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！
getting rid of her。 Medea； almost bursting with rage； uttered precisely such
a hiss as one of her own snakes； only ten times more venomous and
spiteful； and glaring fiercely out of the blaze of the chariot； she shook her
hands over the multitude below； as if she were scattering a million of
curses among them。 In so doing； however； she unintentionally let fall
about five hundred diamonds of the first water； together with a thousand
great pearls； and two thousand emeralds； rubies； sapphires； opals； and
17
… Page 18…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
topazes； to which she had helped herself out of the king's strong box。 All
these came pelting down； like a shower of many… colored hailstones； upon
the heads of grown people and children； who forthwith gathered them up；
and carried them back to the palace。 But King Aegeus told them that they
were welcome to the whole； and to twice as many more； if he had them；
for the sake of his delight at finding his son； and losing the wicked Medea。
And； indeed； if you had seen how hateful was her last look； as the flaming
chariot flew upward； you would not have wondered that both king and
people should think her departure a good riddance。
And now Prince Theseus was taken into great favor by his royal father。
The old king was never weary of having him sit beside him on his throne
（which was quite wide enough for two）； and of hearing him tell about his
dear mother； and his childhood； and his many boyish efforts to lift the
ponderous stone。 Theseus； however； was much too brave and active a
young man to be willing to spend all his time in relating things which had
already happened。 His ambition was to perform other and more heroic
deeds； which should be better worth telling in prose and verse。 Nor had he
been long in Athens before he caught and chained a terrible mad bull； and
made a public show of him； greatly to the wonder and admiration of good
King Aegeus and his subjects。 But pretty soon； he undertook an affair that
made all his foregone adventures seem like mere boy's play。 The occasion
of it was as follows：
One morning； when Prince Theseus awoke； he fancied that he must
have had a very sorrowful dream； and that it was still running in his mind；
even now that his eyes were opened。 For it appeared as if the air was full
of a melancholy wail； and when he listened more attentively； he could hear
sobs； and groans； and screams of woe； mingled with deep； quiet sighs；
which came from the king's palace； and from the streets； and from the
temples； and from every habitation in the city。 And all these mournful
noises； issuing out of thousands of separate hearts； united themselves into
one great sound of affliction； which had startled Theseus from slumber。 He
put on his clothes as quickly as he could （not forgetting his sandals and
gold…hilted sword）； and； hastening to the king； inquired what it all meant。
〃Alas！ my son；〃 quoth King Aegeus； heaving a long sigh； 〃here is a
18
… Page 19…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
very lamentable matter in hand！ This is the wofulest anniversary in the
whole year。 It is the day when we annually draw lots to see which of the
youths and maids of Athens shall go to be devoured by the horrible
Minotaur！〃
〃The Minotaur！〃 exclaimed Prince Theseus； and like a brave young
prince as he was； he put his hand to the hilt of his sword。 〃What kind of a
monster may that be？ Is it not possible； at the risk of one's life； to slay
him？〃
But King Aegeus shook his venerable head； and to convince Theseus
that it was quite a hopeless case； he gave him an explanation of the whole
affair。 It seems that in the island of Crete there lived a certain dreadful
monster； called a Minotaur； which was shaped partly like a man and partly
like a bull； and was altogether such a hideous sort of a creature that it is
really disagreeable to think of him。 If he were suffered to exist at all； it
should have been on some desert island； or in the duskiness of some deep
cavern； where nobody would ever be tormented by his abominable aspect。
But King Minos； who reigned over Crete； laid out a vast deal of money in
building a habitation for the Minotaur； and took great care of his health
and comfort； merely for mischief's sake。 A few years before this time；
there had been a war between the city of Athens and the island of Crete； in
which the Athenians were beaten； and compelled to beg for peace。 No
peace could they obtain； however； except on condition that they should
send seven young men and seven maidens； every year； to be devoured by
the pet monster of the cruel King Minos。 For three years past； this
grievous calamity had been borne。 And the sobs； and groans； and shrieks；
with which the city was now filled； were caused by the people's woe；
because the fatal day had come again； when the fourteen victims were to
be chosen by lot； and the old people feared lest their sons or daughters
might be taken； and the youths and damsels dreaded lest they themselves
might be destined to glut the ravenous maw of that detestable man…brute。
But when Theseus heard the story； he straightened himself up； so that
he seemed taller than ever before； and as for his face it was indignant；
despiteful； bold； tender； and compassionate； all in one look。
〃Let the people of Athens this year draw lots for only six young men；
19
… Page 20…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
instead of seven；〃 said he； 〃I will myself be the seventh； and let the
Minotaur devour me if he can！〃
〃O my dear son；〃 cried King Aegeus； 〃why should you expose yourself
to this horrible fate？ You are a royal prince； and have a right to hold
yourself above the destinies of common men。〃
〃It is because I am a prince； your son； and the rightful heir of your
kingdom； that I freely take upon me the calamity of your subjects；〃
answered Theseus； 〃 And you； my father； being king over these people；
and answerable to Heaven for their welfare； are bound t