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第51章

tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第51章

小说: tanglewood tales(探戈林故事) 字数: 每页4000字

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humor; therefore; to hear that the gallant Prince Jason; and forty…nine of 

the bravest young warriors of Greece; had come to Colchis with the sole 

purpose of taking away his chief treasure。 

     〃Do   you   know;〃   asked   King Aetes;  eyeing   Jason   very  sternly;   〃what 

are the conditions which you must fulfill before getting possession of the 

Golden Fleece?〃 

     〃I have heard;〃 rejoined the youth; 〃that a dragon lies beneath the tree 

on which the prize hangs; and that whoever approaches him runs the risk 

of being devoured at a mouthful。〃 

     〃True;〃 said the king; with a smile that did not look particularly good… 

natured。   〃Very   true;   young   man。   But   there   are   other   things   as   hard;   or 

perhaps a little harder; to be done before you can even have the privilege 

of   being   devoured   by   the   dragon。   For   example;   you   must   first   tame   my 

two brazen…footed and brazen…lunged bulls; which Vulcan; the wonderful 

blacksmith; made for me。 There is a furnace in each of their stomachs; and 

they breathe such hot fire out of their mouths and nostrils; that nobody has 

hitherto gone nigh them without being instantly burned to a small; black 

cinder。 What do you think of this; my brave Jason?〃 

     〃I   must   encounter   the   peril;〃   answered   Jason;   composedly;   〃since   it 



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stands in the way of my purpose。〃 

     〃After    taming     the   fiery  bulls;〃   continued     King    Aetes;    who    was 

determined to scare Jason if possible; 〃you must yoke them to a plow; and 

must   plow   the   sacred   earth   in   the   Grove   of   Mars;   and   sow   some   of   the 

same dragon's teeth from which Cadmus raised a crop of armed men。 They 

are an unruly set of reprobates; those sons of the dragon's teeth; and unless 

you treat them suitably; they will fall upon you sword in hand。 You and 

your   nine   and   forty Argonauts;   my   bold   Jason;   are   hardly   numerous   or 

strong enough to fight with such a host as will spring up。〃 

     〃My master Chiron;〃 replied Jason; 〃taught me; long ago; the story of 

Cadmus。 Perhaps I can manage the quarrelsome sons of the dragon's teeth 

as well as Cadmus did。〃 

     〃I wish the dragon had him;〃 muttered King Aetes to himself; 〃and the 

four…footed      pedant;    his  schoolmaster;      into  the   bargain。   Why;     what    a 

foolhardy; self…conceited coxcomb he is! We'll see what my fire…breathing 

bulls   will   do   for   him。   Well;   Prince   Jason;〃   he   continued;   aloud;   and   as 

complaisantly as he could; 〃make yourself comfortable for to…day; and to… 

morrow morning; since you insist upon it; you shall try your skill at the 

plow。〃 

     While     the  king   talked   with   Jason;    a  beautiful   young    woman      was 

standing behind the throne。 She fixed her eyes earnestly upon the youthful 

stranger; and listened attentively to every word that was spoken; and when 

Jason withdrew from the king's presence; this young woman followed him 

out of the room。 

     〃I am the king's daughter;〃 she said to him; 〃and my name is Medea。 I 

know a great deal of which other young princesses are ignorant; and can 

do many things which they would be afraid so much as to dream of。 If you 

will trust to me; I can instruct you how to tame the fiery bulls; and sow the 

dragon's teeth; and get the Golden Fleece。〃 

     〃Indeed; beautiful princess;〃 answered Jason; 〃if you will do me this 

service;  I   promise   to   be grateful   to   you   my  whole life   long。〃'   Gazing   at 

Medea;   he   beheld   a   wonderful   intelligence   in   her   face。   She   was   one   of 

those persons whose eyes are full of mystery; so that; while looking into 

them; you seem to see a very great way; as into a deep well; yet can never 



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be certain whether you see into the farthest depths; or whether there be not 

something else hidden at the bottom。 If Jason had been capable of fearing 

anything;   he   would   have   been   afraid   of   making   this   young   princess   his 

enemy; for; beautiful as she now looked; she might; the very next instant; 

become as terrible as the dragon that kept watch over the Golden Fleece。 

     〃Princess;〃     he   exclaimed;     〃you    seem    indeed    very   wise   and    very 

powerful。 But how can you help me to do the things of which you speak? 

Are you an enchantress?〃 

     〃Yes;   Prince   Jason;〃   answered   Medea;   with   a   smile;   〃you   have   hit 

upon the truth。 I am an enchantress。 Circe; my father's sister; taught me to 

be one; and I could tell you; if I pleased; who was the old woman with the 

peacock; the pomegranate; and the cuckoo staff; whom  you carried   over 

the river; and; likewise; who it is that speaks through the lips of the oaken 

image; that stands in the prow of your galley。 I am acquainted with some 

of   your   secrets;   you   perceive。    It  is  well  for  you   that  I  am   favorably 

inclined; for; otherwise; you would hardly escape being snapped up by the 

dragon。〃 

     〃I should not so much care for the dragon;〃 replied Jason; 〃if I only 

knew how to manage the brazen…footed and fiery…lunged bulls。〃 

     〃If you are as brave as I think you; and as you have need to be;〃 said 

Medea; 〃your own bold heart will teach you that there is but one way of 

dealing with a mad bull。 What it is I leave you to find out in the moment 

of   peril。  As   for  the   fiery  breath   of   these   animals;   I  have   a  charmed 

ointment here; which will prevent you from being burned up; and cure you 

if you chance to be a little scorched。〃 

     So she put a golden box into his hand; and directed him how to apply 

the   perfumed      unguent    which    it  contained;    and   where    to  meet    her   at 

midnight。 

     〃Only   be   brave;〃   added   she;   〃and   before   daybreak   the   brazen   bulls 

shall be tamed。〃 

     The young man assured her that his heart would not fail him。 He then 

rejoined     his  comrades;     and    told  them    what    had   passed    between     the 

princess   and   himself;   and   warned   them   to   be   in   readiness   in   case   there 

might   be   need   of   their  help。 At   the   appointed   hour   he   met   the   beautiful 



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Medea on the marble steps of the king's palace。 She gave him a basket; in 

which   were   the   dragon's   teeth;   just   as   they   had   been   pulled   out   of   the 

monster's   jaws   by   Cadmus;   long   ago。   Medea   then   led   Jason   down   the 

palace steps; and through the silent streets of the city; and into the royal 

pasture   ground;   where   the   two   brazen…footed   bulls   were   kept。   It   was   a 

starry night; with a bright gleam along the eastern edge of the sky; where 

the moon was soon going to show herself。 After entering the pasture; the 

princess paused and looked around。 

     〃There they are;〃 said   she; 〃reposing them。   selves and chewing their 

fiery cuds in that farthest corner of the field。 It will be excellent sport; I 

assure you; when they catch a glimpse of your figure。 My father and all his 

court delight in nothing so much as to see a stranger trying to yoke them; 

in   order   to   come   at   the   Golden   Fleece。   It   makes   a   holiday   in   Colchis 

whenever such   a thing happens。   For   my part;   I   enjoy it   immensely。 You 

cannot     imagine     in  what   a  mere    twinkling     of  an  eye   their   hot  breath 

shrivels a young man into a black cinder。〃 

     〃Are   you   sure;   beautiful   Medea;〃   asked   Jason;   〃qui

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