the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第40节
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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
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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
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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
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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
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he knew that Theseus was the one whom he had been searching for； he led
