第 12 节
作者:水王      更新:2021-12-07 09:35      字数:9320
  nd brilliant illuminations; and shows of wax…work; with likenesses of the
  distinguished officers; as small as life。
  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。
  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 Antaeus。 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。
  One day the mighty Antaeus 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
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  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 Antaeus; it is true;
  although a very enormous figure; in comparison with Pygmies; and a vast
  deal bigger than the men we see nowadays。
  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:
  〃Halloo; brother Antaeus! Get up this minute; and take your pine…tree
  walking   stick   in   your   hand。   Here   comes   another   Giant   to   have   a   tussle
  with you。〃
  〃Poh;     poh!〃   grumbled      Antaeus;     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。〃
  But the Pygmy looked again; and now perceived that the stranger was
  coming directly towards the prostrate form of Antaeus。 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 Antaeus。
  By   this   time;   the  whole   nation    of   the  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。
  〃Get   up;   Antaeus!   Bestir   yourself;   you   lazy   old   Giant!   Here   comes
  another Giant; as strong as you are; to fight with you。〃
  〃Nonsense; nonsense!〃 growled the sleepy Giant。 〃I'll have my nap out;
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  come who may。〃
  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。
  〃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。〃
  Antaeus 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 eyes; and finally turned his stupid head
  in the direction whither his little friends were eagerly pointing。
  No sooner did he set eyes 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。
  〃Who are you?〃        thundered the Giant。 〃And what do you want in my
  dominions?〃
  There was one   strange thing about Antaeus; 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 Antaeus 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;
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  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 Antaeus 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。
  Any  other   mortal   man;  except the   very  one   whom Antaeus   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   Antaeus   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。
  〃Who are you; I say?〃 roared Antaeus 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!〃
  〃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。〃
  〃Caitiff;   you   shall   go   no   farther!〃   bellowed   Antaeus;   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!〃
  〃How   will   you   prevent   me;〃   asked   Hercules;   〃from   going   whither   I
  please?〃
  〃By