太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the golden fleece(金羊毛) >

第40节

the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第40节

小说: the golden fleece(金羊毛) 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




strive with the Minotaur; and that when he looked upon the dread monster 

he would return to her and then take the way of his escape。 

     She took his hand and led him from the chamber of Minos。 She was 

not tall; but she stood straight and walked steadily; and Theseus saw in her 

something of the strange majesty that he had seen in Minos the king。 

     They came to high bronze gates that opened into a vault。 〃Here;〃 said 

Ariadne;   〃the   labyrinth   begins。   Very   devious   is   the   labyrinth;   built   by 

Daedalus;   in   which   the   Minotaur   is   hidden;   and   without   the   clue   none 

could find a way through the passages。 But I will give you the clue so that 

you may look upon the Minotaur and then come back to me。 Theseus; now 

I put into your hand the thread that will guide you through all the windings 



                                               139 


… Page 140…

         THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES 



of the labyrinth。 And outside the place where the Minotaur is you will find 

another thread to guide you back。〃 

     A cone was on the ground and it had a thread fastened to it。 Ariadne 

gave Theseus the thread and the cone to wind it around。 The thread as he 

held   it   and   wound   it   around   the   cone   would   bring   him   through   all   the 

windings and turnings of the labyrinth。 

     She   left   him;   and   Theseus   went   on。   Winding   the   thread   around   the 

cone he went along a wide passage in the vault。 He turned and came into a 

passage that was very long。 He came   to a place in this passage where   a 

door seemed to be; but within the frame of the doorway there was only a 

blank   wall。   But   below   that   doorway  there   was   a   flight   of   six   steps;   and 

down these steps the thread led him。 On he went; and he crossed the marks 

that he himself had made in the dust; and he thought he must have come 

back to the place where he had parted from Ariadne。 He went on; and he 

saw before him a flight of steps。 The thread did not lead up the steps; it led 

into the most winding of passages。 So sudden were the turnings in it that 

one could not see three steps before one。 He was dazed by the turnings of 

this passage; but still he went on。 He went up winding steps and then along 

a narrow wall。 The wall overhung a broad flight of steps; and Theseus had 

to jump to them。 Down the steps he went and into a wide; empty hall that 

had doorways to the right hand and to the left hand。 Here the thread had its 

end。 It was fastened to a cone that lay on the ground; and beside this cone 

was anotherthe clue that was to bring him back。 

     Now   Theseus;   knowing   he   was   in   the   very   center   of   the   labyrinth; 

looked   all   around   for   sight   of   the   Minotaur。   There   was   no   sight   of   the 

monster   here。   He   went   to   all   the   doors   and   pushed   at   them;   and   some 

opened      and   some    remained     fast。  The    middle    door   opened。    As    it  did 

Theseus felt around him a chilling draft of air。 

     That chilling draft was from the breathing of the monster。 Theseus then 

saw the Minotaur。 It lay on the ground; a strange; bull…faced thing。 

     When   the   thought   came   to Theseus   that   he   would   have   to   fight   that 

monster alone and in that hidden and empty place all delight left him; he 

grew like a stone; he groaned; and it seemed to him that he heard the voice 



                                               140 


… Page 141…

         THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES 



of   Ariadne   calling   him   back。   He   could   find   his   way   back   through   the 

labyrinth and   come   to her。  He stepped back;  and the door   closed   on the 

Minotaur; the dread monster of Crete。 

     In an instant Theseus pushed the door again。 He stood within the hall 

where the Minotaur was; and the heavy door shut behind him。 He looked 

again   on   that   dark;   bull…faced   thing。   It   reared   up   as   a   horse   rears   and 

Theseus saw that it would crash down on him and tear him with its dragon 

claws。   With   a   great   bound   he   went   far   away   from   where   the   monster 

crashed     down。     Then    Theseus     faced    it:  he  saw    its  thick  lips   and   its 

slobbering mouth; he saw that its skin was thick and hard。 

     He drew near the monster; his sword in his hand。 He struck at its eyes; 

and his sword made a great dint。 But no blood came; for the Minotaur was 

a bloodless monster。 From its mouth and nostrils came a draft that covered 

him with a chilling slime。 

     Then   it   rushed   upon   him   and   overthrew   him;   and   Theseus   felt   its 

terrible weight upon him。 But he thrust his sword upward; and it reared up 

again; screaming with pain。 Theseus drew himself away; and then he saw 

it   searching   around   and   around;   and   he   knew   he   had   made   it   sightless。 

Then it faced him; all the more fearful it was because from its wounds no 

blood came。 

     Anger      flowed    into   Theseus      when    he   saw    the   monster     standing 

frightfully before him; he thought of all the youths and maidens that this 

bloodless   thing   had   destroyed;   and   all   the   youths   and   maidens   that   it 

would destroy if he did not slay it now。 Angrily he rushed upon it with his 

great   sword。   It   clawed   and   tore   him;   and   it   opened   wide   its   most   evil 

mouth   as   if   to   draw  him  into it。   But   again   he   sprang   at   it; he   thrust  his 

great sword through its neck; and he left his sword there。 

     With the last of his strength he pulled open the heavy door and he went 

out from the hall where the Minotaur was。 He picked up the thread and he 

began to wind it as he had wound the other thread on his way down。 On he 

went; through passage after passage; through chamber after chamber。 His 

mind was dizzy; and he had little thought for the way he was going。 His 

wounds and the chill that the monster had breathed into him and his horror 



                                                141 


… Page 142…

         THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES 



of the fearful and bloodless thing made his mind almost forsake him。 He 

kept   the   thread   in   his   hand   and   he   wound   it   as   he   went   on   through   the 

labyrinth。 He stumbled and the thread broke。 He went on for a few steps 

and then he went back to find the thread that had fallen out of his hands。 In 

an instant he was in a part of the labyrinth that he had not been in before。 

     He walked a long way; and then he came on his own footmarks as they 

crossed themselves in the dust。 He pushed open a door and came into the 

air。 He was now by the outside wall of the palace; and he saw birds flying 

by   him。   He   leant   against   the   wall   of   the   palace;   thinking   that   he   would 

strive no more to find his way through the labyrinth。 

                                              V 

     That day the youths and maidens of Athens were brought through the 

labyrinth and to the hall where the Minotaur was。 They went through the 

passages weeping and lamenting。 Some cried out for Theseus; and some 

said that Theseus had deserted 

     them。   The   heavy   door   was   opened。   Then   those   who   were   with   the 

youths and maidens saw the Minotaur lying stark and stiff with Theseus's 

sword through its neck。 They shouted and blew trumpets and the noise of 

their   trumpets   filled   the   labyrinth。   Then   they   turned   back;   bringing   the 

youths   and   maidens   with   them;   and   a   whisper   went   through   the   whole 

palace   that   the   Minotaur   had   been   slain。   The   youths   and   maidens   were 

lodged in the chamber where Minos gave his judgments。 

                                              VI 

     Theseus; wearied and overcome; fell into a deep sleep by the wall of 

the palace。 He awakened with a feeling that the claw of the Minotaur was 

upon him。 There were stars in the sky above the high palace wall; and he 

saw a dark…robed and ancient man standing beside him。 Theseus knew that 

this was Daedalus;  the builder  of the  palace and the labyrinth。  Daedalus 

called and a slim youth came Icarus; the son of Daedalus。 Minos had set 

father   and   son   apart   from   the   rest   of   the   palace;   and Theseus   had   come 

near the place where they were confined。 Icarus came and brought him to 

a winding stairway and showed him a way to go。 

     A dark…faced servant met and looked him full in the face。 Then; as if 



                                              142 


… Page 143…

         THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES 



he knew that Theseus was the one whom he had been searching for; he led 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的