tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第47节
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dazzling gleam from a vast number of polished brass helmets； beneath
which； as they grew farther out of the soil； appeared the dark and bearded
visages of warriors； struggling to free themselves from the imprisoning
earth。 The first look that they gave at the upper world was a glare of wrath
and defiance。 Next were seen their bright breastplates； in every right hand
there was a sword or a spear； and on each left arm a shield； and when this
strange crop of warriors had but half grown out of the earth； they
struggledsuch was their impatience of restraintand； as it were； tore
themselves up by the roots。 Wherever a dragon's tooth had fallen； there
stood a man armed for battle。 They made a clangor with their swords
against their shields； and eyed one another fiercely； for they had come into
this beautiful world； and into the peaceful moonlight； full of rage and
stormy passions； and ready to take the life of every human brother； in
recompense of the boon of their own existence。
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There have been many other armies in the world that seemed to
possess the same fierce nature with the one which had now sprouted from
the dragon's teeth； but these； in the moonlit field； were the more excusable；
because they never had women for their mothers。 And how it would have
rejoiced any great captain； who was bent on conquering the world； like
Alexander or Napoleon； to raise a crop of armed soldiers as easily as Jason
did！ For a while； the warriors stood flourishing their weapons； clashing
their swords against their shields； and boiling over with the red…hot thirst
for battle。 Then they began to shout〃Show us the enemy！ Lead us to the
charge！ Death or victory！〃 〃Come on； brave comrades！ Conquer or die！〃
and a hundred other outcries； such as men always bellow forth on a battle
field； and which these dragon people seemed to have at their tongues' ends。
At last； the front rank caught sight of Jason； who； beholding the flash of so
many weapons in the moonlight； had thought it best to draw his sword。 In
a moment all the sons of the dragon's teeth appeared to take Jason for an
enemy； and crying with one voice； 〃Guard the Golden Fleece！〃 they ran at
him with uplifted swords and protruded spears。 Jason knew that it would
be impossible to withstand this blood…thirsty battalion with his single arm；
but determined； since there was nothing better to be done； to die as
valiantly as if he himself had sprung from a dragon's tooth。
Medea； however； bade him snatch up a stone from the ground。
〃Throw it among them quickly！〃 cried she。 〃It is the only way to save
yourself。〃
The armed men were now so nigh that Jason could discern the fire
flashing out of their enraged eyes； when he let fly the stone； and saw it
strike the helmet of a tall warrior； who was rushing upon him with his
blade aloft。 The stone glanced from this man's helmet to the shield of his
nearest comrade； and thence flew right into the angry face of another；
hitting him smartly between the eyes。 Each of the three who had been
struck by the stone took it for granted that his next neighbor had given him
a blow； and instead of running any farther towards Jason； they began to
fight among themselves。 The confusion spread through the host； so that it
seemed scarcely a moment before they were all hacking； hewing； and
stabbing at one another； lopping off arms； heads； and legs and doing such
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memorable deeds that Jason was filled with immense admiration； although；
at the same time； he could not help laughing to behold these mighty men
punishing each other for an offense which he himself had committed。 In
an incredibly short space of time （almost as short； indeed； as it had taken
them to grow up）； all but one of the heroes of the dragon's teeth were
stretched lifeless on the field。 The last survivor； the bravest and strongest
of the whole； had just force enough to wave his crimson sword over his
head and give a shout of exultation； crying； 〃Victory！ Victory！ Immortal
fame！〃 when he himself fell down； and lay quietly among his slain
brethren。
And there was the end of the army that had sprouted from the dragon's
teeth。 That fierce and feverish fight was the only enjoyment which they
had tasted on this beautiful earth。
〃Let them sleep in the bed of honor；〃 said the Princess Medea； with a
sly smile at Jason。 〃The world will always have simpletons enough； just
like them； fighting and dying for they know not what； and fancying that
posterity will take the trouble to put laurel wreaths on their rusty and
battered helmets。 Could you help smiling； Prince Jason； to see the self…
conceit of that last fellow； just as he tumbled down？〃
〃It made me very sad；〃 answered Jason； gravely。 〃And； to tell you the
truth； princess； the Golden Fleece does not appear so well worth the
winning； after what I have here beheld！〃
〃You will think differently in the morning；〃 said Medea。 〃True； the
Golden Fleece may not be so valuable as you have thought it； but then
there is nothing better in the world； and one must needs have an object；
you know。 Come！ Your night's work has been well performed； and to…
morrow you can inform King Aetes that the first part of your allotted task
is fulfilled。〃
Agreeably to Medea's advice； Jason went betimes in the morning to
the palace of King Aetes。 Entering the presence chamber； he stood at the
foot of the throne； and made a low obeisance。
〃Your eyes look heavy； Prince Jason；〃 observed the king； 〃you appear
to have spent a sleepless night。 I hope you have been considering the
matter a little more wisely； and have concluded not to get yourself
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scorched to a cinder； in attempting to tame my brazen…lunged bulls。〃
〃That is already accomplished； may it please your majesty；〃 replied
Jason。 〃The bulls have been tamed and yoked； the field has been plowed；
the dragon's teeth have been sown broadcast； and harrowed into the soil；
the crop of armed warriors have sprung up； and they have slain one
another； to the last man。 And now I solicit your majesty's permission to
encounter the dragon； that I may take down the Golden Fleece from the
tree； and depart； with my nine and forty comrades。〃
King Aetes scowled； and looked very angry and excessively disturbed；
for he knew that； in accordance with his kingly promise； he ought now to
permit Jason to win the Fleece； if his courage and skill should enable him
to do so。 But； since the young man had met with such good luck in the
matter of the brazen bulls and the dragon's teeth； the king feared that he
would be equally successful in slaying the dragon。 And therefore； though
he would gladly have seen Jason snapped up at a mouthful； he was
resolved （and it was a very wrong thing of this wicked potentate） not to
run any further risk of losing his beloved Fleece。
〃You never would have succeeded in this business； young man；〃 said
he； 〃if my undutiful daughter Medea had not helped you with her
enchantments。 Had you acted fairly； you would have been； at this instant； a
black cinder； or a handful of white ashes。 I forbid you； on pain of death； to
make any more attempts to get the Golden Fleece。 To speak my mind
plainly； you shall never set eyes on so much as one of its glistening locks。〃
Jason left the king's presence in great sorrow and anger。 He could think
of nothing better to be done than to summon together his forty…nine brave
Argonauts； march at once to the Grove of Mars； slay the dragon； take
possession of the Golden Fleece； get on board the Argo； and spread all sail
for Iolchos。 The success of this scheme depended； it is true；
