tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第3章
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man； so that Theseus； being brought up in the royal palace； and being
naturally a bright lad； could hardly fail of profiting by the old king's
instructions。 His mother's name was Aethra。 As for his father； the boy had
never seen him。 But； from his earliest remembrance； Aethra used to go
with little Theseus into a wood； and sit down upon a moss…grown rock；
which was deeply sunken into the earth。 Here she often talked with her son
about his father； and said that he was called Aegeus； and that he was a
great king； and ruled over Attica； and dwelt at Athens； which was as
famous a city as any in the world。 Theseus was very fond of hearing about
King Aegeus； and often asked his good mother Aethra why he did not
come and live with them at Troezene。
〃Ah； my dear son；〃 answered Aethra； with a sigh； 〃a monarch has his
people to take care of。 The men and women over whom he rules are in the
place of children to him； and he can seldom spare time to love his own
children as other parents do。 Your father will never be able to leave his
kingdom for the sake of seeing his little boy。〃
〃Well； but； dear mother；〃 asked the boy； 〃why cannot I go to this
famous city of Athens； and tell King Aegeus that I am his son？〃
〃That may happen by and by；〃 said Aethra。 〃Be patient； and we shall
see。 You are not yet big and strong enough to set out on such an errand。〃
〃And how soon shall I be strong enough？〃 Theseus persisted in
inquiring。
〃You are but a tiny boy as yet；〃 replied his mother。 〃See if you can lift
this rock on which we are sitting？〃
The little fellow had a great opinion of his own strength。 So； grasping
the rough protuberances of the rock； he tugged and toiled amain； and got
himself quite out of breath； without being able to stir the heavy stone。 It
seemed to be rooted into the ground。 No wonder he could not move it； for
it would have taken all the force of a very strong man to lift it out of its
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earthy bed。
His mother stood looking on； with a sad kind of a smile on her lips and
in her eyes； to see the zealous and yet puny efforts of her little boy。 She
could not help being sorrowful at finding him already so impatient to
begin his adventures in the world。
〃You see how it is； my dear Theseus；〃 said she。 〃You must possess far
more strength than now before I can trust you to go to Athens； and tell
King Aegeus that you are his son。 But when you can lift this rock； and
show me what is hidden beneath it； I promise you my permission to
depart。〃
Often and often； after this； did Theseus ask his mother whether it was
yet time for him to go to Athens； and still his mother pointed to the rock；
and told him that； for years to come； he could not be strong enough to
move it。 And again and again the rosy…checked and curly…headed boy
would tug and strain at the huge mass of stone； striving； child as he was； to
do what a giant could hardly have done without taking both of his great
hands to the task。 Meanwhile the rock seemed to be sinking farther and
farther into the ground。 The moss grew over it thicker and thicker； until at
last it looked almost like a soft green seat； with only a few gray knobs of
granite peeping out。 The overhanging trees； also； shed their brown leaves
upon It； as often as the autumn came； and at its base grew ferns and wild
flowers； some of which crept quite over its surface。 To all appearance； the
rock was as firmly fastened as any other portion of the earth's substance。
But； difficult as the matter looked； Theseus was now growing up to be
such a vigorous youth； that； in his own opinion； the time would quickly
come when he might hope to get the upper hand of this ponderous lump of
stone。
〃Mother； I do believe it has started！〃 cried he； after one of his attempts。
〃The earth around it is certainly a little cracked！〃
〃No； no； child！〃 his mother hastily answered。 〃It is not possible you
can have moved it； such a boy as you still are！〃
Nor would she be convinced； although Theseus showed her the place
where he fancied that the stem of a flower had been partly uprooted by the
movement of the rock。 But Aethra sighed； and looked disquieted； for； no
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doubt； she began to be conscious that her son was no longer a child； and
that； in a little while hence； she must send him forth among the perils and
troubles of the world。
It was not more than a year afterwards when they were again sitting on
the moss…covered stone。 Aethra had once more told him the oft…repeated
story of his father； and how gladly he would receive Theseus at his stately
palace； and how he would present him to his courtiers and the people； and
tell them that here was the heir of his dominions。 The eyes of Theseus
glowed with enthusiasm； and he would hardly sit still to hear his mother
speak。
〃Dear mother Aethra；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I never felt half so strong as
now！ I am no longer a child； nor a boy； nor a mere youth！ I feel myself a
man！ It is now time to make one earnest trial to remove the stone。〃
〃Ah； my dearest Theseus；〃 replied his mother 〃not yet！ not yet！〃
〃Yes； mother；〃 said he； resolutely； 〃the time has come！〃
Then Theseus bent himself in good earnest to the task； and strained
every sinew； with manly strength and resolution。 He put his whole brave
heart into the effort。 He wrestled with the big and sluggish stone； as if it
had been a living enemy。 He heaved； he lifted； he resolved now to succeed；
or else to perish there； and let the rock be his monument forever！ Aethra
stood gazing at him； and clasped her hands； partly with a mother's pride；
and partly with a mother's sorrow。 The great rock stirred！ Yes； it was raised
slowly from the bedded moss and earth； uprooting the shrubs and flowers
along with it； and was turned upon its side。 Theseus had conquered！
While taking breath； he looked joyfully at his mother； and she smiled
upon him through her tears。
〃Yes； Theseus；〃 she said； 〃the time has come； and you must stay no
longer at my side！ See what King Aegeus； your royal father； left for you
beneath the stone； when he lifted it in his mighty arms； and laid it on the
spot whence you have now removed it。〃
Theseus looked； and saw that the rock had been placed over another
slab of stone； containing a cavity within it； so that it somewhat resembled
a roughly…made chest or coffer； of which the upper mass had served as the
lid。 Within the cavity lay a sword； with a golden hilt； and a pair of sandals。
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〃That was your father's sword；〃 said Aethra； 〃and those were his
sandals。 When he went to be king of Athens； he bade me treat you as a
child until you should prove yourself a man by lifting this heavy stone。
That task being accomplished； you are to put on his sandals； in order to
follow in your father's footsteps； and to gird on his sword； so that you may
fight giants and dragons； as King Aegeus did in his youth。〃
〃I will set out for Athens this very day！〃
