tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第15节
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the very best way of dealing with their foe； provided they could have kept
him quiet while the conflagration was going forward。
But no sooner did Hercules begin to be scorched； than up he started；
with his hair in a red blaze。
〃What's all this？〃 he cried； bewildered with sleep； and staring about
him as if he expected to see another Giant。
At that moment the twenty thousand archers twanged their bowstrings；
and the arrows came whizzing； like so many winged mosquitoes； right into
the face of Hercules。 But I doubt whether more than half a dozen of them
punctured the skin； which was remarkably tough； as you know the skin of
a hero has good need to be。
〃Villain！〃 shouted all the Pygmies at once。 〃You have killed the Giant
Antaeus； our great brother； and the ally of our nation。 We declare bloody
war against you； and will slay you on the spot。〃
Surprised at the shrill piping of so many little voices； Hercules； after
putting out the conflagration of his hair； gazed all round about； but could
see nothing。 At last； however； looking narrowly on the ground； he espied
the innumerable assemblage of Pygmies at his feet。 He stooped down； and
taking up the nearest one between his thumb and finger； set him on the
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palm of his left hand； and held him at a proper distance for examination。 It
chanced to be the very identical Pygmy who had spoken from the top of
the toadstool； and had offered himself as a champion to meet Hercules in
single combat。
〃What in the world； my little fellow；〃 ejaculated Hercules； 〃may you
be？〃
〃I am your enemy；〃 answered the valiant Pygmy； in his mightiest
squeak。 〃You have slain the enormous Antaeus； our brother by the
mother's side； and for ages the faithful ally of our illustrious nation。 We are
determined to put you to death； and for my own part； I challenge you to
instant battle； on equal ground。〃
Hercules was so tickled with the Pygmy's big words and warlike
gestures； that he burst into a great explosion of laughter； and almost
dropped the poor little mite of a creature off the palm of his hand； through
the ecstasy and convulsion of his merriment。
〃Upon my word；〃 cried he； 〃I thought I had seen wonders before to…
dayhydras with nine heads； stags with golden horns； six…legged men；
three…headed dogs； giants with furnaces in their stomachs； and nobody
knows what besides。 But here； on the palm of my hand； stands a wonder
that outdoes them all！ Your body； my little friend； is about the size of an
ordinary man's finger。 Pray； how big may your soul be？〃
〃As big as your own！〃 said the Pygmy。
Hercules was touched with the little man's dauntless courage； and
could not help acknowledging such a brotherhood with him as one hero
feels for another。
〃My good little people；〃 said he； making a low obeisance to the grand
nation； 〃not for all the world would I do an intentional injury to such brave
fellows as you！ Your hearts seem to me so exceedingly great； that； upon
my honor； I marvel how your small bodies can contain them。 I sue for
peace； and； as a condition of it； will take five strides； and be out of your
kingdom at the sixth。 Good…bye。 I shall pick my steps carefully； for fear of
treading upon some fifty of you； without knowing it。 Ha； ha； ha！ Ho； ho；
ho！ For once； Hercules acknowledges himself vanquished。〃
Some writers say； that Hercules gathered up the whole race of Pygmies
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in his lion's skin； and carried them home to Greece； for the children of
King Eurystheus to play with。 But this is a mistake。 He left them； one and
all； within their own territory； where； for aught I can tell； their descendants
are alive to the present day； building their little houses； cultivating their
little fields； spanking their little children； waging their little warfare with
the cranes； doing their little business； whatever it may be； and reading
their little histories of ancient times。 In those histories； perhaps； it stands
recorded； that； a great many centuries ago； the valiant Pygmies avenged
the death of the Giant Antaeus by scaring away the mighty Hercules。
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THE DRAGON'S TEETH。
Cadmus； Phoenix； and Cilix； the three sons of King Agenor； and their
little sister Europa （who was a very beautiful child）； were at play together
near the seashore in their father's kingdom of Phoenicia。 They had rambled
to some distance from the palace where their parents dwelt； and were now
in a verdant meadow； on one side of which lay the sea； all sparkling and
dimpling in the sunshine； and murmuring gently against the beach。 The
three boys were very happy； gathering flowers； and twining them into
garlands； with which they adorned the little Europa。 Seated on the grass；
the child was almost hidden under an abundance of buds and blossoms；
whence her rosy face peeped merrily out； and； as Cadmus said； was the
prettiest of all the flowers。
Just then； there came a splendid butterfly； fluttering along the meadow；
and Cadmus； Phoenix； and Cilix set off in pursuit of it； crying out that it
was a flower with wings。 Europa； who was a little wearied with playing all
day long； did not chase the butterfly with her brothers； but sat still where
they had left her； and closed her eyes。 For a while； she listened to the
pleasant murmur of the sea； which was like a voice saying 〃Hush！〃 and
bidding her go to sleep。 But the pretty child； if she slept at all； could not
have slept more than a moment； when she heard something trample on the
grass； not far from her； and； peeping out from the heap of flowers； beheld
a snow…white bull。
And whence could this bull have com ？ Europa and her brothers had
been a long time playing in the meadow； and had seen no cattle； nor other
living thing； either there or on the neighboring hills。
〃Brother Cadmus！〃 cried Europa； starting up out of the midst of the
roses and lilies。 〃Phoenix！ Cilix！ Where are you all？ Help！ Help！ Come
and drive away this bull！〃
But her brothers were too far off to hear； especially as the fright took
away Europa's voice； and hindered her from calling very loudly。 So there
she stood； with her pretty mouth wide open； as pale as the white lilies that
were twisted among the other flowers in her garlands。
Nevertheless； it was the suddenness with which she had perceived the
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bull； rather than anything frightful in his appearance； that caused Europa
so much alarm。 On looking at him more attentively； she began to see that
he was a beautiful animal； and even fancied a particularly amiable
expression in his face。 As for his breaththe breath of cattle； you know； is
always sweetit was as fragrant as if he had been grazing on no other food
than rosebuds； or at least； the most delicate of clover blossoms。 Never
before did a bull have such bright and tender eyes； and such smooth horns
of ivory； as this one。 And the bull ran little races； and capered sportively
around the child； so that she quite forgot how big and strong he was； and；
from the gentleness and playfulness of his actions； soon came to consider
him as innocent a creature as a pet lamb。
Thus； frightened as she at first was； you might by and by have seen
Europa stroking the bull's forehead with her small white hand； and taking
the garlands off her own head to hang them on his neck and ivory horns。
Then she pulled up some blades of grass； and he ate them out of her hand；
not as if he were hungry； but because he wanted to be friends with the
child； and took pleasure in eating what she had touched。 Well； my stars！
was there ever such a gentle； sweet； pretty； and amiable creature as this
bull； and ever such a nice playmate for a little girl？
When the animal saw （for the bull had so much intelligence that it is
really wonderful to think of）； whe
