tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第24节
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flying towards him； and hovered in the air； so as almost to brush his face
with its wings。 It was a very pretty little bird； with purple wings and body；
and yellow legs； and a circle of golden feathers round its neck； and on its
head a golden tuft； which looked like a king's crown in miniature。 Ulysses
tried to catch the bird。 But it fluttered nimbly out of his reach； still
chirping in a piteous tone； as if it could have told a lamentable story； had it
only been gifted with human language。 And when he attempted to drive it
away； the bird flew no farther than the bough of the next tree； and again
came fluttering about his head； with its doleful chirp； as soon as he
showed a purpose of going forward。
〃Have you anything to tell me； little bird？〃 asked Ulysses。
And he was ready to listen attentively to whatever the bird might
communicate； for； at the siege of Troy； and elsewhere； he had known such
odd things to happen； that he would not have considered it much out of the
common run had this little feathered creature talked as plainly as himself。
〃Peep！〃 said the bird； 〃peep； peep； peweep！〃 And nothing else would
it say； but only； 〃Peep； peep； peweep！〃 in a melancholy cadence； and
over and over and over again。 As often as Ulysses moved forward；
however； the bird showed the greatest alarm； and did its best to drive him
back； with the anxious flutter of its purple wings。 Its unaccountable
behavior made him conclude； at last； that the bird knew of some danger
that awaited him； and which must needs be very terrible； beyond all
question； since it moved even a little fowl to feel compassion for a human
being。 So he resolved； for the present； to return to the vessel； and tell his
companions what he had seen。
This appeared to satisfy the bird。 As soon as Ulysses turned back； it
ran up the trunk of a tree； and began to pick insects out of the bark with its
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long； sharp bill； for it was a kind of woodpecker； you must know； and had
to get its living in the same manner as other birds of that species。 But
every little while； as it pecked at the bark of the tree； the purple bird
bethought itself of some secret sorrow； and repeated its plaintive note of
〃Peep； peep； peweep！〃
On his way to the shore； Ulysses had the good luck to kill a large stag
by thrusting his spear into his back。 Taking it on his shoulders （for he was
a remarkably strong man）； he lugged it along with him； and flung it down
before his hungry companions。 I have already hinted to you what
gormandizers some of the comrades of King Ulysses were。 From what is
related of them； I reckon that their favorite diet was pork； and that they
had lived upon it until a good part of their physical substance was swine's
flesh； and their tempers and dispositions were very much akin to the hog。
A dish of venison； however； was no unacceptable meal to them； especially
after feeding so long on oysters and clams。 So； beholding the dead stag；
they felt of its ribs； in a knowing way； and lost no time in kindling a fire of
driftwood； to cook it。 The rest of the day was spent in feasting； and if these
enormous eaters got up from table at sunset； it was only because they
could not scrape another morsel off the poor animal's bones。
The next morning； their appetites were as sharp as ever。 They looked at
Ulysses； as if they expected him to clamber up the cliff again； and come
back with another fat deer upon his shoulders。 Instead of setting out；
however； he summoned the whole crew together； and told them it was in
vain to hope that he could kill a stag every day for their dinner； and
therefore it was advisable to think of some other mode of satisfying their
hunger。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃when I was on the cliff； yesterday； I discovered that
this island is inhabited。 At a considerable distance from the shore stood a
marble palace； which appeared to be very spacious； and had a great deal of
smoke curling out of one of its chimneys。〃
〃Aha！〃 muttered some of his companions； smacking their lips。 〃That
smoke must have come from the kitchen fire。 There was a good dinner on
the spit； and no doubt there will be as good a one to…day。〃
〃But；〃 continued the wise Ulysses； 〃you must remember； my good
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friends； our misadventure in the cavern of one…eyed Polyphemus； the
Cyclops！ Instead of his ordinary milk diet； did he not eat up two of our
comrades for his supper； and a couple more for breakfast； and two at his
supper again？ Methinks I see him yet； the hideous monster； scanning us
with that great red eye； in the middle of his forehead； to single out the
fattest。 And then； again； only a few days ago； did we not fall into the hands
of the king of the Laestrygons； and those other horrible giants； his subjects；
who devoured a great many more of us than are now left？ To tell you the
truth； if we go to yonder palace； there can be no question that we shall
make our appearance at the dinner table； but whether seated as guests； or
served up as food； is a point to be seriously considered。〃
〃Either way；〃 murmured some of the hungriest of the crew； 〃it will be
better than starvation； particularly if one could be sure of being well
fattened beforehand； and daintily cooked afterwards。〃
〃That is a matter of taste；〃 said King Ulysses； 〃and； for my own part；
neither the most careful fattening nor the daintiest of cookery would
reconcile me to being dished at last。 My proposal is； therefore； that we
divide ourselves into two equal parties； and ascertain； by drawing lots；
which of the two shall go to the palace； and beg for food and assistance。 If
these can be obtained； all is well。 If not； and if the inhabitants prove as
inhospitable as Polyphemus； or the Laestrygons； then there will but half of
us perish； and the remainder may set sail and escape。〃
As nobody objected to this scheme； Ulysses proceeded to count the
whole band； and found that there were forty…six men； including himself。
He then numbered off twenty…two of them； and put Eurylochus （who was
one of his chief officers； and second only to himself in sagacity） at their
head。 Ulysses took command of the remaining twenty…two men； in person。
Then； taking off his helmet； he put two shells into it； on one of which was
written； 〃Go；〃 and on the other 〃Stay。〃 Another person now held the
helmet； while Ulysses and Eurylochus drew out each a shell； and the word
〃Go〃 was found written on that which Eurylochus had drawn。 In this
manner； it was decided that Ulysses and his twenty…two men were to
remain at the seaside until the other party should have found out what sort
of treatment they might expect at the mysterious palace。 As there was no
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help for it； Eurylochus immediately set forth at the head of his twenty…two
followers； who went off in a very melancholy state of mind； leaving their
friends in hardly better spirits than themselves。
No sooner had they clambered up the cliff； than they discerned the tall
marble towers of the palace； ascending； as white as snow； out of the lovely
green shadow of the trees which surrounded it。 A gush of smoke came
from a chimney in the rear of the edifice。 This vapor rose high in the air；
and； meeting with a breeze； was wafted seaward； and made to pass over
the heads of the hungry mariners。 When people's appetites are keen； they
have a very quick scent for anything savory in the wind。
〃That smoke comes from the kitchen！〃 cried one of them； turning up
his nose as high as he could； and snuffing eagerly。 〃And； as sure as I'm a
half…starved vagabond； I smell roast meat in it。〃
〃Pig； roast pig！〃 said another。 〃Ah； the dainty little porker。 My mouth
waters for him。〃
〃Let us make haste；〃 cried the others； 〃or we shall be too late for the
good cheer！ 〃
But scarcely had they made half a dozen steps from the ed
