tanglewood tales-第38节
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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 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…co
