tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第48章
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was extended； as if pointing onward。 The face of this wonderful statue；
though not angry or forbidding； was so grave and majestic； that perhaps
you might call it severe； and as for the mouth； it seemed just ready to
unclose its lips； and utter words of the deepest wisdom。
Jason was delighted with the oaken image； and gave the carver no rest
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until it was completed； and set up where a figure…head has always stood；
from that time to this； in the vessel's prow。
〃And now；〃 cried he； as he stood gazing at the calm； majestic face of
the statue； 〃I must go to the Talking Oak and inquire what next to do。〃
〃There is no need of that； Jason；〃 said a voice which； though it was far
lower； reminded him of the mighty tones of the great oak。 〃When you
desire good advice； you can seek it of me。〃
Jason had been looking straight into the face of the image when these
words were spoken。 But he could hardly believe either his ears or his eyes。
The truth was； however； that the oaken lips had moved； and； to all
appearance； the voice had proceeded from the statue's mouth。 Recovering
a little from his surprise； Jason bethought himself that the image had been
carved out of the wood of the Talking Oak； and that； therefore； it was
really no great wonder； but on the contrary； the most natural thing in the
world； that it should possess the faculty of speech。 It would have been
very odd； indeed； if it had not。 But certainly it was a great piece of good
fortune that he should be able to carry so wise a block of wood along with
him in his perilous voyage。
〃Tell me； wondrous image；〃 exclaimed Jason； 〃since you inherit the
wisdom of the Speaking Oak of Dodona； whose daughter you are；tell me；
where shall I find fifty bold youths； who will take each of them an oar of
my galley？ They must have sturdy arms to row； and brave hearts to
encounter perils； or we shall never win the Golden Fleece。〃
〃Go；〃 replied the oaken image； 〃go； summon all the heroes of Greece。〃
And； in fact； considering what a great deed was to be done； could any
advice be wiser than this which Jason received from the figure…head of his
vessel？ He lost no time in sending messengers to all the cities； and making
known to the whole people of Greece； that Prince Jason； the son of King
Jason； was going in quest of the Fleece of Gold； and that he desired the
help of forty…nine of the bravest and strongest young men alive； to row his
vessel and share his dangers。 And Jason himself would be the fiftieth。
At this news； the adventurous youths； all over the country； began to
bestir themselves。 Some of them had already fought with giants； and slain
dragons； and the younger ones； who had not yet met with such good
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fortune； thought it a shame to have lived so long without getting astride of
a flying serpent； or sticking their spears into a Chimaera； or； at least；
thrusting their right arms down a monstrous lion's throat。 There was a fair
prospect that they would meet with plenty of such adventures before
finding the Golden Fleece。 As soon as they could furbish up their helmets
and shields； therefore； and gird on their trusty swords； they came
thronging to Iolchos； and clambered on board the new galley。 Shaking
hands with Jason； they assured him that they did not care a pin for their
lives； but would help row the vessel to the remotest edge of the world； and
as much farther as he might think it best to go。
Many of these brave fellows had been educated by Chiron； the four…
footed pedagogue； and were therefore old schoolmates of Jason； and knew
him to be a lad of spirit。 The mighty Hercules； whose shoulders afterwards
upheld the sky； was one of them。 And there were Castor and Pollux； the
twin brothers； who were never accused of being chicken…hearted； although
they had been hatched out of an egg； and Theseus； who was so renowned
for killing the Minotaur； and Lynceus； with his wonderfully sharp eyes；
which could see through a millstone； or look right down into the depths of
the earth； and discover the treasures that were there； and Orpheus； the very
best of harpers； who sang and played upon his lyre so sweetly； that the
brute beasts stood upon their hind legs； and capered merrily to the music。
Yes； and at some of his more moving tunes； the rocks bestirred their moss…
grown bulk out of the ground； and a grove of forest trees uprooted
themselves； and； nodding their tops to one another； performed a country
dance。
One of the rowers was a beautiful young woman； named Atalanta。 who
had been nursed among the mountains by a bear。 So light of foot was this
fair damsel； that she could step from one foamy crest of a wave to the
foamy crest of another； without wetting more than the sole of her sandal。
She had grown up in a very wild way； and talked much about the rights of
women； and loved hunting and war far better than her needle。 But in my
opinion； the most remarkable of this famous company were two sons of
the North Wind （airy youngsters； and of rather a blustering disposition）
who had wings on their shoulders； and； in case of a calm； could puff out
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their cheeks； and blow almost as fresh a breeze as their father。 I ought not
to forget the prophets and conjurors； of whom there were several in the
crew； and who could foretell what would happen to…morrow or the next
day； or a hundred years hence； but were generally quite unconscious of
what was passing at the moment。
Jason appointed Tiphys to be helmsman because he was a star…gazer；
and knew the points of the compass。 Lynceus； on account of his sharp
sight； was stationed as a look…out in the prow； where he saw a whole day's
sail ahead； but was rather apt to overlook things that lay directly under his
nose。 If the sea only happened to be deep enough； however； Lynceus could
tell you exactly what kind of rocks or sands were at the bottom of it； and
he often cried out to his companions； that they were sailing over heaps of
sunken treasure； which yet he was none the richer for beholding。 To
confess the truth； few people believed him when he said it。
Well！ But when the Argonauts； as these fifty brave adventurers were
called； had prepared everything for the voyage； an unforeseen difficulty
threatened to end it before it was begun。 The vessel； you must understand；
was so long； and broad； and ponderous； that the united force of all the fifty
was insufficient to shove her into the water。 Hercules； I suppose； had not
grown to his full strength； else he might have set her afloat as easily as a
little boy launches his boat upon a puddle。 But here were these fifty heroes；
pushing； and straining； and growing red in the face； without making the
Argo start an inch。 At last； quite wearied out； they sat themselves down on
the shore exceedingly disconsolate； and thinking that the vessel must be
left to rot and fall in pieces； and that they must either swim across the sea
or lose the Golde
