按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
suffers any thing 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。
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
28
… Page 29…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
to pieces by passing through the gullet of a miserably enraged brute。
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：
〃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。〃
〃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。
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。
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
29
… Page 30…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
of the thread； and soon found himself at the entrance of the labyrinth。
〃Thou hast slain the monster；〃 cried Ariadne； clasping her hands。
〃Thanks to thee； dear Ariadne；〃 answered Theseus； 〃I return
victorious。〃
〃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。〃
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。
〃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 Aegeus； and my dear
mother； Aethra； 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。〃
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：
〃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
30
… Page 31…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
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！〃
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。
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 at 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。
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 yo