tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第34节
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she left us a long while ago； meaning only to run a little way upon the dry
land； and gather some flowers for a wreath。 This was early in the day； and
we have seen nothing of her since。〃
Ceres scarcely waited to hear what the nymphs had to say； before she
hurried off to make inquiries all through the neighborhood。 But nobody
told her anything that would enable the poor mother to guess what had
become of Proserpina。 A fisherman； it is true； had noticed her little
footprints in the sand； as he went homeward along the beach with a basket
of fish； a rustic had seen the child stooping to gather flowers； several
persons had heard either the rattling of chariot wheels； or the rumbling of
distant thunder； and one old woman； while plucking vervain and catnip；
had heard a scream； but supposed it to be some childish nonsense； and
therefore did not take the trouble to look up。 The stupid people！ It took
them such a tedious while to tell the nothing that they knew； that it was
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dark night before Mother Ceres found out that she must seek her daughter
elsewhere。 So she lighted a torch； and set forth； resolving never to come
back until Proserpina was discovered。
In her haste and trouble of mind； she quite forgot her car and the
winged dragons； or； it may be； she thought that she could follow up the
search more thoroughly on foot。 At all events； this was the way in which
she began her sorrowful journey； holding her torch before her； and looking
carefully at every object along the path。 And as it happened； she had not
gone far before she found one of the magnificent flowers which grew on
the shrub that Proserpina had pulled up。
〃Ha！〃 thought Mother Ceres； examining it by torchlight。 〃Here is
mischief in this flower！ The earth did not produce it by any help of mine；
nor of its own accord。 It is the work of enchantment； and is therefore
poisonous； and perhaps it has poisoned my poor child。〃
But she put the poisonous flower in her bosom； not knowing whether
she might ever find any other memorial of Proserpina。
All night long； at the door of every cottage and farm…house； Ceres
knocked； and called up the weary laborers to inquire if they had seen her
child； and they stood； gaping and half… asleep； at the threshold； and
answered her pityingly； and besought her to come in and rest。 At the portal
of every palace； too； she made so loud a summons that the menials hurried
to throw open the gate； thinking that it must be some great king or queen；
who would demand a banquet for supper and a stately chamber to repose
in。 And when they saw only a sad and anxious woman； with a torch in her
hand and a wreath of withered poppies on her head； they spoke rudely； and
sometimes threatened to set the dogs upon her。 But nobody had seen
Proserpina； nor could give Mother Ceres the least hint which way to seek
her。 Thus passed the night； and still she continued her search without
sitting down to rest； or stopping to take food； or even remembering to put
out the torch although first the rosy dawn； and then the glad light of the
morning sun； made its red flame look thin and pale。 But I wonder what
sort of stuff this torch was made of； for it burned dimly through the day；
and； at night； was as bright as ever； and never was extinguished by the rain
or wind； in all the weary days and nights while Ceres was seeking for
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Proserpina。
It was not merely of human beings that she asked tidings of her
daughter。 In the woods and by the streams； she met creatures of another
nature； who used； in those old times； to haunt the pleasant and solitary
places； and were very sociable with persons who understood their
language and customs； as Mother Ceres did。 Sometimes； for instance； she
tapped with her finger against the knotted trunk of a majestic oak； and
immediately its rude bark would cleave asunder； and forth would step a
beautiful maiden； who was the hamadryad of the oak； dwelling inside of it；
and sharing its long life； and rejoicing when its green leaves sported with
the breeze。 But not one of these leafy damsels had seen Proserpina。 Then；
going a little farther； Ceres would； perhaps； come to a fountain； gushing
out of a pebbly hollow in the earth； and would dabble with her hand in the
water。 Behold； up through its sandy and pebbly bed； along with the
fountain's gush； a young woman with dripping hair would arise； and stand
gazing at Mother Ceres； half out of the water； and undulating up and down
with its ever… restless motion。 But when the mother asked whether her
poor lost child had stopped to drink out of the fountain； the naiad； with
weeping eyes （for these water…nymphs had tears to spare for everybody's
grief； would answer 〃No！〃 in a murmuring voice； which was just like the
murmur of the stream。
Often； likewise； she encountered fauns； who looked like sunburnt
country people； except that they had hairy ears； and little horns upon their
foreheads； and the hinder legs of goats； on which they gamboled merrily
about the woods and fields。 They were a frolicsome kind of creature but
grew as sad as their cheerful dispositions would allow； when Ceres
inquired for her daughter； and they had no good news to tell。 But
sometimes she same suddenly upon a rude gang of satyrs； who had faces
like monkeys； and horses' tails behind them； and who were generally
dancing in a very boisterous manner； with shouts of noisy laughter。 When
she stopped to question them； they would only laugh the louder； and make
new merriment out of the lone woman's distress。 How unkind of those
ugly satyrs！ And once； while crossing a solitary sheep pasture； she saw a
personage named Pan； seated at the foot of a tall rock； and making music
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on a shepherd's flute。 He； too； had horns； and hairy ears； and goats' feet；
but； being acquainted with Mother Ceres； he answered her question as
civilly as he knew how； and invited her to taste some milk and honey out
of a wooden bowl。 But neither could Pan tell her what had become of
Proserpina； any better than the rest of these wild people。
And thus Mother Ceres went wandering about for nine long days and
nights； finding no trace of Proserpina； unless it were now and then a
withered flower； and these she picked up and put in her bosom； because
she fancied that they might have fallen from her poor child's hand。 All day
she traveled onward through the hot sun； and； at night again； the flame of
the torch would redden and gleam along the pathway； and she continued
her search by its light； without ever sitting down to rest。
On the tenth day； she chanced to espy the mouth of a cavern within
which （though it was bright noon everywhere else） there would have been
only a dusky twilight； but it so happened that a torch was burning there。 It
flickered； and struggled with the duskiness； but could not half light up the
gloomy cavern with all its melancholy glimmer。 Ceres was resolved to
leave no spot without a search； so she peeped into the entrance of the cave；
and lighted it up a little more； by holding her own torch before her。 In so
doing； she caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a woman； sitting on the
brown leaves of the last autumn； a great heap of which had been swept
into the cave by the wind。 This woman （if woman it were） was by no
means so beautiful as many of her sex； for her head； they tell me； was
shaped very much like a dog's； and； by way of ornament； she wore a
wreath of snakes around it。 But Mother Ceres； the moment she saw her；
knew that this was an odd kind of a person； who put all her enjoyment in
being miserable； and never would have a word to say to other peopl
