tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第35章
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apt to get into mischief。〃
The child promised to be as prudent as if she were a grown…up woman；
and； by the time the winged dragons had whirled the car out of sight； she
was already on the shore； calling to the sea nymphs to come and play with
her。 They knew Proserpina's voice； and were not long in showing their
glistening faces and sea…green hair above the water； at the bottom of which
was their home。 They brought along with them a great many beautiful
shells； and sitting down on the moist sand； where the surf wave broke over
them； they busied themselves in making a necklace； which they hung
round Proserpina's neck。 By way of showing her gratitude； the child
besought them to go with her a little way into the fields； so that they might
gather abundance of flowers； with which she would make each of her kind
playmates a wreath。
〃O no； dear Proserpina；〃 cried the sea nymphs； 〃we dare not go with
you upon the dry land。 We are apt to grow faint； unless at every breath we
can snuff up the salt breeze of the ocean。 And don't you see how careful
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we are to let the surf wave break over us every moment or two； so as to
keep ourselves comfortably moist？ If it were not for that； we should look
like bunches of uprooted seaweed dried in the sun。
〃It is a great pity；〃 said Proserpina。 〃But do you wait for me here； and I
will run and gather my apron full of flowers； and be back again before the
surf wave has broken ten times over you。 I long to make you some wreaths
that shall be as lovely as this necklace of many colored shells。〃
〃We will wait； then；〃 answered the sea nymphs。 〃But while you are
gone； we may as well lie down on a bank of soft sponge under the water。
The air to…day is a little too dry for our comfort。 But we will pop up our
heads every few minutes to see if you are coming。〃
The young Proserpina ran quickly to a spot where； only the day before；
she had seen a great many flowers。 These； however； were now a little past
their bloom； and wishing to give her friends the freshest and loveliest
blossoms； she strayed farther into the fields； and found some that made her
scream with delight。 Never had she met with such exquisite flowers
beforeviolets so large and fragrantroses with so rich and delicate a
blushsuch superb hyacinths and such aromatic pinksand many others；
some of which seemed to be of new shapes and colors。 Two or three times；
moreover； she could not help thinking that a tuft of most splendid flowers
had suddenly sprouted out of the earth before her very eyes； as if on
purpose to tempt her a few steps farther。 Proserpina's apron was soon filled；
and brimming over with delightful blossoms。 She was on the point of
turning back in order to rejoin the sea nymphs； and sit with them on the
moist sands； all twining wreaths together。 But； a little farther on； what
should she behold？ It was a large shrub； completely covered with the most
magnificent flowers in the world。
〃The darlings！〃 cried Proserpina； and then she thought to herself； 〃I
was looking at that spot only a moment ago。 How strange it is that I did
not see the flowers！〃
The nearer she approached the shrub； the more attractive it looked；
until she came quite close to it； and then； although its beauty was richer
than words can tell； she hardly knew whether to like it or not。 It bore
above a hundred flowers of the most brilliant hues； and each different
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from the others； but all having a kind of resemblance among themselves；
which showed them to be sister blossoms。 But there was a deep； glossy
luster on the leaves of the shrub； and on the petals of the flowers； that
made Proserpina doubt whether they might not be poisonous。 To tell you
the truth； foolish as it may seem； she was half inclined to turn round and
run away。
〃What a silly child I am！〃 thought she； taking courage。 〃It is really the
most beautiful shrub that ever sprang out of the earth。 I will pull it up by
the roots； and carry it home； and plant it in my mother's garden。〃
Holding up her apron full of flowers with her left hand； Proserpina
seized the large shrub with the other； and pulled； and pulled； but was
hardly able to loosen the soil about its roots。 What a deep…rooted plant it
was！ Again the girl pulled with all her might； and observed that the earth
began to stir and crack to some distance around the stem。 She gave another
pull； but relaxed her hold； fancying that there was a rumbling sound right
beneath her feet。 Did the roots extend down into some enchanted cavern？
Then laughing at herself for so childish a notion； she made another effort：
up came the shrub； and Proserpina staggered back； holding the stem
triumphantly in her hand； and gazing at the deep hole which its roots had
left in the soil。
Much to her astonishment； this hole kept spreading wider and wider；
and growing deeper and deeper； until it really seemed to have no bottom；
and all the while； there came a rumbling noise out of its depths； louder and
louder； and nearer and nearer； and sounding like the tramp of horses' hoofs
and the rattling of wheels。 Too much frightened to run away； she stood
straining her eyes into this wonderful cavity； and soon saw a team of four
sable horses； snorting smoke out of their nostrils； and tearing their way out
of the earth with a splendid golden chariot whirling at their heels。 They
leaped out of the bottomless hole； chariot and all； and there they were；
tossing their black manes； flourishing their black tails； and curvetting with
every one of their hoofs off the ground at once； close by the spot where
Proserpina stood。 In the chariot sat the figure of a man； richly dressed；
with a crown on his head； all flaming with diamonds。 He was of a noble
aspect； and rather handsome； but looked sullen and discontented； and he
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kept rubbing his eyes and shading them with his hand； as if he did not live
enough in the sunshine to be very fond of its light。
As soon as this personage saw the affrighted Proserpina； he beckoned
her to come a little nearer。
〃Do not be afraid；〃 said he； with as cheerful a smile as he knew how to
put on。 〃Come！ Will you not like to ride a little way with me； in my
beautiful chariot？〃
But Proserpina was so alarmed； that she wished for nothing but to get
out of his reach。 And no wonder。 The stranger did not look remarkably
good…natured； in spite of his smile； and as for his voice； its tones were
deep and stern； and sounded as much like the rumbling of an earthquake
underground than anything else。 As is always the case with children in
trouble； Proserpina's first thought was to call for her mother。
〃Mother； Mother Ceres！〃 cried she； all in a tremble。 〃Come quickly
and save me。〃
But her voice was too faint for her mother to hear。 Indeed； it is most
probable that Ceres was then a thousand m
