　sometimes　the　cranes。　According　to　some　historians；　the　Pygmies　used　to　go　to　the　battle；　mounted　on　the　backs　of　goats　and　rams；　but　such　animals　as　these　must　have　been　far　too　big　for　Pygmies　to　ride　upon；　so　that；　I　rather　suppose；　they　rode　on　squirrel…back；　or　rabbit…back；　or　redbook；　or　perhaps　got　upon　hedgehogs；　whose　prickly　quills　would　be　very　terrible　to　the　enemy。　However　this　might　be；　and　whatever　creatures　the　Pygmies　rode　upon；　I　do　not　doubt　that　they　made　a　formidable　appearance；　armed　with　sword　and　spear；　and　bow　and　arrow；　blowing　their　tiny　trumpet；　and　shouting　their　little　war　cry。　They　never　failed　to　exhort　one　another　to　fight　bravely；　and　recollect　that　the　world　had　its　eyes　upon　them；　although；　in　simple　truth；　the　only　spectator　was　the　Giant　Antaeus；　with　his　one；　great；　stupid　eye　in　the　middle　of　his　forehead。

When　the　two　armies　joined　battle；　the　cranes　would　rush　forward；　flapping　their　wings　and　stretching　out　their　necks；　and　would　perhaps　snatch　up　some　of　the　Pygmies　crosswise　in　their　beaks。　Whenever　this　happened；　it　was　truly　an　awful　spectacle　to　see　those　little　men　of　might　kicking　and　sprawling　in　the　air；　and　at　last　disappearing　down　the　crane's　long；　crooked　throat；　swallowed　up　alive。　A　hero；　you　know；　must　hold　himself　in　readiness　for　any　kind　of　fate；　and　doubtless　the　glory　of　the　thing　was　a　consolation　to　him；　even　in　the　crane's　gizzard。　If　Antaeus　observed　that　the　battle　was　going　hard　against　his　little　allies；　he　generally　stopped　laughing；　and　ran　with　mile…long　strides　to　their　assistance；　flourishing　his　club　aloft　and　shouting　at　the　cranes；　who　quacked　and　croaked；　and　retreated　as　fast　as　they　could。　Then　the　Pygmy　army　would　march　homeward　in　triumph；　attributing　the　victory　entirely　to　their　own　valor；　and　to　the　warlike　skill　and　strategy　of　whomsoever　happened　to　be　captain　general；　and　for　a　tedious　while　afterwards；　nothing　would　be　heard　of　but　grand　processions；　and　public　banquets；　a　nd　brilliant　illuminations；　and　shows　of　wax…work；　with　likenesses　of　the　distinguished　officers；　as　small　as　life。

In　the　above…described　warfare；　if　a　Pygmy　chanced　to　pluck　out　a　crane's　tail　feather；　it　proved　a　very　great　feather　in　his　cap。　Once　or　twice；　if　you　will　believe　me；　a　little　man　was　made　chief　ruler　of　the　nation　for　no　other　merit　in　the　world　than　bringing　home　such　a　feather。

But　I　have　now　said　enough　to　let　you　see　what　a　gallant　little　people　these　were；　and　how　happily　they　and　their　forefathers；　for　nobody　knows　how　many　generations；　had　lived　with　the　immeasurable　Giant　Antaeus。　In　the　remaining　part　of　the　story；　I　shall　tell　you　of　a　far　more　astonishing　battle　than　any　that　was　fought　between　the　Pygmies　and　the　cranes。

One　day　the　mighty　Antaeus　was　lolling　at　full　length　among　his　little　friends。　His　pine…tree　walking　stick　lay　on　the　ground；　close　by　his　side。　His　head　was　in　one　part　of　the　kingdom；　and　his　feet　extended　across　the　boundaries　of　another　part；　and　he　was　taking　whatever　comfort　he　could　get；　while　the　Pygmies　scrambled　over　him；　and　peeped　into　his　cavernous　mouth；　and　played　among　his　hair。　Sometimes；　for　a　minute　or　two；　the　Giant　dropped　asleep；　and　snored　like　the　rush　of　a　whirlwind。　During　one　of　these　little　bits　of　slumber；　a　Pygmy　chanced　to　climb　upon　his　shoulder；　and　took　a　view　around　the　horizon；　as　from　the　summit　of　a　hill；　and　he　beheld　something；　a　long　way　off；　which　made　him　rub　the　bright　specks　of　his　eyes；　and　look　sharper　than　before。　At　first　he　mistook　it　for　a　mountain；　and　wondered　how　it　had　grown　up　so　suddenly　out　of　the　earth。　But　soon　he　saw　the　mountain　move。　As　it　came　nearer　and　nearer；　what　should　it　turn　out　to　be　but　a　human　shape；　not　so　big　as　Antaeus；　it　is　true；　although　a　very　enormous　figure；　in　comparison　with　Pygmies；　and　a　vast　deal　bigger　than　the　men　we　see　nowadays。

When　the　Pygmy　was　quite　satisfied　that　his　eyes　had　not　deceived　him；　he　scampered；　as　fast　as　his　legs　would　carry　him；　to　the　Giant's　ear；　and　stooping　over　its　cavity；　shouted　lustily　into　it：

〃Halloo；　brother　Antaeus！　Get　up　this　minute；　and　take　your　pine…tree　walking　stick　in　your　hand。　Here　comes　another　Giant　to　have　a　tussle　with　you。〃

〃Poh；　poh！〃　grumbled　Antaeus；　only　half　awake。　〃None　of　your　nonsense；　my　little　fellow！　Don't　you　see　I'm　sleepy？　There　is　not　a　Giant　on　earth　for　whom　I　would　take　the　trouble　to　get　up。〃

But　the　Pygmy　looked　again；　and　now　perceived　that　the　stranger　was　coming　directly　towards　the　prostrate　form　of　Antaeus。　With　every　step；　he　looked　less　like　a　blue　mountain；　and　more　like　an　immensely　large　man。　He　was　soon　so　nigh；　that　there　could　be　no　possible　mistake　about　the　matter。　There　he　was；　with　the　sun　flaming　on　his　golden　helmet；　and　flashing　from　his　polished　breastplate；　he　had　a　sword　by　his　side；　and　a　lion's　skin　over　his　back；　and　on　his　right　shoulder　he　carried　a　club；　which　looked　bulkier　and　heavier　than　the　pine…tree　walking　stick　of　Antaeus。

By　this　time；　the　whole　nation　of　the　Pygmies　had　seen　the　new　wonder；　and　a　million　of　them　set　up　a　shout　all　together；　so　that　it　really　made　quite　an　audible　squeak。

〃Get　up；　Antaeus！　Bestir　yourself；　you　lazy　old　Giant！　Here　comes　another　Giant；　as　strong　as　you　are；　to　fight　with　you。〃

〃Nonsense；　nonsense！〃　growled　the　sleepy　Giant。　〃I'll　have　my　nap　out；　come　who　may。〃

Still　the　stranger　drew　nearer；　and　now　the　Pygmies　could　plainly　discern　that；　if　his　stature　were　less　lofty　than　the　Giant's；　yet　his　shoulders　were　even　broader。　And；　in　truth；　what　a　pair　of　shoulders　they　must　have　been！　As　I　told　you；　a　long　while　ago；　they　once　upheld　the　sky。　The　Pygmies；　being　ten　times　as　vivacious　as　their　great　numskull　of　a　brother；　could　not　abide　the　Giant's　slow　movements；　and　were　determined　to　have　him　on　his　feet。　So　they　kept　shouting　to　him；　and　even　went　so　far　as　to　prick　him　with　their　swords。

〃Get　up；　get　up；　get　up；〃　they　cried。　〃Up　with　you；　lazy　bones！　The　strange　Giant's　club　is　bigger　than　your　own；　his　shoulders　are　the　broadest；　and　we　think　him　the　stronger　of　the　two。〃

Antaeus　could　not　endure　to　have　it　said　that　any　mortal　was　half　so　mighty　as　himself。　This　latter　remark　of　the　Pygmies　pricked　him　deeper　than　their　swords；　and；　sitting　up；　in　rather　a　sulky　humor；　he　gave　a　gape　of　several　yards　wide；　rubbed　his　eyes；　and　finally　turned　his　stupid　head　in　the　direction　whither　his　little　friends　were　eagerly　pointing。

No　sooner　did　he　set　eyes　on　the　stranger；　than；　leaping　on　his　feet；　and　seizing　his　walking　stick；　he　strode　a　mile　or　two　to　meet　him；　all　the　while　brandishing　the　sturdy　pine　tree；　so　that　it　whistled　through　the　air。

〃Who　are　you？〃　　thundered　the　Giant。　〃And　what　do　you　want　in　my　dominions？〃

There　was　one　strange　thing　about　Antaeus；　of　which　I　have　not　yet　told　you；　lest；　hearing　of　so　many　wonders　all　in　a　lump；　you　might　not　believe　much　more　than　half　of　them。　You　are　to　know；　then；　that　whenever　this　redoubtable　Giant　touched　the　ground；　either　with　his　hand；　his　foot；　or　any　other　part　of　his　body；　he　grew　stronger　than　ever　he　had　been　before。　The　Earth；　you　remember；　was　his　mother；　and　was　very　fond　of　him；　as　being　almost　the　biggest　of　her　children；　and　so　she　took　this　method　of　keeping　him　always　in　full　vigor。　Some　persons　affirm　that　he　grew　ten　times　stronger　at　every　touch；　others　say　that　it　was　only　twice　as　strong。　But　only　think　of　it！　Whenever　Antaeus　took　a　walk；　supposing　it　were　but　ten　miles；　and　that　he　stepped　a　hundred　yards　at　a　stride；　you　may　try　to　cipher　out　how　much　mightier　he　was；　on　sitting　down　again；　than　when　he　first　started。　And　whenever　he　flung　himself　on　the　earth　to　take　a　little　repose；　even　if　he　got　up　the　very　next　instant；　he　would　be　as　strong　as　exactly　ten　just　such　giants　as　his　former　self。　It　was　well　for　the　world　that　Antaeus　happened　to　be　of　a　sluggish　disposition　and　liked　ease　better　than　exercise；　for；　if　he　had　frisked　about　like　the　Pygmies；　and　touched　the　earth　as　often　as　they　did；　he　would　long　ago　have　been　strong　enough　to　pull　down　the　sky　about　people's　ears。　But　these　great　lubberly　fellows　resemble　mountains；　not　only　in　bulk；　but　in　their　disinclination　to　move。

Any　other　mortal　man；　except　the　very　one　whom　Antaeus　had　now　encountered；　would　have　been　half　frightened　to　death　by　the　Giant's　ferocious　aspect　and　terrible　voice。　But　the　stranger　did　not　seem　at　all　disturbed。　He　carelessly　lifted　his　club；　and　balanced　it　in　his　hand；　measuring　Antaeus　with　his　eye；　from　head　to　foot；　not　as　if　wonder…smitten　at　his　stature；　but　as　if　he　had　seen　a　great　many　Giants　before；　and　this　was　by　no　means　the　biggest　of　them。　In　fact；　if　the　Giant　had　been　no　bigger　than　the　Pygmies　（who　stood　pricking　up　their　ears；　and　looking　and　listening　to　what　was　going　forward）；　the　stranger　could　not　have　been　less　afraid　of　him。

〃Who　are　you；　I　say？〃　roared　Antaeus　again。　〃What's　your　name？　Why　do　you　come　hither？　Speak；　you　vagabond；　or　I'll　try　the　thickness　of　your　skull　with　my　walking…stick！〃

〃You　are　a　very　discourteous　Giant；〃　answered　the　stranger　quietly；　〃and　I　shall　probably　have　to　teach　you　a　little　civility；　before　we　part。　As　for　my　name；　it　is　Hercules。　I　have　come　hither　because　this　is　my　most　convenient　road　to　the　garden　of　the　Hesperides；　whither　I　am　going　to　get　three　of　the　golden　apples　for　King　Eurystheus。〃

〃Caitiff；　you　shall　go　no　farther！〃　bellowed　Antaeus；　putting　on　a　grimmer　look　than　before；　for　he　had　heard　of　the　mighty　Hercules；　and　hated　him　because　he　was　said　to　be　so　strong。〃　Neither　shall　you　go　back　whence　you　came！〃

〃How　will　you　prevent　me；〃　asked　Hercules；　〃from　going　whither　I　please？〃

〃By　hitting　you　a　rap　with　this　pine　tree　here；〃　shouted　Antaeus；　scowling　so　that　he　made　himself　the　ugliest　monster　in　Africa。　〃I　am　fifty　times　stronger　than　you；　and　now　that　I　stamp　my　foot　upon　the　ground；　I　am　five　hundred　times　stronger！　I　am　ashamed　to