第 18 节
作者:水王      更新:2021-12-07 09:35      字数:9322
  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。〃
  〃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。〃
  〃Nor   for   me;〃   said   Cadmus;   〃while   my   dear   mother   pleases   to   go
  onward。〃
  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
  Phoenix。
  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
  59
  … Page 60…
  TANGLEWOOD TALES
  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。
  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。
  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。
  One   morning;   however;   poor   Thasus   found   that   he   had   sprained   his
  ankle; and could not possibly go a step farther。
  〃After a few days; to be sure;〃 said he; mournfully; 〃I might make 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
  60
  … Page 61…
  TANGLEWOOD TALES
  follow as I may。〃
  〃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   Phoenix   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。   Forand   it   is   the   first   time   I   have
  owned   it   to   myselfI   begin   to   question   whether   we   shall   ever   find   my
  beloved daughter in this world。〃
  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 traveled with the   same
  alacrity of spirit that had heretofore supported her。 Her weight was heavier
  upon his arm。
  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  Phoenix     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 sceptre 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。
  But when the affairs of his kingdom were all settled; King Thasus laid
  aside   his   purple   robe   and   crown;   and   sceptre;   and   bade   his       worthiest
  subjects   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
  61
  … Page 62…
  TANGLEWOOD TALES
  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
  traveler; who profited by the food and lodging which were meant for the
  little playmate of the king's boyhood。
  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 not tell
  her any news of the lost child。
  〃Have   you   seen   a   little   girlno;   no;   I   mean   a   young   maiden   of   full
  growthpassing        by   this  way;   mounted      on   a  snow…wh