how to tell stories to children-第30章
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！
the great love and the great power of plain Margaret Haughery； of New Orleans。
THE DAGDA'S HARP＇1＇
＇1＇ The facts from which this story was constructed are found in the legend as given in Ireland's Story； Johnston and Spencer （Houghton； Mifflin； & Co。）。
You know； dears； in the old countries there are many fine stories about things which happened so very long ago that nobody knows exactly how much of them is true。 Ireland is like that。 It is so old that even as long ago as four thousand years it had people who dug in the mines； and knew how to weave cloth and to make beautiful ornaments out of gold； and who could fight and make laws； but we do not know just where they came from； nor exactly how they lived。 These people left us some splendid stories about their kings； their fights； and their beautiful women； but it all happened such a long time ago that the stories are mixtures of things that really happened and what people said about them； and we don't know just which is which。 The stories are called LEGENDS。 One of the prettiest legends is the story I am going to tell you about the Dagda's harp。
It is said that there were two quite different kinds of people in Ireland： one set of people with long dark hair and dark eyes； called Fomoriansthey carried long slender spears made of golden bronze when they foughtand another race of people who were golden…haired and blue… eyed； and who carried short； blunt； heavy spears of dull metal。
The golden…haired people had a great chieftain who was also a kind of high priest； who was called the Dagda。 And this Dagda had a wonderful magic harp。 The harp was beautiful to look upon； mighty in size； made of rare wood； and ornamented with gold and jewels； and it had wonderful music in its strings； which only the Dagda could call out。 When the men were going out to battle； the Dagda would set up his magic harp and sweep his hand across the strings； and a war song would ring out which would make every warrior buckle on his armor； brace his knees； and shout； 〃Forth to the fight！〃 Then； when the men came back from the battle； weary and wounded； the Dagda would take his harp and strike a few chords； and as the magic music stole out upon the air； every man forgot his weariness and the smart of his wounds； and thought of the honor he had won； and of the comrade who had died beside him； and of the safety of his wife and children。 Then the song would swell out louder； and every warrior would remember only the glory he had helped win for the king； and each man would rise at the great tables his cup in his hand； and shout 〃Long live the King！〃
There came a time when the Fomorians and the golden…haired men were at war； and in the midst of a great battle； while the Dagda's hall was not so well guarded as usual； some of the chieftains of the Fomorians stole the great harp from the wall； where it hung； and fled away with it。 Their wives and children and some few of their soldiers went with them； and they fled fast and far through the night； until they were a long way from the battlefield。 Then they thought they were safe； and they turned aside into a vacant castle； by the road； and sat down to a banquet； hanging the stolen harp on the wall。
The Dagda； with two or three of his warriors； had followed hard on their track。 And while they were in the midst of their banqueting； the door was suddenly burst open； and the Dagda stood there； with his men。 Some of the Fomorians sprang to their feet； but before any of them could grasp a weapon； the Dagda called out to his harp on the wall； 〃Come to me； O my harp！〃
The great harp recognized its master's voice； and leaped from the wall。 Whirling through the hall； sweeping aside and killing the men who got in its way； it sprang to its master's hand。 And the Dagda took his harp and swept his hand across the strings in three great； solemn chords。 The harp answered with the magic Music of Tears。 As the wailing harmony smote upon the air； the women of the Fomorians bowed their heads and wept bitterly； the strong men turned their faces aside； and the little children sobbed。
Again the Dagda touched the strings； and this time the magic Music of Mirth leaped from the harp。 And when they heard that Music of Mirth； the young warriors of the Fomorians began to laugh； they laughed till the cups fell from their grasp； and the spears dropped from their hands； while the wine flowed from the broken bowls； they laughed until their limbs were helpless with excess of glee。
Once more the Dagda touched his harp； but very； very softly。 And now a music stole forth as soft as dreams； and as sweet as joy： it was the magic Music of Sleep。 When they heard that； gently； gently； the Fomorian women bowed their heads in slumber； the little children crept to their mothers' laps； the old men nodded； and the young warriors drooped in their seats and closed their eyes： one after another all the Fomorians sank into sleep。
When they were all deep in slumber； the Dagda took his magic harp； and he and his golden…haired warriors stole softly away； and came in safety to their own homes again。
THE TAILOR AND THE THREE BEASTS＇1＇
＇1＇ From Beside the Fire； Douglas Hyde （David Nutt； London）。
There was once a tailor in Galway； and he started out on a journey to go to the king's court at Dublin。
He had not gone far till he met a white horse； and he saluted him。
〃God save you；〃 said the tailor。
〃God save you；〃 said the horse。 〃Where are you going？〃
〃I am going to Dublin；〃 said the tailor； 〃to build a court for the king and to get a lady for a wife； if I am able to do it。〃 For； it seems the king had promised his daughter and a great lot of money to any one who should be able to build up his court。 The trouble was； that three giants lived in the wood near the court； and every night they came out of the wood and threw down all that was built by day。 So nobody could get the court built。
〃Would you make me a hole；〃 said the old white garraun； 〃where I could go a…hiding whenever the people are for bringing me to the mill or the kiln； so that they won't see me； for they have me perished doing work for them。〃
〃I'll do that； indeed；〃 said the tailor； 〃and welcome。〃
He brought his spade and shovel； and he made a hole； and he said to the old white horse to go down into it till he would see if it would fit him。 The white horse went down into the hole； but when he tried to come up again； he was not able。
〃Make a place for me now；〃 said the white horse； 〃by which I'll come up out of the hole here； whenever I'll be hungry。〃
〃I will not；〃 said the tailor； 〃remain where you are until I come back； and I'll lift you up。〃
The tailor went forward next day； and the fox met him。
〃God save you；〃 said the fox。
〃God save you；〃 said the tailor。
〃Where are you going；〃 said the fox。
〃I'm going to Dublin； to try will I be able to make a court for the king。〃
〃Would you make a place for me where I'd go hiding？〃 said the fox。 〃The rest of the foxes do be beating me； and they don't allow me to eat anything with them。〃
〃I'll do that for you；〃 said the tailor。
He took his axe and his saw； and he made a thing like a crate； and he told the fox to get into it till he would see whether it would fit him。 The fox went into it； and when the tailor got him down； he shut him in。 When the fox was satisfied at last that he had a nice place of it within； he asked the tailor to let him out； and the tailor answered that he would not。
〃Wait there until I come back again；〃 says he。
The tailor went forward the next day； and he had not walked very far until he met a modder…alla； and the lion greeted him。
〃God save you；〃 said the lion。
〃God save you；〃 said the tailor。
〃Where are you going？〃 said the lion。
〃I'm going to Dublin till I make a court for the king if I'm able to make it；〃 said the tailor。
〃If you were to make a plough for me；〃 said the lion； 〃I and the other lions could be ploughing and harrowing until we'd have a bit to eat in the harvest。〃
〃I'll do that for you；〃 said the tailor。
He brought his axe and his saw； and he made a plough。 When the plough was made he put a hole in the beam of it； and he said to the lion to g
