第 4 节
作者:水王      更新:2021-12-07 09:35      字数:9322
  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。
  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。
  Thus;   by   the   time   he   reached   his   journey's   end;   Theseus   had   done
  many valiant feats   with his   father's golden…hilled sword;  and had   gained
  the renown of being one of the bravest young men of the day。 His fame
  traveled 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 Aegeus; 〃Behold your son!〃
  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
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  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
  a person to let them steal away his father's crown and scepter; which ought
  to be his own by right of inheritance。 Thus these bad…hearted nephews of
  King Aegeus; 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
  Aethra; whom she hated。
  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 Aegeus would discover in the young man's features
  any   likeness   either   to   himself   or   his   mother Aethra;   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 Aegeus 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。
  〃And   he   is   now   waiting   for   admission   to   your   majesty's   presence;〃
  added they。
  〃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? 〃
  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
  pretense of making them young again; but King Aegeus; I suppose; did not
  fancy   such     an  uncomfortable       way   of   growing     young;    or   perhaps    was
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  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。
  So; when the king asked what he should do with Theseus; this naughty
  woman had an answer ready at her tongue's end。
  〃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 by 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。〃
  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 Aegeus;   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。
  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
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  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   both   of   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   a   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   Aegeus   would   recognize   him;   so   eager   was   he   to   throw
  himself into his arms。
  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;   over…   brimming   heart
  into   the   king's   hand;   poor   Theseus   knew   not   what         to   do  or   say。   T