按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
by any means desirous； as most people are； of kicking away the ladder that
had perhaps helped him to reach his present elevation。 My young friend
was willing； in short； that the fresh verdure of his growing reputation
should spread over my straggling and half…naked boughs； even as I have
sometimes thought of training a vine； with its broad leafiness； and purple
fruitage； over the worm…eaten posts and rafters of the rustic summer house。
I was not insensible to the advantages of his proposal； and gladly assured
him of my acceptance。
Merely from the title of the stories I saw at once that the subjects were
not less rich than those of the former volume； nor did I at all doubt that Mr。
Bright's audacity （so far as that endowment might avail） had enabled him
to take full advantage of whatever capabilities they offered。 Yet； in spite of
my experience of his free way of handling them； I did not quite see； I
confess； how he could have obviated all the difficulties in the way of
rendering them presentable to children。 These old legends； so brimming
over with everything that is most abhorrent to our Christianized moral
sense some of them so hideous； others so melancholy and miserable； amid
4
… Page 5…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
which the Greek tragedians sought their themes； and moulded them into
the sternest forms of grief that ever the world saw； was such material the
stuff that children's playthings should be made of！ How were they to be
purified？ How was the blessed sunshine to be thrown into them？
But Eustace told me that these myths were the most singular things in
the world； and that he was invariably astonished； whenever he began to
relate one； by the readiness with which it adapted itself to the childish
purity of his auditors。 The objectionable characteristics seem to be a
parasitical growth； having no essential connection with the original fable。
They fall away； and are thought of no more； the instant he puts his
imagination in sympathy with the innocent little circle； whose wide…open
eyes are fixed so eagerly upon him。 Thus the stories （not by any strained
effort of the narrator's； but in harmony with their inherent germ） transform
themselves； and re…assume the shapes which they might be supposed to
possess in the pure childhood of the world。 When the first poet or
romancer told these marvellous legends （such is Eustace Bright's opinion）；
it was still the Golden Age。 Evil had never yet existed； and sorrow；
misfortune； crime； were mere shadows which the mind fancifully created
for itself； as a shelter against too sunny realities； or； at most； but prophetic
dreams to which the dreamer himself did not yield a waking credence。
Children are now the only representatives of the men and women of that
happy era； and therefore it is that we must raise the intellect and fancy to
the level of childhood； in order to re…create the original myths。
I let the youthful author talk as much and as extravagantly as he
pleased； and was glad to see him commencing life with such confidence in
himself and his performances。 A few years will do all that is necessary
towards showing him the truth in both respects。 Meanwhile； it is but right
to say； he does really appear to have overcome the moral objections
against these fables； although at the expense of such liberties with their
structure as must be left to plead their own excuse； without any help from
me。 Indeed； except that there was a necessity for itand that the inner life
of the legends cannot be come at save by making them entirely one's own
propertythere is no defense to be made。
Eustace informed me that he had told his stories to the children in
5
… Page 6…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
various situationsin the woods； on the shore of the lake； in the dell of
Shadow Brook； in the playroom； at Tanglewood fireside； and in a
magnificent palace of snow； with ice windows； which he helped his little
friends to build。 His auditors were even more delighted with the contents
of the present volume than with the specimens which have already been
given to the world。 The classically learned Mr。 Pringle； too； had listened to
two or three of the tales； and censured them even more bitterly than he did
THE THREE GOLDEN APPLES； so that； what with praise； and what
with criticism； Eustace Bright thinks that there is good hope of at least as
much success with the public as in the case of the 〃WonderBook。〃
I made all sorts of inquiries about the children； not doubting that there
would be great eagerness to hear of their welfare； among some good little
folks who have written to me； to ask for another volume of myths。 They
are all； I am happy to say （unless we except Clover）； in excellent health
and spirits。 Primrose is now almost a young lady； and； Eustace tells me； is
just as saucy as ever。 She pretends to consider herself quite beyond the age
to be interested by such idle stories as these； but； for all that； whenever a
story is to be told； Primrose never fails to be one of the listeners； and to
make fun of it when finished。 Periwinkle is very much grown； and is
expected to shut up her baby house and throw away her doll in a month or
two more。 Sweet Fern has learned to read and write； and has put on a
jacket and pair of pantaloonsall of which improvements I am sorry for。
Squash Blossom； Blue Eye； Plantain； and Buttercup have had the scarlet
fever； but came easily through it。 Huckleberry； Milkweed； and Dandelion
were attacked with the whooping cough； but bore it bravely； and kept out
of doors whenever the sun shone。 Cowslip； during the autumn； had either
the measles； or some eruption that looked very much like it； but was
hardly sick a day。 Poor Clover has been a good deal troubled with her
second teeth； which have made her meagre in aspect and rather fractious
in temper； nor； even when she smiles； is the matter much mended； since it
discloses a gap just within her lips； almost as wide as the barn door。 But all
this will pass over； and it is predicted that she will turn out a very pretty
girl。
As for Mr。 Bright himself； he is now in his senior year at Williams