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TANGLEWOOD TALES
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。
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。
〃What is this wonder？〃 Theseus asked of the master of the vessel； who
was now at leisure to answer him。
〃It is Talus； the Man of Brass；〃 said the master。
〃And is he a live giant； or a brazen image？〃 asked Theseus。
〃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 skilfullest 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。〃
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
foaming 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 the 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；
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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。
〃Whence come you； strangers？〃
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。
〃From Athens！〃 shouted the master in reply。
〃On what errand？〃 thundered the Man of Brass。
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。
〃We bring the seven youths and the seven maidens；〃 answered the
master； 〃to be devoured by the Minotaur！〃
〃Pass！〃 cried the brazen giant。
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 round the island of Crete； as
it was his never…ceasing task to do。
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
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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。
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 sceptre （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。
〃Young man；〃 asked he； with his stern voice； 〃are you not appalled at
the certainty of being devoured by this terrible Minotaur？〃
〃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 shine eyes inward on
shine 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！〃
〃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。〃
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 iron…breasted 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
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besought him to set all the captives free； and especially this one young
man。
〃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。〃
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 advi