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diff --git a/old/51995-h/51995-h.htm b/old/51995-h/51995-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 8e2e38b..0000000 --- a/old/51995-h/51995-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8049 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tanglewood Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. - </title> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; - background: #f7f5e4; -/* background: #fffff0; */ -} - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%} -hr.full {width: 95%;} - -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} -hr.r35 {width: 35%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} -hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em;} - -ul.index { list-style-type: none; } -li.ifrst { margin-top: 1em; } -li.indx { margin-top: .5em; } -li.isub1 {text-indent: 1em;} -li.isub2 {text-indent: 2em;} -li.isub3 {text-indent: 3em;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.caption { - color: #4a4a4a; - font-weight: bold; - text-align: center;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - -/* My personalization */ - -.author { - font-weight: bold; - font-size: 130%; - text-align: center; - margin-top: 1em; -} - -.editor { - font-weight: bold; - font-size: 100%; - text-align: center; - margin-top: 2em; -} - -.edition { - text-align: center; - font-weight: bold; - font-size: 110%; - margin-top: 2em; -} - -.signature { - text-align: right; - margin-right: 4em; -} - -.quotr { - text-align: right; - margin-right: 2em; -} - -.cover { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -/* border-style: ridge; - border-width: 8px; */ - width: 600px; -} - -/* table of content */ -.toc { -} - </style> - </head> - -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tanglewood Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Tanglewood Tales - -Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne - -Illustrator: Virginia Frances Sterrett - -Release Date: May 3, 2016 [EBook #51995] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TANGLEWOOD TALES *** - - - - -Produced by Madeleine Fournier. Images made available by -the Internet Archive - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="cover"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl01"></a><img src="images/pl01.jpg" width="600" height="810" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">Cadmus beheld a female figure, wonderfully -beautiful</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<img src="images/tp.jpg" width="600" height="675" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h1>Tanglewood Tales</h1> - -<p class="author"><i>by<br /> - -NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE</i></p> - -<p class="edition"><i>Illustrated by</i><br /> - -<i>Virginia Frances Sterrett</i></p> - - -<p class="editor"><span class="smcap">The Penn Publishing Company<br /> - -Philadelphia</span></p> - - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<p class="center">Copyright 1921 by<br /> -The Penn Publishing Company</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - -<div class="toc"> - -<p><a href="#THE_MINOTAUR">The Minotaur</a></p> - -<p><a href="#THE_PYGMIES">The Pygmies</a></p> - -<p><a href="#THE_DRAGONS_TEETH">The Dragon's Teeth</a></p> - -<p><a href="#CIRCES_PALACE">Circe's Palace</a></p> - -<p><a href="#THE_POMEGRANATE_SEEDS">The Pomegranate Seeds</a></p> - -<p><a href="#THE_GOLDEN_FLEECE">The Golden Fleece</a></p> - -</div> - - -<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> - - -<p><a href="#pl01">Cadmus beheld a female figure, wonderfully beautiful</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img03">He tugged and toiled amain</a></p> - -<p><a href="#pl02">She whipped up the snakes and ascended high over the city</a></p> - -<p><a href="#pl03">"Thou hast slain the monster", cried Ariadne, clasping her hands</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img04">He concluded that his dear son had been eaten by the Minotaur</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img07">This giant and these pygmies were all brethren</a></p> - -<p><a href="#pl04">The giant gave them his brotherly kindness</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img08">They were constantly at war with the cranes</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img10">"Alas! my dear children", answered poor Queen Telephassa</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img11">"Sacred Oracle of Delphi, wither shall I go"?</a></p> - -<p><a href="#pl05">This pitiless reptile had killed his poor companions</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img14">At a distance he beheld stately towers</a></p> - -<p><a href="#pl06">The voyagers examined the web of cloth</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img15">"Wretch"! cried Circe</a></p> - -<p><a href="#pl07">They brought along with them a great many beautiful shells</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img18">So she peeped into the entrance of the cave</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img19">They arrived at the sunniest spot in the world</a></p> - -<p><a href="#pl08">"I shall not touch it I assure you", said she</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img22">"What shall I do"? said he</a></p> - -<p><a href="#img23">"I am the king's daughter"</a></p> - -<p><a href="#pl09">At the appointed hour he met the beautiful Medea</a></p> - -<p><a href="#pl10">"What is it"? asked Jason</a></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a id="THE_MINOTAUR"></a>THE MINOTAUR</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/img02.png" width="450" height="183" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="p2">In the old city of Trœzene, at the foot of a lofty mountain, -there lived, a very long time ago, a little boy -named Theseus. His grandfather, King Pittheus, -was the sovereign of that country, and was reckoned a very -wise 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 Æthra. As for his father, the boy had never seen -him. But, from his earliest remembrance, Æthra 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 Ægeus, 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 Ægeus, and often asked his good -mother Æthra why he did not come and live with them at -Trœzene.</p> - -<p>"Ah, my dear son," answered Æthra, 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."</p> - -<p>"Well, but, dear mother," asked the boy, "why cannot I -go to this famous city of Athens, and tell King Ægeus that -I am his son?"</p> - -<p>"That may happen by and by," said Æthra. "Be patient, -and we shall see. You are not yet big and strong enough -to set out on such an errand."</p> - -<p>"And how soon shall I be strong enough?" Theseus persisted -in inquiring.</p> - -<p>"You are but a tiny boy as yet," replied his mother. "See -if you can lift this rock on which we are sitting?"</p> - -<p>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 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 earthy bed.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img03"></a><img src="images/img03.png" width="450" height="375" alt="" /> - -<div class="caption">He tugged and toiled amain.</div> -</div> -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>"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 Ægeus 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."</p> - -<p>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-cheeked 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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>"Mother, I do believe it has started!" cried he, after one of -his attempts. "The earth around it is certainly a little -cracked!"</p> - -<p>"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 -Æthra sighed, and looked disquieted; for, no 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.</p> - -<p>It was not more than a year afterwards when they were -again sitting on the moss-covered stone. Æthra 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.</p> - -<p>"Dear mother Æthra," 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."</p> - -<p>"Ah, my dearest Theseus," replied his mother, "not yet! -not yet!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, mother," said he, resolutely, "the time has come."</p> - -<p>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 perish there, and let the rock be his monument -forever! Æthra 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!</p> - -<p>While taking breath, he looked joyfully at his mother, and -she smiled upon him through her tears.</p> - -<p>"Yes, Theseus," she said, "the time has come and you must -stay no longer at my side! See what King Ægeus, 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."</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>"That was your father's sword," said Æthra, "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 Ægeus did in his -youth."</p> - -<p>"I will set out for Athens this very day!" cried Theseus.</p> - -<p>But his mother persuaded him to stay a day or two longer, -while she got ready some necessary articles for the journey. -When his grandfather, the wise King Pittheus, heard that -Theseus intended to present himself at his father's palace, -he earnestly advised him to get on board of a vessel, and go -by sea; because he might thus arrive within fifteen miles of -Athens, without either fatigue or danger.</p> - -<p>"The roads are very bad by land," quoth the venerable -king; "and they are terribly infested with robbers and monsters. -A mere lad, like Theseus, is not fit to be trusted on -such a perilous journey, all by himself. No, no; let him go -by sea!"</p> - -<p>But when Theseus heard of robbers and monsters, he -pricked up his ears, and was so much the more eager to take -the road along which they were to be met with. On the -third day, therefore, he bade a respectful farewell to his -grandfather, thanking him for all his kindness; and, after -affectionately embracing his mother, he set forth, with a -good many of her tears glistening on his cheeks, and some, -if the truth must be told, that had gushed out of his own eyes. -But he let the sun and wind dry them, and walked stoutly on, -playing with the golden hilt of his sword, and taking very -manly strides in his father's sandals.</p> - -<p>I can tell you only a few of the adventures that befell -Theseus on the road to Athens. It is enough to say, that he -quite cleared that part of the country of the robbers, about -whom King Pittheus had been so much alarmed. One of -these bad people was named Procrustes; and he was indeed a -terrible fellow, and had an ugly way of making fun of the -poor travellers who happened to fall into his clutches. In -his cavern he had a bed, on which, with great pretence of -hospitality, he invited his guests to lie down; but if they happened -to be shorter than the bed, this wicked villain stretched -them out by main force; or, if they were too tall, he lopped off -their heads or feet, and laughed at what he had done, as an -excellent joke. Thus, however weary a man might be he -never liked to lie in the bed of Procrustes. Another of these -robbers, named Scinis, must likewise have been a very great -scoundrel. He was in the habit of flinging his victims off -a high cliff into the sea; and, in order to give him exactly his -deserts, Theseus tossed him off the very same place. But if -you will believe me, the sea would not pollute itself by receiving -such a bad person into its bosom, neither would the earth, -having once got rid of him, consent to take him back; so that, -between the cliff and the sea, Scinis stuck fast in the air, -which was forced to bear the burden of his naughtiness.</p> - -<p>After these memorable deeds, Theseus heard of an enormous -sow, which ran wild, and was the terror of all the -farmers round about; and, as he did not consider himself -above doing any good thing that came in his way, he killed -this monstrous creature, and gave the carcass to the poor -people for bacon. The great sow had been an awful beast, -while ramping about the woods and fields, but was a pleasant -object enough when cut up into joints, and smoking on I -know not how many dinner tables.</p> - -<p>Thus, by the time he reached his journey's end, Theseus -had done many valiant feats with his father's golden-hilted -sword, and had gained the renown of being one of the -bravest young men of the day. His fame travelled faster -than he did, and reached Athens before him. As he entered -the city, he heard the inhabitants talking at the street corners, -and saying that Hercules was brave, and Jason too, and -Castor and Pollux likewise, but that Theseus, the son of -their own king, would turn out as great a hero as the best -of them. Theseus took longer strides on hearing this, and -fancied himself sure of a magnificent reception at his -father's court, since he came thither with Fame to blow her -trumpet before him, and cry to King Ægeus, "Behold -your son!"</p> - -<p>He little suspected, innocent youth that he was, that here, -in this very Athens, where his father reigned, a greater -danger awaited him than any which he had encountered on -the road. Yet this was the truth. You must understand -that the father of Theseus, though not very old in years, -was almost worn out with the cares of government, and had -thus grown aged before his time. His nephews, not expecting -him to live a very great while, intended to get all -the power of the kingdom into their own hands. But when -they heard that Theseus had arrived in Athens, and learned -what a gallant young man he was, they saw that he would -not be at all the kind of person to let them steal away his -father's crown and sceptre, which ought to be his own by -right of inheritance. Thus these bad-hearted nephews of -King Ægeus, who were the own cousins of Theseus, at once -became his enemies. A still more dangerous enemy was -Medea, the wicked enchantress; for she was now the king's -wife, and wanted to give the kingdom to her son Medus, -instead of letting it be given to the son of Æthra, whom -she hated.</p> - -<p>It so happened that the king's nephews met Theseus, and -found out who he was, just as he reached the entrance of -the royal palace. With all their evil designs against him, -they pretended to be their cousin's best friends, and expressed -great joy at making his acquaintance. They proposed -to him that he should come into the king's presence -as a stranger, in order to try whether Ægeus would discover<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">in the young man's features any likeness either to himself</span><br /> -or his mother Æthra, and thus recognize him for a son. -Theseus consented; for he fancied that his father would -know him in a moment, by the love that was in his heart. -But, while he waited at the door, the nephews ran and -told King Ægeus that a young man had arrived in Athens -who, to their certain knowledge, intended to put him to -death, and get possession of his royal crown.</p> - -<p>"And he is now waiting for admission to your majesty's -presence," added they.</p> - -<p>"Aha!" cried the old king, on hearing this. "Why, he -must be a very wicked young fellow indeed! Pray, what -would you advise me to do with him?"</p> - -<p>In reply to this question, the wicked Medea put in her -word. As I have already told you, she was a famous enchantress. -According to some stories, she was in the habit -of boiling old people in a large caldron, under pretence -of making them young again; but King Ægeus, I suppose, -did not fancy such an uncomfortable way of growing young, -or perhaps was contented to be old, and therefore would -never let himself be popped into the caldron. If there were -time to spare from more important matters, I should be glad -to tell you of Medea's fiery chariot, drawn by winged -dragons, in which the enchantress used often to take an -airing among the clouds. This chariot, in fact, was the -vehicle that first brought her to Athens, where she had done -nothing but mischief ever since her arrival. But these and -many other wonders must be left untold; and it is enough -to say, that Medea, amongst a thousand other bad things, -knew how to prepare a poison, that was instantly fatal to -whomsoever might so much as touch it with his lips.</p> - -<p>So, when the king asked what he should do with Theseus, -this naughty woman had an answer ready at her tongue's -end.</p> - -<p>"Leave that to me, please your majesty," she replied. -"Only admit this evil-minded young man to your presence, -treat him civilly, and invite him to drink a goblet of wine. -Your majesty is well aware that I sometimes amuse myself -with distilling very powerful medicines. Here is one of -them in this small phial. As to what it is made of, that is -one of my secrets of state. Do but let me put a single drop -into the goblet, and let the young man taste it; and I will -answer for it, he shall quite lay aside the bad designs with -which he comes hither."</p> - -<p>As she said this, Medea smiled; but, for all her smiling -face, she meant nothing less than to poison the poor innocent -Theseus, before his father's eyes. And King Ægeus, -like most other kings, thought any punishment mild enough -for a person who was accused of plotting against his life. -He therefore made little or no objection to Medea's scheme, -and as soon as the poisonous wine was ready, gave orders -that the young stranger should be admitted into his presence. -The goblet was set on a table beside the king's -throne; and a fly, meaning just to sip a little from the brim, -immediately tumbled into it, dead. Observing this, Medea -looked round at the nephews, and smiled again.</p> - -<p>When Theseus was ushered into the royal apartment, the -only object that he seemed to behold was the white-bearded -old king. There he sat on his magnificent throne, a dazzling -crown on his head, and a scepter in his hand. His -aspect was stately and majestic, although his years and -infirmities weighed heavily upon him, as if each year were -a lump of lead, and each infirmity a ponderous stone, and -all were bundled up together, and laid upon his weary -shoulders. The tears of both joy and sorrow sprang into -the young man's eyes; for he thought how sad it was to see -his dear father so infirm, and how sweet it would be to support -him with his own youthful strength, and to cheer him -up with the alacrity of his loving spirit. When a son takes -his father into his warm heart, it renews the old man's youth -in a better way than by the heat of Medea's magic caldron. -And this was what Theseus resolved to do. He could -scarcely wait to see whether King Ægeus would recognize -him, so eager was he to throw himself into his arms.</p> - -<p>Advancing to the foot of the throne, he attempted to make -a little speech, which he had been thinking about, as he -came up the stairs. But he was almost choked by a great -many tender feelings that gushed out of his heart and swelled -into his throat, all struggling to find utterance together. -And therefore, unless he could have laid his full, overbrimming -heart into the king's hand, poor Theseus knew -not what to do or say. The cunning Medea observed what -was passing in the young man's mind. She was more wicked -at that moment than ever she had been before; for (and it -makes me tremble to tell you of it) she did her worst to -turn all this unspeakable love with which Theseus was -agitated, to his own ruin and destruction.</p> - -<p>"Does your majesty see his confusion?" she whispered in -the king's ear. "He is so conscious of guilt, that he trembles -and cannot speak. The wretch lives too long! Quick! -offer him the wine!"</p> - -<p>Now King Ægeus had been gazing earnestly at the young -stranger, as he drew near the throne. There was something, -he knew not what, either the white brow, or in the fine expression -of his mouth, or in his beautiful and tender eyes, -that made him indistinctly feel as if he had seen this youth -before; as if, indeed, he had trotted him on his knee when -a baby, and had beheld him growing to be a stalwart man, -while he himself grew old. But Medea guessed how the -king felt, and would not suffer him to yield to these natural -sensibilities; although they were the voice of his deepest -heart, telling him, as plainly as it could speak, that here -was our dear son, and Æthra's son, coming to claim him for -a father. The enchantress again whispered in the king's -ear, and compelled him, by her witchcraft, to see everything -under a false aspect.</p> - -<p>He made up his mind, therefore, to let Theseus drink -off the poisoned wine.</p> - -<p>"Young man," said he, "you are welcome! I am proud -to show hospitality to so heroic a youth. Do me the favor -to drink the contents of this goblet. It is brimming over, -as you see, with delicious wine, such as I bestow only on -those who are worthy of it! None is more worthy to quaff -it than yourself!"</p> - -<p>So saying, King Ægeus took the golden goblet from the -table, and was about to offer it to Theseus. But, partly -through his infirmities, and partly because it seemed so -sad a thing to take away this young man's life, however -wicked he might be, and partly, no doubt, because his heart -was wiser than his head, and quaked within him at the -thought of what he was going to do—for all these reasons, -the king's hand trembled so much that a great deal of the -wine slopped over. In order to strengthen his purpose, -and fearing lest the whole of the precious poison should be -wasted, one of his nephews now whispered to him,—</p> - -<p>"Has your majesty any doubt of this stranger's guilt? -There is the very sword with which he meant to slay you. -How sharp, and bright, and terrible it is! Quick!—let -him taste the wine; or perhaps he may do the deed even -yet."</p> - -<p>At these words, Ægeus drove every thought and feeling -out of his breast, except the one idea of how justly the young -man deserved to be put to death. He sat erect on his throne, -and held out the goblet with a steady hand, and bent on -Theseus a frown of kingly severity; for, after all, he had -too noble a spirit to murder even a treacherous enemy with -a deceitful smile upon his face.</p> - -<p>"Drink!" said he, in the stem tone with which he was -wont to condemn a criminal to be beheaded. "You have -well deserved of me such wine as this!"</p> - -<p>Theseus held out his hand to take the wine. But, before -he touched it, King Ægeus trembled again. His eyes had -fallen on the gold-hilted sword that hung at the young man's -side. He drew back the goblet.</p> - -<p>"That sword!" he exclaimed; "how came you by it?"</p> - -<p>"It was my father's sword," replied Theseus, with a -tremulous voice. "These were his sandals. My dear -mother (her name is Æthra) told me his story while I was -yet a little child. But it is only a month since I grew strong -enough to lift the heavy stone, and take the sword and -sandals from beneath it, and come to Athens to seek my -father."</p> - -<p>"My son! my son!" cried King Ægeus, flinging away -the fatal goblet, and tottering down from the throne to fall -into the arms of Theseus. "Yes, these are Æthra's eyes. -It is my son."</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl02"></a><img src="images/pl02.jpg" width="600" height="810" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">SHE WHIPPED UP THE SNAKES AND ASCENDED HIGH OVER THE CITY</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>I have quite forgotten what became of the king's nephews. -But when the wicked Medea saw this new turn of affairs, -she hurried out of the room, and going to her private chamber, -lost no time in setting her enchantments at work. In -a few moments, she heard a great noise of hissing snakes -outside of the chamber window; and, behold! there was her -fiery chariot, and four huge winged serpents, wriggling -and twisting in the air, flourishing their tails higher than the -top of the palace, and all ready to set off on an aerial journey. -Medea staid only long enough to take her son with -her, and to steal the crown jewels, together with the king's -best robes, and whatever other valuable things she could -lay hands on; and getting into the chariot, she whipped -up the snakes, and ascended high over the city.</p> - -<p>The king, hearing the hiss of the serpents, scrambled as -fast as he could to the window, and bawled out to the -abominable enchantress never to come back. The whole -people of Athens, too, who had run out of doors to see this -wonderful spectacle, set up a shout of joy at the prospect of -getting rid of her. Medea, almost bursting with rage, -uttered precisely such a hiss as one of her own snakes, only -ten times more venomous and spiteful; and glaring fiercely -out of the blaze of the chariot, she shook her hands over -the multitude below, as if she were scattering a million -curses among them. In so doing, however, she unintentionally -let fall about five hundred diamonds of the first -water, together with a thousand great pearls, and two thousand -emeralds, rubies, sapphires, opals, and topazes, to -which she had helped herself out of the king's strong box. -All these came pelting down, like a shower of many-colored -hailstones, upon the heads of grown people and children, -who forthwith gathered them up, and carried them back to -the palace. But King Ægeus told them that they were -welcome to the whole, and to twice as many more, if he had -them, for the sake of his delight at finding his son, and losing -the wicked Medea. And, indeed, if you had seen how hateful -was her last look, as the flaming chariot flew upward, -you would not have wondered that both king and people -should think her departure a good riddance.</p> - -<p>And now Prince Theseus was taken into great favor by -his royal father. The old king was never weary of having -him sit beside him on his throne, (which was quite wide -enough for two,) and of hearing him tell about his dear -mother, and his childhood, and his many boyish efforts to -lift the ponderous stone. Theseus, however, was much too -brave and active a young man to be willing to spend all -his time in relating things which had already happened. -His ambition was to perform other and more heroic deeds, -which should be better worth telling in prose and verse. -Nor had he been long in Athens before he caught and -chained a terrible mad bull, and made a public show of him, -greatly to the wonder and admiration of good King Ægeus -and his subjects. But pretty soon, he undertook an affair -that made all his foregone adventures seem like mere boy's -play. The occasion of it was as follows:—</p> - -<p>One morning, when Prince Theseus awoke, he fancied -that he must have had a very sorrowful dream, and that it -was still running in his mind, even now that his eyes were -open. For it appeared as if the air was full of a melancholy -wail; and when he listened more attentively, he could hear -sobs, and groans, and screams of woe, mingled with deep, -quiet sighs, which came from the king's palace, and from -the streets, and from the temples, and from every habitation -in the city. And all these mournful noises, issuing out of -thousands of separate hearts, united themselves into one -great sound of affliction, which had startled Theseus from -slumber. He put on his clothes as quickly as he could, -(not forgetting his sandals and gold-hilted sword,) and -hastening to the king, inquired what it all meant.</p> - -<p>"Alas! my son," quoth King Ægeus, heaving a long -sigh, "here is a very lamentable matter in hand! This is -the woefulest anniversary in the whole year. It is the day -when we annually draw lots to see which of the youths and -maidens of Athens shall go to be devoured by the horrible -Minotaur!"</p> - -<p>"The Minotaur!" exclaimed Prince Theseus and like a -brave young prince as he was, he put his hand to the hilt -of his sword. "What kind of a monster may that be? Is -it not possible, at the risk of one's life, to slay him?"</p> - -<p>But King Ægeus shook his venerable head, and to convince -Theseus that it was quite a hopeless case, he gave him -an explanation of the whole affair. It seems that in the -Island of Crete there lived a certain dreadful monster, called -a Minotaur, which was shaped partly like a man and partly -like a bull, and was altogether such a hideous sort of a -creature that it is really disagreeable to think of him. If he -were suffered to exist at all, it should have been on some -desert island, or in the duskiness of some deep cavern, where -nobody would ever be tormented by his abominable aspect. -But King Minos, who reigned over Crete, laid out a vast -deal of money in building a habitation for the Minotaur, -and took great care of his health and comfort, merely for -mischief's sake. A few years before this time, there had -been a war between the city of Athens and the island of -Crete, in which the Athenians were beaten and compelled -to beg for peace. No peace could they obtain, however, -except on condition that they should send seven young men -and seven maidens, every year, to be devoured by the pet -monster of the cruel King Minos. For three years past, this -grievous calamity had been borne. And the sobs, and -groans, and shrieks, with which the city was now filled, were -caused by the people's woe, because the fatal day had come -again, when the fourteen victims were to be chosen by lot; -and the old people feared lest their sons or daughters might -be taken, and the youths and damsels dreaded lest they themselves -might be destined to glut the ravenous maw of that -detestable man-brute.</p> - -<p>But when Theseus heard the story, he straightened himself -up, so that he seemed taller than ever before; and as for his -face, it was indignant, despiteful, bold, tender, and compassionate, -all in one look.</p> - -<p>"Let the people of Athens, this year, draw lots for only -six young men, instead of seven," said he. "I will myself be -the seventh; and let the Minotaur devour me, if he can!" -"O my dear son," cried King Ægeus, "why should you -expose yourself to this horrible fate? You are a royal -prince, and have a right to hold yourself above the destinies -of common men."</p> - -<p>"It is because I am a prince, your son, and the rightful -heir of your kingdom, that I freely take upon me the -calamity of your subjects," answered Theseus. "And you -my father, being king over this people, and answerable to -Heaven for their welfare, are bound to sacrifice what is -dearest to you, rather than that the son or daughter of the -poorest citizen should come to any harm."</p> - -<p>The old king shed tears, and besought Theseus not to -leave him desolate in his old age, more especially as he had -just begun to know the happiness of possessing a good and -valiant son. Theseus, however, felt that he was in the right, -and therefore would not give up his resolution. But he -assured his father that he did not intend to be eaten up, -unresistingly, like a sheep, and that, if the Minotaur -devoured him, it should not be without a battle for his -dinner. And finally, since he could not help it, King -Ægeus consented to let him go. So a vessel was got ready, -and rigged with black sails; and Theseus, with six other -young men, and seven tender and beautiful damsels, came -down to the harbor to embark. A sorrowful multitude -accompanied them to the shore. There was the poor old -king, too, leaning on his son's arm, and looking as if his -single heart held all the grief of Athens.</p> - -<p>Just as Prince Theseus was going on board, his father bethought -himself of one last word to say.</p> - -<p>"My beloved son," said he, grasping the prince's hand, -"you observe that the sails of this vessel are black; as indeed -they ought to be, since it goes upon a voyage of sorrow and -despair. Now, being weighed down with infirmities, I -know not whether I can survive till the vessel shall return. -But, as long as I do live, I shall creep daily to the top of -yonder cliff, to watch if there be a sail upon the sea. And, -dearest Theseus, if by some happy chance, you should escape -the jaws of the Minotaur, then tear down those dismal sails, -and hoist others that shall be bright as the sunshine. Beholding -them on the horizon, myself and all the people will -know that you are coming back victorious, and will welcome -you with such a festal uproar as Athens never heard before." -Theseus promised that he would do so. Then, going on -board, the mariners trimmed the vessel's black sails to the -wind, which blew faintly off the shore, being pretty much -made up of the sighs that everybody kept pouring forth on -this melancholy occasion. But by and by, when they had -got fairly out to sea, there came a stiff breeze from the northwest, -and drove them along as merrily over the white-capped -waves as if they had been going on the most delightful -errand imaginable. And though it was a sad business -enough, I rather question whether fourteen young people, -without any old persons to keep them in order, could continue -to spend the whole time of the voyage in being -miserable. There had been some few dances upon the -undulating deck, I suspect, and some hearty bursts of -laughter, and other such unseasonable merriment among the -victims, before the high, blue mountains of Crete began to -show themselves among the far-off clouds. That sight, to be -sure, made them all very grave again.</p> - -<p>Theseus stood among the sailors, gazing eagerly towards -the land; although, as yet, it seemed hardly more substantial -than the clouds, amidst which the mountains were looming -up. Once or twice, he fancied that he saw a glare of some -bright object, a long way off, flinging a gleam across the -waves.</p> - -<p>"Did you see that flash of light?" he inquired of the -master of the vessel.</p> - -<p>"No, prince; but I have seen it before," answered the -master. "It came from Talus, I suppose."</p> - -<p>As the breeze came fresher just then, the master was busy -with trimming his sails, and had no more time to answer -questions. But while the vessel flew faster and faster -towards Crete, Theseus was astonished to behold a human -figure, gigantic in size, which appeared to be striding, with -a measured movement, along the margin of the island. It -stepped from cliff to cliff, and sometimes from one headland -to another, while the sea foamed and thundered on the shore -beneath, and dashed its jets of spray over the giant's feet. -What was still more remarkable, whenever the sun shone on -this huge figure, it flickered and glimmered; its vast countenance, -too, had a metallic lustre, and threw great flashes of -splendor through the air. The folds of its garments, moreover, -instead of waving in the wind, fell heavily over its -limbs, as if woven of some kind of metal.</p> - -<p>The nigher the vessel came, the more Theseus wondered -what this immense giant could be and whether it actually -had life or no. For though it walked, and made other -lifelike motions, there yet was a kind of jerk in its gait, -which, together with its brazen aspect, caused the young -prince to suspect that it was no true giant, but only a wonderful -piece of machinery. The figure looked all the more -terrible because it carried an enormous brass club on its -shoulder.</p> - -<p>"What is this wonder?" Theseus asked of the master of -the vessel, who was now at leisure to answer him.</p> - -<p>"It is Talus, the man of Brass," said the master.</p> - -<p>"And is he a live giant, or a brazen image?" asked -Theseus.</p> - -<p>"That, truly," replied the master, "is the point which has -always perplexed me. Some say, indeed, that this Talus -was hammered out for King Minos by Vulcan himself, the -skilfulest of all workers in metal. But who ever saw a -brazen image that had sense enough to walk round an island -three times a day, as this giant walks round the Island of -Crete, challenging every vessel that comes nigh the shore? -And, on the other hand, what living thing, unless his -sinews were made of brass, would not be weary of marching -eighteen hundred miles in the twenty-four hours, as Talus -does, without ever sitting down to rest? He is a puzzler, -take him how you will."</p> - -<p>Still the vessel went bounding onward; and now Theseus -could hear the brazen clangor of the giant's footsteps, as he -trod heavily upon the sea-beaten rocks, some of which were -seen to crack and crumble into the foamy waves beneath his -weight. As they approached the entrance of the port, the -giant straddled clear across it, with a foot firmly planted on -each headland, and uplifting his club to such a height that -its butt-end was hidden in a cloud, he stood in that formidable -posture, with the sun gleaming all over his metallic surface. -There seemed nothing else to be expected but that, the next -moment, he would fetch his great club down, slam bang, and -smash the vessel into a thousand pieces, without heeding how -many innocent people he might destroy; for there is seldom -any mercy in a giant, you know, and quite as little in a piece -of brass clockwork. But just when Theseus and his companions -thought the blow was coming, the brazen lips unclosed -themselves, and the figure spoke.</p> - -<p>"Whence come you, strangers?"</p> - -<p>And when the ringing voice ceased, there was just such a -reverberation as you may have heard within a great church -bell, for a moment or two after the stroke of the hammer.</p> - -<p>"From Athens!" shouted the master in reply.</p> - -<p>"On what errand?" thundered the Man of Brass.</p> - -<p>And he whirled his club aloft more threateningly than -ever, as if he were about to smite them with a thunderstroke -right amidships, because Athens, so little while ago, had -been at war with Crete.</p> - -<p>"We bring the seven youths and the seven maidens," -answered the master, "to be devoured by the Minotaur!"</p> - -<p>"Pass!" cried the brazen giant.</p> - -<p>That one loud word rolled all about the sky, while again -there was a booming reverberation within the figure's breast. -The vessel glided between the headlands of the port, and the -giant resumed his march. In a few moments, this wondrous -sentinel was far away, flashing in the distant sunshine, and -revolving with immense strides around the Island of Crete, -as it was his never-ceasing task to do.</p> - -<p>No sooner had they entered the harbor than a party of the -guards of King Minos came down to the water side, and took -charge of the fourteen young men and damsels. -Surrounded by these armed warriors, Prince Theseus and his -companions were led to the king's palace, and ushered into -his presence. Now, Minos was a stern and pitiless king. -If the figure that guarded Crete was made of brass, then the -monarch, who ruled over it, might be thought to have a still -harder metal in his breast, and might have been called a man -of iron. He bent his shaggy brows upon the poor Athenian -victims. Any other mortal, beholding their fresh and tender -beauty, and their innocent looks, would have felt himself -sitting on thorns until he had made every soul of them happy, -by bidding them go free as the summer wind. But this -immitigable Minos cared only to examine whether they were -plump enough to satisfy the Minotaur's appetite. For my -part, I wish he himself had been the only victim; and the -monster would have found him a pretty tough one.</p> - -<p>One after another, King Minos called these pale, frightened -youths and sobbing maidens to his footstool, gave them -each a poke in the ribs with his scepter, (to try whether they -were in good flesh or no,) and dismissed them with a nod to -his guards. But when his eyes rested on Theseus, the king -looked at him more attentively, because his face was calm -and brave.</p> - -<p>"Young man," asked he, with his stern voice, "are you not -appalled at the certainty of being devoured by this terrible -Minotaur?"</p> - -<p>"I have offered my life in a good cause," answered -Theseus, "and therefore I give it freely and gladly. But -thou, King Minos, art thou not thyself appalled, who, year -after year, hast perpetrated this dreadful wrong, by giving -seven innocent youths and as many maidens to be devoured -by a monster? Dost thou not tremble, wicked king, to turn -thine eyes inward on thine own heart? Sitting there on thy -golden throne, and in thy robes of majesty, I tell thee to thy -face, King Minos, thou art a more hideous monster than the -Minotaur himself!"</p> - -<p>"Aha! do you think me so?" cried the king, laughing in -his cruel way. "To-morrow, at breakfast time, you shall -have an opportunity of judging which is the greater monster, -the Minotaur or the king! Take them away, guards; and -let this free-spoken youth be the Minotaur's first morsel!"</p> - -<p>Near the king's throne (though I had no time to tell you -so before) stood his daughter, Ariadne. She was a beautiful -and tender-hearted maiden, and looked at these poor -doomed captives with very different feelings from those of -the ironbreasted King Minos. She really wept, indeed, at -the idea of how much human happiness would be needlessly -thrown away, by giving so many young people, in the first -bloom and rose blossom of their lives, to be eaten up by a -creature who, no doubt, would have preferred a fat ox, or -even a large pig, to the plumpest of them. And when she -beheld the brave, spirited figure of Prince Theseus bearing -himself so calmly in his terrible peril, she grew a hundred -times more pitiful than before. As the guards were taking -him away, she flung herself at the king's feet, and besought -him to set all the captives free, and especially this one young -man.</p> - -<p>"Peace, foolish girl!" answered King Minos. "What -hast thou to do with an affair like this? It is a matter of -state policy, and therefore quite beyond thy weak comprehension. -Go water thy flowers, and think no more of these -Athenian caitiffs, whom the Minotaur shall as certainly -eat up for breakfast as I will eat a partridge for my supper."</p> - -<p>So saying, the king looked cruel enough to devour -Theseus and all the rest of the captives, himself, had there -been no Minotaur to save him the trouble. As he would -hear not another word in their favor, the prisoners were -now led away, and clapped into a dungeon, where the jailer -advised them to go to sleep as soon as possible, because the -Minotaur was in the habit of calling for breakfast early. -The seven maidens and six of the young men soon sobbed -themselves to slumber. But Theseus was not like them. -He felt conscious that he was wiser, and braver, and stronger -than his companions, and that therefore he had the responsibility -of all their lives upon him, and must consider -whether there was no way to save them, even in this last -extremity. So he kept himself awake, and paced to and fro -across the gloomy dungeon in which they were shut up.</p> - -<p>Just before midnight, the door was softly unbarred, and -the gentle Ariadne showed herself, with a torch in her hand.</p> - -<p>"Are you awake, Prince Theseus?" she whispered.</p> - -<p>"Yes," answered Theseus. "With so little time to live, -I do not choose to waste any of it in sleep."</p> - -<p>"Then follow me," said Ariadne, "and tread softly."</p> - -<p>What had become of the jailer and the guards, Theseus -never knew. But, however that might be, Ariadne opened -all the doors, and led him forth from the darksome prison -into the pleasant moonlight.</p> - -<p>"Theseus," said the maiden, "you can now get on board -your vessel, and sail away for Athens."</p> - -<p>"No," answered the young man; "I will never leave Crete -unless I can first slay the Minotaur, and save my poor companions, -and deliver Athens from this cruel tribute."</p> - -<p>"I knew that this would be your resolution," said Ariadne. -"Come, then, with me, brave Theseus. Here is your own -sword, which the guards deprived you of. You will need -it; and pray Heaven you may use it well."</p> - -<p>Then she led Theseus along by the hand until they came -to a dark, shadowy grove, where the moonlight wasted itself -on the tops of the trees, without shedding hardly so much -as a glimmering beam upon their pathway. After going -a good way through this obscurity, they reached a high, -marble wall, which was overgrown with creeping plants, -that made it shaggy with their verdure. The wall seemed -to have no door, nor any windows, but rose up, lofty, and -massive, and mysterious, and was neither to be clambered -over, nor, so far as Theseus could perceive, to be passed -through. Nevertheless, Ariadne did but press one of her -soft little fingers against a particular block of marble, and, -though it looked as solid as any other part of the wall, it -yielded to her touch, disclosing an entrance just wide -enough to admit them. They crept through, and the marble -stone swung back into its place.</p> - -<p>"We are now," said Ariadne, "in the famous labyrinth -which Dædalus built before he made himself a pair of wings, -and flew away from our island like a bird. That Dædalus -was a very cunning workman; but of all his artful contrivances, -this labyrinth is the most wondrous. Were we to -take but a few steps from the doorway, we might wander -about all our lifetime, and never find it again. Yet in the -very center of this labyrinth is the Minotaur; and, Theseus, -you must go thither to seek him.</p> - -<p>"But how shall I ever find him," asked Theseus, "if the -labyrinth so bewilders me as you say it will?"</p> - -<p>Just as he spoke, they heard a rough and very disagreeable -roar, which greatly resembled the lowing of a fierce -bull, but yet had some sort of sound like the human voice. -Theseus even fancied a rude articulation in it, as if the -creature that uttered it were trying to shape his hoarse breath -into words. It was at some distance, however, and he really -could not tell whether it sounded most like a bull's roar -or a man's harsh voice.</p> - -<p>"That is the Minotaur's noise," whispered Ariadne, -closely grasping the hand of Theseus, and pressing one of -her own hands to her heart, which was all in a tremble. -"You must follow that sound through the windings of the -labyrinth, and, by and by, you will find him. Stay! take -the end of this silken string; I will hold the other end; and -then, if you win the victory, it will lead you again to this -spot. Farewell, brave Theseus."</p> - -<p>So the young man took the end of the silken string in -his left hand, and his gold-hilted sword ready drawn from -its scabbard, in the other, and trod boldly into the inscrutable -labyrinth. How this labyrinth was built is more than I -can tell you. But so cunningly contrived a mizmaze was -never seen in the world, before nor since. There can be -nothing else so intricate, unless it were the brain of a man -like Dædalus, who planned it, or the heart of any ordinary -man; which last, to be sure, is ten times as great a mystery -as the labyrinth of Crete. Theseus had not taken five steps -before he lost sight of Ariadne; and in five more his head -was growing dizzy. But still he went on, now creeping -through a low arch, now ascending a flight of steps, now -in one crooked passage, and now in another, with here a -door opening before him, and there one banging behind, -until it really seemed as if the walls spun round, and whirled -him along with them. And all the while, through these -hollow avenues, now nearer, now farther off again, resounded -the cry of the Minotaur; and the sound was so -fierce, so cruel, so ugly, so like a bull's roar, and withal -so like a human voice, and yet like neither of them, that -the brave heart of Theseus grew sterner and angrier at -every step, for he felt it an insult to the moon and sky, and -to our affectionate and simple Mother Earth, that such a -monster should have the audacity to exist.</p> - -<p>As he passed onward, the clouds gathered over the moon, -and the labyrinth grew so dusky that Theseus could no -longer discern the bewilderment through which he was -passing. He would have felt quite lost, and utterly hopeless -of ever again walking in a straight path, if, every little -while, he had not been conscious of a gentle twitch at the -silken cord. Then he knew that the tender-hearted Ariadne -was still holding the other end, and that she was fearing -for him, and hoping for him, and giving him just as much -of her sympathy as if she were close by his side. O, indeed, -I can assure you, there was a vast deal of human sympathy -running along that slender thread of silk. But still he -followed the dreadful roar of the Minotaur, which now grew -louder and louder, and finally so very loud that Theseus -fully expected to come close upon him, at every new zigzag -and wriggle of the path. And at last, in an open space, -at the very center of the labyrinth, he did discern the hideous -creature.</p> - -<p>Sure enough, what an ugly monster it was! Only his -horned head belonged to a bull; and yet, somehow or other, -he looked like a bull all over, preposterously waddling on -his hind legs; or if you happened to view him in another -way, he seemed wholly a man, and all the more monstrous -for being so. And there he was, the wretched thing, with -no society, no companion, no kind of a mate, living only -to do mischief, and incapable of knowing what affection -means. Theseus hated him, and shuddered at him, and -yet could not but be sensible of some sort of pity; and all -the more, the uglier and more detestable the creature was. -For he kept striding to and fro, in a solitary frenzy of rage, -continually emitting a hoarse roar, which was oddly mixed -up with half-shaped words; and, after listening a while, -Theseus understood that the Minotaur was saying to himself -how miserable he was, and how hungry, and how he -hated everybody, and how he longed to eat up the human -race alive.</p> - -<p>Ah, the bull-headed villain! And O, my good little -people, you will perhaps see, one of these days, as I do now, -that every human being who suffers anything evil to get -into his nature, or to remain there, is a kind of Minotaur, -an enemy of his fellow-creatures, and separated from all -good companionship, as this poor monster was.</p> - -<p>Was Theseus afraid? By no means, my dear auditors. -What! a hero like Theseus afraid! Not had the Minotaur -had twenty bull heads instead of one. Bold as he was, -however, I rather fancy that it strengthened his valiant heart, -just at this crisis, to feel a tremulous twitch at the silken -cord, which he was still holding in his left hand. It was -as if Ariadne were giving him all her might and courage; -and, much as he already had, and little as she had to give, -it made his own seem twice as much. And to confess the -honest truth, he needed the whole; for now the Minotaur, -turning suddenly about, caught sight of Theseus, and instantly -lowered his horribly sharp horns, exactly as a mad -bull does when he means to rush against an enemy. At -the same time, he belched forth a tremendous roar, in which -there was something like the words of human language, -but all disjointed and shaken to pieces by passing through -the gullet of a miserably enraged brute.</p> - -<p>Theseus could only guess what the creature intended -to say, and that rather by his gestures than his words; for -the Minotaur's horns were sharper than his wits, and of -a great deal more service to him than his tongue. But -probably this was the sense of what he uttered:—</p> - -<p>"Ah, wretch of a human being! I'll stick my horns -through you, and toss you fifty feet high, and eat you up -the moment you come down."</p> - -<p>"Come on, then, and try it!" was all that Theseus deigned -to reply; for he was far too magnanimous to assault his -enemy with insolent language.</p> - -<p>Without more words on either side, there ensued the most -awful fight between Theseus and the Minotaur that ever -happened beneath the sun or moon. I really know not how -it might have turned out, if the monster, in his first headlong -rush against Theseus, had not missed him, by a hair's -breadth, and broken one of his horns short off against the -stone wall. On this mishap, he bellowed so intolerably -that a part of the labyrinth tumbled down, and all the inhabitants -of Crete mistook the noise for an uncommonly -heavy thunder storm. Smarting with the pain, he galloped -around the open space in so ridiculous a way that Theseus -laughed at it, long afterwards, though not precisely at the -moment. After this, the two antagonists stood valiantly -up to one another, and fought, sword to horn, for a long -while. At last, the Minotaur made a run at Theseus, -grazed his left side with his horn, and flung him down; and -thinking that he had stabbed him to the heart, he cut a great -caper in the air, opened his bull mouth from ear to ear, and -prepared to snap his head off. But Theseus by this time -had leaped up, and caught the monster off his guard. -Fetching a sword stroke at him with all his force, he hit -him fair upon the neck, and made his bull head skip six -yards from his human body, which fell down flat upon the -ground.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl03"></a><img src="images/pl03.jpg" width="600" height="823" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">"THOU HAST SLAIN THE MONSTER", CRIED ARIADNE, CLASPING HER HANDS</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>So now the battle was ended. Immediately the moon -shone out as brightly as if all the troubles of the world, -and all the wickedness and the ugliness that infest human -life, were past and gone forever. And Theseus, as he leaned -on his sword, taking breath, felt another twitch of the silken -cord; for all through the terrible encounter, he had held -it fast in his left hand. Eager to let Ariadne know of his -success, he followed the guidance of the thread, and soon -found himself at the entrance of the labyrinth.</p> - -<p>"Thou hast slain the monster," cried Ariadne, clasping -her hands.</p> - -<p>"Thanks to thee, dear Ariadne," answered Theseus, "I -return victorious."</p> - -<p>"Then," said Ariadne, "we must quickly summon thy -friends, and get them and thyself on board the vessel before -dawn. If morning finds thee here, my father will avenge -the Minotaur."</p> - -<p>To make my story short, the poor captives were awakened, -and, hardly knowing whether it was not a joyful dream, -were told of what Theseus had done, and that they must -set sail for Athens before daybreak. Hastening down to -the vessel, they all clambered on board, except Prince Theseus, -who lingered behind them, on the strand, holding -Ariadne's hand clasped in his own.</p> - -<p>"Dear maiden," said he, "thou wilt surely go with us. -Thou art too gentle and sweet a child for such an iron-hearted -father as King Minos. He cares no more for thee -than a granite rock cares for the little flower that grows in -one of its crevices. But my father, King Ægeus, and my -mother, Æthra, and all the fathers and mothers in Athens, -and all the sons and daughters too, will love and honor thee -as their benefactress. Come with us, then; for King Minos -will be very angry when he knows what thou hast done."</p> - -<p>Now, some low-minded people, who pretend to tell the -story of Theseus and Ariadne, have the face to say that this -royal and honorable maiden did really flee away, under -cover of the night, with the young stranger whose life she -had preserved. They say, too, that Prince Theseus (who -would have died sooner than wrong the meanest creature -in the world) ungratefully deserted Ariadne, on a solitary -island, where the vessel touched on its voyage to Athens. -But, had the noble Theseus heard these falsehoods, he would -have served their slanderous authors as he served the Minotaur! -Here is what Ariadne answered, when the brave -prince of Athens besought her to accompany him:—</p> - -<p>"No, Theseus," the maiden said, pressing his hand, and -then drawing back a step or two, "I cannot go with you. -My father is old, and has nobody but myself to love him. -Hard as you think his heart is, it would break to lose me. -At first, King Minos will be angry; but he will soon forgive -his only child; and, by and by, he will rejoice, I know, that -no more youths and maidens must come from Athens to -be devoured by the Minotaur. I have saved you, Theseus, -as much for my father's sake as for your own. Farewell! -Heaven bless you!"</p> - -<p>All this was so true, and so maiden-like, and was spoken -with so sweet a dignity, that Theseus would have blushed -to urge her any longer. Nothing remained for him, therefore, -but to bid Ariadne an affectionate farewell, and to -go on board the vessel, and set sail.</p> - -<p>In a few moments the white foam was boiling up before -their prow, as Prince Theseus and his companions sailed -out of the harbor, with a whistling breeze behind them. -Talus, the brazen giant, on his never-ceasing sentinel's -march, happened to be approaching that part of the coast; -and they saw him, by the glimmering of the moonbeams -on his polished surface, while he was yet a great way off. -As the figure moved like clockwork, however, and could -neither hasten his enormous strides nor retard them, he -arrived at the port when they were just beyond the reach -of his club. Nevertheless, straddling from headland to -headland, as his custom was, Talus attempted to strike a -blow at the vessel, and, overreaching himself, tumbled full -length into the sea, which splashed high over his gigantic -shape, as when an iceberg turns a somerset. There he lies -yet; and whoever desires to enrich himself by means of -brass had better go thither with a diving bell, and fish up -Talus.</p> - -<p>On the homeward voyage, the fourteen youths and -damsels were in excellent spirits, as you will easily suppose. -They spent most of their time in dancing, unless when the -sidelong breeze made the deck slope too much. In due -season, they came within sight of the coast of Attica, which -was their native country. But here, I am grieved to tell you, -happened a sad misfortune.</p> - -<p>You will remember (what Theseus unfortunately forgot) -that his father, King Ægeus, had enjoined upon him to -hoist sunshiny sails, instead of black ones, in case he should -overcome the Minotaur, and return victorious. In the joy -of their success, however, and amidst the sports, dancing, -and other merriment, with which these young folks wore -away the time, they never once thought whether their sails -were black, white, or rainbow colored, and, indeed, left -it entirely to the mariners whether they had any sails at -all. Thus the vessel returned, like a raven, with the same -sable wings that had wafted her away. But poor King -Ægeus, day after day, infirm as he was, had clambered to -the summit of a cliff that overhung the sea, and there sat -watching for Prince Theseus, homeward bound; and no -sooner did he behold the fatal blackness of the sails, than -he concluded that his dear son, whom he loved so much, -and felt so proud of, had been eaten by the Minotaur. He -could not bear the thought of living any longer; so, first -flinging his crown and scepter into the sea, (useless baubles -that they were to him now!) King Ægeus merely stooped -forward, and fell headlong over the cliff, and was -drowned, poor soul, in the waves that foamed at its base!</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img04"></a><img src="images/img04.png" width="450" height="374" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">He concluded that his dear son had been eaten by the Minotaur.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>This was melancholy news for Prince Theseus, who, -when he stepped ashore, found himself king of all the -country, whether he would or no; and such a turn of fortune -was enough to make any young man feel very much -out of spirits. However, he sent for his dear mother to -Athens, and, by taking her advice in matters of state, became -a very excellent monarch, and was greatly beloved by his -people.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/img05.png" width="150" height="151" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a id="THE_PYGMIES"></a>THE PYGMIES</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/img06.png" width="450" height="187" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="p2">A great while ago, when the world was full of -wonders, there lived an earth-born Giant, named -Antæus, and a million or more of curious little -earth-born people, who were called Pygmies. This Giant -and these Pygmies being children of the same mother, (that -is to say, our good old Grandmother Earth,) were all brethren, -and dwelt together in a very friendly and affectionate -manner, far, far off, in the middle of hot Africa. The Pygmies -were so small, and there were so many sandy deserts -and such high mountains between them and the rest of mankind, -that nobody could get a peep at them oftener than -once in a hundred years. As for the Giant, being of a -very lofty stature, it was easy enough to see him, but safest -to keep out of his sight.</p> - -<p>Among the Pygmies, I suppose, if one of them grew to -the height of six or eight inches, he was reckoned a prodigiously -tall man. It must have been very pretty to behold -their little cities, with streets two or three feet wide, paved -with the smallest pebbles, and bordered by habitations about -as big as a squirrel's cage. The king's palace attained to -the stupendous magnitude of Periwinkle's baby house, and -stood in the center of a spacious square, which could hardly -have been covered by our hearth rug. Their principal -temple, or cathedral, was as lofty as yonder bureau, and -was looked upon as a wonderfully sublime and magnificent -edifice. All these structures were built neither of stone nor -wood. They were neatly plastered together by the Pygmy -workmen, pretty much like birds' nests, out of straw, -feathers, egg shells, and other small bits of stuff, with stiff -clay instead of mortar; and when the hot sun had dried them, -they were just as snug and comfortable as a Pygmy could -desire.</p> - -<p>The country round about was conveniently laid out in -fields, the largest of which was nearly of the same extent -as one of Sweet Fern's flower beds. Here the Pygmies -used to plant wheat and other kinds of grain, which, when -it grew up and ripened, overshadowed these tiny people, -as the pines, and the oaks, and the walnut and chestnut -trees overshadow you and me, when we walk in our own -tracts of woodland. At harvest time, they were forced to -go with their little axes and cut down the grain, exactly as -a woodcutter makes a clearing in the forest; and when a -stalk of wheat, with its overburdened top, chanced to come -crashing down upon an unfortunate Pygmy, it was apt -to be a very sad affair. If it did not smash him all to pieces, -at least, I am sure, it must have made the poor little fellow's -head ache. And O, my stars! if the fathers and mothers -were so small, what must the children and babies have been? -A whole family of them might have been put to bed in a -shoe, or have crept into an old glove, and played hide and -seek in its thumb and fingers. You might have hidden -a year-old baby under a thimble.</p> - -<p>Now these funny Pygmies, as I told you before, had a -Giant for their neighbor and brother, who was bigger, if -possible, than they were little. He was so very tall that -he carried a pine tree, which was eight feet through the -butt, for a walking stick. It took a far-sighted Pygmy, -I can assure you, to discern his summit without the help of -a telescope; and sometimes, in misty weather, they could -not see his upper half, but only his long legs, which seemed to -be striding about by themselves. But at noonday, in a clear -atmosphere, when the sun shone brightly over him, the -Giant Antæus presented a very grand spectacle. There -he used to stand, a perfect mountain of a man, with his -great countenance smiling down upon his little brothers, -and his one vast eye (which was as big as a cart wheel, -and placed right in the center of his forehead) giving a -friendly wink to the whole nation at once.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img07"></a><img src="images/img07.png" width="450" height="384" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">This giant and these pygmies were all brethren.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>The Pygmies loved to talk with Antæus; and fifty times -a day, one or another of them would turn up his head, and -shout through the hollow of his fists, "Halloo, brother -Antæus! How are you, my good fellow?" And when -the small, distant squeak of their voices reached his ear, -the Giant would make answer, "Pretty well, brother Pygmy, -I thank you," in a thunderous roar that would have shaken -down the walls of their strongest temple, only that it came -from so far aloft.</p> - -<p>It was a happy circumstance that Antæus was the -Pygmy people's friend; for there was more strength in his -little finger than in ten million of such bodies as theirs. If -he had been as ill-natured to them as he was to everybody -else, he might have beaten down their biggest city at one -kick, and hardly have known that he did it. With the -tornado of his breath, he could have stripped the roofs from -a hundred dwellings, and sent thousands of the inhabitants -whirling through the air. He might have set his immense -foot upon a multitude; and when he took it up again, there -would have been a pitiful sight, to be sure. But, being -the son of Mother Earth, as they likewise were, the Giant -gave them his brotherly kindness, and loved them with as -big a love as it was possible to feel for creatures so very -small. And, on their parts, the Pygmies loved Antæus -with as much affection as their tiny hearts could hold. He -was always ready to do them any good offices that lay in -his power; as for example, when they wanted a breeze to -turn their wind mills, the Giant would set all the sails a-going -with the mere natural respiration of his lungs. When -the sun was too hot, he often sat himself down, and let his -shadow fall over the kingdom, from one frontier to the -other; and as for matters in general, he was wise enough -to let them alone, and leave the Pygmies to manage their -own affairs—which, after all, is about the best thing that -great people can do for little ones.</p> - -<p>In short, as I said before, Antæus loved the Pygmies, -and the Pygmies loved Antæus. The Giant's life being -as long as his body was large, while the lifetime of a Pygmy -was but a span, this friendly intercourse had been going -on for innumerable generations and ages. It was written -about in the Pygmy histories, and talked about in their -ancient traditions. The most venerable and white-bearded -Pygmy had never heard of a time even, in his greatest of -grandfather's days, when the Giant was not their enormous -friend. Once, to be sure, (as was recorded on an obelisk, -three feet high, erected on the place of the catastrophe,) -Antæus sat down upon about five thousand Pygmies who -were assembled at a military review. But this was one of -those unlucky accidents for which nobody is to blame; so -that the small folks never took it to heart and only requested -the Giant to be careful forever afterwards to examine -the acre of ground where he intended to squat himself.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl04"></a><img src="images/pl04.jpg" width="600" height="832" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">THE GIANT GAVE THEM HIS BROTHERLY KINDNESS</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>It is a very pleasant picture to imagine Antæus standing -among the Pygmies, like the spire of the tallest cathedral -that ever was built, while they ran about like pismires at -his feet, and to think that, in spite of their difference in -size, there were affection and sympathy between them and -him! Indeed, it has always seemed to me that the Giant -needed the little people more than the Pygmies needed the -Giant. For, unless they had been his neighbors and well -wishers, and, as we may say, his playfellows, Antæus would -not have had a single friend in the world. No other -being like himself had ever been created. No creature of -his own size had ever talked with him, in thunder-like -accents, face to face. When he stood with his head among -the clouds, he was quite alone, and had been so for hundreds -of years, and would be so forever. Even if he had met -another Giant, Antæus would have fancied the world not -big enough for two such vast personages, and, instead of -being friends with him, would have fought him till one -of the two was killed. But with the Pygmies he was the -most sportive, and humorous, and merry-hearted, and -sweet-tempered old Giant that ever washed his face in a -wet cloud.</p> - -<p>His little friends, like all other small people, had a great -opinion of their own importance, and used to assume quite -a patronizing air towards the giant.</p> - -<p>"Poor creature!" they said one to another. "He has a -very dull time of it, all by himself; and we ought not to -grudge wasting a little of our precious time to amuse him. -He is not half so bright as we are, to be sure; and, for that -reason, he needs us to look after his comfort and happiness. -Let us be kind to the old fellow. Why, if Mother Earth -had not been very kind to ourselves, we might all have been -Giants too."</p> - -<p>On all their holidays, the Pygmies had excellent sport -with Antæus. He often stretched himself out at full length -on the ground, where he looked like the long ridge of a hill; -and it was a good hour's walk, no doubt, for a short-legged -Pygmy to journey from head to foot of the Giant. He -would lay down his great hand flat on the grass, and -challenge the tallest of them to clamber upon it, and straddle -from finger to finger. So fearless were they, that they made -nothing of creeping in among the folds of his garments. -When his head lay sidewise on the earth, they would march -boldly up, and peep into the great cavern of his mouth, and -take it all as a joke (as indeed it was meant) when Antæus -gave a sudden snap with his jaws, as if he were going to swallow -fifty of them at once. You would have laughed to see -the children dodging in and out among his hair, or swinging -from his beard. It is impossible to tell half of the funny -tricks that they played with their huge comrade; but I do not -know that anything was more curious than when a party of -boys were seen running races on his forehead, to try which -of them could get first round the circle of his one great eye. -It was another favorite feat with them to march along the -bridge of his nose, and jump down upon his upper lip.</p> - -<p>If the truth must be told, they were sometimes as troublesome -to the Giant as a swarm of ants or mosquitoes, -especially as they had a fondness for mischief, and liked to -prick his skin with their little swords and lances, to see how -thick and tough it was. But Antæus took it all kindly -enough; although, once in a while, when he happened to be -sleepy, he would grumble out a peevish word or two, like -the muttering of a tempest, and ask them to have done with -their nonsense. A great deal oftener, however, he watched -their merriment and gambols until his huge, heavy, clumsy -wits were completely stirred up by them; and then would he -roar out such a tremendous volume of immeasurable laughter, -that the whole nation of Pygmies had to put their hands -to their ears, else it would certainly have deafened them.</p> - -<p>"Ho! ho! ho!" quoth the Giant, shaking his mountainous -sides. "What a funny thing it is to be little! If I were not -Antæus, I should like to be a Pygmy, just for the joke's -sake."</p> - -<p>The Pygmies had but one thing to trouble them in the -world. They were constantly at war with the cranes, and -had always been so, ever since the long-lived Giant could -remember. From time to time, very terrible battles had -been fought, in which sometimes the little men won the victory, -and sometimes the cranes. According to some -historians, the Pygmies used to go to the battle, mounted on -the backs of goats and rams; but such animals as these must -have been far too big for Pygmies to ride upon; so that, I -rather suppose, they rode on squirrelback, or rabbitback, or -ratback, or perhaps got upon hedge-hogs, whose prickly -quills would be very terrible to the enemy. However this -might be, and whatever creatures the Pygmies rode upon, I -do not doubt that they made a formidable appearance, armed -with sword and spear, and bow and arrow, blowing their -tiny trumpet, and shouting their little war cry. They never -failed to exhort one another to fight bravely, and recollect -that the world had its eyes upon them; although, in simple -truth, the only spectator was the Giant Antæus, with his one, -great, stupid eye, in the middle of his forehead.</p> - -<p>When the two armies joined battle, the cranes would rush -forward, flapping their wings and stretching out their necks, -and would perhaps snatch up some of the Pygmies crosswise -in their beaks. Whenever this happened, it was truly an -awful spectacle to see those little men of might kicking and -sprawling in the air, and at last disappearing down the -crane's long, crooked throat, swallowed up alive. A hero, -you know, must hold himself in readiness for any kind of -fate; and doubtless the glory of the thing was a consolation -to him, even in the crane's gizzard. If Antæus observed -that the battle was going hard against his little allies, he -generally stopped laughing, and ran with mile-long strides -to their assistance, flourishing his club aloft and shouting at -the cranes, who quacked and croaked, and retreated as fast -as they could. Then the Pygmy army would march homeward -in triumph, attributing the victory entirely to their own -valor, and to the warlike skill and strategy of whomsoever -happened to be captain general; and for a tedious while -afterwards, nothing would be heard of but grand processions, -and public banquets, and brilliant illuminations, -and shows of waxwork, with likenesses of the distinguished -officers, as small as life.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img08"></a><img src="images/img08.png" width="450" height="373" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">They were constantly at war with the cranes.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>In the above-described warfare, if a Pygmy chanced to -pluck out a crane's tail feather, it proved a very great feather -in his cap. Once or twice, if you will believe me, a little man -was made chief ruler of the nation for no other merit in the -world than bringing home such a feather.</p> - -<p>But I have now said enough to let you see what a gallant -little people these were, and how happily they and their -forefathers, for nobody knows how many generations, had -lived with the immeasurable Giant Antæus. In the remaining -part of the story, I shall tell you of a far more astonishing -battle than any that was fought between the Pygmies and the -cranes.</p> - -<p>One day the mighty Antæus was lolling at full length -among his little friends. His pine tree walking stick lay on -the ground, close by his side. His head was in one part of -the kingdom, and his feet extended across the boundaries of -another part; and he was taking whatever comfort he could -get, while the Pygmies scrambled over him, and peeped into -his cavernous mouth, and played among his hair. Sometimes, -for a minute or two, the Giant dropped asleep, and -snored like the rush of a whirlwind. During one of these -little bits of slumber, a Pygmy chanced to climb upon his -shoulder, and took a view around the horizon, as from the -summit of a hill; and he beheld something, a long way off, -which made him rub the bright specks of his eyes, and look -sharper than before. At first he mistook it for a mountain, -and wondered how it had grown up so suddenly out of the -earth. But soon he saw the mountain move. As it came -nearer and nearer, what should it turn out to be but a human -shape, not so big as Antæus, it is true, although a very -enormous figure, in comparison with the Pygmies, and a vast -deal bigger than the men whom we see nowadays.</p> - -<p>When the Pygmy was quite satisfied that his eyes had not -deceived him, he scampered, as fast as his legs would carry -him, to the Giant's ear, and stooping over its cavity, shouted -lustily into it,—</p> - -<p>"Halloo, brother Antæus! Get up this minute, and take -your pine tree walking stick in your hand. Here comes -another Giant to have a tussle with you."</p> - -<p>"Poh, poh!" grumbled Antæus, only half awake. "None -of your nonsense, my little fellow! Don't you see I'm -sleepy. There is not a Giant on earth for whom I would -take the trouble to get up."</p> - -<p>But the Pygmy looked again, and now perceived that -the stranger was coming directly towards the prostrate form -of Antæus. With every step, he looked less like a blue -mountain, and more like an immensely large man. He was -soon so nigh, that there could be no possible mistake about -the matter. There he was, with the sun flaming on his -golden helmet, and flashing from his polished breastplate; -he had a sword by his side, and a lion's skin over his back, -and on his right shoulder he carried a club, which looked -bulkier and heavier than the pine-tree walking stick of -Antæus.</p> - -<p>By this time, the whole nation of Pygmies had seen the -new wonder, and a million of them set up a shout, all together; -so that it really made quite an audible squeak.</p> - -<p>"Get up, Antæus! Bestir yourself, you lazy old Giant! -Here comes another Giant, as strong as you are, to fight -with you."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense, nonsense!" growled the sleepy Giant. "I'll -have my nap out, come who may."</p> - -<p>Still the stranger drew nearer; and now the Pygmies could -plainly discern that, if his stature were less lofty than the -Giant's, yet his shoulders were even broader. And, in -truth, what a pair of shoulders they must have been! As -I told you, a long while ago, they once upheld the sky. -The Pygmies, being ten times as vivacious as their great -numskull of a brother, could not abide the Giant's slow -movements, and were determined to have him on his feet. -So they kept shouting to him, and even went so far as to -prick him with their swords.</p> - -<p>"Get up, get up, get up!" they cried. "Up with you, -lazy bones! The strange Giant's club is bigger than your -own, his shoulders are the broadest, and we think him the -stronger of the two."</p> - -<p>Antæus could not endure to have it said that any mortal -was half so mighty as himself. This latter remark of the -Pygmies pricked him deeper than their swords, and, sitting -up, in rather a sulky humor, he gave a gape of several yards -wide, rubbed his eye, and finally turned his stupid head -in the direction whither his little friends were eagerly -pointing.</p> - -<p>No sooner did he set his eye on the stranger, than, leaping -on his feet, and seizing his walking stick, he strode -a mile or two to meet him; all the while brandishing the -sturdy pine tree, so that it whistled through the air.</p> - -<p>"Who are you?" thundered the Giant. "And what do -you want in my dominions?"</p> - -<p>There was one strange thing about Antæus, of which -I have not yet told you, lest, hearing of so many wonders -all in a lump, you might not believe much more than half -of them. You are to know, then, that whenever this redoubtable -Giant touched the ground, either with his hand, -his foot, or any other part of his body, he grew stronger -than ever he had been before. The Earth, you remember, -was his mother, and was very fond of him, as being almost -the biggest of her children; and so she took this method of -keeping him always in full vigor. Some persons affirm -that he grew ten times stronger at every touch; others say -that it was only twice as strong. But only think of it! -Whenever Antæus took a walk, supposing it were but ten -miles, and that he stepped a hundred yards at a stride, you -may try to cipher out how much mightier he was, on sitting -down again, than when he first started. And whenever -he flung himself on the earth to take a little repose, even -if he got up the very next instant, he would be as strong -as exactly ten just such Giants as his former self. It was -well for the world that Antæus happened to be of a sluggish -disposition, and liked ease better than exercise; for, if he -had frisked about like the Pygmies, and touched the earth -as often as they did, he would long ago have been strong -enough to pull down the sky about people's ears. But these -great lubberly fellows resemble mountains, not only in bulk, -but in their disinclination to move.</p> - -<p>Any other mortal man, except the very one whom Antæus -had now encountered, would have been half frightened to -death by the Giant's ferocious aspect and terrible voice. But -the stranger did not seem at all disturbed. He carelessly -lifted his club, and balanced it in his hand measuring Antæus -with his eye, from head to foot, not as if wonder-smitten at -his stature, but as if he had seen a great many Giants before, -and this was by no means the biggest of them. In fact, -if the Giant had been no bigger than the Pygmies, (who -stood pricking up their ears, and looking and listening to -what was going forward,) the stranger could not have been -less afraid of him.</p> - -<p>"Who are you, I say?" roared Antæus again. "What's -your name? Why do you come hither? Speak, you vagabond, -or I'll try the thickness of your skull with my walking -stick."</p> - -<p>"You are a very discourteous Giant," answered the -stranger, quietly, "and I shall probably have to teach you -a little civility, before we part. As for my name, it is -Hercules. I have come hither because this is my most -convenient road to the garden of the Hesperides, whither -I am going to get three of the golden apples for King -Eurystheus."</p> - -<p>"Caitiff, you shall go no farther!" bellowed Antæus, -putting on a grimmer look than before; for he had heard of -the mighty Hercules, and hated him because he was said -to be so strong. "Neither shall you go back whence you -came!"</p> - -<p>"How will you prevent me," asked Hercules, "from -going whither I please?"</p> - -<p>"By hitting you a rap with this pine tree here," shouted -Antæus, scowling so that he made himself the ugliest monster -in Africa. "I am fifty times stronger than you; and, -now that I stamp my foot upon the ground, I am five hundred -times stronger! I am ashamed to kill such a puny little -dwarf as you seem to be. I will make a slave of you, and -you shall likewise be the slave of my brethren, here, the -Pygmies. So throw down your club and your other -weapons; and as for that lion's skin, I intend to have a -pair of gloves made of it."</p> - -<p>"Come and take it off my shoulders, then," answered -Hercules, lifting his club.</p> - -<p>Then the Giant, grinning with rage, strode tower-like -towards the stranger, (ten times strengthened at every step,) -and fetched a monstrous blow at him with his pine tree, -which Hercules caught upon his club; and being more -skilful than Antæus, he paid him back such a rap upon -the sconce, that down tumbled the great lumbering man-mountain, -flat upon the ground. The poor little Pygmies -(who really never dreamed that anybody in the world was -half so strong as their brother Antæus) were a good deal -dismayed at this. But no sooner was the Giant down, than -up he bounced again, with tenfold might, and such a furious -visage as was horrible to behold. He aimed another -blow at Hercules, but struck awry, being blinded with -wrath, and only hit his poor innocent Mother Earth, who -groaned and trembled at the stroke. His pine tree went -so deep into the ground, and stuck there so fast, that, before -Antæus could get it out, Hercules brought down his club -across his shoulders with a mighty thwack, which made -the Giant roar as if all sorts of intolerable noises had come -screeching and rumbling out of his immeasurable lungs -in that one cry. Away it went, over mountains and valleys, -and, for aught I know, was heard on the other side of the -African deserts.</p> - -<p>As for the Pygmies, their capital city was laid in ruins -by the concussion and vibration of the air; and, though -there was uproar enough without their help, they all set -up a shriek out of three millions of little throats, fancying, -no doubt, that they swelled the Giant's bellow by at least -ten times as much. Meanwhile, Antæus had scrambled -upon his feet again, and pulled his pine tree out of the -earth; and, all aflame with fury, and more outrageously -strong than ever, he ran at Hercules, and brought down -another blow.</p> - -<p>"This time, rascal, shouted he, you shall not escape -me."</p> - -<p>But once more Hercules warded off the stroke with his -club, and the Giant's pine tree was shattered into a thousand -splinters, most of which flew among the Pygmies, and did -them more mischief than I like to think about. Before -Antæus could get out of the way, Hercules let drive again, -and gave him another knock-down blow, which sent him -heels over head, but served only to increase his already -enormous and insufferable strength. As for his rage, there -is no telling what a fiery furnace it had now got to be. His -one eye was nothing but a circle of red flame. Having -now no weapons but his fists, he doubled them up, (each -bigger than a hogshead,) smote one against the other, and -danced up and down with absolute frenzy, flourishing his -immense arms about, as if he meant not merely to kill -Hercules, but to smash the whole world to pieces.</p> - -<p>"Come on!" roared this thundering Giant. "Let me hit -you but one box on the ear, and you'll never have the headache -again."</p> - -<p>Now Hercules (though strong enough, as you already -know, to hold the sky up) began to be sensible that he should -never win the victory, if he kept on knocking Antæus down; -for, by and by, if he hit him such hard blows, the Giant -would inevitably, by the help of his Mother Earth, become -stronger than the mighty Hercules himself. So, throwing -down his club, with which he had fought so many dreadful -battles, the hero stood ready to receive his antagonist with -naked arms.</p> - -<p>"Step forward," cried he. "Since I've broken your pine -tree, we'll try which is the better man at a wrestling match."</p> - -<p>"Aha! then I'll soon satisfy you," shouted the Giant; for, -if there was one thing on which he prided himself more -than another, it was his skill in wrestling. "Villain, I'll -fling you where you can never pick yourself up again."</p> - -<p>On came Antæus, hopping and capering with the scorching -heat of his rage, and getting new vigor wherewith to -wreak his passion, every time he hopped. But Hercules, -you must understand, was wiser than this numskull of a -Giant, and had thought of a way to fight him,—huge, earth-born -monster that he was,—and to conquer him too, in -spite of all that his Mother Earth could do for him. Watching -his opportunity, as the mad Giant made a rush at him, -Hercules caught him round the middle with both hands, -lifted him high into the air, and held him aloft overhead.</p> - -<p>Just imagine it, my dear little friends! What a spectacle -it must have been, to see this monstrous fellow sprawling -in the air, face downward, kicking out his long legs and -wriggling his whole vast body, like a baby when its father -holds it at arm's length towards the ceiling.</p> - -<p>But the most wonderful thing was, that, as soon as Antæus -was fairly off the earth, he began to lose the vigor which he -had gained by touching it. Hercules very soon perceived -that his troublesome enemy was growing weaker, both -because he struggled and kicked with less violence, and -because the thunder of his big voice subsided into a grumble. -The truth was, that, unless the Giant touched Mother Earth -as often as once in five minutes, not only his overgrown -strength, but the very breath of his life, would depart from -him. Hercules had guessed this secret; and it may be well -for us all to remember it, in case we should ever have to -fight a battle with a fellow like Antæus. For these earth-born -creatures are only difficult to conquer on their own -ground, but may be managed if we can contrive to lift them -into a loftier and purer region. So it proved with the poor -Giant, whom I am really a little sorry for, notwithstanding -his uncivil way of treating strangers who came to visit him.</p> - -<p>When his strength and breath were quite gone, Hercules -gave his huge body a toss, and flung it about a mile off, -where it fell heavily, and lay with no more motion than a -sand hill. It was too late for the Giant's Mother Earth -to help him now; and I should not wonder if his ponderous -bones were lying on the same spot to this very day, and -were mistaken for those of an uncommonly large elephant.</p> - -<p>But, alas me! What a wailing did the poor little Pygmies -set up when they saw their enormous brother treated in -this terrible manner. If Hercules heard their shrieks, however, -he took no notice, and perhaps fancied them only the -shrill, plaintive twittering of small birds that had been -frightened from their nests by the uproar of the battle -between himself and Antæus. Indeed, his thoughts had -been so much taken up with the Giant, that he had never -once looked at the Pygmies, nor even knew that there was -such a funny little nation in the world. And now, as he -had travelled a good way, and was also rather weary with -his exertions in the fight, he spread out his lion's skin on -the ground, and reclining himself upon it, fell fast asleep.</p> - -<p>As soon as the Pygmies saw Hercules preparing for a -nap, they nodded their little heads at one another, and -winked with their little eyes. And when his deep, regular -breathing gave them notice that he was asleep, they assembled -together in an immense crowd, spreading over a space -of about twenty-seven feet square. One of their most -eloquent orators (and a valiant warrior enough, besides, -though hardly so good at any other weapon as he was with -his tongue) climbed upon a toadstool, and, from that elevated -position, addressed the multitude. His sentiments -were pretty much as follows; or, at all events, something -like this was probably the upshot of his speech:—</p> - -<p>"Tall Pygmies and mighty little men! You and all of -us have seen what a public calamity has been brought to -pass, and what an insult has here been offered to the majesty -of our nation. Yonder lies Antæus, our great friend and -brother, slain, within our territory, by a miscreant who took -him at disadvantage, and fought him (if fighting it can be -called) in a way that neither man, nor Giant, nor Pygmy -ever dreamed of fighting, until this hour. And, adding -a grievous contumely to the wrong already done us, the -miscreant has now fallen asleep as quietly as if nothing -were to be dreaded from our wrath! It behooves you, -fellow-countrymen, to consider in what aspect we shall -stand before the world, and what will be the verdict of impartial -history, should we suffer these accumulated outrages -to go unavenged.</p> - -<p>"Antæus was our brother, born of that same beloved -parent to whom we owe the thews and sinews, as well as the -courageous hearts, which made him proud of our relationship. -He was our faithful ally, and fell fighting as much -for our national rights and immunities as for his own -personal ones. We and our forefathers have dwelt in -friendship with him, and held affectionate intercourse, as -man to man, through immemorial generations. You remember -how often our entire people have reposed in his -great shadow, and how our little ones have played at hide -and seek in the tangles of his hair, and how his mighty -footsteps have familiarly gone to and fro among us, and -never trodden upon any of our toes. And there lies this -dear brother—this sweet and amiable friend—this brave and -faithful ally—this virtuous Giant—this blameless and -excellent Antæus—dead! Dead. Silent! Powerless! A -mere mountain of clay! Forgive my tears! Nay, I behold -your own. Were we to drown the world with them, could -the world blame us?</p> - -<p>"But to resume: Shall we, my countrymen, suffer this -wicked stranger to depart unharmed, and triumph in his -treacherous victory, among distant communities of the -earth? Shall we not rather compel him to leave his bones -here on our soil, by the side of our slain brother's bones? -So that, while one skeleton shall remain as the everlasting -monument of our sorrow, the other shall endure as long, -exhibiting to the whole human race a terrible example of -Pygmy vengeance! Such is the question. I put it to you -in full confidence of a response that shall be worthy of our -national character, and calculated to increase, rather than -diminish, the glory which our ancestors have transmitted -to us, and which we ourselves have proudly vindicated in -our warfare with the cranes."</p> - -<p>The orator was here interrupted by a burst of irrepressible -enthusiasm; every individual Pygmy crying out that the -national honor must be preserved at all hazards. He -bowed, and making a gesture for silence, wound up his harangue -in the following admirable manner:—</p> - -<p>"It only remains for us, then, to decide whether we shall -carry on the war in our national capacity,—one united -people against a common enemy,—or whether some champion, -famous in former fights, shall be selected to defy the -slayer of our brother Antæus to single combat. In the latter -case, though not unconscious that there may be taller men -among you, I hereby offer myself for that enviable duty. -And, believe me, dear countrymen, whether I live or die, -the honor of this great country, and the fame bequeathed -us by our heroic progenitors, shall suffer no diminution -in my hands. Never, while I can wield this sword, of which -I now fling away the scabbard—never, never, never, even -if the crimson hand that slew the great Antæus shall lay -me prostrate, like him, on the soil which I give my life -to defend."</p> - -<p>So saying, this valiant Pygmy drew out his weapon, -(which was terrible to behold, being as long as the blade -of a penknife,) and sent the scabbard whirling over the -heads of the multitude. His speech was followed by an -uproar of applause, as its patriotism and self-devotion unquestionably -deserved; and the shouts and clapping of hands -would have been greatly prolonged, had they not been -rendered quite inaudible by a deep respiration, vulgarly -called a snore, from the sleeping Hercules.</p> - -<p>It was finally decided that the whole nation of Pygmies -should set to work to destroy Hercules; not, be it understood, -from any doubt that a single champion would be -capable of putting him to the sword, but because he was -a public enemy, and all were desirous of sharing in the glory -of his defeat. There was a debate whether the national -honor did not demand that a herald should be sent with a -trumpet, to stand over the ear of Hercules, and, after blowing -a blast right into it, to defy him to the combat by formal -proclamation. But two or three venerable and sagacious -Pygmies, well versed in state affairs, gave it as their opinion -that war already existed, and that it was their rightful privilege -to take the enemy by surprise. Moreover if awakened, -and allowed to get upon his feet, Hercules might happen -to do them a mischief before he could be beaten down again. -For, as these sage counsellers remarked, the stranger's club -was really very big, and had rattled like a thunderbolt -against the skull of Antæus. So the Pygmies resolved -to set aside all foolish punctilios, and assail their antagonist -at once.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, all the fighting men of the nation took -their weapons, and went boldly up to Hercules, who still -lay fast asleep, little dreaming of the harm which the Pygmies -meant to do him. A body of twenty thousand archers -marched in front, with their little bows all ready, and the -arrows on the string. The same number were ordered to -clamber upon Hercules, some with spades, to dig his eyes -out, and others with bundles of hay, and all manner of -rubbish, with which they intended to plug up his mouth -and nostrils, so that he might perish for lack of breath. -These last, however, could by no means perform their appointed -duty; inasmuch as the enemy's breath rushed out -of his nose in an obstreperous hurricane and whirlwind, -which blew the Pygmies away as fast as they came nigh. -It was found necessary, therefore, to hit upon some other -method of carrying on the war.</p> - -<p>After holding a council, the captains ordered their troops -to collect sticks, straws, dry weeds, and whatever combustible -stuff they could find and make a pile of it, heaping it -high around the head of Hercules. As a great many thousand -Pygmies were employed in this task, they soon brought -together several bushels of inflammatory matter, and raised -so tall a heap, that, mounting on its summit, they were quite -upon a level with the sleeper's face. The archers, meanwhile, -were stationed within bow shot, with orders to let -fly at Hercules the instant that he stirred. Everything -being in readiness, a torch was applied to the pile, which -immediately burst into flames, and soon waxed hot enough -to roast the enemy, had he but chosen to lie still. A Pygmy, -you know, though so very small, might set the world on fire, -just as easily as a Giant could; so that this was certainly -the very best way of dealing with their foe, provided they -could have kept him quiet while the conflagration was -going forward.</p> - -<p>But no sooner did Hercules begin to be scorched, than -up he started, with his hair in a red blaze.</p> - -<p>"What's all this?" he cried, bewildered with sleep, and -staring about him as if he expected to see another Giant.</p> - -<p>At that moment the twenty thousand archers twanged -their bowstrings, and the arrows came whizzing, like so -many winged mosquitoes, right into the face of Hercules. -But I doubt whether more than half a dozen of them punctured -the skin, which was remarkably tough, as you know -the skin of a hero has good need to be.</p> - -<p>"Villain!" shouted all the Pygmies at once. "You have -killed the Giant Antæus, our great brother, and the ally of -our nation. We declare bloody war against you, and will -slay you on the spot."</p> - -<p>Surprised at the shrill piping of so many little voices, -Hercules, after putting out the conflagration of his hair, -gazed all round about, but could see nothing. At last, -however, looking narrowly on the ground, he espied the -innumerable assemblage of Pygmies at his feet. He -stooped down, and taking up the nearest one between his -thumb and finger, set him on the palm of his left hand, -and held him at a proper distance for examination. It -chanced to be the very identical Pygmy who had spoken -from the top of the toadstool, and had offered himself as -a champion to meet Hercules in single combat.</p> - -<p>"What in the world, my little fellow," ejaculated Hercules, -"may you be?"</p> - -<p>"I am your enemy," answered the valiant Pygmy, in his -mightiest squeak. "You have slain the enormous Antæus, -our brother by the mother's side, and for ages the faithful -ally of our illustrious nation. We are determined to put -you to death; and for my own part, I challenge you to -instant battle, on equal ground."</p> - -<p>Hercules was so tickled with the Pygmy's big words and -warlike gestures, that he burst into a great explosion of -laughter, and almost dropped the poor little mite of a -creature off the palm of his hand, through the ecstasy and -convulsion of his merriment.</p> - -<p>"Upon my word," cried he, "I thought I had seen wonders -before to-day—hydras with nine heads, stags with golden -horns, six-legged men, three-headed dogs, giants with furnaces -in their stomachs, and nobody knows what besides. -But here, on the palm of my hand, stands a wonder that -outdoes them all! Your body, my little friend, is about -the size of an ordinary man's finger. Pray, how big may -your soul be?"</p> - -<p>"As big as your own!" said the Pygmy.</p> - -<p>Hercules was touched with the little man's dauntless -courage, and could not help acknowledging such a brotherhood -with him as one hero feels for another.</p> - -<p>"My good little people," said he, making a low obeisance -to the grand nation, "not for all the world would I do an -intentional injury to such brave fellows as you! Your -hearts seem to me so exceedingly great, that, upon my honor, -I marvel how your small bodies can contain them. I sue -for peace, and, as a condition of it, will take five strides, and -be out of your kingdom at the sixth. Good-by. I shall -pick my steps carefully, for fear of treading upon some fifty -of you, without knowing it. Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! -For once, Hercules acknowledges himself vanquished."</p> - -<p>Some writers say, that Hercules gathered up the whole -race of Pygmies in his lion's skin, and carried them home -to Greece, for the children of King Eurystheus to play with. -But this is a mistake. He left them, one and all, within -their own territory, where, for aught I can tell, their descendants -are alive to the present day, building their little houses, -cultivating their little fields, spanking their little children, -waging their little warfare with the cranes, doing their -little business, whatever it may be, and reading their little -histories of ancient times. In those histories, perhaps, it -stands recorded, that, a great many centuries ago, the valiant -Pygmies avenged the death of the Giant Antæus by -scaring away the mighty Hercules.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a id="THE_DRAGONS_TEETH"></a>THE DRAGON'S TEETH</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/img09.png" width="450" height="186" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="p2">Cadmus, Phœnix, and Cilix, the three sons of -King Agenor, and their little sister Europa, (who -was a very beautiful child,) were at play together, -near the sea shore, in their father's kingdom of Phœnicia. -They had rambled to some distance from the palace where -their parents dwelt, and were now in a verdant meadow, -on one side of which lay the sea, all sparkling and dimpling -in the sunshine, and murmuring gently against the beach. -The three boys were very happy, gathering flowers, and -twining them into garlands, with which they adorned the -little Europa. Seated on the grass, the child was almost -hidden under an abundance of buds and blossoms, whence -her rosy face peeped merrily out, and, as Cadmus said, was -the prettiest of all the flowers.</p> - -<p>Just then, there came a splendid butterfly, fluttering along -the meadow; and Cadmus, Phœnix, and Cilix set off in -pursuit of it crying out that it was a flower with wings. -Europa, who was a little wearied with playing all day long, -did not chase the butterfly with her brothers, but sat still -where they had left her, and closed her eyes. For a while, -she listened to the pleasant murmur of the sea, which was -like a voice saying "Hush!" and bidding her go to sleep. -But the pretty child, if she slept at all, could not have slept -more than a moment, when she heard something trample on -the grass, not far from her, and peeping out from the heap of -flowers, beheld a snow-white bull.</p> - -<p>And whence could this bull have come? Europa and -her brothers had been a long time playing in the meadow, -and had seen no cattle, nor other living thing, either there -or on the neighboring hills.</p> - -<p>"Brother Cadmus!" cried Europa, starting up out of the -midst of the roses and lilies. "Phœnix! Cilix! Where are -you all? Help! Help! Come and drive away this bull!"</p> - -<p>But her brothers were too far off to hear; especially as -the fright took away Europa's voice, and hindered her from -calling very loudly. So there she stood, with her pretty -mouth wide open, as pale as the white lilies that were twisted -among the other flowers in her garlands.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, it was the suddenness with which she had -perceived the bull, rather than anything frightful in his -appearance, that caused Europa so much alarm. On looking -at him more attentively, she began to see that he was -a beautiful animal, and even fancied a particularly amiable -expression in his face. As for his breath,—the breath of -cattle, you know, is always sweet,—it was as fragrant as if -he had been grazing on no other food than rosebuds, or, -at least, the most delicate of clover blossoms. Never before -did a bull have such bright and tender eyes, and such smooth -horns of ivory, as this one. And the bull ran little races, -and capered sportively around the child; so that she quite -forgot how big and strong he was, and, from the gentleness -and playfulness of his actions, soon came to consider him -as innocent a creature as a pet lamb.</p> - -<p>Thus, frightened as she at first was, you might by and by -have seen Europa stroking the bull's forehead with her -small white hand, and taking the garlands off her own head -to hang them on his neck and ivory horns. Then she pulled -up some blades of grass, and he ate them out of her hand, -not as if he were hungry, but because he wanted to be friends -with the child, and took pleasure in eating what she had -touched. Well, my stars! was there ever such a gentle, -sweet, pretty, and amiable creature as this bull, and ever -such a nice playmate for a little girl?</p> - -<p>When the animal saw, (for the bull had so much intelligence -that it is really wonderful to think of,) when he saw -that Europa was no longer afraid of him, he grew overjoyed, -and could hardly contain himself for delight. He -frisked about the meadow, now here, now there, making -sprightly leaps, with as little effort as a bird expends in -hopping from twig to twig. Indeed, his motion was as -light as if he were flying through the air, and his hoofs -seemed hardly to leave their print in the grassy soil over -which he trod. With his spotless hue he resembled a snow -drift, wafted along by the wind. Once he galloped so far -away that Europa feared lest she might never see him again; -so, setting up her childish voice, she called him back.</p> - -<p>"Come back, pretty creature!" she cried. "Here is a -nice clover blossom."</p> - -<p>And then it was delightful to witness the gratitude of -this amiable bull, and how he was so full of joy and thankfulness -that he capered higher than ever. He came running, -and bowed his head before Europa, as if he knew -her to be a king's daughter, or else recognized the important -truth that a little girl is everybody's queen. And not -only did the bull bend his neck, he absolutely knelt down -at her feet, and made such intelligent nods, and other inviting -gestures, that Europa understood what he meant just as -well as if he had put it in so many words.</p> - -<p>"Come, dear child," was what he wanted to say, "let me -give you a ride on my back."</p> - -<p>At the first thought of such a thing, Europa drew back. -But then she considered in her wise little head that there -could be no possible harm in taking just one gallop on the -back of this docile and friendly animal, who would certainly -set her down the very instant she desired it. And how it -would surprise her brothers to see her riding across the green -meadow! And what merry times they might have, either -taking turns for a gallop, or clambering on the gentle creature, -all four children together, and careering round the -field with shouts of laughter that would be heard as far off as -King Agenor's palace!</p> - -<p>"I think I will do it," said the child to herself.</p> - -<p>And, indeed, why not? She cast a glance around, and -caught a glimpse of Cadmus, Phœnix, and Cilix, who were -still in pursuit of the butterfly, almost at the other end of the -meadow. It would be the quickest way of rejoining them, -to get upon the white bull's back. She came a step nearer to -him therefore; and—sociable creature that he was—he -showed so much joy at this mark of her confidence, that the -child could not find in her heart to hesitate any longer. -Making one bound, (for this little princess was as active as -a squirrel,) there sat Europa on the beautiful bull, holding -an ivory horn in each hand, lest she should fall off.</p> - -<p>"Softly, pretty bull, softly!" she said, rather frightened at -what she had done. "Do not gallop too fast."</p> - -<p>Having got the child on his back, the animal gave a leap -into the air, and came down so like a feather that Europa did -not know when his hoofs touched the ground. He then -began a race to that part of the flowery plain where her three -brothers were, and where they had just caught their splendid -butterfly. Europa screamed with delight; and Phœnix, -Cilix, and Cadmus stood gaping at the spectacle of their -sister mounted on a white bull, not knowing whether to be -frightened or to wish the same good luck for themselves. -The gentle and innocent creature (for who could possibly -doubt that he was so?) pranced round among the children -as sportively as a kitten. Europa all the while looked down -upon her brothers, nodding and laughing, but yet with a sort -of stateliness in her rosy little face. As the bull wheeled -about to take another gallop across the meadow, the child -waved her hand, and said, "Good by," playfully pretending -that she was now bound on a distant journey, and might not -see her brothers again for nobody could tell how long.</p> - -<p>"Good by," shouted Cadmus, Phœnix, and Cilix, all in one -breath.</p> - -<p>But, together with her enjoyment of the sport, there was -still a little remnant of fear in the child's heart; so that her -last look at the three boys was a troubled one, and made them -feel as if their dear sister were really leaving them forever. -And what do you think the snowy bull did next? Why, he -set off, as swift as the wind, straight down to the sea shore, -scampered across the sand, took an airy leap, and plunged -right in among the foaming billows. The white spray rose -in a shower over him and little Europa, and fell spattering -down upon the water.</p> - -<p>Then what a scream of terror did the poor child send -forth! The three brothers screamed manfully likewise, -and ran to the shore as fast as their legs would carry them, -with Cadmus at their head. But it was too late. When they -reached the margin of the sand, the treacherous animal was -already far away in the wide blue sea, with only his snowy -head and tail emerging, and poor little Europa between -them, stretching out one hand towards her dear brothers, -while she grasped the bull's ivory horn with the other. And -there stood Cadmus, Phœnix, and Cilix, gazing at this sad -spectacle, through their tears, until they could no longer -distinguish the bull's snowy head from the white-capped -billows that seemed to boil up out of the sea's depths around -him. Nothing more was ever seen of the white bull—nothing -more of the beautiful child.</p> - -<p>This was a mournful story, as you may well think, for the -three boys to carry home to their parents. King Agenor, -their father, was the ruler of the whole country; but he loved -his little daughter Europa better than his kingdom, or than -all his other children, or than anything else in the world. -Therefore, when Cadmus and his two brothers came crying -home, and told him how that a white bull had carried off -their sister, and swam with her over the sea, the king was -quite beside himself with grief and rage. Although it was -now twilight, and fast growing dark, he bade them set out -instantly in search of her.</p> - -<p>"Never shall you see my face again," he cried, "unless you -bring me back my little Europa, to gladden me with her -smiles and her pretty ways. Begone, and enter my presence -no more, till you come leading her by the hand."</p> - -<p>As King Agenor said this, his eyes flashed fire, (for he -was a very passionate king,) and he looked so terribly angry -that the poor boys did not even venture to ask for their suppers, -but slunk away out of the palace, and only paused on -the steps a moment to consult whither they should go first. -While they were standing there, all in dismay, their mother, -Queen Telephassa, (who happened not to be by when they -told the story to the king,) came hurrying after them, and -said that she too would go in quest of her daughter.</p> - -<p>"O, no, mother!" cried the boys. "The night is dark, and -there is no knowing what troubles and perils we may meet -with."</p> - -<p>"Alas! my dear children," answered poor Queen -Telephassa, weeping bitterly, "that is only another reason -why I should go with you. If I should lose you, too, as well -as my little Europa, what would become of me!"</p> - -<p>"And let me go likewise!" said their playfellow Thasus, -who came running to join them.</p> - -<p>Thasus was the son of a seafaring person in the neighborhood; -he had been brought up with the young princes, and -was their intimate friend, and loved Europa very much; so -they consented that he should accompany them. The whole -party, therefore, set forth together. Cadmus, Phœnix, Cilix, -and Thasus clustered round Queen Telephassa, grasping her -skirts, and begging her to lean upon their shoulders, whenever -she felt weary. In this manner they went down the -palace steps, and began a journey, which turned out to be a -great deal longer than they dreamed of. The last that they -saw of King Agenor, he came to the door, with a servant -holding a torch beside him, and called after them into the -gathering darkness:—</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img10"></a><img src="images/img10.png" width="450" height="382" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">"Alas! My dear children," answered poor Queen Telephassa.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>"Remember! Never ascend these steps again without the -child!"</p> - -<p>"Never!" sobbed Queen Telephassa; and the three -brothers and Thasus answered, "Never! Never! Never! -Never!"</p> - -<p>And they kept their word. Year after year King -Agenor sat in the solitude of his beautiful palace, listening -in vain for their returning footsteps, hoping to hear the -familiar voice of the queen, and the cheerful talk of his sons -and their playfellow Thasus, entering the door together, -and the sweet, childish accents of little Europa in the midst -of them. But so long a time went by, that, at last, if they -had really come, the king would not have known that this -was the voice of Telephassa, and these the younger voices -that used to make such joyful echoes, when the children -were playing about the palace. We must now leave King -Agenor to sit on his throne, and must go along with Queen -Telephassa and her four youthful companions.</p> - -<p>They went on and on, and travelled a long way, and -passed over mountains and rivers, and sailed over seas. -Here, and there, and everywhere, they made continual inquiry -if any person could tell them what had become of -Europa: The rustic people, of whom they asked this question, -paused a little while from their labors in the field, -and looked very much surprised. They thought it strange -to behold a woman in the garb of a queen, (for Telephassa, -in her haste, had forgotten to take off her crown and her -royal robes,) roaming about the country, with four lads -around her, on such an errand as this seemed to be. But -nobody could give them any tidings of Europa; nobody -had seen a little girl dressed like a princess, and mounted -on a snow-white bull, which galloped as swiftly as the wind.</p> - -<p>I cannot tell you how long Queen Telephassa, and Cadmus, -Phœnix, and Cilix, her three sons, and Thasus, their -playfellow, went wandering along the highways and bypaths, -or through the pathless wildernesses of the earth, -in this manner. But certain it is, that, before they reached -any place of rest, their splendid garments were quite worn -out. They all looked very much travel-stained, and would -have had the dust of many countries on their shoes, if the -streams, through which they waded, had not washed it all -away. When they had been gone a year, Telephassa threw -away her crown, because it chafed her forehead.</p> - -<p>"It has given me many a headache," said the poor queen, -"and it cannot cure my heartache."</p> - -<p>As fast as their princely robes got torn and tattered, they -exchanged them for such mean attire as ordinary people -wore. By and by, they came to have a wild and homeless -aspect; so that you would much sooner have taken them -for a gypsy family than a queen and three princes, and a -young nobleman, who had once a palace for their home, and -a train of servants to do their bidding. The four boys grew -up to be tall young men, with sunburnt faces. Each of -them girded on a sword, to defend themselves against the -perils of the way. When the husbandmen, at whose farm -houses they sought hospitality, needed their assistance in -the harvest field, they gave it willingly; and Queen Telephassa (who -had done no work in her palace, save to braid -silk threads with golden ones) came behind them to bind -the sheaves. If payment was offered, they shook their heads, -and only asked for tidings of Europa.</p> - -<p>"There are bulls enough in my pasture," the old farmers -would reply; "but I never heard of one like this you tell -me of. A snow-white bull with a little princess on his back! -Ho! ho! I ask your pardon, good folks; but there never -was such a sight seen hereabouts."</p> - -<p>At last, when his upper lip began to have the down on -it, Phœnix grew weary of rambling hither and thither to -no purpose. So, one day, when they happened to be passing -through a pleasant and solitary tract of country, he sat himself -down on a heap of moss.</p> - -<p>"I can go no farther," said Phœnix. "It is a mere foolish -waste of life, to spend it, as we do, in always wandering up -and down, and never coming to any home at nightfall. -Our sister is lost, and never will be found. She probably -perished in the sea; or, to whatever shore the white bull -may have carried her, it is now so many years ago, that there -would be neither love nor acquaintance between us, should -we meet again. My father has forbidden us to return to -his palace; so I shall build me a hut of branches, and dwell -here."</p> - -<p>"Well, son Phœnix," said Telephassa, sorrowfully, "you -have grown to be a man, and must do as you judge best. -But, for my part, I will still go in quest of my poor child."</p> - -<p>"And we three will go along with you!" cried Cadmus -and Cilix, and their faithful friend Thasus.</p> - -<p>But, before setting out, they all helped Phœnix to build -a habitation. When completed, it was a sweet rural bower, -roofed overhead with an arch of living boughs. Inside -there were two pleasant rooms, one of which had a soft -heap of moss for a bed, while the other was furnished with -a rustic seat or two, curiously fashioned out of the crooked -roots of trees. So comfortable and home-like did it seem, -that Telephassa and her three companions could not help -sighing, to think that they must still roam about the world, -instead of spending the remainder of their lives in some -such cheerful abode as they had here built for Phœnix. But, -when they bade him farewell, Phœnix shed tears, and probably -regretted that he was no longer to keep them company.</p> - -<p>However, he had fixed upon an admirable place to dwell -in. And by and by there came other people, who chanced -to have no homes; and, seeing how pleasant a spot it was, -they built themselves huts in the neighborhood of Phœnix's -habitation. Thus, before many years went by, a city had -grown up there, in the center of which was seen a stately -palace of marble, wherein dwelt Phœnix, clothed in a purple -robe, and wearing a golden crown upon his head. For the -inhabitants of the new city, finding that he had royal blood -in his veins, had chosen him to be their king. The very -first decree of state which King Phœnix issued was, that, -if a maiden happened to arrive in the kingdom, mounted -on a snow-white bull, and calling herself Europa, -his subjects should treat her with the greatest kindness and -respect, and immediately bring her to the palace. You -may see by this, that Phœnix's conscience never quite ceased -to trouble him, for giving up the quest of his dear sister, -and sitting himself down to be comfortable, while his mother -and her companions went onward.</p> - -<p>But often and often, at the close of a weary day's journey, -did Telephassa and Cadmus, Cilix and Thasus, remember -the pleasant spot in which they had left Phœnix. It was -a sorrowful prospect for these wanderers, that on the morrow -they must again set forth, and that, after many nightfalls, -they would perhaps be no nearer the close of their -toilsome pilgrimage than now. These thoughts made -them all melancholy at times, but appeared to torment Cilix -more than the rest of the party. At length, one morning, -when they were taking their staffs in hand to set out, he thus -addressed them:—</p> - -<p>"My dear mother, and you good brother Cadmus, and my -friend Thasus, methinks we are like people in a dream. -There is no substance in the life which we are leading. It -is such a dreary length of time since the white bull carried -off my sister Europa, that I have quite forgotten how she -looked, and the tones of her voice, and, indeed, almost doubt -whether such a little girl ever lived in the world. And -whether she once lived or no, I am convinced that she no -longer survives, and that therefore it is the merest folly to -waste our own lives and happiness in seeking her. Were we -to find her, she would now be a woman grown, and would -look upon us all as strangers. So, to tell you the truth, I -have resolved to take up my abode here; and I entreat you, -mother, brother, and friend, to follow my example."</p> - -<p>"Not I, for one," said Telephassa; although the poor -queen, firmly as she spoke, was so travel-worn that she could -hardly put her foot to the ground. "Not I for one! In -the depths of my heart, little Europa is still the rosy child -who ran to gather flowers so many years ago. She has -not grown to womanhood, nor forgotten me. At noon, at -night, journeying onward, sitting down to rest, her childish -voice is always in my ears, calling 'Mother! mother!' Stop -here who may, there is no repose for me."</p> - -<p>"Nor for me," said Cadmus, "while my dear mother -pleases to go onward."</p> - -<p>And the faithful Thasus, too, was resolved to bear them -company. They remained with Cilix a few days, however, -and helped him to build a rustic bower, resembling the one -which they had formerly built for Phœnix.</p> - -<p>When they were bidding him farewell, Cilix burst into -tears, and told his mother that it seemed just as melancholy -a dream to stay there, in solitude, as to go onward. If she -really believed that they would ever find Europa, he was -willing to continue the search with them, even now. But -Telephassa bade him remain there, and be happy, if his own -heart would let him. So the pilgrims took their leave of -him, and departed, and were hardly out of sight before some -other wandering people came along that way, and saw -Cilix's habitation, and were greatly delighted with the -appearance of the place. There being abundance of unoccupied -ground in the neighborhood, these strangers built -huts for themselves, and were soon joined by a multitude -of new settlers, who quickly formed a city. In the middle -of it was seen a magnificent palace of colored marble, on the -balcony of which, every noontide, appeared Cilix, in a long -purple robe, and with a jeweled crown upon his head; for -the inhabitants, when they found out that he was a king's -son, had considered him the fittest of all men to be a king -himself.</p> - -<p>One of the first acts of King Cilix's government was to -send out an expedition, consisting of a grave ambassador -and an escort of bold and hardy young men, with orders -to visit the principal kingdoms of the earth, and inquire -whether a young maiden had passed through those regions, -galloping swiftly on a white bull. It is, therefore, plain to -my mind, that Cilix secretly blamed himself for giving up -the search for Europa, as long as he was able to put one -foot before the other.</p> - -<p>As for Telephassa, and Cadmus, and the good Thasus, -it grieves me to think of them, still keeping up that weary -pilgrimage. The two young men did their best for the poor -queen, helping her over the rough places, often carrying -her across rivulets in their faithful arms, and seeking to -shelter her at nightfall, even when they themselves lay on -the ground. Sad, sad it was to hear them asking of every -passer-by if he had seen Europa, so long after the white bull -had carried her away. But, though the gray years thrust -themselves between, and made the child's figure dim in their -remembrance, neither of these true-hearted three ever -dreamed of giving up the search.</p> - -<p>One morning, however, poor Thasus found that he had -sprained his ankle, and could not possibly go a step farther.</p> - -<p>"After a few days, to be sure," said he, mournfully, "I -might make a shift to hobble along with a stick. But that -would only delay you, and perhaps hinder you from finding -dear little Europa, after all your pains and trouble. Do -you go forward, therefore, my beloved companions, and -leave me to follow as I may."</p> - -<p>"Thou hast been a true friend, dear Thasus," said Queen -Telephassa, kissing his forehead. "Being neither my son, -nor the brother of our lost Europa, thou hast shown thyself -truer to me and her than Phœnix and Cilix did, whom we -have left behind us. Without thy loving help, and that -of my son Cadmus, my limbs could not have borne me half -so far as this. Now, take thy rest, and be at peace. For—and -it is the first time I have owned it to myself—I begin to -question whether we shall ever find my beloved daughter -in this world."</p> - -<p>Saying this, the poor queen shed tears, because it was -a grievous trial to the mother's heart to confess that her hopes -were growing faint. From that day forward, Cadmus -noticed that she never travelled with the same alacrity of -spirit that had heretofore supported her. Her weight was -heavier upon his arm.</p> - -<p>Before setting out, Cadmus helped Thasus build a bower; -while Telephassa, being too infirm to give any great assistance, -advised them how to fit it up and furnish it, so that it -might be as comfortable as a hut of branches could. Thasus, -however, did not spend all his days in this green bower. -For it happened to him, as to Phœnix and Cilix, that other -homeless people visited the spot and liked it, and built themselves -habitations in the neighborhood. So here, in the -course of a few years, was another thriving city, with a -red freestone palace in the center of it, where Thasus sat -upon a throne, doing justice to the people, with a purple -robe over his shoulders, a scepter in his hand, and a crown -upon his head. The inhabitants had made him king, not -for the sake of any royal blood, (for none was in his veins,) -but because Thasus was an upright, true-hearted, and courageous -man, and therefore fit to rule.</p> - -<p>But, when the affairs of his kingdom were all settled, King -Thasus laid aside his purple robe, and crown, and scepter, -and bade his worthiest subject distribute justice to the people -in his stead. Then, grasping the pilgrim's staff that had -supported him so long, he set forth again, hoping still to -discover some hoof mark of the snow-white bull, some trace -of the vanished child. He returned, after a lengthened -absence, and sat down wearily upon his throne. To his -latest hour, nevertheless, King Thasus showed his true-hearted -remembrance of Europa, by ordering that a fire -should always be kept burning in his palace, and a bath -steaming hot, and food ready to be served up, and a bed -with snow white sheets, in case the maiden should arrive, -and require immediate refreshment. And though Europa -never came, the good Thasus had the blessings of many -a poor traveller, who profited by the food and lodging which -were meant for the little playmate of the king's boyhood.</p> - -<p>Telephassa and Cadmus were now pursuing their weary -way, with no companion but each other. The queen leaned -heavily upon her son's arm, and could walk only a few miles -a day. But for all her weakness and weariness, she would -not be persuaded to give up the search. It was enough to -bring tears into the eyes of bearded men to hear the melancholy -tone with which she inquired of every stranger -whether he could tell her any news of the lost child.</p> - -<p>"Have you seen a little girl—no, no, I mean a young -maiden of full growth—passing by this way, mounted on -a snow-white bull, which gallops as swiftly as the wind?"</p> - -<p>"We have seen no such wonderous sight," the people -would reply; and very often, taking Cadmus aside, they -whispered to him, "Is this stately and sad-looking woman -your mother? Surely she is not in her right mind; and you -ought to take her home, and make her comfortable, and do -your best to get this dream out of her fancy."</p> - -<p>"It is no dream," said Cadmus. "Everything else is a -dream, save that."</p> - -<p>But, one day, Telephassa seemed feebler than usual, and -leaned almost her whole weight on the arm of Cadmus, and -walked more slowly than ever before. At last they reached -a solitary spot, where she told her son that she must needs -lie down, and take a good, long rest.</p> - -<p>"A good, long rest!" she repeated, looking Cadmus -tenderly in the face. "A good, long rest, thou dearest one!"</p> - -<p>"As long as you please, dear mother," answered Cadmus.</p> - -<p>Telephassa bade him sit down on the turf beside her, and -then she took his hand.</p> - -<p>"My son," said she, fixing her dim eyes most lovingly -upon him, "this rest that I speak of will be very long indeed! -You must not wait till it is finished. Dear Cadmus, you -do not comprehend me. You must make a grave here, and -lay your mother's weary frame into it. My pilgrimage is -over."</p> - -<p>Cadmus burst into tears, and, for a long time, refused -to believe that his dear mother was now to be taken from -him. But Telephassa reasoned with him, and kissed him, -and at length made him discern that it was better for her -spirit to pass away out of the toil, the weariness, the grief, -and disappointment which had burdened her on earth, ever -since the child was lost. He therefore repressed his sorrow, -and listened to her last words.</p> - -<p>"Dearest Cadmus," said she, "thou hast been the truest -son that ever mother had, and faithful to the very last. -Who else would have borne with my infirmities as thou hast! -It is owing to thy care, thou tenderest child, that my grave -was not dug long years ago, in some valley or on some -hillside that lies far, far behind us. It is enough. Thou -shalt wander no more on this hopeless search. But, when -thou hast laid thy mother in the earth, then go, my son, to -Delphi, and inquire of the oracle what thou shalt do next."</p> - -<p>"O mother, mother," cried Cadmus, "couldst thou but -have seen my sister before this hour!"</p> - -<p>"It matters little now," answered Telephassa, and there -was a smile upon her face. "I go now to the better world, -and, sooner or later, shall find my daughter there."</p> - -<p>I will not sadden you, my little hearers, with telling how -Telephassa died and was buried, but will only say, that her -dying smile grew brighter, instead of vanishing from her -dead face; so that Cadmus felt convinced that, at her very -first step into the better world, she had caught Europa in her -arms. He planted some flowers on his mother's grave, and -left them to grow there, and make the place beautiful, when -he should be far away.</p> - -<p>After performing this last sorrowful duty, he set forth -alone, and took the road towards the famous oracle of -Delphi, as Telephassa had advised him. On his way thither, -he still inquired of most people whom he met whether they -had seen Europa; for, to say the truth, Cadmus had grown -so accustomed to ask the question, that it came to his lips -as readily as a remark about the weather. He received -various answers. Some told him one thing and some another. -Among the rest, a mariner affirmed, that, many -years before, in a distant country, he had heard a rumor -about a white bull, which came swimming across the sea -with a child on his back, dressed up in flowers that were -blighted by the sea water. He did not know what had -become of the child or the bull; and Cadmus suspected indeed, -by a queer twinkle in the mariner's eyes, that he was -putting a joke upon him, and had never really heard anything -about the matter.</p> - -<p>Poor Cadmus found it more wearisome to travel alone -than to bear all his dear mother's weight, while she had -kept him company. His heart, you will understand, was -now so heavy that it seemed impossible, sometimes, to carry -it any farther. But his limbs were strong and active and -well accustomed to exercise. He walked swiftly along, -thinking of King Agenor and Queen Telephassa, and his -brothers, and the friendly Thasus, all of whom he had left -behind him, at one point of his pilgrimage or another, and -never expected to see them any more. Full of these remembrances, -he came within sight of a lofty mountain, which the -people thereabouts told him was called Parnassus. On the -slope of Mount Parnassus was the famous Delphi, whither -Cadmus was going.</p> - -<p>This Delphi was supposed, to be the very mid-most spot -of the whole world. The place of the oracle was a certain -cavity in the mountain side, over which, when Cadmus came -thither, he found a rude bower of branches. It reminded -him of those which he had helped to build for Phœnix and -Cilix, and afterwards for Thasus. In later times, when -multitudes of people came from great distances to put questions -to the oracle, a spacious temple of marble was erected -over the spot. But in the days of Cadmus, as I have told -you, there was only this rustic bower, with its abundance -of green foliage, and a tuft of shrubbery, that ran wild over -the mysterious hole in the hillside.</p> - -<p>When Cadmus had thrust a passage through the tangled -boughs, and made his way into the bower, he did not at first -discern the half-hidden cavity. But soon he felt a cold -stream of air rushing out of it, with so much force that it -shook the ringlets on his cheek. Pulling away the shrubbery -which clustered over the hole, he bent forward, and -spoke in a distinct but reverential tone, as if addressing -some unseen personage inside of the mountain.</p> - -<p>"Sacred oracle of Delphi," said he, "whither shall I go -next in quest of my dear sister Europa?"</p> - -<p>There was at first a deep silence, and then a rushing -sound, or a noise like a long sigh proceeding out of the -interior of the earth. This cavity, you must know, was -looked upon as a sort of fountain of truth, which sometimes -gushed out in audible words; although, for the most part, -these words were such a riddle that they might just as well -have staid at the bottom of the hole. But Cadmus was more -fortunate than many others who went to Delphi in search of -truth. By and by the rushing noise began to sound like -articulate language. It repeated, over and over again, the -following sentence, which, after all, was so like the vague -whistle of a blast of air, that Cadmus really did not quite -know whether it meant anything or not:—</p> - -<p>"Seek her no more! Seek her no more! Seek her no -more!"</p> - -<p>"What, then, shall I do?" asked Cadmus.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img11"></a><img src="images/img11.png" width="450" height="377" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">"Sacred oracle of Delphi, whither shall I go?"</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>For, ever since he was a child, you know, it had been the -great object of his life to find his sister. From the very hour -that he left following the butterfly in the meadow, near his -father's palace, he had done his best to follow Europa, over -land and sea. And now, if he must give up the search, he -seemed to have no more business in the world.</p> - -<p>But again the sighing gust of air grew into something -like a hoarse voice.</p> - -<p>"Follow the cow!" it said. "Follow the cow! Follow -the cow!"</p> - -<p>And when these words had been repeated until Cadmus -was tired of hearing them, (especially as he could not -imagine what cow it was, or why he was to follow her,) the -gusty hole gave vent to another sentence.</p> - -<p>"Where the stray cow lies down, there is your home."</p> - -<p>These words were pronounced but a single time, and -died away into a whisper before Cadmus was fully satisfied -that he had caught the meaning. He put other questions, -but received no answer; only the gust of wind sighed continually -out of the cavity, and blew the withered leaves -rustling along the ground before it.</p> - -<p>"Did there really come any words out of the hole?" -thought Cadmus; "or have I been dreaming all this while?"</p> - -<p>He turned away from the oracle, and thought himself -no wiser than when he came thither. Caring little what -might happen to him, he took the first path that offered -itself, and went along at a sluggish pace; for, having no -object in view, nor any reason to go one way more than -another, it would certainly have been foolish to make haste. -Whenever he met anybody, the old question was at his -tongue's end:—</p> - -<p>"Have you seen a beautiful maiden, dressed like a king's -daughter, and mounted on a snow-white bull, that gallops -as swiftly as the wind?"</p> - -<p>But, remembering what the oracle had said, he only half -uttered the words, and then mumbled the rest indistinctly; -and from his confusion, people must have imagined that -this handsome young man had lost his wits.</p> - -<p>I know not how far Cadmus had gone, nor could he -himself have told you, when, at no great distance before him, -he beheld a brindled cow. She was lying down by the wayside, -and quietly chewing her cud; nor did she take any -notice of the young man until he had approached pretty -nigh. Then, getting leisurely upon her feet, and giving her -head a gentle toss, she began to move along at a moderate -pace, often pausing just long enough to crop a mouthful -of grass. Cadmus loitered behind, whistling idly to himself, -and scarcely noticing the cow; until the thought occurred -to him, whether this could possibly be the animal which, -according to the oracle's response, was to serve him for a -guide. But he smiled at himself for fancying such a thing. -He could not seriously think that this was the cow, because -she went along so quietly, behaving just like any other cow. -Evidently she neither knew nor cared so much as a wisp of -hay about Cadmus, and was only thinking how to get her -living along the wayside, where the herbage was green and -fresh. Perhaps she was going home to be milked.</p> - -<p>"Cow, cow, cow!" cried Cadmus. "Hey brindle, hey! -Stop, my good cow."</p> - -<p>He wanted to come up with the cow, so as to examine -her, and see if she would appear to know him, or whether -there were any peculiarities to distinguish her from a thousand -other cows, whose only business is to fill the milk pail, -and sometimes kick it over. But still the brindle cow -trudged on, whisking her tail to keep the flies away, and taking -as little notice of Cadmus as she well could. If he -walked slowly, so did the cow, and seized the opportunity to -graze. If he quickened his pace, the cow went just so much -the faster; and once, when Cadmus tried to catch her by -running, she threw out her heels, stuck her tail straight on -end, and set off at a gallop, looking as queerly as cows generally -do, while putting themselves to their speed.</p> - -<p>When Cadmus saw that it was impossible to come up -with her, he walked on moderately, as before. The cow, -too, went leisurely on, without looking behind. Wherever -the grass was greenest, there she nibbled a mouthful or two. -Where a brook glistened brightly across the path, there the -cow drank, and breathed a comfortable sigh, and drank -again, and trudged onward at the pace that best suited herself -and Cadmus.</p> - -<p>"I do believe," thought Cadmus, "that this may be the cow -that was foretold me. If it be the one, I suppose she will -lie down somewhere hereabouts."</p> - -<p>Whether it were the oracular cow or some other one, it -did not seem reasonable that she should travel a great way -farther. So, whenever they reached a particularly pleasant -spot on a breezy hillside, or in a sheltered vale, or flowery -meadow, on the shore of a calm lake, or along the bank of -a clear stream, Cadmus looked eagerly around to see if the -situation would suit him for a home. But still, whether he -liked the place or no, the brindled cow never offered to lie -down. On she went at the quiet pace of a cow going homeward -to the barn yard; and, every moment, Cadmus expected -to see a milkmaid approaching with a pail, or a herdsman -running to head the stray animal, and turn her back towards -the pasture. But no milkmaid came; no herdsman drove -her back; and Cadmus followed the stray Brindle till he was -almost ready to drop down with fatigue.</p> - -<p>"O, brindled cow," cried he, in a tone of despair, "do you -never mean to stop?"</p> - -<p>He had now grown too intent on following her to think -of lagging behind, however long the way, and whatever -might be his fatigue. Indeed, it seemed as if there were -something about the animal that bewitched people. Several -persons who happened to see the brindled cow and Cadmus -following behind, began to trudge after her, precisely -as he did. Cadmus was glad of somebody to converse with, -and therefore talked very freely to these good people. He -told them all his adventures, and how he had left King -Agenor in his palace, and Phœnix at one place, and Cilix -at another and Thasus at a third, and his dear mother, Queen -Telephassa, under a flowery sod; so that now he was quite -alone, both friendless and homeless. He mentioned, likewise, -that the oracle had bidden him be guided by a cow, and -inquired of the strangers whether they supposed that this -brindled animal could be the one.</p> - -<p>"Why, 'tis a very wonderful affair," answered one of his -new companions. "I am pretty well acquainted with the -ways of cattle, and I never knew a cow, of her own accord, -to go so far without stopping. If my legs will let me, I'll -never leave following the beast till she lies down."</p> - -<p>"Nor I!" said a second.</p> - -<p>"Nor I!" cried a third. "If she goes a hundred miles -farther, I'm determined to see the end of it."</p> - -<p>The secret of it was, you must know, that the cow was -an enchanted cow, and that, without their being conscious -of it, she threw some of her enchantment over everybody -that took so much as half a dozen steps behind her. They -could not possibly help following her, though, all the time, -they fancied themselves doing it of their own accord. The -cow was by no means very nice in choosing her path; so -that sometimes they had to scramble over rocks, or wade -through mud and mire, and were all in a terribly bedraggled -condition, and tired to death, and very hungry, into -the bargain. What a weary business it was!</p> - -<p>But still they kept trudging stoutly forward, and talking -as they went. The strangers grew very fond of Cadmus, -and resolved never to leave him, but to help him build a -city wherever the cow might lie down. In the center of -it there should be a noble palace, in which Cadmus might -dwell, and be their king, with a throne, a crown, and scepter, -a purple robe, and everything else that a king ought to have; -for in him there was the royal blood, and the royal heart, -and the head that knew how to rule.</p> - -<p>While they were talking of these schemes and beguiling -the tediousness of the way with laying out the plan of the -new city, one of the company happened to look at the cow.</p> - -<p>"Joy! joy!" cried he, clapping his hands. "Brindle is -going to lie down."</p> - -<p>They all looked; and, sure enough, the cow had stopped -and was staring leisurely about her, as other cows do when -on the point of lying down. And slowly, slowly did she -recline herself on the soft grass, first bending her fore legs, -and then crouching her hind ones. When Cadmus and his -companions came up with her, there was the brindled cow -taking her ease, chewing her cud, and looking them quietly -in the face; as if this was just the spot she had been seeking -for, and as if it were all a matter of course.</p> - -<p>"This, then," said Cadmus, gazing around him, "this is to -be my home."</p> - -<p>It was a fertile and lovely plain, with great trees flinging -their sun-speckled shadows over it, and hills fencing it in -from the rough weather. At no great distance, they beheld -a river gleaming in the sunshine. A home feeling stole into -the heart of poor Cadmus. He was very glad to know that -here he might awake in the morning, without the necessity -of putting on his dusty sandals to travel farther and farther. -The days and the years would pass over him, and find him -still in this pleasant spot. If he could have had his brothers -with him, and his friend Thasus, and could have seen his -dear mother under a roof of his own, he might here have -been happy, after all their disappointments. Some day or -other, too, his sister Europa might have come quietly to the -door of his home, and smiled round upon the familiar faces. -But, indeed, since there was no hope of regaining the friends -of his boyhood, or ever seeing his dear sister again, Cadmus -resolved to make himself happy with these new companions, -who had grown so fond of him while following the cow.</p> - -<p>"Yes, my friends," said he to them, "this is to be our home. -Here we will build our habitations. The brindled cow, -which has led us hither, will supply us with milk. We will -cultivate the neighboring soil, and lead an innocent and -happy life."</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl05"></a><img src="images/pl05.jpg" width="600" height="812" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">THIS PITILESS REPTILE HAD KILLED HIS POOR COMPANIONS</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>His companions joyfully assented to this plan; and, in the -first place, being very hungry and thirsty, they looked about -them for the means of providing a comfortable meal. Not -far off, they saw a tuft of trees, which appeared as if there -might be a spring of water beneath them. They went -thither to fetch some, leaving Cadmus stretched on the -ground along with the brindled cow; for, now that he had -found a place of rest, it seemed as if all the weariness of his -pilgrimage, ever since he left King Agenor's palace, had -fallen upon him at once. But his new friends had not long -been gone, when he was suddenly startled by cries, shouts, -and screams, and the noise of a terrible struggle, and in the -midst of it all, a most awful hissing, which went right -through his ears like a rough saw.</p> - -<p>Running towards the tuft of trees, he beheld the head and -fiery eyes of an immense serpent or dragon, with the widest -jaws that ever a dragon had, and a vast many rows of horribly -sharp teeth. Before Cadmus could reach the spot, this -pitiless reptile had killed his poor companions, and was -busily devouring them, making but a mouthful of each man.</p> - -<p>It appears that the fountain of water was enchanted, and -that the dragon had been set to guard it, so that no mortal -might ever quench his thirst there. As the neighboring inhabitants -carefully avoided the spot, it was now a long time -(not less than a hundred years, or thereabouts) since the -monster had broken his fast; and, as was natural enough, his -appetite had grown to be enormous, and was not half satisfied -by the poor people whom he had just eaten up. When -he caught sight of Cadmus, therefore, he set up another -abominable hiss, and flung back his immense jaws, until his -mouth looked like a great red cavern, at the farther end of -which were seen the legs of his last victim, whom he had -hardly had time to swallow.</p> - -<p>But Cadmus was so enraged at the destruction of his -friends, that he cared neither for the size of the dragon's jaws -nor for his hundreds of sharp teeth. Drawing his sword, he -rushed at the monster, and flung himself right into his cavernous -mouth. This bold method of attacking him took the -dragon by surprise; for, in fact, Cadmus had leaped so far -down into his throat, that the rows of terrible teeth could not -close upon him, nor do him the least harm in the world. -Thus, though the struggle was a tremendous one, and -though the dragon shattered the tuft of trees into small -splinters by the lashing of his tail, yet, as Cadmus was all the -while slashing and stabbing at his very vitals, it was not long -before the scaly wretch bethought himself of slipping away. -He had not gone his length, however, when the brave Cadmus -gave him a sword thrust that finished the battle; and, -creeping out of the gateway of the creature's jaws, there he -beheld him still wriggling his vast bulk, although there was -no longer life enough in him to harm a little child.</p> - -<p>But do not you suppose that it made Cadmus sorrowful -to think of the melancholy fate which had befallen those -poor, friendly people, who had followed the cow along with -him? It seemed as if he were doomed to lose every body -whom he loved, or to see them perish in one way or another. -And here he was, after all his toils and troubles, in a solitary -place, with not a single human being to help him build a hut.</p> - -<p>"What shall I do?" cried he aloud. "It were better for -me to have been devoured by the dragon, as my poor companions -were."</p> - -<p>"Cadmus," said a voice—but whether it came from above -or below him, or whether it spoke within his own breast, -the young man could not tell—"Cadmus, pluck out the -dragon's teeth, and plant them in the earth."</p> - -<p>This was a strange thing to do; nor was it very easy, I -should imagine, to dig out all those deep-rooted fangs from -the dead dragon's jaws. But Cadmus toiled and tugged, -and after pounding the monstrous head almost to pieces -with a great stone, he at last collected as many teeth as might -have filled a bushel or two. The next thing was to plant -them. This, likewise, was a tedious piece of work, especially -as Cadmus was already exhausted with killing the -dragon and knocking his head to pieces, and had nothing -to dig the earth with, that I know of, unless it were his sword -blade. Finally, however, a sufficiently large tract of ground -was turned up, and sown with this new kind of seed; although -half of the dragon's teeth still remained to be planted -some other day.</p> - -<p>Cadmus, quite out of breath, stood leaning upon his -sword, and wondering what was to happen next. He had -waited but a few moments, when he began to see a sight, -which was as great a marvel as the most marvellous thing -I ever told you about.</p> - -<p>The sun was shining slantwise over the field, and showed -all the moist, dark soil, just like any other newly-planted -piece of ground. All at once, Cadmus fancied he saw something -glisten very brightly, first at one spot, then another, -and then at a hundred and a thousand spots together. Soon -he perceived them to be the steel heads of spears, sprouting -up everywhere like so many stalks of grain, and continually -growing taller and taller. Next appeared a vast number of -bright sword blades, thrusting themselves up in the same -way. A moment afterwards, the whole surface of the -ground was broken by a multitude of polished brass helmets, -coming up like a crop of enormous beans. So rapidly did -they grow that Cadmus now discerned the fierce countenance -of a man beneath every one. In short, before he had -time to think what a wonderful affair it was, he beheld an -abundant harvest of what looked like human beings, armed -with helmets and breastplates, shields, swords, and spears; -and before they were well out of the earth, they brandished -their weapons, and clashed them one against another, seeming -to think, little while as they had yet lived, that they had -wasted too much of life without a battle. Every tooth of -the dragon had produced one of these sons of deadly mischief.</p> - -<p>Up sprouted, also, a great many trumpeters, and with -the first breath that they drew, they put their brazen trumpets -to their lips, and sounded a tremendous and ear-shattering -blast; so that the whole space, just now so quiet and solitary, -reverberated with the clash and clang of arms, the bray of -warlike music, and the shouts of angry men. So enraged -did they all look, that Cadmus fully expected them to put -the whole world to the sword. How fortunate would it be -for a great conqueror, if he could get a bushel of the -dragon's teeth to sow!</p> - -<p>"Cadmus," said the same voice which he had before heard, -"throw a stone into the midst of the armed men."</p> - -<p>So Cadmus seized a large stone, and, flinging it into the -middle of the earth army, saw it strike the breastplate of a -gigantic and fierce-looking warrior. Immediately on feeling -the blow, he seemed to take it for granted that somebody -had struck him; and, uplifting his weapon, he smote his -next neighbor a blow that cleft his helmet asunder, and -stretched him on the ground. In an instant, those nearest -the fallen warrior began to strike at one another with their -swords and stab with their spears. The confusion spread -wider and wider. Each man smote down his brother, and -was himself smitten down before he had time to exult in -his victory. The trumpeters, all the while, blew their blasts -shriller and shriller; each soldier shouted a battle cry, and -often fell with it on his lips. It was the strangest spectacle -of causeless wrath, and of mischief for no good end, that -had ever been witnessed; but, after all, it was neither more -foolish nor more wicked than a thousand battles that have -since been fought, in which men have slain their brothers -with just as little reason as these children of the dragon's -teeth. It ought to be considered, too, that the dragon people -were made for nothing else; whereas other mortals were born -to love and help one another.</p> - -<p>Well, this memorable battle continued to rage until the -ground was strewn with helmeted heads that had been cut -off. Of all the thousands that began the fight, there were -only five left standing. These now rushed from different -parts of the field, and, meeting in the middle of it clashed -their swords, and struck at each other's hearts as fiercely -as ever.</p> - -<p>"Cadmus," said the voice again, "bid those five warriors -sheathe their swords. They will help you to build the city."</p> - -<p>Without hesitating an instant, Cadmus stepped forward, -with the aspect of a king and a leader and extending his -drawn sword amongst them, spoke to the warriors in a stern -and commanding voice.</p> - -<p>"Sheathe your weapons!" said he.</p> - -<p>And forthwith, feeling themselves bound to obey him, the -five remaining sons of the dragon's teeth made him a military -salute with their swords, returned them to the scabbards, and -stood before Cadmus in a rank, eyeing him as soldiers eye -their captain, while awaiting the word of command.</p> - -<p>These five men had probably sprung from the biggest -of the dragon's teeth, and were the boldest and strongest -of the whole army. They were almost giants indeed, and -had good need to be so, else they never could have lived -through so terrible a fight. They still had a very furious -look, and, if Cadmus happened to glance aside, would glare -at one another, with fire flashing out of their eyes. It was -strange, too, to observe how the earth, out of which they -had so lately grown, was incrusted, here and there, on their -bright breastplates, and even begrimed their faces; just as -you may have seen it clinging to beets and carrots, when -pulled out of their native soil. Cadmus hardly knew -whether to consider them as men, or some odd kind of vegetable, -although, on the whole, he concluded that there was -human nature in them, because they were so fond of trumpets -and weapons, and so ready to shed blood.</p> - -<p>They looked him earnestly in the face, waiting for his -next order, and evidently desiring no other employment -than to follow him from one battle field to another, all over -the wide world. But Cadmus was wiser than these earth-born -creatures, with their dragon's fierceness in them, and -knew better how to use their strength and hardihood.</p> - -<p>"Come!" said he. "You are sturdy fellows. Make yourselves -useful! Quarry some stones with those great swords -of yours, and help me to build a city."</p> - -<p>The five soldiers grumbled a little, and muttered that it -was their business to overthrow cities, not to build them up. -But Cadmus looked at them with a stern eye, and spoke to -them in a tone of authority, so that they knew him for their -master, and never again thought of disobeying his commands. -They set to work in good earnest, and toiled so -diligently, that, in a very short time, a city began to make -its appearance. At first, to be sure, the workmen showed -a quarrelsome disposition. Like savage beasts, they would -doubtless have done one another a mischief, if Cadmus had -not kept watch over them, and quelled the fierce old serpent -that lurked in their hearts, when he saw it gleaming out of -their wild eyes. But, in course of time, they got accustomed -to honest labor, and had sense enough to feel that there was -more true enjoyment in living at peace, and doing good to -one's neighbor, than in striking at him with a two-edged -sword. It may not be too much to hope that the rest of -mankind will by and by grow as wise and peaceable as -these five earth begrimed warriors, who sprang from the -dragon's teeth.</p> - -<p>And now the city was built, and there was a home in it -for each of the workmen. But the palace of Cadmus was -not yet erected, because they had left it till the last, meaning -to introduce all the new improvements of architecture, and -make it very commodious, as well as stately and beautiful. -After finishing the rest of their labors, they all went to -bed betimes, in order to rise in the gray of the morning, and -get at least the foundation of the edifice laid out before nightfall. -But, when Cadmus arose, and took his way towards -the site where the palace was to be built, followed by his -five sturdy workmen marching all in a row, what do you -think he saw?</p> - -<p>What should it be but the most magnificent palace that -had ever been seen in the world. It was built of marble -and other kinds of stone, and rose high into the air, with -a splendid dome and a portico along the front, and carved -pillars, and everything else that befitted the habitation of -a mighty king. It had grown up out of the earth in almost -as short a time as it had taken the armed host to spring -from the dragon's teeth; and what made the matter more -strange, no seed of this stately edifice had ever been planted.</p> - -<p>When the five workmen beheld the dome, with the -morning sunshine making it look golden and glorious, they -gave a great shout.</p> - -<p>"Long live King Cadmus," they cried, "in his beautiful -palace."</p> - -<p>And the new king, with his five faithful followers at his -heels, shouldering their pickaxes and marching in a rank, -(for they still had a soldierlike sort of behavior, as their -nature was,) ascended the palace steps. Halting at the -entrance, they gazed through a long vista of lofty pillars, -that were ranged from end to end of a great hall. At the -farther extremity of this hall, approaching slowly towards -him, Cadmus beheld a female figure, wonderfully beautiful, -and adorned with a royal robe, and a crown of diamonds -over her golden ringlets, and the richest necklace that ever -a queen wore. His heart thrilled with delight. He fancied -it his long-lost sister Europa, now grown to womanhood, -coming to make him happy, and to repay him with her -sweet sisterly affection, for all those weary wanderings in -quest of her since he left King Agenor's palace—for the -tears that he had shed, on parting with Phœnix, and Cilix, -and Thasus—for the heart-breakings that had made the -whole world seem dismal to him over his dear mother's -grave.</p> - -<p>But, as Cadmus advanced to meet the beautiful stranger, -he saw that her features were unknown to him, although, -in the little time that it required to tread along the hall, -he had already felt a sympathy betwixt himself and her.</p> - -<p>"No, Cadmus," said the same voice that had spoken to -him in the field of the armed men, "this is not that dear -sister Europa whom you have sought so faithfully all over -the wide world. This is Harmonia, a daughter of the sky, -who is given you instead of sister, and brothers, and friend, -and mother. You will find all those dear ones in her alone."</p> - -<p>So King Cadmus dwelt in the palace, with his new -friend Harmonia, and found a great deal of comfort in his -magnificent abode, but would doubtless have found as much, -if not more, in the humblest cottage by the wayside. Before -many years went by, there was a group of rosy little children -(but how they came thither has always been a mystery to me) -sporting in the great hall, and on the marble steps of the -palace, and running joyfully to meet King Cadmus when -affairs of state left him at leisure to play with them. They -called him father, and Queen Harmonia mother. The -five old soldiers of the dragon's teeth grew very fond of -these small urchins, and were never weary of showing them -how to shoulder sticks, flourish wooden swords, and march -in military order, blowing a penny trumpet, or beating an -abominable rub-a-dub upon a little drum.</p> - -<p>But King Cadmus, lest there should be too much of the -dragon's tooth in his children's disposition, used to find -time from his kingly duties to teach them their A B C—which -he invented for their benefit, and for which many -little people, I am afraid, are not half so grateful to him -as they ought to be.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/img12.png" width="150" height="133" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a id="CIRCES_PALACE"></a>CIRCE'S PALACE</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/img13.png" width="450" height="187" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="p2">Some of you have heard no doubt, of the wise King -Ulysses, and how he went to the siege of Troy, and -how, after that famous city was taken and burned, -he spent ten long years in trying to get back again to his -own little kingdom of Ithaca. At one time in the course -of this weary voyage, he arrived at an island that looked -very green and pleasant, but the name of which was unknown -to him. For, only a little while before he came -thither, he had met with a terrible hurricane, or rather a -great many hurricanes at once, which drove his fleet of vessels -into a strange part of the sea, where neither himself -nor any of his mariners had ever sailed. This misfortune -was entirely owing to the foolish curiosity of his ship-mates, -who, while Ulysses lay asleep, had untied some very bulky -leathern bags, in which they supposed a valuable treasure -to be concealed. But in each of these stout bags, King -Æolus, the ruler of the winds, had tied up a tempest, and -had given it to Ulysses to keep, in order that he might be -sure of a favorable passage homeward to Ithaca; and when -the strings were loosened, forth rushed the whistling -blasts, like air out of a blown bladder, whitening the sea -with foam, and scattering the vessels nobody could tell -whither.</p> - -<p>Immediately after escaping from this peril, a still greater -one had befallen him. Scudding before the hurricane, he -reached a place, which, as he afterwards found, was called -Læstrygonia, where some monstrous giants had eaten up -many of his companions, and had sunk every one of his -vessels, except that in which he himself sailed, by flinging -great masses of rock at them, from the cliffs along the shore. -After going through such troubles as these, you cannot -wonder that King Ulysses was glad to moor his tempest-beaten -bark in a quiet cove of the green island, which I -began with telling you about. But he had encountered -so many dangers from giants, and one-eyed Cyclopes, and -monsters of the sea and land, that he could not help dreading -some mischief, even in this pleasant and seemingly -solitary spot. For two days, therefore, the poor weatherworn -voyagers kept quiet, and either staid on board of their -vessel, or merely crept along under the cliffs that bordered -the shore; and to keep themselves alive, they dug shellfish -out of the sand, and sought for any little rill of fresh water -that might be running towards the sea.</p> - -<p>Before the two days were spent, they grew very weary -of this kind of life; for the followers of King Ulysses, as -you will find it important to remember, were terrible gormandizers, -and pretty sure to grumble if they missed their -regular meals, and their irregular ones besides. Their -stock of provisions was quite exhausted, and even the shellfish -began to get scarce, so that they had now to choose -between starving to death or venturing into the interior of -the island, where perhaps some huge three-headed dragon, -or other horrible monster, had his den. Such misshapen -creatures were very numerous in those days; and nobody -ever expected to make a voyage, or take a journey, without -running more or less risk of being devoured by them.</p> - -<p>But King Ulysses was a bold man as well as a prudent -one; and on the third morning he determined to discover -what sort of a place the island was, and whether it were -possible to obtain a supply of food for the hungry mouths -of his companions. So, taking a spear in his hand, he -clambered to the summit of a cliff and gazed round about -him. At a distance, towards the center of the island, he beheld -the stately towers of what seemed to be a palace, built of -snow-white marble, and rising in the midst of a grove of -lofty trees. The thick branches of these trees stretched -across the front of the edifice, and more than half concealed -it, although, from the portion which he saw, Ulysses judged -it to be spacious and exceedingly beautiful, and probably -the residence of some great nobleman or prince. A blue -smoke went curling up from the chimney, and was almost -the pleasantest part of the spectacle to Ulysses. For, from -the abundance of this smoke, it was reasonable to conclude -that there was a good fire in the kitchen, and that, at dinner -time, a plentiful banquet would be served up to the inhabitants -of the palace, and to whatever guests might happen -to drop in.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img14"></a><img src="images/img14.png" width="450" height="378" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">At a distance he beheld stately towers.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>With so agreeable a prospect before him, Ulysses fancied -that he could not do better than to go straight to the palace -gate, and tell the master of it that there was a crew of poor -ship-wrecked mariners not far off, who had eaten nothing -for a day or two, save a few clams and oysters, and would -therefore be thankful for a little food. And the prince or -nobleman must be a very stingy curmudgeon, to be sure, if, -at least, when his own dinner was over, he would not bid -them welcome to the broken victuals from the table.</p> - -<p>Pleasing himself with this idea, King Ulysses had made -a few steps in the direction of the palace, when there was -a great twittering and chirping from the branch of a neighboring -tree. A moment afterwards, a bird came flying towards -him, and hovered in the air, so as almost to brush his -face with its wings. It was a very pretty little bird, with -purple wings and body, and yellow legs, and a circle of -golden feathers round its neck, and on its head a golden -tuft, which looked like a king's crown in miniature. Ulysses -tried to catch the bird. But it fluttered nimbly out of his -reach, still chirping in a piteous tone, as if it could have told -a lamentable story, had it only been gifted with human -language. And when he attempted to drive it away, the -bird flew no farther than the bough of the next tree, and -again came fluttering about his head, with its doleful chirp, -as soon as he showed a purpose of going forward.</p> - -<p>"Have you anything to tell me, little bird?" asked -Ulysses.</p> - -<p>And he was ready to listen attentively to whatever the -bird might communicate; for, at the siege of Troy, and -elsewhere, he had known such odd things to happen, that -he would not have considered it much out of the common -run had this little feathered creature talked as plainly as -himself.</p> - -<p>"Peep!" said the bird, "peep, peep, pe—weep!" And -nothing else would it say, but only, "Peep, peep, pe—weep!" -in a melancholy cadence, and over and over and over again. -As often as Ulysses moved forward, however, the bird -showed the greatest alarm, and did its best to drive him back, -with the anxious flutter of its purple wings. Its unaccountable -behavior made him conclude, at last, that the bird knew -of some danger that awaited him, and which must needs be -very terrible, beyond all question, since it moved even a little -fowl to feel compassion for a human being. So he resolved, -for the present, to return to the vessel, and tell his companions -what he had seen. This appeared to satisfy the bird. -As soon as Ulysses turned back, it ran up the trunk of a tree, -and began to pick insects out of the bark with its long, sharp -bill; for it was a kind of woodpecker, you must know, and -had to get its living in the same manner as other birds of that -species. But every little while, as it pecked at the bark of -the tree, the purple bird bethought itself of some secret -sorrow, and repeated its plaintive note of "Peep, peep, pe—weep!"</p> - -<p>On his way to the shore, Ulysses had the good luck to kill -a large stag by thrusting his spear into its back. Taking it -on his shoulders, (for he was a remarkably strong man) he -lugged it along with him, and flung it down before his -hungry companions. I have already hinted to you what -gormandizers some of the comrades of King Ulysses were. -From what is related of them, I reckon that their favorite diet -was pork and that they had lived upon it until a good part -of their physical substance was swine's flesh, and their -tempers and dispositions were very much akin to the hog. -A dish of venison, however, was no unacceptable meal to -them, especially after feeding so long on oysters and clams. -So, beholding the dead stag, they felt of its ribs, in a knowing -way, and lost no time in kindling a fire, of driftwood, to cook -it. The rest of the day was spent in feasting; and if these -enormous eaters got up from table at sunset, it was only because -they could not scrape another morsel off the poor animal's -bones.</p> - -<p>The next morning, their appetites were as sharp as ever. -They looked at Ulysses, as if they expected him to clamber -up the cliff again, and come back with another fat deer upon -his shoulders. Instead of setting out, however, he summoned -the whole crew together, and told them it was in vain -to hope that he could kill a stag every day for their dinner, -and therefore it was advisable to think of some other mode -of satisfying their hunger.</p> - -<p>"Now," said he, "when I was on the cliff yesterday, I -discovered that this island is inhabited. At a considerable -distance from the shore stood a marble palace, which appeared -to be very spacious, and had a great deal of smoke -curling out of one of its chimneys."</p> - -<p>"Aha!" muttered some of his companions, smacking -their lips. "That smoke must have come from the kitchen -fire. There was a good dinner on the spit; and no doubt -there will be as good a one to-day."</p> - -<p>"But," continued the wise Ulysses, "you must remember, -my good friends, our misadventure in the cavern of one-eyed -Polyphemus, the Cyclops! Instead of his ordinary -milk diet, did he not eat up two of our comrades for his -supper, and a couple more for breakfast, and two at his supper -again? Methinks I see him yet, the hideous monster, -scanning us with that great red eye, in the middle of his -forehead, to single out the fattest. And then, again, only -a few days ago, did we not fall into the hands of the king -of the Læstrygons, and those other horrible giants, his subjects, -who devoured a great many more of us than are now -left? To tell you the truth, if we go to yonder palace, there -can be no question that we shall make our appearance at -the dinner table; but whether seated as guests, or served up -as food, is a point to be seriously considered."</p> - -<p>"Either way," murmured some of the hungriest of the -crew, "it will be better than starvation; particularly if one -could be sure of being well fattened beforehand, and daintily -cooked afterwards."</p> - -<p>"That is a matter of taste," said King Ulysses, "and, for -my own part, neither the most careful fattening nor the -daintiest of cookery would reconcile me to being dished -at last. My proposal is, therefore, that we divide ourselves -into two equal parties, and ascertain, by drawing lots, which -of the two shall go to the palace, and beg for food and assistance. -If these can be obtained, all is well. If not, and if -the inhabitants prove as inhospitable as Polyphemus, or the -Læstrygons, then there will but half of us perish, and the -remainder may set sail and escape."</p> - -<p>As nobody objected to this scheme, Ulysses proceeded -to count the whole band, and found that there were forty-six -men, including himself. He then numbered off twenty-two -of them, and put Eurylochus (who was one of his chief -officers, and second only to himself in sagacity) at their -head. Ulysses took command of the remaining twenty-two -men, in person. Then, taking off his helmet, he put two -shells into it, on one of which was written, "Go," and on -the other, "Stay." Another person now held the helmet, -while Ulysses and Eurylochus drew out each a shell; and -the word "Go" was found written on that which Eurylochus -had drawn. In this manner, it was decided that Ulysses -and his twenty-two men were to remain at the sea-side until -the other party should have found out what sort of treatment -they might expect at the mysterious palace. As there -was no help for it, Eurylochus immediately set forth at the -head of his twenty-two followers, who went off in a very -melancholy state of mind, leaving their friends in hardly -better spirits than themselves.</p> - -<p>No sooner had they clambered up the cliff, than they discerned -the tall marble towers of the palace, ascending, as -white as snow, out of the lovely green shadow of the trees -which surrounded it. A gush of smoke came from a chimney -in the rear of the edifice. This vapor rose high in the -air, and, meeting with a breeze, was wafted seaward, and -made to pass over the heads of the hungry mariners. When -people's appetites are keen, they have a very quick scent -for anything savory in the wind.</p> - -<p>"That smoke comes from the kitchen!" cried one of -them, turning up his nose as high as he could, and snuffing -eagerly. "And, as sure as I'm a half-starved vagabond, I -smell roast meat in it."</p> - -<p>"Pig, roast pig!" said another. "Ah, the dainty little -porker! My mouth waters for him."</p> - -<p>"Let us make haste," cried the others, "or we shall be -too late for the good cheer!"</p> - -<p>But scarcely had they made half a dozen steps from the -edge of the cliff, when a bird came fluttering to meet them. -It was the same pretty little bird, with the purple wings and -body, the yellow legs, the golden collar round its neck, -and the crown-like tuft upon its head, whose behavior had -so much surprised Ulysses. It hovered about Eurylochus, -and almost brushed his face with its wings.</p> - -<p>"Peep, peep, pe—weep!" chirped the bird.</p> - -<p>So plaintively intelligent was the sound, that it seemed -as if the little creature were going to break its heart with -some mighty secret that it had to tell, and only this one poor -note to tell it with.</p> - -<p>"My pretty bird," said Eurylochus,—for he was a wary -person, and let no token of harm escape his notice,—"my -pretty bird, who sent you hither? And what is the message -which you bring?"</p> - -<p>"Peep, peep, pe—weep!" replied the bird, very sorrowfully.</p> - -<p>Then it flew towards the edge of the cliff, and looked -round at them, as if exceedingly anxious that they should -return whence they came. Eurylochus and a few of the -others were inclined to turn back. They could not help -suspecting that the purple bird must be aware of something -mischievous that would befall them at the palace, and the -knowledge of which affected its airy spirit with a human -sympathy and sorrow. But the rest of the voyagers, snuffing -up the smoke from the palace kitchen, ridiculed the -idea of returning to the vessel. One of them (more brutal -than his fellows, and the most notorious gormandizer in the -whole crew) said such a cruel and wicked thing, that I -wonder the mere thought did not turn him into a wild beast -in shape, as he already was in his nature.</p> - -<p>"This troublesome and impertinent little fowl," said he, -"would make a delicate titbit to begin dinner with. Just -one plump morsel, melting away between the teeth. If he -comes within my reach, I'll catch him, and give him to the -palace cook to be roasted on a skewer."</p> - -<p>The words were hardly out of his mouth, before the purple -bird flew away, crying, "Peep, peep, pe—weep," more dolorously -than ever.</p> - -<p>"That bird," remarked Eurylochus, "knows more than -we do about what awaits us at the palace."</p> - -<p>"Come on, then," cried his comrades, "and we'll soon -know as much as he does."</p> - -<p>The party, accordingly, went onward through the green -and pleasant wood. Every little while they caught new -glimpses of the marble palace, which looked more and more -beautiful the nearer they approached it. They soon entered -a broad pathway, which seemed to be very neatly kept, and -which went winding along, with streaks of sunshine falling -across it, and specks of light quivering among the deepest -shadows that fell from the lofty trees. It was bordered, too, -with a great many sweet-smelling flowers, such as the mariners -had never seen before. So rich and beautiful they -were, that, if the shrubs grew wild here, and were native in -the soil, then this island was surely the flower garden of the -whole earth; or, if transplanted from some other clime, it -must have been from the Happy Islands that lay towards -the golden sunset.</p> - -<p>"There has been a great deal of pains foolishly wasted -on these flowers," observed one of the company; and I tell -you what he said, that you may keep in mind what gormandizers -they were. "For my part, if I were the owner of the -palace, I would bid my gardener cultivate nothing but -savory pot herbs to make a stuffing for roast meat, or to -flavor a stew with."</p> - -<p>"Well said!" cried the others. "But I'll warrant you -there's a kitchen garden in the rear of the palace."</p> - -<p>At one place they came to a crystal spring, and paused -to drink at it for want of liquor, which they liked better. -Looking into its bosom, they beheld their own faces dimly -reflected, but so extravagantly distorted by the gush and -motion of the water, that each of them appeared to be laughing -at himself and all his companions. So ridiculous were -these images of themselves, indeed, that they did really laugh -aloud, and could hardly be grave again as soon as they -wished. And after they had drank, they grew still merrier -than before.</p> - -<p>"It has the twang of the wine cask in it," said one, smacking -his lips.</p> - -<p>"Make haste!" cried his fellews; "we'll find the wine cask -itself at the palace; and that will be better than a hundred -crystal fountains."</p> - -<p>Then they quickened their pace, and capered for joy at -the thought of the savory banquet at which they hoped to -be guests. But Eurylochus told them that he felt as if he -were walking in a dream.</p> - -<p>"If I am really awake," continued he, "then, in my -opinion, we are on the point of meeting with some stranger -adventure than any that befell us in the cave of Polyphemus, -or among the gigantic man-eating Læstrygons, or in the -windy palace of King Æolus, which stands on a brazen-walled -island. This kind of dreamy feeling always comes -over me before any wonderful occurrence. If you take -my advice, you will turn back."</p> - -<p>"No, no," answered his comrades, snuffing the air, in -which the scent from the palace kitchen was now very -perceptible. "We would not turn back, though we were -certain that the king of the Læstrygons, as big as a mountain, -would sit at the head of the table, and huge Polyphemus, the -one-eyed Cyclops, at its foot."</p> - -<p>At length they came within full sight of the palace, which -proved to be very large and lofty, with a great number of -airy pinnacles upon its roof. Though it was now midday, -and the sun shone brightly over the marble front, yet its -snowy whiteness, and its fantastic style of architecture, made -it look unreal, like the frostwork on a window pane, or like -the shapes of castles which one sees among the clouds by -moonlight. But, just then, a puff of wind brought down -the smoke of the kitchen among them, and caused each man -to smell the odor of the dish that he liked best; and, after -scenting it, they thought everything else moonshine, and -nothing real save this palace, and save the banquet that was -evidently ready to be served up in it.</p> - -<p>So they hastened their steps towards the portal, but had -not got half way across the wide lawn, when a pack of lions, -tigers, and wolves came bounding to meet them. The -terrified mariners started back, expecting no better fate than -to be torn to pieces and devoured. To their surprise and -joy, however, these wild beasts merely capered around them, -wagging their tails, offering their heads to be stroked and -patted, and behaving just like so many well-bred house dogs, -when they wish to express their delight at meeting their -master, or their master's friends. The biggest lion licked -the feet of Eurylochus; and every other lion, and every wolf -and tiger, singled out one of his two and twenty followers, -whom the beast fondled as if he loved him better than a -beef bone.</p> - -<p>But, for all that, Eurylochus imagined that he saw something -fierce and savage in their eyes; nor would he have -been surprised, at any moment, to feel the big lion's terrible -claws, or to see each of the tigers make a deadly spring, or -each wolf leap at the throat of the man whom he had fondled. -Their mildness seemed unreal, and a mere freak; but their -savage nature was as true as their teeth and claws.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, the men went safely across the lawn with -the wild beasts frisking about them, and doing no manner -of harm; although, as they mounted the steps of the palace, -you might possibly have heard a low growl, particularly -from the wolves; as if they thought it a pity, after all, to let -the strangers pass without so much as tasting what they were -made of.</p> - -<p>Eurylochus and his followers now passed under a lofty -portal and looked through the open doorway into the interior -of the palace. The first thing that they saw was a -spacious hall and a fountain in the middle of it, gushing -up towards the ceiling out of a marble basin, and falling -back into it with a continual splash. The water of this -fountain, as it spouted upward, was constantly taking new -shapes, not very distinctly, but plainly enough for a nimble -fancy to recognize what they were. Now it was the shape -of a man in a long robe, the fleecy whiteness of which was -made out of the fountain's spray; now it was a lion, or a -tiger, or a wolf, or an ass, or, as often as anything else, a -hog wallowing in the marble basin as if it were his sty. It -was either magic or some very curious machinery that -caused the gushing waterspout to assume all these forms. -But, before the strangers had time to look closely at this -wonderful sight, their attention was drawn off by a very -sweet and agreeable sound. A woman's voice was singing -melodiously in another room of the palace, and with her -voice was mingled the noise of a loom, at which she was -probably seated, weaving a rich texture of cloth, and intertwining -the high and low sweetness of her voice into a rich -tissue of harmony.</p> - -<p>By and by, the song came to an end; and then, all at once, -there were several feminine voices, talking airily and cheerfully, -with now and then a merry burst of laughter, such as -you may always hear when three or four young women sit -at work together.</p> - -<p>"What a sweet song that was!" exclaimed one of the -voyagers.</p> - -<p>"Too sweet, indeed," answered Eurylochus, shaking his -head. "Yet it was not so sweet as the song of the Sirens, -those bird-like damsels who wanted to tempt us on the rocks, -so that our vessels might be wrecked, and our bones left -whitening along the shore."</p> - -<p>"But just listen to the pleasant voices of those maidens, -and that buzz of the loom, as the shuttle passes to and fro," -said another comrade. "What a domestic, household, home-like -sound it is! Ah, before that weary siege of Troy, I -used to hear the buzzing loom and the women's voices under -my own roof. Shall I never hear them again? nor taste -those nice little savory dishes which my dearest wife knew -how to serve up?"</p> - -<p>"Tush! we shall fare better here," said another. "But -how innocently those women are babbling together, without -guessing that we overhear them! And mark that richest -voice of all, so pleasant and familiar, but which yet seems -to have the authority of a mistress among them. Let us -show ourselves at once. What harm can the lady of the -palace and her maidens do to mariners and warriors like -us?"</p> - -<p>"Remember," said Eurylochus, "that it was a young -maiden who beguiled three of our friends into the palace -of the king of the Læstrygons, who ate up one of them in -the twinkling of an eye."</p> - -<p>No warning or persuasion, however, had any effect on -his companions. They went up to a pair of folding doors -at the farther end of the hall, and throwing them wide open, -passed into the next room. Eurylochus, meanwhile, had -stepped behind a pillar. In the short moment while the -folding doors opened and closed again, he caught a glimpse -of a very beautiful woman rising from the loom, and coming -to meet the poor weather-beaten wanderers, with a hospitable -smile, and her hand stretched out in welcome. There -were four other young women, who joined their hands and -danced merrily forward, making gestures of obeisance to -the strangers. They were only less beautiful than the lady -who seemed to be their mistress. Yet Eurylochus fancied -that one of them had sea-green hair, and that the close-fitting -bodice of a second looked like the bark of a tree, -and that both the others had something odd in their aspect, -although he could not quite determine what it was, in the -little while that he had to examine them.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl06"></a><img src="images/pl06.jpg" width="600" height="810" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">THE VOYAGERS EXAMINED THE WEB OF CLOTH</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>The folding doors swung quickly back, and left him -standing behind the pillar, in the solitude of the outer hall. -There Eurylochus waited until he was quite weary, and -listened eagerly to every sound, but without hearing anything -that could help him to guess what had become of his -friends. Footsteps, it is true, seemed to be passing and -repassing, in other parts of the palace. Then there was a -clatter of silver dishes, or golden ones, which made him -imagine a rich feast in a splendid banqueting hall. But by -and by he heard a tremendous grunting and squealing, and -then a sudden scampering, like that of small, hard hoofs -over a marble floor, while the voices of the mistress and her -four handmaidens were screaming all together, in tones of -anger and derision. Eurylochus could not conceive what -had happened, unless a drove of swine had broken into the -palace, attracted by the smell of the feast. Chancing to -cast his eyes at the fountain, he saw that it did not shift its -shape, as formerly, nor looked either like a long-robed man, -or a lion, a tiger, a wolf, or an ass. It looked like nothing -but a hog, which lay wallowing in the marble basin, and -filled it from brim to brim.</p> - -<p>But we must leave the prudent Eurylochus waiting in the -outer hall, and follow his friends into the inner secrecy of -the palace. As soon as the beautiful woman saw them, she -arose from the loom, as I have told you, and came forward, -smiling, and stretching out her hand. She took the hand -of the foremost among them, and bade him and the whole -party welcome.</p> - -<p>"You have been long expected, my good friends," said -she. "I and my maidens are well acquainted with you, -although you do not appear to recognize us. Look at this -piece of tapestry, and judge if your faces must not have -been familiar to us."</p> - -<p>So the voyagers examined the web of cloth which the -beautiful woman had been weaving in her loom; and, to -their vast astonishment they saw their own figures perfectly -represented in different colored threads. It was a lifelike -picture of their recent adventures, showing them in the cave -of Polyphemus, and how they had put out his one great -moony eye; while in another part of the tapestry they were -untying the leathern bags, puffed out with contrary winds; -and farther on, they beheld themselves scampering away -from the gigantic king of the Læstrygons, who had caught -one of them by the leg. Lastly, there they were, sitting -on the desolate shore of this very island, hungry and downcast, -and looking ruefully at the bare bones of the stag which -they devoured yesterday. This was as far as the work had -yet proceeded; but when the beautiful woman should again -sit down at her loom, she would probably make a picture -of what had since happened to the strangers, and of what -was now going to happen.</p> - -<p>"You see," she said, "that I know all about your troubles; -and you cannot doubt that I desire to make you happy for -as long a time as you may remain with me. For this purpose, -my honored guests, I have ordered a banquet prepared. -Fish, fowl, and flesh, roasted, and in luscious stews, and -seasoned, I trust, to all your tastes, are ready to be served -up. If your appetites tell you it is dinner time, then come -with me to the festal saloon."</p> - -<p>At this kind invitation, the hungry mariners were quite -overjoyed; and one of them, taking upon himself to be -spokesman, assured their hospitable hostess that any hour -of the day was dinner time with them, whenever they could -get flesh to put in the pot, and fire to boil it with. So the -beautiful woman led the way; and the four maidens, (one -of them had sea-green hair, another a bodice of oak bark, -a third sprinkled a shower of water drops from her fingers' -ends, and the fourth had some other oddity, which I have -forgotten,) all these followed behind, and hurried the guests -along, until they entered a magnificent saloon. It was -built in a perfect oval, and lighted from a crystal dome -above. Around the walls were ranged two and twenty -thrones, overhung by canopies of crimson and gold, and -provided with the softest of cushions, which were tasselled -and fringed with gold cord. Each of the strangers was -invited to sit down; and there they were, two and twenty -storm-beaten mariners, in worn and tattered garb, sitting -on two and twenty cushioned and canopied thrones, so rich -and gorgeous that the proudest monarch had nothing more -splendid in his stateliest hall.</p> - -<p>Then you might have seen the guests nodding, winking -with one eye, and leaning from one throne to another, to -communicate their satisfaction in hoarse whispers.</p> - -<p>"Our good hostess has made kings of us all," said one. -"Ha! do you smell the feast? I'll engage it will be fit -to set before two and twenty kings."</p> - -<p>"I hope," said another, "it will be, mainly, good substantial -joints, surloins, spareribs, and hinder quarters, without -too many kickshaws. If I thought the good lady would -not take it amiss, I should call for a fat slice of fried bacon -to begin with."</p> - -<p>Ah, the gluttons and gormandizers! You see how it was -with them. In the loftiest seats of dignity, on royal thrones, -they could think of nothing but their greedy appetite, which -was the portion of their nature that they shared with wolves -and swine; so that they resembled those vilest of animals -far more than they did kings—if, indeed, kings were what -they ought to be.</p> - -<p>But the beautiful woman now clapped her hands; and -immediately there entered a train of two and twenty serving -men bringing dishes of the richest food, all hot from the -kitchen fire, and sending up such a steam that it hung like -a cloud below the crystal dome of the saloon. An equal -number of attendants brought great flagons of wine, of -various kinds, some of which sparkled as it was poured out, -and went bubbling down the throat; while, of other sorts, -the purple liquor was so clear that you could see the wrought -figures at the bottom of the goblet. While the servants -supplied the two and twenty guests with food and drink, the -hostess and her four maidens went from one throne to -another, exhorting them to eat their fill, and to quaff wine -abundantly, and thus to recompense themselves, at this one -banquet, for the many days when they had gone without -a dinner. But, whenever the mariners were not looking -at them, (which was pretty often, as they looked chiefly -into the basins and platters,) the beautiful woman and her -damsels turned aside, and laughed. Even the servants, as -they knelt down to present the dishes, might be seen to grin -and sneer, while the guests were helping themselves to the -offered dainties.</p> - -<p>And, once in a while, the strangers seemed to taste something -that they did not like.</p> - -<p>"Here is an odd kind of a spice in this dish," said one. -"I can't say it quite suits my palate. Down it goes, -however."</p> - -<p>"Send a good draught of wine down your throat," said his -comrade on the next throne. "That is the stuff to make this -sort of cookery relish well. Though I must needs say, the -wine has a queer taste too. But the more I drink of it, the -better I like the flavor."</p> - -<p>Whatever little fault they might find with the dishes, they -sat at dinner a prodigiously long while; and it would really -have made you ashamed to see how they swilled down the -liquor and gobbled up the food. They sat on golden -thrones, to be sure; but they behaved like pigs in a sty; and, -if they had their wits about them, they might have guessed -that this was the opinion of their beautiful hostess and her -maidens. It brings a blush into my face to reckon up, in -my own mind, what mountains of meat and pudding, and -what gallons of wine, these two and twenty guzzlers and -gormandizers ate and drank. They forgot all about their -homes, and their wives and children, and all about -Ulysses, and everything else, except this banquet, at -which they wanted to keep feasting forever. But at length -they began to give over, from mere incapacity to hold any -more.</p> - -<p>"That last bit of fat is too much for me," said one.</p> - -<p>"And I have not room for another morsel," said his next -neighbor, heaving a sigh. "What a pity! My appetite is -as sharp as ever."</p> - -<p>In short, they all left off eating, and leaned back on their -thrones, with such a stupid and helpless aspect as made them -ridiculous to behold. When their hostess saw this, she -laughed aloud; so did her four damsels; so did the two and -twenty serving men that bore the dishes, and their two and -twenty fellows that poured out the wine. And the louder -they all laughed, the more stupid and helpless did the two -and twenty gormandizers look. Then the beautiful woman -took her stand in the middle of the saloon, and stretching out -a slender rod, (it had been all the while in her hand, although -they never noticed it till this moment,) she turned it from one -guest to another, until each had felt it pointed at himself. -Beautiful as her face was, and though there was a smile on it, -it looked just as wicked and mischievous as the ugliest serpent -that ever was seen; and fat-witted as the voyagers had -made themselves, they began to suspect that they had fallen -into the power of an evil-minded enchantress.</p> - -<p>"Wretches," cried she, "you have abused a lady's hospitality; -and in this princely saloon your behavior has been suited -to a hogpen. You are already swine in everything but the -human form, which you disgrace, and which I myself should -be ashamed to keep a moment longer, were you to share it -with me. But it will require only the slighest exercise of -magic to make the exterior conform to the hoggish disposition. -Assume your proper shapes, gormandizers, and -begone to the sty!"</p> - -<p>Uttering these last words, she waved her wand; and stamping -her foot imperiously, each of the guests was struck -aghast at beholding, instead of his comrades in human shape, -one and twenty hogs sitting on the same number of golden -thrones. Each man (as he still supposed himself to be) -essayed to give a cry of surprise, but found that he could -merely grunt, and that, in a word, he was just such another -beast as his companions. It looked so intolerably absurd -to see hogs on cushioned thrones, that they made haste to -wallow down upon all fours, like other swine. They tried -to groan and beg for mercy, but forthwith emitted the most -awful grunting and squealing that ever came out of swinish -throats. They would have wrung their hands in despair, -but, attempting to do so, grew all the more desperate for seeing -themselves squatted on their hams, and pawing the air -with their fore trotters. Dear me! what pendulous ears they -had! what little red eyes, half buried in fat! and what long -snouts, instead of Grecian noses!</p> - -<p>But brutes as they certainly were, they yet had enough of -human nature in them to be shocked at their own hideousness; -and, still intending to groan, they uttered a viler grunt -and squeal than before. So harsh and ear-piercing it was, -that you would have fancied a butcher was sticking his knife -into each of their throats, or, at the very least, that somebody -was pulling every hog by his funny little twist of a tail.</p> - -<p>"Begone to your sty!" cried the enchantress, giving them -some smart strokes with her wand; and then she turned to -the serving men—"Drive out these swine, and throw down -some acorns for them to eat."</p> - -<p>The door of the saloon being flung open, the drove of -hogs ran in all directions save the right one, in accordance -with their hoggish perversity but were finally driven into the -back yard of the palace. It was a sight to bring tears into -one's eyes, (and I hope none of you will be cruel enough to -laugh at it,) to see the poor creatures go snuffing along, -picking up here a cabbage leaf and there a turnip top, and -rooting their noses in the earth for whatever they could find. -In their sty, moreover, they behaved more piggishly than the -pigs that had been born so; for they bit and snorted at one -another, put their feet in the trough, and gobbled up their -victuals in a ridiculous hurry; and, when there was nothing -more to be had, they made a great pile of themselves among -some unclean straw, and fell fast asleep. If they had any -human reason left, it was just enough to keep them wondering -when they should be slaughtered, and what quality of -bacon they should make.</p> - -<p>Meantime, as I told you before, Eurylochus had waited, -and waited, and waited, in the entrance hall of the palace, -without being able to comprehend what had befallen his -friends. At last, when the swinish uproar resounded -through the palace, and when he saw the image of a hog in -the marble basin, he thought it best to hasten back to the -vessel, and inform the wise Ulysses of these marvellous occurrences. -So he ran as fast as he could down the steps, and -never stopped to draw breath till he reached the shore.</p> - -<p>"Why do you come alone?" asked King Ulysses, as soon -as he saw him. "Where are your two and twenty comrades?"</p> - -<p>At these questions, Eurylochus burst into tears.</p> - -<p>"Alas!" cried he, "I greatly fear that we shall never see one -of their faces again."</p> - -<p>Then he told Ulysses all that had happened, as far as he -knew it, and added that he suspected the beautiful woman to -be a vile enchantress, and the marble palace, magnificent as -it looked, to be only a dismal cavern in reality. As for his -companions, he could not imagine what had become of -them, unless they had been given to the swine to be devoured -alive. At this intelligence, all the voyagers were greatly -affrighted. But Ulysses lost no time in girding on his -sword, and hanging his bow and quiver over his shoulders, -and taking a spear in his right hand. When his followers -saw their wise leader making these preparations, they inquired -whither he was going, and earnestly besought him -not to leave them.</p> - -<p>"You are our king," cried they; "and what is more, you -are the wisest man in the whole world, and nothing but your -wisdom and courage can get us out of this danger. If you -desert us, and go to the enchanted palace, you will suffer the -same fate as our poor companions, and not a soul of us will -ever see our dear Ithaca again."</p> - -<p>"As I am your king," answered Ulysses, "and wiser than -any of you, it is therefore the more my duty to see what has -befallen our comrades, and whether anything can yet be -done to rescue them. Wait for me here until to-morrow. -If I do not then return, you must hoist sail, and endeavor to -find your way to our native land. For my part, I am -answerable for the fate of these poor mariners, who have -stood by my side in battle, and been so often drenched to the -skin, along with me, by the same tempestuous surges. I -will either bring them back with me, or perish."</p> - -<p>Had his followers dared, they would have detained him by -force. But King Ulysses frowned sternly on them, and -shook his spear, and bade them stop him at their peril. Seeing -him so determined, they let him go, and sat down on the -sand, as disconsolate a set of people as could be, waiting and -praying for his return.</p> - -<p>It happened to Ulysses, just as before, that, when he had -gone a few steps from the edge of the cliff, the purple bird -came fluttering towards him, crying, "Peep, peep, pe—weep!" -and using all the art it could to persuade him to go -no farther.</p> - -<p>"What mean you, little bird?" cried Ulysses. "You are -arrayed like a king in purple and gold, and wear a golden -crown upon your head. Is it because I too am a king, that -you desire so earnestly to speak with me? If you can talk in -human language, say what you would have me do."</p> - -<p>"Peep!" answered the purple bird, very dolorously. -"Peep, peep, pe—we—ep!"</p> - -<p>Certainly there lay some heavy anguish at the little bird's -heart; and it was a sorrowful predicament that he could not, -at least, have the consolation of telling what it was. But -Ulysses had no time to waste in trying to get at the mystery. -He therefore quickened his pace, and had gone a good way -along the pleasant wood path when there met him a young -man of very brisk and intelligent aspect, and clad in a rather -singular garb. He wore a short cloak, and a sort of cap -that seemed to be furnished with a pair of wings; and from -the lightness of his step, you would have supposed that there -might likewise be wings on his feet. To enable him to walk -still better, (for he was always on one journey or another,) -he carried a winged staff, around which two serpents were -wriggling and twisting. In short, I have said enough to -make you guess that it was Quicksilver; and Ulysses (who -knew him of old, and had learned a great deal of his wisdom -from him) recognized him in a moment.</p> - -<p>"Whither are you going in such a hurry, wise Ulysses?" -asked Quicksilver. "Do you not know that this island is -enchanted? The wicked enchantress (whose name is -Circe, the sister of King Æetes) dwells in the marble palace -which you see yonder among the trees. By her magic arts, -she changes every human being into the brute beast or fowl -whom he happens most to resemble."</p> - -<p>"That little bird, which met me at the edge of the cliff," -exclaimed Ulysses; "was he a human being once?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," answered Quicksilver. "He was once a king, -named Picus, and a pretty good sort of a king too, only -rather too proud of his purple robe, and his crown, and the -golden chain about his neck; so he was forced to take the -shape of a gaudy-feathered bird. The lions, and wolves, -and tigers, who will come running to meet you, in front of -the palace, were formerly fierce and cruel men, resembling -in their dispositions the wild beasts whose forms they now -rightfully wear."</p> - -<p>"And my poor companions," said Ulysses. "Have they -undergone a similar change, through the arts of this wicked -Circe?"</p> - -<p>"You well know what gormandizers they were," replied -Quicksilver; and rogue that he was, he could not help -laughing at the joke. "So you will not be surprised to -hear that they have all taken the shapes of swine! If Circe -had never done anything worse, I really should not think -her so very much to blame."</p> - -<p>"But can I do nothing to help them?" inquired Ulysses.</p> - -<p>"It will require all your wisdom," said Quicksilver, "and -a little of my own into the bargain, to keep your royal and -sagacious self from being transformed into a fox. But do -as I bid you, and the matter may end better than it has -begun."</p> - -<p>While he was speaking, Quicksilver seemed to be in -search of something; he went stooping along the ground, -and soon laid his hand on a little plant with a snow-white -flower, which he plucked and smelt of. Ulysses had been -looking at that very spot only just before; and it appeared -to him that the plant had burst into full flower the instant -when Quicksilver touched it with his fingers.</p> - -<p>"Take this flower, King Ulysses," said he. "Guard it -as you do your eyesight; for I can assure you it is exceedingly -rare and precious, and you might seek the whole earth -over without ever finding another like it. Keep it in your -hand, and smell of it frequently after you enter the palace, -and while you are talking with the enchantress. Especially -when she offers you food, or a draught of wine out of her -goblet, be careful to fill your nostrils with the flower's fragrance. -Follow these directions, and you may defy her -magic arts to change you into a fox."</p> - -<p>Quicksilver then gave him some further advice how to -behave, and bidding him to be bold and prudent, again -assured him that, powerful as Circe was, he would have a -fair prospect of coming safely out of her enchanted palace. -After listening attentively, Ulysses thanked his good friend, -and resumed his way. But he had taken only a few steps, -when, recollecting some other questions which he wished -to ask, he turned round again, and beheld nobody on the -spot where Quicksilver had stood; for that winged cap of his, -and those winged shoes, with the help of the winged staff, -had carried him quickly out of sight.</p> - -<p>When Ulysses reached the lawn, in front of the palace, -the lions and other savage animals came bounding to meet -him, and would have fawned upon him and licked his feet. -But the wise king struck at them with his long spear, and -sternly bade them begone out of his path; for he knew that -they had once been bloodthirsty men, and would now tear -him limb from limb, instead of fawning upon him, could -they do the mischief that was in their hearts. The wild -beasts yelped and glared at him, and stood at a distance, -while he ascended the palace steps.</p> - -<p>On entering the hall, Ulysses saw the magic fountain in -the center of it. The up-gushing water had now again -taken the shape of a man in a long, white, fleecy robe, who -appeared to be making gestures of welcome. The king -likewise heard the noise of the shuttle in the loom, and the -sweet melody of the beautiful woman's song, and then the -pleasant voices of herself and the four maidens talking -together, with peals of merry laughter intermixed. But -Ulysses did not waste much time in listening to the laughter -or the song. He leaned his spear against one of the pillars -of the hall, and then, after loosening his sword in the scabbard, -stepped boldly forward, and threw the folding doors -wide open. The moment she beheld his stately figure -standing in the doorway, the beautiful woman rose from -the loom, and ran to meet him with a glad smile throwing -its sunshine over her face, and both her hands extended.</p> - -<p>"Welcome, brave stranger!" cried she. "We were expecting -you."</p> - -<p>And the nymph with the sea-green hair made a courtesy -down to the ground, and likewise bade him welcome; so -did her sister with the bodice of oaken bark, and she that -sprinkled dewdrops from her fingers' ends, and the fourth -one with some oddity which I cannot remember. And -Circe, as the beautiful enchantress was called, (who had -deluded so many persons that she did not doubt of being -able to delude Ulysses, not imagining how wise he was,) -again addressed him:—</p> - -<p>"Your companions," said she, "have already been received -into my palace, and have enjoyed the hospitable treatment -to which the propriety of their behavior so well entitles them. -If such be your pleasure, you shall first take some refreshment, -and then join them in the elegant apartment which -they now occupy. See, I and my maidens have been weaving -their figures into this piece of tapestry."</p> - -<p>She pointed to the web of beautifully-woven cloth in the -loom. Circe and the four nymphs must have been very -diligently at work since the arrival of the mariners; for a -great many yards of tapestry had now been wrought, in -addition to what I before described. In this new part, -Ulysses saw his two and twenty friends represented as sitting -on cushioned and canopied thrones, greedily devouring -dainties, and quaffing deep draughts of wine. The work -had not yet gone any further. O, no, indeed. The enchantress -was far too cunning to let Ulysses see the mischief -which her magic arts had since brought upon the -gormandizers.</p> - -<p>"As for yourself, valiant sir," said Circe, "judging by -the dignity of your aspect, I take you to be nothing less than -a king. Deign to follow me, and you shall be treated as -befits your rank."</p> - -<p>So Ulysses followed her into the oval saloon, where his -two and twenty comrades had devoured the banquet, which -ended so disastrously for themselves. But, all this while, -he had held the snow-white flower in his hand, and had -constantly smelt of it while Circe was speaking; and as he -crossed the threshold of the saloon, he took good care to -inhale several long and deep snuffs of its fragrance. Instead -of two and twenty thrones, which had before been -ranged around the wall, there was now only a single throne, -in the center of the apartment. But this was surely the most -magnificent seat that ever a king or an emperor reposed himself -upon, all made of chased gold, studded with precious -stones, with a cushion that looked like a soft heap of living -roses, and overhung by a canopy of sunlight which Circe -knew how to weave into drapery. The enchantress took -Ulysses by the hand, and made him sit down upon this dazzling -throne. Then, clapping her hands, she summoned the -chief butler.</p> - -<p>"Bring hither," said she, "the goblet that is set apart for -kings to drink out of. And fill it with the same delicious -wine which my royal brother King Æetes praised so highly, -when he last visited me with my fair daughter Medea. That -good and amiable child! Were she now here, it would -delight her to see me offering this wine to my honored -guest."</p> - -<p>But Ulysses, while the butler was gone for the wine, held -the snow-white flower to his nose.</p> - -<p>"Is it a wholesome wine?" he asked.</p> - -<p>At this the four maidens tittered; whereupon the enchantress -looked around at them, with an aspect of severity.</p> - -<p>"It is the wholesomest juice that ever was squeezed out -of the grape," said she; "for, instead of disguising a man, -as other liquor is apt to do, it brings him to his true self, and -shows him as he ought to be."</p> - -<p>The chief butler liked nothing better than to see people -turned into swine, or making any kind of a beast of themselves; -so he made haste to bring the royal goblet, filled -with a liquid as bright as gold, and which kept sparkling -upward, and throwing a sunny spray over the brim. But, -delightfully as the wine looked, it was mingled with the -most potent enchantments that Circe knew how to concoct. -For every drop of the pure grape juice there were two drops -of the pure mischief; and the danger of the thing was, that -the mischief made it taste all the better. The mere smell -of the bubbles, which effervesced at the brim, was enough -to turn a man's beard into pig's bristles, or make a lion's -claws grow out of his fingers, or a fox's brush behind him.</p> - -<p>"Drink, my noble guest," said Circe, smiling as she -presented him with the goblet. "You will find in this -draught a solace for all your troubles."</p> - -<p>King Ulysses took the goblet with his right hand, while -with his left he held the snow-white flower to his nostrils, -and drew in so long a breath that his lungs were quite filled -with its pure and simple fragrance. Then, drinking off -all the wine, he looked the enchantress calmly in the face.</p> - -<p>"Wretch," cried Circe, giving him a smart stroke with her -wand, "how dare you keep your human shape a moment -longer? Take the form of the brute whom you most -resemble. If a hog, go join your fellow-swine in the sty; -if a lion, a wolf, a tiger, go howl with the wild beasts on the -lawn; if a fox, go exercise your craft in stealing poultry. -Thou hast quaffed off my wine, and canst be man no longer."</p> - -<p>But, such was the virtue of the snow-white flower, instead -of wallowing down from his throne in swinish shape, or -taking any other brutal form, Ulysses looked even more -manly and king-like than before. He gave the magic goblet -a toss, and sent it clashing over the marble floor, to the -farthest end of the saloon. Then drawing his sword, he -seized the enchantress by her beautiful ringlets, and made -a gesture as if he meant to strike off her head at one blow.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img15"></a><img src="images/img15.png" width="450" height="376" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">"Wretch!" cried Circe.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>"Wicked Circe," cried he in a terrible voice, "this sword -shall put an end to thy enchantments. Thou shalt die, vile -witch, and do no more mischief in the world, by tempting -human beings into the vices which make beasts of them."</p> - -<p>The tone and countenance of Ulysses were so awful, and -his sword gleamed so brightly, and seemed to have so intolerably -keen an edge, that Circe was almost killed by the mere -fright, without waiting for the blow. The chief butler -scrambled out of the saloon, picking up the golden goblet -as he went; and the enchantress and the four maidens fell -on their knees, wringing their hands, and screaming for -mercy.</p> - -<p>"Spare me!" cried Circe. "Spare me, royal and wise -Ulysses. For now I know that thou art he of whom Quicksilver -forewarned me, the most prudent of mortals, against -whom no enchantments can prevail. Thou only couldst -have conquered Circe. Spare me, wisest of men. I will -show thee true hospitality, and even give myself to be thy -slave, and this magnificent palace to be henceforth thy -home."</p> - -<p>The four nymphs, meanwhile, were making a most piteous -ado; and especially the ocean nymph, with the sea-green -hair, wept a great deal of salt water, and the fountain nymph, -besides scattering dewdrops from her fingers' ends, nearly -melted away into tears. But Ulysses would not be pacified -until Circe had taken a solemn oath to change back his -companions, and as many others as he should direct, from -their present forms of beast or bird into their former shapes -of men.</p> - -<p>"On these conditions" said he, "I consent to spare your -life. Otherwise you must die on the spot."</p> - -<p>With a drawn sword hanging over her, the enchantress -would readily have consented to do as much good as she -had hitherto done mischief, however little she might like -such employment. She therefore led Ulysses out of the -back entrance of the palace, and showed him the swine in -their sty. There were about fifty of these unclean beasts in -the whole herd; and though the greater part were hogs by -birth and education, there was wonderfully little difference -to be seen betwixt them and their new brethren who had so -recently worn the human shape. To speak critically, indeed, -the latter rather carried the thing to excess, and seemed -to make it a point to wallow in the miriest part of the sty, and -otherwise to outdo the original swine in their own natural -vocation. When men once turn to brutes, the trifle of man's -wit that remains in them adds tenfold to their brutality.</p> - -<p>The comrades of Ulysses, however, had not quite lost -the remembrance of having formerly stood erect. When he -approached the sty, two and twenty enormous swine separated -themselves from the herd, and scampered towards him, -with such a chorus of horrible squealing as made him clap -both hands to his ears. And yet they did not seem to know -what they wanted, nor whether they were merely hungry, -or miserable from some other cause. It was curious, in -the midst of their distress, to observe them thrusting their -noses into the mire, in quest of something to eat. The -nymph with the bodice of oaken bark (she was the hamadryad -of an oak) threw a handful of acorns among them; -and the two and twenty hogs scrambled and fought for the -prize, as if they had tasted not so much as a noggin of sour -milk for a twelvemonth.</p> - -<p>"These must certainly be my comrades," said Ulysses. -"I recognize their dispositions. They are hardly worth the -trouble of changing them into the human form again. -Nevertheless, we will have it done, lest their bad example -should corrupt the other hogs. Let them take their original -shapes, therefore, Dame Circe, if your skill is equal to the -task. It will require greater magic, I trow, than it did to -make swine of them."</p> - -<p>So Circe waved her wand again, and repeated a few -magic words, at the sound of which the two and twenty hogs -pricked up their pendulous ears. It was a wonder to -behold how their snouts grew shorter and shorter, and their -mouths (which they seemed to be sorry for, because they -could not gobble so expeditiously) smaller and smaller, and -how one and another began to stand upon his hind legs, and -scratch his nose with his fore trotters. At first the spectators -hardly knew whether to call them hogs or men, but -by and by came to the conclusion that they rather resembled -the latter. Finally, there stood the twenty-two comrades of -Ulysses, looking pretty much the same as when they left -the vessel.</p> - -<p>You must not imagine, however, that the swinish quality -had entirely gone out of them. When once it fastens itself -into a person's character, it is very difficult getting rid of -it. This was proved by the hamadryad, who, being exceedingly -fond of mischief, threw another handful of acorns -before the twenty-two newly restored people; whereupon -down they wallowed, in a moment, and gobbled them up in -a very shameful way. Then, recollecting themselves, they -scrambled to their feet, and looked more than commonly -foolish.</p> - -<p>"Thanks, noble Ulysses!" they cried. "From brute beasts -you have restored us to the condition of men again."</p> - -<p>"Do not put yourselves to the trouble of thanking me," -said the wise king. "I fear I have done but little for you."</p> - -<p>To say the truth, there was a suspicious kind of a grunt -in their voices, and, for a long time afterwards, they spoke -gruffly, and were apt to set up a squeal.</p> - -<p>"It must depend on your own future behavior," added -Ulysses, "whether you do not find your way back to the sty."</p> - -<p>At this moment, the note of a bird sounded from the -branch of a neighboring tree.</p> - -<p>"Peep, peep, pe—wee—ep!"</p> - -<p>It was the purple bird, who, all this while, had been sitting -over their heads, watching what was going forward, and -hoping that Ulysses would remember how he had done his -utmost to keep him and his followers out of harm's way. -Ulysses ordered Circe instantly to make a king of this good -little fowl and leave him exactly as she had found him. -Hardly were the words spoken and before the bird had time -to utter another "pe—weep," King Picus leaped down from -the bough of the tree, as majestic a sovereign as any in the -world, dressed in a long purple robe and gorgeous yellow -stockings, with a splendidly wrought collar about his neck, -and a golden crown upon his head. He and King Ulysses -exchanged with one another the courtesies which belonged -to their elevated rank. But from that time forth, King Picus -was no longer proud of his crown and his trappings of royalty -nor of the fact of his being a king; he felt himself merely -the upper servant of his people, and that it must be his lifelong -labor to make them better and happier.</p> - -<p>As for the lions, tigers, and wolves, (though Circe would -have restored them to their former shapes at his slightest -word,) Ulysses thought it advisable that they should remain -as they now were, and thus give warning of their cruel dispositions, -instead of going about under the guise of men, -and pretending to human sympathies, while their hearts -had the bloodthirstiness of wild beasts. So he let them howl -as much as they liked, but never troubled his head about -them. And, when everything was settled according to his -pleasure, he sent to summon the remainder of his comrades, -whom he had left at the sea shore. These being arrived, -with the prudent Eurylochus at their head, they all made -themselves comfortable in Circe's enchanted palace, until -quite rested and refreshed from the toils and hardships of -their voyage.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/img16.png" width="150" height="146" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a id="THE_POMEGRANATE_SEEDS"></a>THE POMEGRANATE SEEDS</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/img17.png" width="450" height="186" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="p2">Mother Ceres was exceedingly fond of her -daughter Proserpina, and seldom let her go -alone into the fields. But, just at the time when -my story begins, the good lady was very busy, because she -had the care of the wheat, and the Indian corn, and the rye -and barley, and, in short, of the crops of every kind, all -over the earth; and as the season had thus far been uncommonly -backward, it was necessary to make the harvest ripen -more speedily than usual. So she put on her turban, made -of poppies, (a kind of flower which she was always noted -for wearing,) and got into her car drawn by a pair of winged -dragons, and was just ready to set off.</p> - -<p>"Dear mother," said Proserpina, "I shall be very lonely -while you are away. May I not run down to the shore, and -ask some of the sea nymphs to come up out of the waves -and play with me?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, child," answered Mother Ceres. "The sea nymphs -are good creatures, and will never lead you into any harm. -But you must take care not to stray away from them, nor go -wandering about the fields by yourself. Young girls without -their mothers to take care of them, are very apt to get -into mischief."</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>"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 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 soon look like bunches of uprooted seaweed -dried in the sun."</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl07"></a><img src="images/pl07.jpg" width="600" height="810" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">THEY BROUGHT ALONG WITH THEM A GREAT MANY BEAUTIFUL SHELLS</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>"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 shall 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."</p> - -<p>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 before—violets so large and fragrant—roses, -with so rich and delicate a blush—such superb hyacinths -and such aromatic pinks—and 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.</p> - -<p>"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!"</p> - -<p>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 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.</p> - -<p>"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."</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 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.</p> - -<p>As soon as this personage saw the affrighted Proserpina, -he beckoned her to come a little nearer.</p> - -<p>"Do not be afraid," said he, with as cheerful a smile as -he knew how to put on. "Come. Will not you like to ride -a little way with me in my beautiful chariot?"</p> - -<p>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 -under ground as anything else. As is always the case -with children in trouble, Proserpina's first thought was to -call for her mother.</p> - -<p>"Mother, Mother Ceres!" cried she, all in a tremble. -"Come quickly and save me."</p> - -<p>But her voice was too faint for her mother to hear. Indeed, -it is most probable that Ceres was then a thousand -miles off, making the corn grow in some far distant country. -Nor could it have availed her poor daughter, even had she -been within hearing; for no sooner did Proserpina begin -to cry out, than the stranger leaped to the ground, caught -the child in his arms, and again mounting the chariot, shook -the reins, and shouted to the four black horses to set off. -They immediately broke into so swift a gallop, that it seemed -rather like flying through the air than running along the -earth. In a moment, Proserpina lost sight of the pleasant -vale of Enna, in which she had always dwelt. Another -instant, and even the summit of Mount Ætna had become -so blue in the distance, that she could scarcely distinguish -it from the smoke that gushed out of its crater. But still -the poor child screamed, and scattered her apron full of -flowers along the way, and left a long cry trailing behind -the chariot; and many mothers, to whose ears it came, ran -quickly to see if any mischief had befallen their children. -But Mother Ceres was a great way off, and could not hear -the cry.</p> - -<p>As they rode on, the stranger did his best to soothe her.</p> - -<p>"Why should you be so frightened, my pretty child?" -said he, trying to soften his rough voice. "I promise not -to do you any harm. What! You have been gathering -flowers? Wait till we come to my palace, and I will give -you a garden full of prettier flowers than those, all made -of pearls, and diamonds, and rubies. Can you guess who I -am? They call my name Pluto; and I am the king of -diamonds and all other precious stones. Every atom of the -gold and silver that lies under the earth belongs to me, to say -nothing of the copper and iron, and of the coal mines, which -supply me with abundance of fuel. Do you see this splendid -crown upon my head? You may have it for a plaything. -O, we shall be very good friends, and you will find me more -agreeable than you expect, when once we get out of this -troublesome sunshine."</p> - -<p>"Let me go home!" cried Proserpina. "Let me go -home!"</p> - -<p>"My home is better than your mother's," answered King -Pluto. "It is a palace, all made of gold, with crystal windows; -and because there is little or no sunshine thereabouts, -the apartments are illuminated with diamond lamps. You -never saw anything half so magnificent as my throne. If -you like, you may sit down on it, and be my little queen, -and I will sit on the footstool."</p> - -<p>"I don't care for golden palaces and thrones," sobbed -Proserpina. "O my mother, my mother! Carry me back -to my mother!"</p> - -<p>But King Pluto, as he called himself, only shouted to his -steeds to go faster.</p> - -<p>"Pray do not be foolish, Proserpina," said he, in rather -a sullen tone. "I offer you my palace and my crown, and -all the riches that are under the earth; and you treat me as -if I were doing you an injury. The one thing which my -palace needs is a merry little maid, to run up stairs and down, -and cheer up the rooms with her smile. And this is what -you must do for King Pluto."</p> - -<p>"Never!" answered Proserpina, looking as miserable as -she could. "I shall never smile again till you set me down -at my mother's door."</p> - -<p>But she might just as well have talked to the wind that -whistled past them; for Pluto urged on his horses, and went -faster than ever. Proserpina continued to cry out, and -screamed so long and so loudly, that her poor little voice -was almost screamed away; and when it was nothing but -a whisper, she happened to cast her eyes over a great, broad -field of waving grain—and whom do you think she saw? -Who, but Mother Ceres, making the corn grow, and too -busy to notice the golden chariot as it went rattling along. -The child mustered all her strength, and gave one more -scream, but was out of sight before Ceres had time to turn -her head.</p> - -<p>King Pluto had taken a road which now began to grow -excessively gloomy. It was bordered on each side with -rocks and precipices, between which the rumbling of the -chariot wheels was reverberated with a noise like rolling -thunder. The trees and bushes that grew in the crevices -of the rocks had very dismal foliage; and by and by, although -it was hardly noon, the air became obscured with -a gray twilight. The black horses had rushed along so -swiftly, that they were already beyond the limits of the sunshine. -But the duskier it grew, the more did Pluto's visage -assume an air of satisfaction. After all, he was not an ill-looking -person, especially when he left off twisting his -features into a smile that did not belong to them. Proserpina -peeped at his face through the gathering dusk, and -hoped that he might not be so very wicked as she at first -thought him.</p> - -<p>"Ah, this twilight is truly refreshing," said King Pluto, -"after being so tormented with that ugly and impertinent -glare of the sun. How much more agreeable is lamplight -or torchlight, more particularly when reflected from diamonds! -It will be a magnificent sight, when we get to my -palace."</p> - -<p>"Is it much farther?" asked Proserpina. "And will you -carry me back when I have seen it?"</p> - -<p>"We will talk of that by and by," answered Pluto. "We -are just entering my dominions. Do you see that tall gateway -before us? When we pass those gates, we are at home. -And there lies my faithful mastiff at the threshold. Cerberus! -Cerberus! Come hither, my good dog!"</p> - -<p>So saying, Pluto pulled at the reins, and stopped the -chariot right between the tall, massive pillars of the gateway. -The mastiff of which he had spoken got up from the threshold, -and stood on his hinder legs, so as to put his fore paws -on the chariot wheel. But, my stars, what a strange dog it -was! Why, he was a big, rough, ugly-looking monster, with -three separate heads, and each of them fiercer than the two -others; but fierce as they were, King Pluto patted them all. -He seemed as fond of his three-headed dog as if it had been a -sweet little spaniel, with silken ears and curly hair. -Cerberus, on the other hand, was evidently rejoiced to see his -master, and expressed his attachment, as other dogs do, by -wagging his tail at a great rate. Proserpina's eyes being -drawn to it by its brisk motion, she saw that this tail was -neither more nor less than a live dragon, with fiery eyes, and -fangs that had a very poisonous aspect. And while the -three-headed Cerberus was fawning so lovingly on King -Pluto, there was the dragon tail wagging against its will, and -looking as cross and ill natured as you can imagine, on its -own separate account.</p> - -<p>"Will the dog bite me?" asked Proserpina shrinking -closer to Pluto. "What an ugly creature he is!"</p> - -<p>"O, never fear," answered her companion. "He never -harms people, unless they try to enter my dominions without -being sent for, or to get away when I wish to keep them here. -Down, Cerberus! Now, my pretty Proserpina, we will -drive on."</p> - -<p>On went the chariot, and King Pluto seemed greatly -pleased to find himself once more in his own kingdom. He -drew Proserpina's attention to the rich veins of gold that -were to be seen among the rocks, and pointed to several -places where one stroke of a pickaxe would loosen a bushel -of diamonds. All along the road, indeed, there were sparkling -gems, which would have been of inestimable value -above ground, but which here were reckoned of the meaner -sort, and hardly worth a beggar's stooping for.</p> - -<p>Not far from the gateway, they came to a bridge, which -seemed to be built of iron. Pluto stopped the chariot, and -bade Proserpina look at the stream which was gliding so -lazily beneath it. Never in her life had she beheld so torpid, -so black, so muddy-looking a stream: its waters reflected no -images of any thing that was on the banks, and it moved as -sluggishly as if it had quite forgotten which way it ought to -flow, and had rather stagnate than flow either one way or the -other.</p> - -<p>"This is the River Lethe," observed King Pluto. "Is it -not a very pleasant stream?"</p> - -<p>"I think it a very dismal one," said Proserpina.</p> - -<p>"It suits my taste, however," answered Pluto, who was apt -to be sullen when anybody disagreed with him. "At all -events, its water has one very excellent quality; for a single -draught of it makes people forget every care and sorrow that -has hitherto tormented them. Only sip a little of it, my dear -Proserpina, and you will instantly cease to grieve for your -mother, and will have nothing in your memory that can -prevent your being perfectly happy in my palace. I will -send for some, in a golden goblet, the moment we arrive."</p> - -<p>"O, no, no, no!" cried Proserpina, weeping afresh. "I -had a thousand times rather be miserable with remembering -my mother, than be happy in forgetting her. That dear, -dear mother! I never, never will forget her."</p> - -<p>"We shall see," said King Pluto. "You do not know -what fine times we will have in my palace. Here we are -just at the portal. These pillars are solid gold, I assure -you."</p> - -<p>He alighted from the chariot, and taking Proserpina in his -arms, carried her up a lofty flight of steps into the great hall -of the palace. It was splendidly illuminated by means of -large precious stones, of various hues, which seemed to burn -like so many lamps, and glowed with a hundred fold -radiance all through the vast apartment. And yet there was -a kind of gloom in the midst of this enchanted light; nor was -there a single object in the hall that was really agreeable to -behold, except the little Proserpina herself, a lovely child, -with one earthly flower which she had not let fall from her -hand. It is my opinion that even King Pluto had never -been happy in his palace and that this was the true reason -why he had stolen away Proserpina, in order that he might -have something to love, instead of cheating his heart any -longer with this tiresome magnificence. And though he -pretended to dislike the sunshine of the upper world, yet the -effect of the child's presence, bedimmed as she was by her -tears, was as if a faint and watery sunbeam had somehow or -other found its way into the enchanted hall.</p> - -<p>Pluto now summoned his domestics, and bade them lose -no time in preparing a most sumptuous banquet, and above -all things, not to fail of setting a golden beaker of the water -of Lethe by Proserpina's plate.</p> - -<p>"I will neither drink that nor anything else," said Proserpina. "Nor -will I taste a morsel of food, even if you -keep me forever in your palace."</p> - -<p>"I should be sorry for that," replied King Pluto, patting -her cheek; for he really wished to be kind, if he had only -known how. "You are a spoiled child, I perceive, my little -Proserpina; but when you see the nice things which my -cook will make for you, your appetite will quickly come -again."</p> - -<p>Then, sending for the head cook, he gave strict orders -that all sorts of delicacies, such as young people are usually -fond of, should be set before Proserpina. He had a secret -motive in this; for you are to understand, it is a fixed law, -that, when persons are carried off to the land of magic, if -they once taste any food there, they can never get back to -their friends. Now, if King Pluto had been cunning -enough to offer Proserpina some fruit, or bread and milk, -(which was the simple fare to which the child had always -been accustomed,) it is very probable that she would soon -have been tempted to eat it. But he left the matter entirely -to his cook, who, like all other cooks, considered nothing fit -to eat unless it were rich pastry, or highly-seasoned meat, or -spiced sweet cakes—things which Proserpina's mother had -never given her, and the smell of which quite took away her -appetite, instead of sharpening it.</p> - -<p>But my story must now clamber out of King Pluto's -dominions, and see what Mother Ceres has been about, since -she was bereft of her daughter. We had a glimpse of her, -while the four black steeds were swiftly whirling along the -chariot, in which her beloved Proserpina was so unwillingly -borne away. You recollect, too, the loud scream which -Proserpina gave, just when the chariot was out of sight.</p> - -<p>Of all the child's outcries, this last shriek was the only -one that reached the ears of Mother Ceres. She had mistaken -the rumbling of the chariot wheels for a peal of thunder, -and imagined that a shower was coming up, and that -it would assist her in making the corn grow. But, at the -sound of Proserpina's shriek, she started, and looked about -in every direction, not knowing whence it came, but feeling -almost certain that it was her daughter's voice. It seemed -so unaccountable, however, that the girl should have strayed -over so many lands and seas, (which she herself could not -have traversed without the aid of her winged dragons,) that -the good Ceres tried to believe that it must be the child of -some other parent, and not her own darling Proserpina, -who had uttered this lamentable cry. Nevertheless, it -troubled her with a vast many tender fears, such as are ready -to bestir themselves in every mother's heart, when she finds -it necessary to go away from her dear children without leaving -them under the care of some maiden aunt, or other such -faithful guardian. So she quickly left the field in which -she had been so busy; and, as her work was not half done, -the grain looked, next day, as if it needed both sun and rain, -and as if it were blighted in the ear, and had something the -matter with its roots.</p> - -<p>The pair of dragons must have had very nimble wings; -for, in less than an hour, Mother Ceres had alighted at the -door of her home, and found it empty. Knowing, however, -that the child was fond of sporting on the sea shore, she -hastened thither as fast as she could, and there beheld the -wet faces of the poor sea nymphs peeping over a wave. All -this while, the good creatures had been waiting on the bank -of sponge, and, once every half minute or so, had popped -up their four heads above water, to see if their playmate -were yet coming back. When they saw Mother Ceres, they -sat down on the crest of the surf wave, and let it toss them -ashore at her feet.</p> - -<p>"Where is Proserpina?" cried Ceres. "Where is my -child? Tell me, you naughty sea nymphs, have you enticed -her under the sea?"</p> - -<p>"O, no, good Mother Ceres," said the innocent sea -nymphs, tossing back their green ringlets, and looking her -in the face. "We never should dream of such a thing. -Proserpina has been at play with us, it is true; but she left -us a long while ago, meaning only to run a little way upon -the dry land, and gather some flowers for a wreath. This -was early in the day, and we have seen nothing of her since."</p> - -<p>Ceres scarcely waited to hear what the nymphs had to -say, before she hurried off to make inquiries all through -the neighborhood. But nobody told her anything that could -enable the poor mother to guess what had become of Proserpina. -A fisherman, it is true, had noticed her little -footprints in the sand, as he went homeward along the beach -with a basket of fish; a rustic had seen the child stooping -to gather flowers; several persons had heard either the rattling -of chariot wheels, or the rumble of distant thunder; -and one old woman, while plucking vervain and catnip, -had heard a scream, but supposed it to be some childish -nonsense, and therefore did not take the trouble to look up. -The stupid people! It took them such a tedious while to -tell the nothing that they knew, that it was dark night before -Mother Ceres found out that she must seek her daughter -elsewhere. So she lighted a torch, and set forth, resolving -never to come back until Proserpina was discovered.</p> - -<p>In her haste and trouble of mind, she quite forgot her -car and the winged dragons; or, it may be, she thought that -she could follow up the search more thoroughly on foot. -At all events, this was the way in which she began her sorrowful -journey, holding her torch before her, and looking -carefully at every object along the path. And as it happened, -she had not gone far before she found one of the -magnificent flowers which grew on the shrub that Proserpina -had pulled up.</p> - -<p>"Ha!" thought Mother Ceres, examining it by torchlight. -"Here is mischief in this flower! The earth did not produce -it by any help of mine, nor of its own accord. It is -the work of enchantment, and is therefore poisonous; and -perhaps it has poisoned my poor child."</p> - -<p>But she put the poisonous flower in her bosom, not knowing -whether she might ever find any other memorial of -Proserpina.</p> - -<p>All night long, at the door of every cottage and farm -house, Ceres knocked, and called up the weary laborers to -inquire if they had seen her child; and they stood, gaping -and half asleep, at the threshold, and answered her pityingly, -and besought her to come in and rest. At the portal of -every palace, too, she made so loud a summons that the -menials hurried to throw open the gate, thinking that it must -be some great king or queen, who would demand a banquet -for supper and a stately chamber to repose in. And when -they saw only a sad and anxious woman, with a torch in -her hand and a wreath of withered poppies on her head, -they spoke rudely, and sometimes threatened to set the dogs -upon her. But nobody had seen Proserpina, nor could give -Mother Ceres the least hint which way to seek her. Thus -passed the night; and still she continued her search without -sitting down to rest or stopping to take food, or even remembering -to put out the torch; although first the rosy dawn -and then the glad light of the morning sun made its red -flame look thin and pale. But I wonder what sort of stuff -this torch was made of; for it burned dimly through the day, -and, at night was as bright as ever, and never was extinguished -by the rain or wind, in all the weary days and nights -while Ceres was seeking for Proserpina.</p> - -<p>It was not merely of human beings that she asked tidings -of her daughter. In the woods and by the streams, she met -creatures of another nature, who used, in those old times, -to haunt the pleasant and solitary places, and were very -sociable with persons who understood their language and -customs, as Mother Ceres did. Sometimes, for instance, -she tapped with her finger against the knotted trunk of a -majestic oak; and immediately its rude bark would cleave -asunder, and forth would step a beautiful maiden, who was -the hamadryad of the oak, dwelling inside of it, and sharing -its long life, and rejoicing when its green leaves sported -with the breeze. But not one of these leafy damsels had -seen Proserpina. Then, going a little farther, Ceres would, -perhaps, come to a fountain, gushing out of a pebbly hollow -in the earth, and would dabble with her hand in the water. -Behold, up through its sandy and pebbly bed, along with -the fountain's gush, a young woman with dripping hair -would arise, and stand gazing at Mother Ceres, half out -of the water, and undulating up and down with its ever-restless -motion. But when the mother asked whether her -poor lost child had stopped to drink out of the fountain, -the naiad, with weeping eyes, (for these water nymphs had -tears to spare for everybody's grief,) would answer "No!" -in a murmuring voice, which was just like the murmur of -the stream.</p> - -<p>Often, likewise, she encountered fauns, who looked like -sunburnt country people, except that they had hairy ears, -and little horns upon their foreheads, and the hinder legs -of goats, on which they gambolled merrily about the woods -and fields. They were a frolicsome kind of creature, but -grew as sad as their cheerful dispositions would allow, when -Ceres inquired for her daughter, and they had no good news -to tell. But sometimes she came suddenly upon a rude gang -of satyrs, who had faces like monkeys, and horses' tails -behind them, and who were generally dancing in a very -boisterous manner, with shouts of noisy laughter. When she -stopped to question them, they would only laugh the louder, -and make new merriment out of the lone woman's distress. -How unkind of those ugly satyrs! And once, while crossing -a solitary sheep pasture, she saw a personage named -Pan, seated at the foot of a tall rock, and making music -on a shepherd's flute. He, too, had horns, and hairy ears, -and goat's feet; but, being acquainted with Mother Ceres, -he answered her question as civilly as he knew how, and -invited her to taste some milk and honey out of a wooden -bowl. But neither could Pan tell her what had become of -Proserpina, any better than the rest of these wild people.</p> - -<p>And thus Mother Ceres went wandering about for nine -long days and nights, finding no trace of Proserpina, unless -it were now and then a withered flower; and these she picked -up and put into her bosom, because she fancied that they -might have fallen from her poor child's hand. All day she -travelled onward through the hot sun; and at night, again, -the flame of the torch would redden and gleam along the -pathway, and she continued her search by its light, without -ever sitting down to rest.</p> - -<p>On the tenth day, she chanced to espy the mouth of a -cavern, within which (though it was bright noon everywhere -else) there would have been only a dusky twilight; but it -so happened that a torch was burning there. It flickered, -and struggled with the duskiness, but could not half light -up the gloomy cavern with all its melancholy glimmer. -Ceres was resolved to leave no spot without a search; so she -peeped into the entrance of the cave, and lighted it up a -little more, by holding her own torch before her. In so -doing, she caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a woman, -sitting on the brown leaves of the last autumn, a great heap -of which had been swept into the cave by the wind. This -woman (if woman it were) was by no means so beautiful -as many of her sex; for her head, they tell me, was shaped -very much like a dog's, and, by way of ornament, she wore -a wreath of snakes around it. But Mother Ceres, the moment -she saw her, knew that this was an odd kind of a person, -who put all her enjoyment in being miserable, and never -would have a word to say to other people, unless they were -as melancholy and wretched as she herself delighted to be.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img18"></a><img src="images/img18.png" width="450" height="384" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">So she peeped into the entrance of the cave.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>"I am wretched enough now," thought poor Ceres, "to -talk with this melancholy Hecate, were she ten times sadder -than ever she was yet."</p> - -<p>So she stepped into the cave, and sat down on the withered -leaves by the dog-headed woman's side. In all the world, -since her daughter's loss, she had found no other companion.</p> - -<p>"O Hecate," said she, "if ever you lose a daughter, you -will know what sorrow is. Tell me, for pity's sake, have -you seen my poor child Proserpina pass by the mouth of -your cavern?"</p> - -<p>"No," answered Hecate, in a cracked voice, and sighing -betwixt every word or two; "no, Mother Ceres, I have seen -nothing of your daughter. But my ears, you must know, -are made in such a way, that all cries of distress and affright, -all over the world, are pretty sure to find their way to them; -and nine days ago, as I sat in my cave, making myself very -miserable, I heard the voice of a young girl, shrieking as if -in great distress. Something terrible has happened to the -child, you may rest assured. As well as I could judge, a -dragon, or some other cruel monster was carrying her -away."</p> - -<p>"You kill me by saying so," cried Ceres, almost ready -to faint. "Where was the sound, and which way did it seem -to go?"</p> - -<p>"It passed very swiftly along," said Hecate, "and, at the -same time, there was a heavy rumbling of wheels towards -the eastward. I can tell you nothing more, except that, in -my honest opinion, you will never see your daughter again. -The best advice I can give you is, to take up your abode -in this cavern, where we will be the two most wretched -women in the world."</p> - -<p>"Not yet, dark Hecate," replied Ceres. "But do you -first come with your torch, and help me to seek for my lost -child. And when there shall be no more hope of finding -her, (if that black day is ordained to come,) then, if you -will give me room to fling myself down, either on these -withered leaves or on the naked rock, I will show you what -it is to be miserable. But, until I know that she has perished -from the face of the earth, I will not allow myself space even -to grieve."</p> - -<p>The dismal Hecate did not much like the idea of going -abroad into the sunny world. But then she reflected that -the sorrow of the disconsolate Ceres would be like a gloomy -twilight round about them both, let the sun shine ever so -brightly, and that therefore she might enjoy her bad spirits -quite as well as if she were to stay in the cave. So she finally -consented to go, and they set out together, both carrying -torches, although it was broad daylight and clear sunshine. -The torchlight seemed to make a gloom; so that the people -whom they met, along the road, could not very distinctly -see their figures; and, indeed, if they once caught a glimpse -of Hecate, with the wreath of snakes round her forehead, -they generally thought it prudent to run away, without -waiting for a second glance.</p> - -<p>As the pair travelled along in this woe-begone manner, -a thought struck Ceres.</p> - -<p>"There is one person," she exclaimed, "who must have -seen my poor child, and can doubtless tell what has become -of her. Why did not I think of him before? It is Phœbus."</p> - -<p>"What," said Hecate, "the young man that always sits -in the sunshine? O, pray do not think of going near him. -He is a gay, light, frivolous young fellow, and will only -smile in your face. And besides, there is such a glare of -the sun about him, that he will quite blind my poor eyes, -which I have almost wept away already."</p> - -<p>"You have promised to be my companion," answered -Ceres. "Come, let us make haste, or the sunshine will be -gone, and Phœbus along with it."</p> - -<p>Accordingly they went along in quest of Phœbus, both -of them sighing grievously, and Hecate, to say the truth, -making a great deal worse lamentation than Ceres; for all -the pleasure she had, you know, lay in being miserable and -therefore she made the most of it. By and by, after a pretty -long journey, they arrived at the sunniest spot in the whole -world. There they beheld a beautiful young man, with -long, curling ringlets, which seemed to be made of golden -sunbeams; his garments were like light summer clouds; and -the expression of his face so exceedingly vivid, that Hecate -held her hands before her eyes, muttering that he ought to -wear a black veil. Phœbus (for this was the very person -whom they were seeking) had a lyre in his hands, and was -making its chords tremble with sweet music; at the same -time singing a most exquisite song, which he had recently -composed. For, besides a great many other accomplishments, -this young man was renowned for his admirable -poetry.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img19"></a><img src="images/img19.png" width="450" height="381" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">They arrived at the sunniest spot in the world.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>As Ceres and her dismal companion approached him, -Phœbus smiled on them so cheerfully that Hecate's wreath -of snakes gave a spiteful hiss, and Hecate heartily wished -herself back in her cave. But as for Ceres, she was too -earnest in her grief either to know or care whether Phœbus -smiled or frowned.</p> - -<p>"Phœbus!" exclaimed she, "I am in great trouble, and -have come to you for assistance. Can you tell me what has -become of my dear child Proserpina?"</p> - -<p>"Proserpina! Proserpina, did you call her name?" answered -Phœbus, endeavoring to recollect, for there was such -a continual flow of pleasant ideas in his mind that he was -apt to forget what had happened no longer than yesterday. -"Ah, yes, I remember her now. A very lovely child indeed. -I am happy to tell you, my dear madam, that I did see the -little Proserpina not many days ago. You may make yourself -perfectly easy about her. She is safe, and in excellent -hands."</p> - -<p>"O, where is my dear child?" cried Ceres, clasping her -hands and flinging herself at his feet.</p> - -<p>"Why," said Phœbus,—and as he spoke, he kept touching -his lyre so as to make a thread of music run in and out -among his words,—"as the little damsel was gathering -flowers, (and she has really a very exquisite taste for -flowers,) she was suddenly snatched up by King Pluto, and -carried off to his dominions. I have never been in that part -of the universe; but the royal palace, I am told, is built in -a very noble style of architecture, and of the most splendid -and costly materials. Gold, diamonds, pearls, and all manner -of precious stones, will be your daughter's ordinary -playthings. I recommend to you, my dear lady, to give -yourself no uneasiness. Proserpina's sense of beauty will -be duly gratified, and, even in spite of the lack of sunshine, -she will lead a very enviable life."</p> - -<p>"Hush! Say not such a word!" answered Ceres, indignantly. "What -is there to gratify her heart? What are -all the splendors you speak of, without affection? I must -have her back again. Will you go with me, Phœbus, to -demand my daughter of this wicked Pluto?"</p> - -<p>"Pray excuse me," replied Phœbus, with an elegant obeisance. "I -certainly wish you success, and regret that my -own affairs are so immediately pressing that I cannot have -the pleasure of attending you. Besides, I am not upon -the best of terms with King Pluto. To tell you the truth, -his three-headed mastiff would never let me pass the gateway; -for I should be compelled to take a sheaf of sunbeams -along with me, and those, you know, are forbidden things -in Pluto's kingdom."</p> - -<p>"Ah, Phœbus," said Ceres, with bitter meaning in her -words, "you have a harp instead of a heart. Farewell."</p> - -<p>"Will not you stay a moment," asked Phœbus, "and hear -me turn the pretty and touching story of Proserpina into -extemporary verses?"</p> - -<p>But Ceres shook her head, and hastened away, along with -Hecate. Phœbus (who, as I have told you, was an exquisite -poet) forthwith began to make an ode about the poor -mother's grief; and, if we were to judge of his sensibility -by this beautiful production, he must have been endowed -with a very tender heart. But when a poet gets into the -habit of using his heartstrings to make chords for his lyre, -he may thrum upon them as much as he will, without any -great pain to himself. Accordingly, though Phœbus sang -a very sad song, he was as merry all the while as were the -sunbeams amid which he dwelt.</p> - -<p>Poor Mother Ceres had now found out what had become -of her daughter, but was not a whit happier than before. -Her case, on the contrary, looked more desperate than ever. -As long as Proserpina was above ground, there might have -been hopes of regaining her. But now that the poor child -was shut up within the iron gates of the king of the mines, -at the threshold of which lay the three-headed Cerberus, -there seemed no possibility of her ever making her escape. -The dismal Hecate, who loved to take the darkest view of -things, told Ceres that she had better come with her to the -cavern, and spend the rest of her life in being miserable. -Ceres answered that Hecate was welcome to go back thither -herself, but that, for her part, she would wander about the -earth in quest of the entrance to King Pluto's dominions. -And Hecate took her at her word, and hurried back to her -beloved cave, frightening a great many little children with -a glimpse of her dog's face, as she went.</p> - -<p>Poor Mother Ceres! It is melancholy to think of her, -pursuing her toilsome way, all alone, and holding up that -never-dying torch, the flame of which seemed an emblem -of the grief and hope that burned together in her heart. So -much did she suffer, that, though her aspect had been quite -youthful when her troubles began, she grew to look like -an elderly person in a very brief time. She cared not how -she was dressed, nor had she ever thought of flinging away -the wreath of withered poppies, which she put on the very -morning of Proserpina's disappearance. She roamed about -in so wild a way, and with her hair so dishevelled, that people -took her for some distracted creature, and never dreamed -that this was Mother Ceres, who had the oversight of every -seed which the husbandman planted. Nowadays, however, -she gave herself no trouble about seed time nor harvest, but -left the farmers to take care of their own affairs, and the -crops to fade or flourish, as the case might be. There was -nothing, now, in which Ceres seemed to feel an interest, -unless when she saw children at play, or gathering flowers -along the wayside. Then, indeed, she would stand and -gaze at them with tears in her eyes. The children, too, -appeared to have a sympathy with her grief, and would -cluster themselves in a little group about her knees, and -look up wistfully in her face; and Ceres, after giving them -a kiss all round, would lead them to their homes, and advise -their mothers never to let them stray out of sight.</p> - -<p>"For if they do," said she, "it may happen to you, as it -has to me, that the iron-hearted King Pluto will take a liking -to your darlings, and snatch them up in his chariot, and -carry them away."</p> - -<p>One day, during her pilgrimage in quest of the entrance -to Pluto's kingdom, she came to the palace of King Celeus, -who reigned at Eleusis. Ascending a lofty flight of steps, -she entered the portal, and found the royal household in -very great alarm about the queen's baby. The infant, it -seems, was sickly, (being troubled with its teeth, I suppose,) -and would take no food, and was all the time moaning with -pain. The queen—her name was Metanira—was desirous -of finding a nurse; and when she beheld a woman of matronly -aspect coming up the steps, she thought in her own -mind, that here was the very person whom she needed. So -Queen Metanira ran to the door, with the poor wailing -baby in her arms, and besought Ceres to take charge of it, -or, at least, to tell her what would do it good.</p> - -<p>"Will you trust the child entirely to me?" asked -Ceres.</p> - -<p>"Yes, and gladly too," answered the queen, "if you will -devote all your time to him. For I can see that you have -been a mother."</p> - -<p>"You are right," said Ceres. "I once had a child of my -own. Well, I will be the nurse of this poor, sickly boy. -But beware, I warn you, that you do not interfere with any -kind of treatment which I may judge proper for him. If -you do so, the poor infant must suffer for his mother's -folly."</p> - -<p>Then she kissed the child, and it seemed to do him good, -for he smiled and nestled closely into her bosom.</p> - -<p>So Mother Ceres set her torch in a corner, (where it kept -burning all the while,) and took up her abode in the palace -of King Celeus, as nurse to the little Prince Demophoön. -She treated him as if he were her own child, and allowed -neither the king nor the queen to say whether he should -be bathed in warm or cold water, or what he should eat, -or how often he should take the air, or when he should be -put to bed. You would hardly believe me, if I were to tell -how quickly the baby prince got rid of his ailments, and -grew fat, and rosy, and strong, and how he had two rows -of ivory teeth in less time than any other little fellow, before -or since. Instead of the palest, and wretchedest, and puniest -imp in the world, (as his own mother confessed him to be, -when Ceres first took him in charge,) he was now a strapping -baby, crowing, laughing, kicking up his heels, and -rolling from one end of the room to the other. All the -good women of the neighborhood crowded to the palace, -and held up their hands, in unutterable amazement, at the -beauty and wholesomeness of this darling little prince. -Their wonder was the greater, because he was never seen -to taste any food; not even so much as a cup of milk.</p> - -<p>"Pray, nurse," the queen kept saying, "how it is that you -make the child thrive so?"</p> - -<p>"I was a mother once," Ceres always replied; "and having -nursed my own child, I know what other children need."</p> - -<p>But Queen Metanira, as was very natural, had a great -curiosity to know precisely what the nurse did to her child. -One night, therefore, she hid herself in the chamber where -Ceres and the little prince were accustomed to sleep. There -was a fire in the chimney, and it had now crumbled into -great coals and embers, which lay glowing on the hearth, -with a blaze flickering up now and then, and flinging a -warm and ruddy light upon the walls. Ceres sat before -the hearth with the child in her lap, and the fire-light making -her shadow dance upon the ceiling overhead. She undressed -the little prince, and bathed him all over with some -fragrant liquid out of a vase. The next thing that she did -was to rake back the red embers, and make a hollow place -among them, just where the backlog had been. At last, -while the baby was crowing, and clapping its fat little hands, -and laughing in the nurse's face, (just as you may have seen -your little brother or sister do before going into its warm -bath,) Ceres suddenly laid him, all naked as he was, in the -hollow among the red-hot embers. She then raked the -ashes over him, and turned quietly away.</p> - -<p>You may imagine, if you can, how Queen Metanira -shrieked, thinking nothing less than that her dear child -would be burned to a cinder. She burst forth from her -hiding-place, and running to the hearth, raked open the -fire, and snatched up poor little Prince Demophoön out of -his bed of live coals, one of which he was gripping in each -of his fists. He immediately set up a grievous cry, as babies -are apt to do, when rudely startled out of a sound sleep. -To the queen's astonishment and joy, she could perceive -no token of the child's being injured by the hot fire in which -he had lain. She now turned to Mother Ceres, and asked -her to explain the mystery.</p> - -<p>"Foolish woman," answered Ceres, "did you not promise -to intrust this poor infant entirely to me? You little know -the mischief you have done him. Had you left him to my -care, he would have grown up like a child of celestial birth, -endowed with superhuman strength and intelligence, and -would have lived forever. Do you imagine that earthly -children are to become immortal without being tempered -to it in the fiercest heat of the fire? But you have ruined -your own son. For though he will be a strong man and -a hero in his day, yet, on account of your folly, he will grow -old, and finally die, like the sons of other women. The -weak tenderness of his mother has cost the poor boy an immortality. -Farewell."</p> - -<p>Saying these words, she kissed the little Prince Demophoön, -and sighed to think what he had lost, and took her -departure without heeding Queen Metanira, who entreated -her to remain, and cover up the child among the hot embers -as often as she pleased. Poor baby! He never slept so -warmly again.</p> - -<p>While she dwelt in the king's palace, Mother Ceres had -been so continually occupied with taking care of the young -prince, that her heart was a little lightened of its grief for -Proserpina. But now, having nothing else to busy herself -about, she became just as wretched as before. At length, -in her despair, she came to the dreadful resolution that not -a stalk of grain, nor a blade of grass, nor a potato, nor a -turnip, nor any other vegetable that was good for man or -beast to eat, should be suffered to grow until her daughter -were restored. She even forbade the flowers to bloom, lest -somebody's heart should be cheered by their beauty.</p> - -<p>Now as not so much as a head of asparagus ever presumed -to poke itself out of the ground, without the especial permission -of Ceres, you may conceive what a terrible calamity -had here fallen upon the earth. The husbandmen ploughed -and planted as usual; but there lay the rich black furrows, -all as barren as a desert of sand. The pastures looked as -brown in the sweet month of June as ever they did in chill -November. The rich man's broad acres and the cottager's -small garden patch were equally blighted. Every little -girl's flower bed showed nothing but dry stalks. The old -people shook their white heads, and said that the earth had -grown aged like themselves, and was no longer capable of -wearing the warm smile of summer on its face. It was -really piteous to see the poor, starving cattle and sheep, how -they followed behind Ceres, lowing and bleating, as if their -instinct taught them to expect help from her; and everybody -that was acquainted with her power besought her to have -mercy on the human race, and, at all events, to let the grass -grow. But Mother Ceres, though naturally of an affectionate -disposition, was now inexorable.</p> - -<p>"Never," said she. "If the earth is ever again to see any -verdure it must first grow along the path which my -daughter will tread in coming back to me."</p> - -<p>Finally, as there seemed to be no other remedy, our old -friend Quicksilver was sent post haste to King Pluto, in -hopes that he might be persuaded to undo the mischief he -had done, and to set everything right again, by giving up -Proserpina. Quicksilver accordingly made the best of his -way to the great gate, took a flying leap right over the three-headed -mastiff, and stood at the door of the palace in an -inconceivably short time. The servants knew him both by -his face and garb; for his short cloak, and his winged cap -and shoes, and his snaky staff had often been seen thereabouts -in times gone by. He requested to be shown immediately -into the king's presence; and Pluto, who heard -his voice from the top of the stairs, and who loved to recreate -himself with Quicksilver's merry talk, called out to him -to come up. And while they settle their business together, -we must inquire what Proserpina has been doing ever since -we saw her last.</p> - -<p>The child had declared as you may remember, that she -would not taste a mouthful of food as long as she should be -compelled to remain in King Pluto's palace. How she contrived -to maintain her resolution, and at the same time to -keep herself tolerably plump and rosy, is more than I can -explain; but some young ladies, I am given to understand, -possess the faculty of living on air, and Proserpina seems to -have possessed it too. At any rate, it was now six months -since she left the outside earth; and not a morsel, so far as -the attendants were able to testify, had yet passed between -her teeth. This was the more creditable to Proserpina -inasmuch as King Pluto had caused her to be tempted day -after day, with all manner of sweetmeats, and richly-preserved -fruits, and delicacies of every sort, such as young -people are generally most fond of. But her good mother -had often told her of the hurtfulness of these things; and -for that reason alone, if there had been no other, she would -have resolutely refused to taste them.</p> - -<p>All this time, being of a cheerful and active disposition, -the little damsel was not quite so unhappy as you may have -supposed. The immense palace had a thousand rooms, and -was full of beautiful and wonderful objects. There was a -never-ceasing gloom, it is true, which had hid itself among -the innumerable pillars, gliding before the child as she -wandered among them, and treading stealthily behind her -in the echo of her footsteps. Neither was all the dazzle -of the precious stones, which flamed with their own light, -worth one gleam of natural sunshine; nor could the most -brilliant of the many-colored gems, which Proserpina had -for playthings, vie with the simple beauty of the flowers -she used to gather. But still, wherever the girl went, -among those gilded halls and chambers, it seemed as if she -carried nature and sunshine along with her and as if she -scattered dewy blossoms on her right hand and on her left. -After Proserpina came, the palace was no longer the same -abode of stately artifice and dismal magnificence that it had -before been. The inhabitants all felt this, and King Pluto -more than any of them.</p> - -<p>"My own little Proserpina," he used to say, "I wish you -could like me a little better. We gloomy and cloudy-natured -persons have often as warm hearts, at bottom, as -those of a more cheerful character. If you would only stay -with me of your own accord, it would make me happier -than the possession of a hundred such palaces as this."</p> - -<p>"Ah," said Proserpina, "you should have tried to make -me like you before carrying me off. And the best thing -you can now do is, to let me go again. Then I might remember -you sometimes, and think that you were as kind as -you knew how to be. Perhaps, too, one day or other, I -might come back, and pay you a visit."</p> - -<p>"No, no," answered Pluto, with his gloomy smile, "I will -not trust you for that. You are too fond of living in the -broad daylight, and gathering flowers. What an idle and -childish taste that is! Are not these gems, which I have -ordered to be dug for you, and which are richer than any -in my crown—are they not prettier than a violet?"</p> - -<p>"Not half so pretty," said Proserpina, snatching the -gems from Pluto's hand, and flinging them to the other end -of the hall. "O my sweet violets, shall I never see you -again?"</p> - -<p>And then she burst into tears. But young people's tears -have very little saltness or acidity in them, and do not inflame -the eyes so much as those of grown persons; so that it -is not to be wondered at, if, a few moments afterwards, -Proserpina was sporting through the hall almost as merrily -as she and the four sea nymphs had sported along the edge of -the surf wave. King Pluto gazed after her, and wished -that he too, was a child. And little Proserpina, when she -turned about, and beheld this great king standing in his -splendid hall, and looking so grand, and so melancholy, and -so lonesome, was smitten with a kind of pity. She ran back -to him, and, for the first time in all her life, put her small, -soft hand in his.</p> - -<p>"I love you a little," whispered she, looking up in his -face.</p> - -<p>"Do you, indeed, my dear child?" cried Pluto bending -his dark face down to kiss her; but Proserpina shrank away -from the kiss, for though his features were noble, they were -very dusky and grim. "Well, I have not deserved it of you, -after keeping you a prisoner for so many months, and starving -you, besides. Are you not terribly hungry? Is there -nothing which I can get you to eat?"</p> - -<p>In asking this question, the king of the mines had a very -cunning purpose; for, you will recollect, if Proserpina -tasted a morsel of food in his dominions, she would never -afterwards be at liberty to quit them.</p> - -<p>"No indeed," said Proserpina. "Your head cook is always -baking, and stewing, and roasting, and rolling out -paste, and contriving one dish or another, which he -imagines may be to my liking. But he might just as well -save himself the trouble, poor, fat little man that he is. I -have no appetite for anything in the world, unless it were -a slice of bread, of my mother's own baking, or a little fruit -out of her garden."</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl08"></a><img src="images/pl08.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">"I SHALL NOT TOUCH IT I ASSURE YOU", SAID SHE</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>When Pluto heard this, he began to see that he had mistaken -the best method of tempting Proserpina to eat. The -cook's made dishes and artificial dainties were not half so -delicious, in the good child's opinion, as the simple fare to -which Mother Ceres had accustomed her. Wondering -that he had never thought of it before, the king now sent one -of his trusty attendants, with a large basket, to get some of -the finest and juiciest pears, peaches, and plums which -could anywhere be found in the upper world. Unfortunately, -however, this was during the time when Ceres had -forbidden any fruits or vegetables to grow; and, after seeking -all over the earth, King Pluto's servant found only a -single pomegranate, and that so dried up as to be not worth -eating. Nevertheless, since there was no better to be had, -he brought this dry, old, withered pomegranate home to the -palace, put it on a magnificent golden salver, and carried it -up to Proserpina. Now, it happened, curiously enough, -that, just as the servant was bringing the pomegranate into -the back door of the palace our friend Quicksilver had gone -up the front steps, on his errand to get Proserpina away -from King Pluto.</p> - -<p>As soon as Proserpina saw the pomegranate on the golden -salver, she told the servant he had better take it away again.</p> - -<p>"I shall not touch it, I assure you," said she. "If I were -ever so hungry, I should never think of eating such a miserable, -dry pomegranate as that."</p> - -<p>"It is the only one in the world," said the servant.</p> - -<p>He set down the golden salver, with the wizened pomegranate -upon it, and left the room. When he was gone, -Proserpina could not help coming close to the table, and -looking at this poor specimen of dried fruit with a great -deal of eagerness; for, to say the truth, on seeing something -that suited her taste, she felt all the six months' appetite taking -possession of her at once. To be sure, it was a very -wretched-looking pomegranate, and seemed to have no -more juice in it than an oyster shell. But there was no -choice of such things in King Pluto's palace. This was the -first fruit she had seen there, and the last she was ever likely -to see; and unless she ate it up immediately, it would grow -drier than it already was, and be wholly unfit to eat.</p> - -<p>"At least, I may smell it," thought Proserpina.</p> - -<p>So she took up the pomegranate, and applied it to her -nose; and somehow or other, being in such close neighborhood -to her mouth, the fruit found its way into that little red -cave. Dear me! what an everlasting pity! Before Proserpina -knew what she was about, her teeth had actually bitten -it, of their own accord. Just as this fatal deed was done, the -door of the apartment opened, and in came King Pluto, -followed by Quicksilver, who had been urging him to let -his little prisoner go. At the first noise of their entrance, -Proserpina withdrew the pomegranate from her mouth. -But Quicksilver (whose eyes were very keen, and his wits -the sharpest that ever anybody had) perceived that the child -was a little confused; and seeing the empty salver, he suspected -that she had been taking a sly nibble of something or -other. As for honest Pluto, he never guessed at the secret.</p> - -<p>"My little Proserpina," said the king, sitting down, and -affectionately drawing her between his knees, "here is -Quicksilver, who tells me that a great many misfortunes -have befallen innocent people on account of my detaining -you in my dominions. To confess the truth, I myself had -already reflected that it was an unjustifiable act to take you -away from your good mother. But, then, you must consider, -my dear child, that this vast palace is apt to be gloomy, -(although the precious stones certainly shine very bright,) -and that I am not of the most cheerful disposition, and that -therefore it was a natural thing enough to seek for the -society of some merrier creature than myself. I hoped you -would take my crown for a plaything, and me—ah, you -laugh, naughty Proserpina—me, grim as I am, for a playmate. -It was a silly expectation."</p> - -<p>"Not so extremely silly," whispered Proserpina. "You -have really amused me very much sometimes."</p> - -<p>"Thank you," said King Pluto, rather dryly. "But I can -see, plainly enough, that you think my palace a dusky -prison, and me the iron-hearted keeper of it. And an iron -heart I should surely have, if I could detain you here any -longer, my poor child, when it is now six months since you -tasted food. I give you your liberty. Go with Quicksilver. -Hasten home to your dear mother."</p> - -<p>Now, although you may not have supposed it, Proserpina -found it impossible to take leave of poor King Pluto -without some regrets, and a good deal of compunction for -not telling him about the pomegranate. She even shed a -tear or two, thinking how lonely and cheerless the great -palace would seem to him, with all its ugly glare of artificial -light, after she herself—his one little ray of natural -sunshine, whom he had stolen, to be sure, but only because -he valued her so much—after she should have departed. I -know not how many kind things she might have said to -the disconsolate king of the mines, had not Quicksilver -hurried her away.</p> - -<p>"Come along quickly," whispered he in her ear, "or his -majesty may change his royal mind. And take care, above -all things, that you say nothing of what was brought you -on the golden salver."</p> - -<p>In a very short time, they had passed the great gateway, -(leaving the three-headed Cerberus, barking, and yelping, -and growling, with threefold din, behind them,) and -emerged upon the surface of the earth. It was delightful -to behold, as Proserpina hastened along, how the path grew -verdant behind and on either side of her. Wherever she -set her blessed foot, there was at once a dewy flower. The -violets gushed up along the wayside. The grass and the -grain began to sprout with tenfold vigor and luxuriance, -to make up for the dreary months that had been wasted in -barrenness. The starved cattle immediately set to work -grazing, after their long fast, and ate enormously, all day, -and got up at midnight to eat more. But I can assure you -it was a busy time of year with the farmers, when they found -the summer coming upon them with such a rush. Nor -must I forget to say, that all the birds in the whole world -hopped about upon the newly-blossoming trees, and sang -together, in a prodigious ecstasy of joy.</p> - -<p>Mother Ceres had returned to her deserted home, and -was sitting disconsolately on the doorstep, with her torch -burning in her hand. She had been idly watching the flame -for some moments past, when, all at once, it flickered and -went out.</p> - -<p>"What does this mean?" thought she. "It was an enchanted -torch and should have kept burning till my child -came back."</p> - -<p>Lifting her eyes she was surprised to see a sudden verdure -flashing over the brown and barren fields, exactly as -you may have observed a golden hue gleaming far and wide -across the landscape, from the just risen sun.</p> - -<p>"Does the earth disobey me?" exclaimed Mother Ceres, -indignantly. "Does it presume to be green, when I have -bidden it be barren, until my daughter shall be restored to -my arms?"</p> - -<p>"Then open your arms, dear mother," cried a well-known -voice, "and take your little daughter into them."</p> - -<p>And Proserpina came running, and flung herself upon -her mother's bosom. Their mutual transport is not to be -described. The grief of their separation had caused both -of them to shed a great many tears; and now they shed a -great many more, because their joy could not so well express -itself in any other way.</p> - -<p>When their hearts had grown a little more quiet, Mother -Ceres looked anxiously at Proserpina.</p> - -<p>"My child," said she, "did you taste any food while you -were in King Pluto's palace?"</p> - -<p>"Dearest mother," answered Proserpina, "I will tell you -the whole truth. Until this very morning, not a morsel of -food had passed my lips. But to-day, they brought me a -pomegranate, (a very dry one it was, and all shrivelled up, -till there was little left of it but seeds and skin,) and having -seen no fruit for so long a time, and being faint with hunger, -I was tempted just to bite it. The instant I tasted it, King -Pluto and Quicksilver came into the room. I had not swallowed -a morsel; but—dear mother, I hope it was no harm—but -six of the pomegranate seeds, I am afraid, remained in -my mouth."</p> - -<p>"Ah, unfortunate child, and miserable me!" exclaimed -Ceres. "For each of those six pomegranate seeds you must -spend one month of every year in King Pluto's palace. You -are but half restored to your mother. Only six months with -me, and six with that good-for-nothing King of Darkness!"</p> - -<p>"Do not speak so harshly of poor King Pluto," said -Proserpina, kissing her mother. "He has some very good -qualities; and I really think I can bear to spend six months -in his palace, if he will only let me spend the other six with -you. He certainly did very wrong to carry me off; but -then, as he says, it was but a dismal sort of life for him, to -live in that great gloomy place, all alone; and it has made a -wonderful change in his spirits to have a little girl to run up -stairs and down. There is some comfort in making him -so happy; and so, upon the whole, dearest mother, let us -be thankful that he is not to keep me the whole year round."</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/img20.png" width="150" height="145" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a id="THE_GOLDEN_FLEECE"></a>THE GOLDEN FLEECE</h2> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<img src="images/img21.png" width="450" height="174" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="p2">When Jason, the son of the dethroned King of -Iolchos, was a little boy, he was sent away from -his parents, and placed under the queerest -schoolmaster that ever you heard of. This learned person -was one of the people, or quadrupeds, called Centaurs. He -lived in a cavern, and had the body and legs of a white -horse, with the head and shoulders of a man. His name -was Chiron; and, in spite of his odd appearance, he was -a very excellent teacher, and had several scholars, who afterwards -did him credit by making a great figure in the world. -The famous Hercules was one, and so was Achilles, and -Philoctetes, likewise, and Æsculapius, who acquired immense -repute as a doctor. The good Chiron taught his -pupils how to play upon the harp, and how to cure diseases, -and how to use the sword and shield, together with various -other branches of education, in which the lads of those days -used to be instructed, instead of writing and arithmetic.</p> - -<p>I have sometimes suspected that Master Chiron was not -really very different from other people, but that, being a -kind-hearted and merry old fellow, he was in the habit of -making believe that he was a horse, and scrambling about -the school room on all fours, and letting the little boys ride -upon his back. And so, when his scholars had grown up, -and grown old, and were trotting their grandchildren on -their knees, they told them about the sports of their school -days; and these young folks took the idea that their grandfathers -had been taught their letters by a Centaur, half man -and half horse. Little children, not quite understanding -what is said to them, often get such absurd notions into their -heads, you know.</p> - -<p>Be that as it may, it has always been told for a fact, (and -always will be told, as long as the world lasts,) that Chiron, -with the head of a schoolmaster, had the body and legs of -a horse. Just imagine the grave old gentleman clattering -and stamping into the school room on his four hoofs, perhaps -treading on some little fellow's toes, flourishing his -switch tail instead of a rod, and, now and then, trotting -out of doors to eat a mouthful of grass! I wonder what -the blacksmith charged him for a set of iron shoes.</p> - -<p>So Jason dwelt in the cave, with this four-footed Chiron, -from the time that he was an infant, only a few months old, -until he had grown to the full height of a man. He became -a very good harper, I suppose, and skilful in the use -of weapons, and tolerably acquainted with herbs and other -doctor's stuff, and, above all, an admirable horseman; for, -in teaching young people to ride, the good Chiron must -have been without a rival among schoolmasters. At length, -being now a tall and athletic youth, Jason resolved to seek -his fortune in the world, without asking Chiron's advice, -or telling him anything about the matter. This was very -unwise, to be sure; and I hope none of you, my little hearers, -will ever follow Jason's example. But, you are to understand, -he had heard how that he himself was a prince royal, -and how his father, King Æson, had been deprived of the -kingdom of Iolchos by a certain Pelias, who would also -have killed Jason, had he not been hidden in the Centaur's -cave. And, being come to the strength of a man, Jason -determined to set all this business to rights, and to punish -the wicked Pelias for wronging his dear father, and to cast -him down from the throne, and seat himself there instead.</p> - -<p>With this intention, he took a spear in each hand, and -threw a leopard's skin over his shoulders, to keep off the -rain, and set forth on his travels, with his long yellow ringlets -waving in the wind. The part of his dress on which -he most prided himself was a pair of sandals, that had been -his father's. They were handsomely embroidered, and -were tied upon his feet with strings of gold. But his whole -attire was such as people did not very often see; and as he -passed along, the women and children ran to the doors and -windows, wondering whither this beautiful youth was journeying, -with his leopard's skin and his golden-tied sandals, -and what heroic deeds he meant to perform, with a spear -in his right hand and another in his left.</p> - -<p>I know not how far Jason had travelled when he came -to a turbulent river, which rushed right across his pathway, -with specks of white foam among its black eddies, hurrying -tumultuously onward, and roaring angrily as it went. -Though not a very broad river in the dry seasons of the year, -it was now swollen by heavy rains and by the melting of -the snow on the sides of Mount Olympus; and it thundered -so loudly, and looked so wild and dangerous, that Jason, -bold as he was, thought it prudent to pause upon the brink. -The bed of the stream seemed to be strewn with sharp and -rugged rocks, some of which thrust themselves above the -water. By and by, an uprooted tree, with shattered -branches, came drifting along the current, and got entangled -among the rocks. Now and then, a drowned sheep, and -once the carcass of a cow, floated past.</p> - -<p>In short the swollen river had already done a great deal -of mischief. It was evidently too deep for Jason to wade, -and too boisterous for him to swim; he could see no bridge; -and as for a boat, had there been any, the rocks would have -broken it to pieces in an instant.</p> - -<p>"See the poor lad," said a cracked voice close to his side. -"He must have had but a poor education, since he does -not know how to cross a little stream like this. Or is he -afraid of wetting his fine golden-stringed sandals? It is -a pity his four-footed schoolmaster is not here to carry him -safely across on his back!"</p> - -<p>Jason looked round greatly surprised, for he did not know -that anybody was near. But beside him stood an old -woman, with a ragged mantle over her head, leaning on -a staff, the top of which was carved into the shape of a -cuckoo. She looked very aged, and wrinkled, and infirm; -and yet her eyes, which were as brown as those of an ox, -were so extremely large and beautiful, that, when they were -fixed on Jason's eyes, he could see nothing else but them. -The old woman had a pomegranate in her hand, although -the fruit was then quite out of season.</p> - -<p>"Whither are you going, Jason?" she now asked.</p> - -<p>She seemed to know his name, you will observe; and -indeed, those great brown eyes looked as if they had a knowledge -of everything, whether past or to come. While Jason -was gazing at her, a peacock strutted forward, and took his -stand at the old woman's side.</p> - -<p>"I am going to Iolchos," answered the young man, "to -bid the wicked King Pelias come down from my father's -throne, and let me reign in his stead."</p> - -<p>"Ah, well, then," said the old woman, still with the same -cracked voice, "if that is all your business, you need not be -in a very great hurry. Just take me on your back, there's -a good youth, and carry me across the river. I and my -peacock have something to do on the other side, as well as -yourself."</p> - -<p>"Good mother," replied Jason, "your business can hardly -be so important as the pulling down a king from his throne. -Besides, as you may see for yourself, the river is very boisterous; -and if I should chance to stumble, it would sweep -both of us away more easily than it has carried off yonder -uprooted tree. I would gladly help you if I could; but I -doubt whether I am strong enough to carry you across."</p> - -<p>"Then," said she, very scornfully, "neither are you strong -enough to pull King Pelias off his throne. And, Jason, -unless you will help an old woman at her need, you ought -not to be a king. What are kings made for, save to succor -the feeble and distressed? But do as you please. Either -take me on your back, or with my poor old limbs I shall -try my best to struggle across the stream."</p> - -<p>Saying this, the old woman poked with her staff in the -river, as if to find the safest place in its rocky bed where -she might make the first step. But Jason, by this time, had -grown ashamed of his reluctance to help her. He felt that -he could never forgive himself, if this poor feeble creature -should come to any harm in attempting to wrestle against -the headlong current. The good Chiron, whether half -horse or no, had taught him that the noblest use of his -strength was to assist the weak; and also that he must treat -every young woman as if she were his sister, and every old -one like a mother. Remembering these maxims, the vigorous -and beautiful young man knelt down, and requested -the good dame to mount upon his back.</p> - -<p>"The passage seems to me not very safe," he remarked. -"But as your business is so urgent, I will try to carry you -across. If the river sweeps you away, it shall take me too."</p> - -<p>"That, no doubt, will be a great comfort to both of us," -quoth the old woman. "But never fear. We shall get -safely across."</p> - -<p>So she threw her arms around Jason's neck; and lifting -her from the ground, he stepped boldly into the raging and -foamy current, and began to stagger away from the -shore. As for the peacock, it alighted on the old dame's -shoulder. Jason's two spears, one in each hand, kept him -from stumbling, and enabled him to feel his way among -the hidden rocks; although, every instant, he expected that -his companion and himself would go down the stream, together -with the driftwood of shattered trees, and the carcasses -of the sheep and cow. Down came the cold, snowy -torrent from the steep side of Olympus, raging and thundering -as if it had a real spite against Jason, or, at all events, -were determined to snatch off his living burden from his -shoulders. When he was half way across, the uprooted -tree (which I have already told you about) broke loose from -among the rocks, and bore down upon him, with all its -splintered branches sticking out like the hundred arms of -the giant Briareus. It rushed past, however, without touching -him. But the next moment, his foot was caught in -a crevice between two rocks, and stuck there so fast, that, -in the effort to get free he lost one of his golden-stringed -sandals.</p> - -<p>At this accident Jason could not help uttering a cry of -vexation.</p> - -<p>"What is the matter, Jason?" asked the old woman.</p> - -<p>"Matter enough," said the young man. "I have lost a -sandal here among the rocks. And what sort of a figure -shall I cut, at the court of King Pelias, with a golden-stringed -sandal on one foot, and the other foot bare!"</p> - -<p>"Do not take it to heart," answered his companion -cheerily. "You never met with better fortune than in losing -that sandal. It satisfies me that you are the very person -whom the Speaking Oak has been talking about."</p> - -<p>There was no time, just then, to inquire what the Speaking -Oak had said. But the briskness of her tone encouraged -the young man; and besides, he had never in his life felt -so vigorous and mighty as since taking this old woman on -his back. Instead of being exhausted, he gathered strength -as he went on; and, struggling up against the torrent, he -at last gained the opposite shore, clambered up the bank, -and set down the old dame and her peacock safely on the -grass. As soon as this was done, however, he could not -help looking rather despondently at his bare foot, with only -a remnant of the golden string of the sandal clinging round -his ankle.</p> - -<p>"You will get a handsomer pair of sandals by and by," -said the old woman, with a kindly look out of her beautiful -brown eyes. "Only let King Pelias get a glimpse of that -bare foot, and you shall see him turn as pale as ashes, I -promise you. There is your path. Go along, my good -Jason, and my blessing go with you. And when you sit -on your throne, remember the old woman whom you helped -over the river."</p> - -<p>With these words, she hobbled away, giving him a smile -over her shoulders as she departed. Whether the light of -her beautiful brown eyes threw a glory round about her, -or whatever the cause might be, Jason fancied that there -was something very noble and majestic in her figure, after -all, and that, though her gait seemed to be a rheumatic hobble, -yet she moved with as much grace and dignity as any -queen on earth. Her peacock, which had now fluttered -down from her shoulder, strutted behind her in prodigious -pomp, and spread out its magnificent tail on purpose for -Jason to admire it.</p> - -<p>When the old dame and her peacock were out of sight, -Jason set forward on his journey. After travelling a pretty -long distance, he came to a town situated at the foot of -a mountain, and not a great way from the shore of the sea. -On the outside of the town there was an immense crowd -of people, not only men and women, but children too, all -in their best clothes, and evidently enjoying a holiday. The -crowd was thickest towards the sea shore; and in that direction, -over the people's heads, Jason saw a wreath of smoke -curling upward to the blue sky. He inquired of one of -the multitude what town it was, near by, and why so many -persons were here assembled together.</p> - -<p>"This is the kingdom of Iolchos," answered the man, -"and we are the subjects of King Pelias. Our monarch -has summoned us together, that we may see him sacrifice -a black bull to Neptune, who, they say, is his majesty's -father. Yonder is the king, where you see the smoke going -up from the altar."</p> - -<p>While the man spoke he eyed Jason with great curiosity; -for his garb was quite unlike that of the Iolchians, and it -looked very odd to see a youth with a leopard's skin -over his shoulders, and each hand grasping a spear. Jason -perceived, too, that the man stared particularly at his feet, -one of which, you remember, was bare, while the other -was decorated with his father's golden-stringed sandal.</p> - -<p>"Look at him! only look at him!" said the man to his -next neighbor. "Do you see? He wears but one sandal!"</p> - -<p>Upon this, first one person, and then another, began to -stare at Jason, and everybody seemed to be greatly struck -with something in his aspect; though they turned their eyes -much oftener towards his feet than to any other part of his -figure. Besides, he could hear them whispering to one -another.</p> - -<p>"One sandal! One sandal!" they kept saying. "The -man with one sandal! Here he is at last! Whence has he -come? What does he mean to do? What will the king -say to the one-sandalled man?"</p> - -<p>Poor Jason was greatly abashed, and made up his mind -that the people of Iolchos were exceedingly ill bred, to take -such public notice of an accidental deficiency in his dress. -Meanwhile, whether it were that they hustled him forward, -or that Jason, of his own accord, thrust a passage through -the crowd, it so happened that he soon found himself close -to the smoking altar where King Pelias was sacrificing the -black bull. The murmur and hum of the multitude, in -their surprise at the spectacle of Jason with his one bare -foot, grew so loud that it disturbed the ceremonies; and the -king, holding the great knife with which he was just going -to cut the bull's throat, turned angrily about, and fixed his -eyes on Jason. The people had now withdrawn from -around him, so that the youth stood in an open space, near -the smoking altar, front to front with the angry King Pelias.</p> - -<p>"Who are you?" cried the king, with a terrible frown. -"And how dare you make this disturbance, while I am sacrificing -a black bull to my father Neptune?"</p> - -<p>"It is no fault of mine," answered Jason. "Your majesty -must blame the rudeness of your subjects, who have -raised all this tumult because one of my feet happens to be -bare."</p> - -<p>When Jason said this, the king gave a quick, startled -glance down at his feet.</p> - -<p>"Ha!" muttered he, "here is the one-sandalled fellow, sure -enough! What can I do with him?"</p> - -<p>And he clutched more closely the great knife in his hand, -as if he were half a mind to slay Jason, instead of the black -bull. The people round about caught up the king's words, -indistinctly as they were uttered; and first there was a murmur -among them, and then a loud shout.</p> - -<p>"The one-sandalled man has come! The prophecy must -be fulfilled!"</p> - -<p>For you are to know, that, many years before, King Pelias -had been told by the Speaking Oak of Dodona, that a man -with one sandal should cast him down from his throne. On -this account, he had given strict orders that nobody should -ever come into his presence, unless both sandals were -securely tied upon his feet; and he kept an officer in his -palace, whose sole business it was to examine people's sandals, -and to supply them with a new pair, at the expense -of the royal treasury, as soon as the old ones began to wear -out. In the whole course of the king's reign, he had never -been thrown into such a fright and agitation as by the spectacle -of poor Jason's bare foot. But, as he was naturally a -bold and hard-hearted man, he soon took courage, and began -to consider in what way he might rid himself of this terrible -one-sandalled stranger.</p> - -<p>"My good young man," said King Pelias, taking the -softest tone imaginable, in order to throw Jason off his -guard, "you are excessively welcome to my kingdom. -Judging by your dress, you must have travelled a long distance; -for it is not the fashion to wear leopard skins in this -part of the world. Pray what may I call your name, and -where did you receive your education?"</p> - -<p>"My name is Jason," answered the young stranger. -"Ever since my infancy, I have dwelt in the cave of Chiron -the Centaur. He was my instructor, and taught me music, -and horsemanship, and how to cure wounds, and likewise -how to inflict wounds with my weapons."</p> - -<p>"I have heard of Chiron the schoolmaster," replied King -Pelias, "and how that there is an immense deal of learning -and wisdom in his head, although it happens to be set on -a horse's body. It gives me great delight to see one of his -scholars at my court. But, to test how much you have -profited under so excellent a teacher, will you allow me to -ask you a single question?"</p> - -<p>"I do not pretend to be very wise," said Jason. "But -ask me what you please, and I will answer to the best of -my ability."</p> - -<p>Now King Pelias meant cunningly to entrap the young -man, and to make him say something that should be the -cause of mischief and destruction to himself. So, with a -crafty and evil smile upon his face, he spoke as follows:—</p> - -<p>"What would you do, brave Jason," asked he, "if there -were a man in the world, by whom, as you had reason to -believe, you were doomed to be ruined and slain—what -would you do, I say, if that man stood before you, and in -your power?"</p> - -<p>When Jason saw the malice and wickedness which King -Pelias could not prevent from gleaming out of his eyes, -he probably guessed that the king had discovered what he -came for, and that he intended to turn his own words against -himself. Still he scorned to tell a falsehood. Like an upright -and honorable prince, as he was, he determined to -speak out the real truth. Since the king had chosen to ask -him the question, and since Jason had promised him an -answer, there was no right way, save to tell him precisely -what would be the most prudent thing to do, if he had his -worst enemy in his power.</p> - -<p>Therefore, after a moment's consideration, he spoke up, -with a firm and manly voice.</p> - -<p>"I would send such a man," said he, "in quest of the -Golden Fleece!"</p> - -<p>This enterprise, you will understand, was, of all others, -the most difficult and dangerous in the world. In the first -place, it would be necessary to make a long voyage through -unknown seas. There was hardly a hope, or a possibility, -that any young man who should undertake this voyage -would either succeed in obtaining the Golden Fleece, or -would survive to return home, and tell of the perils he had -run. The eyes of King Pelias sparkled with joy, therefore, -when he heard Jason's reply.</p> - -<p>"Well said, wise man with the one sandal!" cried he. -"Go, then, and at the peril of your life, bring me back the -Golden Fleece."</p> - -<p>"I go," answered Jason, composedly. "If I fail, you need -not fear that I will ever come back to trouble you again. -But if I return to Iolchos with the prize, then, King Pelias, -you must hasten down from your lofty throne, and give me -your crown and scepter."</p> - -<p>"That I will," said the king, with a sneer. "Meantime, I -will keep them very safely for you."</p> - -<p>The first thing that Jason thought of doing, after he left -the king's presence, was to go to Dodona, and inquire of the -Talking Oak what course it was best to pursue. This -wonderful tree stood in the center of an ancient wood. Its -stately trunk rose up a hundred feet into the air, and threw a -broad and dense shadow over more than an acre of ground. -Standing beneath it, Jason looked up among the knotted -branches and green leaves, and into the mysterious heart of -the old tree, and spoke aloud, as if he were addressing some -person who was hidden in the depths of the foliage.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img22"></a><img src="images/img22.png" width="450" height="383" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">"What shall I do?" said he.</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>"What shall I do," said he, "in order to win the Golden -Fleece?"</p> - -<p>At first there was a deep silence, not only within the -shadow of the Talking Oak, but all through the solitary -wood. In a moment or two, however, the leaves of the oak -began to stir and rustle, as if a gentle breeze were wandering -amongst them, although the other trees of the wood were -perfectly still. The sound grew louder, and became like the -roar of a high wind. By and by, Jason imagined that he -could distinguish words, but very confusedly, because each -separate leaf of the tree seemed to be a tongue, and the whole -myriad of tongues were babbling at once. But the noise -waxed broader and deeper, until it resembled a tornado -sweeping through the oak, and making one great utterance -out of the thousand and thousand of little murmurs which -each leafy tongue had caused by its rustling. And now, -though it still had the tone of a mighty wind roaring among -the branches, it was also like a deep bass voice, speaking, as -distinctly as a tree could be expected to speak, the following -words:—</p> - -<p>"Go to Argus, the ship builder, and bid him build a galley -with fifty oars."</p> - -<p>Then the voice melted again into the indistinct murmur of -the rustling leaves, and died gradually away. When it was -quite gone, Jason felt inclined to doubt whether he had actually -heard the words, or whether his fancy had not shaped -them out of the ordinary sound made by a breeze, while passing -through the thick foliage of the tree.</p> - -<p>But on inquiry among the people of Iolchos, he found -that there was really a man in the city, by the name of Argus, -who was a very skilful builder of vessels. This showed some -intelligence in the oak; else how should it have known that -any such person existed? At Jason's request, Argus readily -consented to build him a galley so big that it should require -fifty strong men to row it; although no vessel of such a size -and burden had heretofore been seen in the world. So the -head carpenter, and all his journeymen and apprentices, -began their work and for a good while afterwards, there they -were, busily employed, hewing out the timbers, and making -a great clatter with their hammers; until the new ship, which -was called the <i>Argo</i>, seemed to be quite ready for the sea. -And, as the Talking Oak had already given him such good -advice, Jason thought that it would not be amiss to ask for -a little more. He visited it again, therefore, and standing -beside its huge, rough trunk, inquired what he should do -next.</p> - -<p>This time, there was no such universal quivering of the -leaves, throughout the whole tree, as there had been before. -But after a while, Jason observed that the foliage of a great -branch which stretched above his head had begun to rustle, -as if the wind were stirring that one bough, while all the -other boughs of the oak were at rest.</p> - -<p>"Cut me off!" said the branch, as soon as it could speak -distinctly; "cut me off! cut me off! and carve me into a -figure head for your galley."</p> - -<p>Accordingly, Jason took the branch at its word, and lopped -it off the tree. A carver in the neighborhood engaged to -make the figure head. He was a tolerably good workman, -and had already carved several figure heads, in what he intended -for feminine shapes, and looking pretty much like -those which we see nowadays stuck up under a vessel's -bowsprit, with great staring eyes, that never wink at the -dash of the spray. But (what was very strange) the carver -found that his hand was guided by some unseen power, -and by a skill beyond his own, and that his tools shaped -out an image which he had never dreamed of. When the -work was finished, it turned out to be the figure of a beautiful -woman, with a helmet on her head, from beneath which -the long ringlets fell down upon her shoulders. On the -left arm was a shield, and in its center appeared a lifelike -representation of the head of Medusa with the snaky locks. -The right arm 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.</p> - -<p>Jason was delighted with the oaken image, and gave the -carver no rest until it was completed, and set up where -a figure head has always stood, from that time to this, in -the vessel's prow.</p> - -<p>"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."</p> - -<p>"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."</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>"Tell me, wonderous 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."</p> - -<p>"Go," replied the oaken image, "go, summon all the -heroes of Greece."</p> - -<p>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 messages to all the cities, and making known -to the whole people of Greece, that Prince Jason, the son -of King Æson, 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.</p> - -<p>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 fortune, thought it -a shame to have lived so long without getting astride of a -flying serpent, or sticking their spears into a Chimæra, 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.</p> - -<p>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 held up 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.</p> - -<p>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 their cheeks, and blow almost as fresh a -breeze as their father. I ought not to forget the prophets -and conjurers, 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.</p> - -<p>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 lookout -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 sand -were at the bottom of it; and he often cried out to his companions, -that they were sailing over heaps of sunken treasure, -which he was none the richer for beholding. To confess the -truth, few people believed him when he said it.</p> - -<p>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 <i>Argo</i> 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 -Golden Fleece.</p> - -<p>All at once, Jason bethought himself of the galley's -miraculous figure head.</p> - -<p>"O, daughter of the Talking Oak," cried he, "how shall -we set to work to get our vessel into the water?"</p> - -<p>"Seat yourselves," answered the image, (for it had known -what had ought to be done from the very first, and was only -waiting for the question to be put,)—"seat yourselves, and -handle your oars, and let Orpheus play upon his harp."</p> - -<p>Immediately the fifty heroes got on board, and seizing -their oars, held them perpendicularly in the air, while Orpheus -(who liked such a task far better than rowing) swept -his fingers across the harp. At the first ringing note of -the music, they felt the vessel stir. Orpheus thrummed -away briskly, and the galley slid at once into the sea, dipping -her prow so deeply that the figure head drank the wave -with its marvellous lips, and rising again as buoyant as a -swan. The rowers plied their fifty oars; the white foam -boiled up before the prow; the water gurgled and bubbled -in their wake; while Orpheus continued to play so lively a -strain of music, that the vessel seemed to dance over the billows -by way of keeping time to it. Thus triumphantly did -the Argo sail out of the harbor, amidst the huzzahs and good -wishes of everybody except the wicked old Pelias, who stood -on a promontory, scowling at her, and wishing that he could -blow out of his lungs the tempest of wrath that was in his -heart, and so sink the galley with all on board. When they -had sailed above fifty miles over the sea, Lynceus happened -to cast his sharp eyes behind, and said that there was this -bad-hearted king, still perched upon the promontory, and -scowling so gloomily that it looked like a black thunder -cloud in that quarter of the horizon.</p> - -<p>In order to make the time pass away more pleasantly -during the voyage, the heroes talked about the Golden -Fleece. It originally belonged, it appears, to a Bœotian -ram, who had taken on his back two children, when -in danger of their lives, and fled with them over land and -sea, as far as Colchis. One of the children, whose name -was Helle, fell into the sea and was drowned. But the -other, (a little boy, named Phrixus) was brought safe ashore -by the faithful ram, who, however, was so exhausted that -he immediately lay down and died. In memory of this good -deed, and as a token of his true heart, the fleece of the poor -dead ram was miraculously changed to gold, and became -one of the most beautiful objects ever seen on earth. It -was hung upon a tree in a sacred grove, where it had now -been kept I know not how many years, and was the envy -of mighty kings, who had nothing so magnificent in any -of their palaces.</p> - -<p>If I were to tell you all the adventures of the Argonauts, -it would take me till nightfall, and perhaps a great deal -longer. There was no lack of wonderful events, as you -may judge from what you have already heard. At a certain -island they were hospitably received by King Cyzicus, its -sovereign, who made a feast for them, and treated them -like brothers. But the Argonauts saw that this good king -looked downcast and very much troubled, and they therefore -inquired of him what was the matter. King Cyzicus -hereupon informed them that he and his subjects were -greatly abused and incommoded by the inhabitants of a -neighboring mountain, who made war upon them, and killed -many people, and ravaged the country. And while they -were talking about it, Cyzicus pointed to the mountain, and -asked Jason and his companions what they saw there.</p> - -<p>"I see some very tall objects," answered Jason; "but they -are at such a distance that I cannot distinctly make out what -they are. To tell your majesty the truth, they look so very -strangely that I am inclined to think them clouds, which -have chanced to take something like human shapes."</p> - -<p>"I see them very plainly," remarked Lynceus, whose eyes, -you know, were as far sighted as a telescope. "They are -a band of enormous giants, all of whom have six arms apiece, -and a club, a sword, or some other weapon in each of their -hands."</p> - -<p>"You have excellent eyes," said King Cyzicus. "Yes, -they are six armed giants, as you say, and these are the -enemies whom I and my subjects have to contend with."</p> - -<p>The next day, when the Argonauts were about setting sail, -down came these terrible giants, stepping a hundred yards -at a stride, brandishing their six arms apiece and looking -very formidable, so far aloft in the air. Each of these monsters -was able to carry on a whole war by himself, for with -one of his arms he could fling immense stones, and wield -a club with another, and a sword with a third, while the -fourth was poking a long spear at the enemy, and the fifth -and sixth were shooting him with a bow and arrow. But, -luckily, though the giants were so huge, and had so many -arms, they had each but one heart, and that no bigger nor -braver than the heart of an ordinary man. Besides, if they -had been like the hundred-armed Briareus, the brave Argonauts -would have given them their hands full of fight. Jason -and his friends went boldly to meet them, slew a great -many, and made the rest take to their heels, so that, if the -giants had had six legs apiece instead of six arms, it would -have served them better to run away with.</p> - -<p>Another strange adventure happened when the voyagers -came to Thrace, where they found a poor blind king, named -Phineus, deserted by his subjects, and living in a very sorrowful -way, all by himself. On Jason's inquiring whether -they could do him any service, the king answered that he was -terribly tormented by three great winged creatures, called -Harpies, which had the faces of women, and the wings, -bodies, and claws of vultures. These ugly wretches were -in the habit of snatching away his dinner, and allowed him -no peace of his life. Upon hearing this, the Argonauts -spread a plentiful feast on the sea shore, well knowing, from -what the blind king said of their greediness, that the Harpies -would snuff up the scent of the victuals, and quickly come -to steal them away. And so it turned out; for, hardly was -the table set, before the three hideous vulture women came -flapping their wings, seized the food in their talons, and -flew off as fast as they could. But the two sons of the North -Wind drew their swords, spread their pinions, and set off -through the air in pursuit of the thieves, whom they at -last overtook among some islands, after a chase of hundreds -of miles. The two winged youths blustered terribly at the -Harpies, (for they had the rough temper of their father,) -and so frightened them with their drawn swords, that they -solemnly promised never to trouble King Phineus again.</p> - -<p>Then the Argonauts sailed onward, and met with many -other marvellous incidents, any one of which would make -a story by itself. At one time, they landed on an island, -and were reposing on the grass, when they suddenly found -themselves assailed by what seemed a shower of steel-headed -arrows. Some of them stuck in the ground, while others -hit against their shields, and several penetrated their flesh. -The fifty heroes started up, and looked about them for the -hidden enemy, but could find none, nor see any spot, on the -whole island, where even a single archer could lie concealed. -Still, however, the steel-headed arrows came whizzing -among them, and, at last, happening to look upward, they -beheld a large flock of birds, hovering and wheeling aloft, -and shooting their feathers down upon the Argonauts. -These feathers were the steel-headed arrows that had so tormented -them. There was no possibility of making any -resistance; and the fifty heroic Argonauts might all have -been killed or wounded by a flock of troublesome birds, -without ever setting eyes on the Golden Fleece, if Jason had -not thought of asking the advice of the oaken image.</p> - -<p>So he ran to the galley as fast as his legs would carry him.</p> - -<p>"O, daughter of the Speaking Oak," cried he, all out of -breath, "we need your wisdom more than ever before! We -are in great peril from a flock of birds, who are shooting -us with their steel-pointed feathers. What can we do to -drive them away?"</p> - -<p>"Make a clatter on your shields," said the image.</p> - -<p>On receiving this excellent counsel, Jason hurried back -to his companions, (who were far more dismayed than when -they fought with the six-armed giants,) and bade them strike -with their swords upon their brazen shields. Forthwith the -fifty heroes set heartily to work, banging with might and -main, and raised such a terrible clatter, that the birds made -what haste they could to get away; and though they had shot -half the feathers out of their wings, they were soon seen -skimming among the clouds, a long distance off, and looking -like a flock of wild geese. Orpheus celebrated this victory -by playing a triumphant anthem on his harp, and sang -so melodiously that Jason begged him to desist, lest, as the -steel-feathered birds had been driven away by an ugly sound, -they might be enticed back again by a sweet one.</p> - -<p>While the Argonauts remained on this island, they saw -a small vessel approaching the shore, in which were two -young men of princely demeanor, and exceedingly handsome, -as young princes generally were, in those days. Now, -who do you imagine these two voyagers turned out to be? -Why, if you will believe me, they were the sons of that very -Phrixus, who, in his childhood, had been carried to Colchis -on the back of the golden-fleeced ram. Since that time, -Phrixus had married the king's daughter; and the two young -princes had been born and brought up at Colchis, and had -spent their play days in the outskirts of the grove, in the -center of which the Golden Fleece was hanging upon a tree. -They were now on their way to Greece, in hopes of getting -back a kingdom that had been wrongfully taken from their -father.</p> - -<p>When the princes understood whither the Argonauts -were going, they offered to turn back, and guide them to -Colchis. At the same time, however, they spoke as if it -were very doubtful whether Jason would succeed in getting -the Golden Fleece. According to their account, the tree -on which it hung was guarded by a terrible dragon, -who never failed to devour, at one mouthful, every person -who might venture within his reach.</p> - -<p>"There are other difficulties in the way," continued the -young princes. "But is not this enough? Ah, brave Jason, -turn back before it is too late. It would grieve us to the -heart, if you and your nine and forty brave companions -should be eaten up, at fifty mouthfuls, by this execrable -dragon."</p> - -<p>"My young friends," quietly replied Jason, "I do not -wonder that you think the dragon very terrible. You have -grown up from infancy in the fear of this monster, and therefore -still regard him with the awe that children feel for the -bugbears and hobgoblins which their nurses have talked -to them about. But, in my view of the matter, the dragon -is merely a pretty large serpent, who is not half so likely -to snap me up at one mouthful as I am to cut off his ugly -head, and strip the skin from his body. At all events, turn -back who may, I will never see Greece again, unless I carry -with me the Golden Fleece."</p> - -<p>"We will none of us turn back!" cried his nine and forty -brave comrades. "Let us get on board the galley this instant; -and if the dragon is to make a breakfast of us, much -good may it do him."</p> - -<p>And Orpheus (whose custom it was to set everything -to music) began to harp and sing most gloriously, and made -every mother's son of them feel as if nothing in this world -were so delectable as to fight dragons, and nothing so truly -honorable as to be eaten up at one mouthful, in case of -the worst.</p> - -<p>After this, (being now under the guidance of the two -princes, who were well acquainted with the way,) they -quickly sailed to Colchis. When the king of the country, -whose name was Æetes, heard of their arrival, he instantly -summoned Jason to court. The king was a stern and cruel-looking -potentate; and though he put on as polite and hospitable -an expression as he could, Jason did not like his face -a whit better than that of the wicked King Pelias, who dethroned -his father.</p> - -<p>"You are welcome, brave Jason," said King Æetes. -"Pray, are you on a pleasure voyage?—or do you meditate -the discovery of unknown islands?—or what other cause -has procured me the happiness of seeing you at my court?"</p> - -<p>"Great sir," replied Jason, with an obeisance,—for Chiron -had taught him how to behave with propriety, whether to -kings or beggars,—"I have come hither with a purpose -which I now beg your majesty's permission to execute. -King Pelias, who sits on my father's throne, (to which he -has no more right than to the one on which your excellent -majesty is now seated,) has engaged to come down from -it, and give me his crown and scepter, provided I bring -him the Golden Fleece. This, as your majesty is aware, -is now hanging on a tree here at Colchis; and I humbly -solicit your gracious leave to take it away."</p> - -<p>In spite of himself, the king's face twisted itself into an -angry frown; for, above all things else in the world, he -prized the Golden Fleece and was even suspected of having -done a very wicked act, in order to get it into his own possession. -It put him into the worst possible 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.</p> - -<p>"Do you know," asked King Æetes, eyeing Jason very -sternly, "what are the conditions which you must fulfil -before getting possession of the Golden Fleece?"</p> - -<p>"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."</p> - -<p>"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?"</p> - -<p>"I must encounter the peril," answered Jason, composedly, -"since it stands in the way of my purpose."</p> - -<p>"After taming the fiery bulls," continued King Æetes, -who was determined to scare Jason if possible, "you must -yoke them to a plough, and must plough 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."</p> - -<p>"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."</p> - -<p>"I wish the dragon had him," muttered King Æetes 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 plough."</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>"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."</p> - -<p>"Indeed, beautiful princess," answered Jason, "if you will -do me this service, I promise to be grateful to you my whole -life long."</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> -<a id="img23"></a><img src="images/img23.png" width="450" height="381" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"> "I am the king's daughter."</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>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 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.</p> - -<p>"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?"</p> - -<p>"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."</p> - -<p>"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."</p> - -<p>"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."</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>"Only be brave," added she, "and before daybreak the -brazen bulls shall be tamed."</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>At the appointed hour he met the beautiful 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.</p> - -<p>"There they are," said she, "reposing themselves 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."</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl09"></a><img src="images/pl09.jpg" width="600" height="812" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">AT THE APPOINTED HOUR HE MET THE BEAUTIFUL MEDEA</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>"Are you sure, beautiful Medea," asked Jason, "quite -sure, that the unguent in the gold box will prove a remedy -against those terrible burns?"</p> - -<p>"If you doubt, if you are in the least afraid," said the -princess, looking him in the face by the dim starlight, "you -had better never have been born than go a step nigher to the -bulls."</p> - -<p>But Jason had set his heart steadfastly on getting the -Golden Fleece; and I positively doubt whether he would -have gone back without it, even had he been certain of finding -himself turned into a red-hot cinder, or a handful of -white ashes, the instant he made a step farther. He therefore -let go Medea's hand, and walked boldly forward in the -direction whither she had pointed. At some distance before -him he perceived four streams of fiery vapor, regularly appearing, -and again vanishing, after dimly lighting up the -surrounding obscurity. These, you will understand, were -caused by the breath of the brazen bulls, which was quietly -stealing out of their four nostrils, as they lay chewing their -cuds.</p> - -<p>At the first two or three steps which Jason made, the four -fiery streams appeared to gush out somewhat more plentifully; -for the two brazen bulls had heard his foot tramp, and -were lifting up their hot noses to snuff the air. He went a -little farther, and by the way in which the red vapor now -spouted forth, he judged that the creatures had got upon -their feet. Now he could see glowing sparks, and vivid jets -of flame. At the next step, each of the bulls made the -pasture echo with a terrible roar, while the burning breath, -which they thus belched forth, lit up the whole field with a -momentary flash. One other stride did bold Jason make, -and, suddenly, as a streak of lightning, on came these fiery -animals, roaring like thunder, and sending out sheets of -white flame, which so kindled up the scene that the young -man could discern every object more distinctly than by daylight. -Most distinctly of all he saw the two horrible creatures -galloping right down upon him, their brazen hoofs rattling -and ringing over the ground, and their tails sticking up -stiffly into the air, as has always been the fashion with angry -bulls. Their breath scorched the herbage before them. So -intensely hot it was, indeed, that it caught a dry tree, under -which Jason was now standing, and set it all in a light blaze. -But as for Jason himself, (thanks to Medea's enchanted -ointment,) the white flame curled around his body, without -injuring him a jot more than if he had been made of -asbestos.</p> - -<p>Greatly encouraged at finding himself not yet turned into -a cinder, the young man awaited the attack of the bulls. -Just as the brazen brutes fancied themselves sure of tossing -him into the air, he caught one of them by the horn, and the -other by his screwed-up tail, and held them in a gripe like -that of an iron vice, one with his right hand, the other with -his left. Well, he must have been wonderfully strong in his -arms, to be sure. But the secret of the matter was, that the -brazen bulls were enchanted creatures, and that Jason had -broken the spell of their fiery fierceness by his bold way of -handling them. And, ever since that time, it has been the -favorite method of brave men, when danger assails them, to -do what they call "taking the bull by the horns;" and to gripe -him by the tail is pretty much the same thing—that is, to -throw aside fear, and overcome the peril by despising it.</p> - -<p>It was now easy to yoke the bulls, and to harness them to -the plough, which had lain rusting on the ground for a great -many years gone by; so long was it before anybody could be -found capable of ploughing that piece of land. Jason, I -suppose, had been taught how to draw a furrow by the good -old Chiron, who, perhaps, used to allow himself to be -harnessed to the plough. At any rate, our hero succeeded -perfectly well in breaking up the greensward; and, by the -time that the moon was a quarter of her journey up the sky, -the ploughed field lay before him, a large tract of black -earth, ready to be sown with the dragon's teeth. So Jason -scattered them broadcast, and harrowed them into the soil -with a brush-harrow, and took his stand on the edge of the -field, anxious to see what would happen next.</p> - -<p>"Must we wait long for harvest time?" he inquired of -Medea, who was now standing by his side.</p> - -<p>"Whether sooner or later, it will be sure to come," -answered the princess. "A crop of armed men never fails to -spring up, when the dragon's teeth have been sown."</p> - -<p>The moon was now high aloft in the heavens, and threw its -bright beams over the ploughed field, where as yet there was -nothing to be seen. Any farmer, on viewing it, would have -said that Jason must wait weeks before the green blades -would peep from among the clods, and whole months before -the yellow grain would be ripened for the sickle. But by -and by, all over the field, there was something that glistened -in the moonbeams, like sparkling drops of dew. These -bright objects sprouted higher, and proved to be the steel -heads of spears. Then there was a dazzling gleam from a -vast number of polished brass helmets, beneath which, as -they grew farther out of the soil, appeared the dark and -bearded visages of warriors, struggling to free themselves -from the imprisoning earth. The first look that they gave at -the upper world was a glare of wrath and defiance. Next -were seen their bright breastplates; in every right hand there -was a sword or a spear, and on each left arm a shield; and -when this strange crop of warriors had but half grown out of -the earth, they struggled,—such was their impatience of -restraint,—and, as it were, tore themselves up by the roots. -Wherever a dragon's tooth had fallen, there stood a man -armed for battle. They made a clangor with their swords -against their shields and eyed one another fiercely; for they -had come into this beautiful world, and into the peaceful -moonlight, full of rage and stormy passions, and ready to -take the life of every human brother, in recompense of the -boon of their own existence.</p> - -<p>There have been many other armies in the world that -seemed to possess the same fierce nature with the one which -had now sprouted from the dragon's teeth; but these, in the -moonlit field, were the more excusable, because they never -had women for their mothers. And how it would have rejoiced -any great captain, who was bent on conquering the -world, like Alexander or Napoleon, to raise a crop of armed -soldiers as easily as Jason did!</p> - -<p>For a while, the warriors stood flourishing their weapons, -clashing their swords against their shields, and boiling over -with the red-hot thirst for battle. Then they began to shout—"Show -us the enemy! Lead us to the charge! Death or -victory! Come on, brave comrades! Conquer or die!" -and a hundred other outcries, such as men always bellow -forth on a battle field, and which these dragon people seemed -to have at their tongues' ends. At last, the front rank caught -sight of Jason, who, beholding the flash of so many weapons -in the moonlight, had thought it best to draw his sword. In -a moment all the sons of the dragon's teeth appeared to take -Jason for an enemy; and crying with one voice, "Guard the -Golden Fleece!" they ran at him with uplifted swords and -protruded spears. Jason knew that it would be impossible -to withstand this bloodthirsty battalion with his single arm, -but determined, since there was nothing better to be done, to -die as valiantly as if he himself had sprung from a dragon's -tooth.</p> - -<p>Medea, however, bade him snatch up a stone from the -ground.</p> - -<p>"Throw it among them quickly!" cried she. "It is the -only way to save yourself."</p> - -<p>The armed men were now so nigh that Jason could discern -the fire flashing out of their enraged eyes, when he let fly the -stone, and saw it strike the helmet of a tall warrior, who was -rushing upon him with his blade aloft. The stone glanced -from this man's helmet to the shield of his nearest comrade, -and thence flew right into the angry face of another, hitting -him smartly between the eyes. Each of the three who had -been struck by the stone took it for granted that his next -neighbor had given him a blow; and instead of running any -farther towards Jason, they began a fight among themselves. -The confusion spread through the host, so that it seemed -scarcely a moment before they were all hacking, hewing, and -stabbing at one another, lopping off arms, heads, and legs, -and doing such memorable deeds that Jason was filled with -immense admiration; although, at the same time, he could -not help laughing to behold these mighty men punishing -each other for an offence which he himself had committed. -In an incredibly short space of time, (almost as short, indeed, -as it had taken them to grow up,) all but one of the heroes of -the dragon's teeth were stretched lifeless on the field. The -last survivor, the bravest and strongest of the whole, had just -force enough to wave his crimson sword over his head, and -give a shout of exultation, crying, "Victory! Victory! -Immortal fame!" when he himself fell down, and lay quietly -among his slain brethren. And there was the end of the -army that had sprouted from the dragon's teeth. That fierce -and feverish fight was the only enjoyment which they had -tasted on this beautiful earth.</p> - -<p>"Let them sleep in the bed of honor," said the Princess -Medea, with a sly smile at Jason. "The world will always -have simpletons enough, just like them, fighting and dying -for they know not what, and fancying that posterity will take -the trouble to put laurel wreaths on their rusty and battered -helmets. Could you help smiling, Prince Jason, to see the -self-conceit of that last fellow, just as he tumbled down?"</p> - -<p>"It made me very sad," answered Jason gravely. "And, -to tell you the truth, princess, the Golden Fleece does not -appear so well worth the winning, after what I have here beheld."</p> - -<p>"You will think differently in the morning," said Medea. -"True, the Golden Fleece may not be so valuable as you have -thought it; but then there is nothing better in the world; -and one must needs have an object, you know. Come! -Your night's work has been well performed; and to-morrow -you can inform King Æetes that the first part of your allotted -task is fulfilled."</p> - -<p>Agreeably to Medea's advice, Jason went betimes in the -morning to the palace of King Æetes. Entering the presence -chamber, he stood at the foot of the throne, and made -a low obeisance.</p> - -<p>"Your eyes look heavy, Prince Jason," observed the king; -"you appear to have spent a sleepless night. I hope you -have been considering the matter a little more wisely, and -have concluded not to get yourself scorched to a cinder, in attempting -to tame my brazen-lunged bulls."</p> - -<p>"That is already accomplished, may it please your majesty," -replied Jason. "The bulls have been tamed and -yoked; the field has been ploughed; the dragon's teeth have -been sown broadcast, and harrowed into the soil; the crop -of armed warriors have sprung up, and they have slain one -another, to the last man. And now I solicit your majesty's -permission to encounter the dragon, that I may take down -the Golden Fleece from the tree, and depart, with my nine -and forty comrades."</p> - -<p>King Æetes scowled, and looked very angry and excessively -disturbed; for he knew that, in accordance with his -kingly promise, he ought now to permit Jason to win the -fleece, if his courage and skill should enable him to do so. -But, since the young man had met with such good luck -in the matter of the brazen bulls and the dragon's teeth, -the king feared that he would be equally successful in slaying -the dragon. And therefore, though he would gladly -have seen Jason snapped up at a mouthful, he was resolved -(and it was a very wrong thing of this wicked potentate) not -to run any further risk of losing his beloved fleece.</p> - -<p>"You never would have succeeded in this business, young -man," said he, "if my undutiful daughter Medea had not -helped you with her enchantments. Had you acted fairly, -you would have been, at this instant, a black cinder, or a -handful of white ashes. I forbid you, on pain of death, -to make any more attempts to get the Golden Fleece. To -speak my mind plainly, you shall never set eyes on so -much as one of its glistening locks."</p> - -<p>Jason left the king's presence in great sorrow and anger. -He could think of nothing better to be done than to summon -together his forty-nine brave Argonauts, march at once to -the grove of Mars, slay the dragon, take possession of the -Golden Fleece, get on board the <i>Argo</i>, and spread all sail -for Iolchos. The success of this scheme depended, it is true, -on the doubtful point whether all the fifty heroes might not -be snapped up, at so many mouthfuls, by the dragon. But, -as Jason was hastening down the palace steps, the Princess -Medea called after him, and beckoned him to return. Her -black eyes shone upon him with such a keen intelligence, -that he felt as if there were a serpent peeping out of them; -and, although she had done him so much service only the -night before, he was by no means very certain that she would -not do him an equally great mischief before sunset. These -enchantresses, you must know, are never to be depended -upon.</p> - -<p>"What says King Æetes, my royal and upright father?" -inquired Medea, slightly smiling. "Will he give you the -Golden Fleece, without any further risk or trouble?"</p> - -<p>"On the contrary," answered Jason, "he is very angry -with me for taming the brazen bulls and sowing the dragon's -teeth. And he forbids me to make any more attempts, and -positively refuses to give up the Golden Fleece, whether I -slay the dragon or no."</p> - -<p>"Yes, Jason," said the princess, "and I can tell you more. -Unless you set sail from Colchis before to-morrow's sunrise, -the king means to burn your fifty oared galley, and put -yourself and your forty-nine brave comrades to the sword. -But be of good courage. The Golden Fleece you shall -have, if it lies within the power of my enchantments to get -it for you. Wait for me here an hour before midnight."</p> - -<p>At the appointed hour, you might again have seen Prince -Jason and the Princess Medea, side by side, stealing through -the streets of Colchis, on their way to the sacred grove, in the -center of which the Golden Fleece was suspended to a tree. -While they were crossing the pasture ground, the brazen -bulls came towards Jason, lowing, nodding their heads, and -thrusting forth their snouts, which, as other cattle do, they, -loved to have rubbed and caressed by a friendly hand. -Their fierce nature was thoroughly tamed; and, with their -fierceness, the two furnaces in their stomachs had likewise -been extinguished, insomuch that they probably enjoyed far -more comfort in grazing and chewing their cuds than ever -before. Indeed, it had heretofore been a great inconvenience -to these poor animals, that, whenever they wished to eat -a mouthful of grass, the fire out of their nostrils had shrivelled -it up, before they could manage to crop it. How they -contrived to keep themselves alive is more than I can imagine. -But now, instead of emitting jets of flame and -streams of sulphurous vapor, they breathed the very sweetest -of cow breath.</p> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<a id="pl10"></a><img src="images/pl10.jpg" width="600" height="818" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">"WHAT IS IT"? ASKED JASON</div> -</div> - -<hr class="r35" /> - -<p>After kindly patting the bulls, Jason followed Medea's -guidance into the Grove of Mars, where the great oak trees, -that had been growing for centuries, threw so thick a shade -that the moonbeams struggled vainly to find their way -through it. Only here and there a glimmer fell upon the -leaf-strewn earth, or now and then a breeze stirred the -boughs aside, and gave Jason a glimpse of the sky, lest, in -that deep obscurity, he might forget that there was one, -overhead. At length, when they had gone farther and farther -into the heart of the duskiness, Medea squeezed Jason's -hand.</p> - -<p>"Look yonder," she whispered. "Do you see it?"</p> - -<p>Gleaming among the venerable oaks, there was a radiance, -not like the moonbeams, but rather resembling the -golden glory of the setting sun. It proceeded from an object, -which appeared to be suspended at about a man's height -from the ground, a little farther within the wood.</p> - -<p>"What is it?" asked Jason.</p> - -<p>"Have you come so far to seek it," exclaimed Medea, "and -do you not recognize the meed of all your toils and perils, -when it glitters before your eyes? It is the Golden Fleece."</p> - -<p>Jason went onward a few steps farther, and then stopped -to gaze. O, how beautiful it looked, shining with a marvellous -light of its own, that inestimable prize, which so -many heroes had longed to behold, but had perished in the -quest of it, either by the perils of their voyage, or by the -fiery breath of the brazen-lunged bulls.</p> - -<p>"How gloriously it shines!" cried Jason, in a rapture. -"It has surely been dipped in the richest gold of sunset. Let -me hasten onward, and take it to my bosom."</p> - -<p>"Stay," said Medea, holding him back. "Have you forgotten -what guards it?"</p> - -<p>To say the truth, in the joy of beholding the object of -his desires, the terrible dragon had quite slipped out of -Jason's memory. Soon, however, something came to pass, -that reminded him what perils were still to be encountered. -An antelope, that probably mistook the yellow radiance for -sunrise, came bounding fleetly through the grove. He was -rushing straight towards the Golden Fleece, when suddenly -there was a frightful hiss, and the immense head and half -the scaly body of the dragon was thrust forth, (for he was -twisted round the trunk of the tree on which the fleece hung,) -and seizing the poor antelope, swallowed him with one snap -of his jaws.</p> - -<p>After this feat, the dragon seemed sensible that some other -living creature was within reach, on which he felt inclined -to finish his meal. In various directions he kept poking his -ugly snout among the trees, stretching out his neck a terrible -long way, now here, now there, and now close to the -spot where Jason and the Princess were hiding behind an -oak. Upon my word, as the head came waving and undulating -through the air, and reaching almost within arm's -length of Prince Jason, it was a very hideous and uncomfortable -sight. The gape of his enormous jaws was nearly -as wide as the gateway of the king's palace.</p> - -<p>"Well, Jason," whispered Medea, (for she was ill-natured, -as all enchantresses are, and wanted to make the bold youth -tremble,) "what do you think now of your prospect of winning -the Golden Fleece?"</p> - -<p>Jason answered only by drawing his sword, and making -a step forward.</p> - -<p>"Stay, foolish youth," said Medea, grasping his arm. -"Do not you see you are lost, without me as your good -angel? In this gold box I have a magic potion, which will -do the dragon's business far more effectively than your -sword."</p> - -<p>The dragon had probably heard the voices; for swift as -lightning, his black head and forked tongue came hissing -among the trees again, darting full forty feet at a stretch. -As it approached, Medea tossed the contents of the gold -box right down the monster's wide-open throat. Immediately, -with an outrageous hiss and a tremendous wriggle,—flinging -his tail up to the tip-top of the tallest tree, and shattering -all its branches as it crashed heavily down again,—the -dragon fell at full length upon the ground, and lay quite -motionless.</p> - -<p>"It is only a sleeping potion," said the enchantress to -Prince Jason. "One always finds a use for these mischievous -creatures, sooner or later; so I did not wish to kill him -outright. Quick! Snatch the prize, and let us begone. -You have won the Golden Fleece."</p> - -<p>Jason caught the fleece from the tree, and hurried through -the grove, the deep shadows of which were illuminated as -he passed by the golden glory of the precious object that -he bore along. A little way before him, he beheld the old -woman whom he had helped over the stream, with her -peacock beside her. She clapped her hands for joy, and -beckoning him to make haste, disappeared among the duskiness -of the trees. Espying the two winged sons of the North -Wind, (who were disporting themselves in the moonlight, -a few hundred feet aloft,) Jason bade them tell the rest -of the Argonauts to embark as speedily as possible. But -Lynceus, with his sharp eyes, had already caught a glimpse -of him, bringing the Golden Fleece, although several stone -walls, a hill, and the black shadows of the grove of Mars, -intervened between. By his advice, the heroes had seated -themselves on the benches of the galley, with their oars held -perpendicularly, ready to let fall into the water.</p> - -<p>As Jason drew near, he heard the Talking Image calling -to him with more than ordinary eagerness, in its grave, -sweet voice:—</p> - -<p>"Make haste, Prince Jason! For your life, make haste!"</p> - -<p>With one bound, he leaped aboard. At sight of the -glorious radiance of the Golden Fleece, the nine and forty -heroes gave a mighty shout, and Orpheus, striking his harp, -sang a song of triumph, to the cadence of which the galley -flew over the water, homeward bound, as if careering along -with wings!</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> -<img src="images/img24.png" width="150" height="150" alt="" /> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tanglewood Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TANGLEWOOD TALES *** - -***** This file should be named 51995-h.htm or 51995-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/9/9/51995/ - -Produced by Madeleine Fournier. 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