tanglewood tales-第8节
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s 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； with which these young folks wore away the time； they never once thought whether their sails were black； white； or rainbow colored； and； indeed； left it entirely to the mariners whether they had any sails at all。 Thus the vessel returned； like a raven； with the same sable wings that had wafted her away。 But poor King Aegeus； day after day； infirm as he was； had clambered to the summit of a cliff that overhung the sea； and there sat watching for Prince Theseus； homeward bound； and no sooner did he behold the fatal blackness of the sails； than he concluded that his dear son； whom he loved so much； and felt so proud of； had been eaten by the Minotaur。 He could not bear the thought of living any longer； so； first flinging his crown and sceptre into the sea （useless baubles that they were to him now）； King Aegeus merely stooped forward； and fell headlong over the cliff； and was drowned； poor soul； in the waves that foamed at its base！
This was melancholy news for Prince Theseus； who； when he stepped ashore； found himself king of all the country； whether he would or no； and such a turn of fortune was enough to make any young man feel very much out of spirits。 However； he sent for his dear mother to Athens； and； by taking her advice in matters of state； became a very excellent monarch； and was greatly beloved by his people。
THE PYGMIES。
A great while ago； when the world was full of wonders； there lived an earth…born Giant； named Antaeus； and a million or more of curious little earth…born people； who were called Pygmies。 This Giant and these Pygmies being children of the same mother （that is to say； our good old Grandmother Earth）； were all brethren； and dwelt together in a very friendly and affectionate manner； far； far off； in the middle of hot Africa。 The Pygmies were so small； and there were so many sandy deserts and such high mountains between them and the rest of mankind； that nobody could get a peep at them oftener than once in a hundred years。 As for the Giant； being of a very lofty stature； it was easy enough to see him； but safest to keep out of his sight。
Among the Pygmies； I suppose； if one of them grew to the height of six or eight inches； he was reckoned a prodigiously tall man。 It must have been very pretty to behold their little cities； with streets two or three feet wide； paved with the smallest pebbles； and bordered by habitations about as big as a squirrel's cage。 The king's palace attained to the stupendous magnitude of Periwinkle's baby house； and stood in the center of a spacious square； which could hardly have been covered by our hearth… rug。 Their principal temple； or cathedral； was as lofty as yonder bureau； and was looked upon as a wonderfully sublime and magnificent edifice。 All these structures were built neither of stone nor wood。 They were neatly plastered together by the Pygmy workmen； pretty much like birds' nests； out of straw； feathers； egg shells； and other small bits of stuff； with stiff clay instead of mortar； and when the hot sun had dried them； they were just as snug and comfortable as a Pygmy could desire。
The country round about was conveniently laid out in fields； the largest of which was nearly of the same extent as one of Sweet Fern's flower beds。 Here the Pygmies used to plant wheat and other kinds of grain； which； when it grew up and ripened； overshadowed these tiny people as the pines； and the oaks； and the walnut and chestnut trees overshadow you and me； when we walk in our own tracts of woodland。 At harvest time； they were forced to go with their little axes and cut down the grain； exactly as a woodcutter makes a clearing in the forest； and when a stalk of wheat； with its overburdened top； chanced to come crashing down upon an unfortunate Pygmy； it was apt to be a very sad affair。 If it did not smash him all to pieces； at least； I am sure； it must have made the poor little fellow's head ache。 And O； my stars！ if the fathers and mothers were so small； what must the children and babies have been？ A whole family of them might have been put to bed in a shoe； or have crept into an old glove； and played at hide…and…seek in its thumb and fingers。 You might have hidden a year…old baby under a thimble。
Now these funny Pygmies； as I told you before； had a Giant for their neighbor and brother； who was bigger； if possible； than they were little。 He was so very tall that he carried a pine tree； which was eight feet through the butt； for a walking stick。 It took a far…sighted Pygmy； I can assure you； to discern his summit without the help of a telescope； and sometimes； in misty weather； they could not see his upper half； but only his long legs； which seemed to be striding about by themselves。 But at noonday in a clear atmosphere； when the sun shone brightly over him； the Giant Antaeus presented a very grand spectacle。 There he used to stand； a perfect mountain of a man； with his great countenance smiling down upon his little brothers； and his one vast eye （which was as big as a cart wheel； and placed right in the center of his forehead） giving a friendly wink to the whole nation at once。
The Pygmies loved to talk with Antaeus； and fifty times a day； one or another of them would turn up his head； and shout through the hollow of his fists； 〃Halloo； brother Antaeus！ How are you； my good fellow？〃 And when the small distant squeak of their voices reached his ear； the Giant would make answer； 〃Pretty well； brother Pygmy； I thank you；〃 in a thunderous roar that would have shaken down the walls of their strongest temple； only that it came from so far aloft。
It was a happy circumstance that Antaeus was the Pygmy people's friend； for there was more strength in his little finger than in ten million of such bodies as this。 If he had been as ill…natured to them as he was to everybody else； he might have beaten down their biggest city at one kick； and hardly have known that he did it。 With the tornado of his breath； he could have stripped the roofs from a hundred dwellings and sent thousands of the inhabitants whirling through the air。 He might have set his immense foot upon a multitude；
