第 31 节
作者:
水王 更新:2021-12-07 09:36 字数:9322
of men; and pretending to human sympathies; while their hearts had the
blood… thirstiness of wild beasts。 So he let them howl as much as they
liked; but never troubled his head about them。 And; when everything was
settled according to his pleasure; he sent to summon the remainder of his
comrades; whom he had left at the sea…shore。 These being arrived; with the
prudent Eurylochus at their head; they all made themselves comfortable in
Circe's enchanted palace; until quite rested and refreshed from the toils
and hardships of their voyage。
102
… Page 103…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
THE POMEGRANATE SEEDS。
Mother Ceres was exceedingly fond of her daughter Proserpina; and
seldom let her go alone into the fields。 But; just at the time when my story
begins; the good lady was very busy; because she had the care of the wheat;
and the Indian corn; and the rye and barley and; in short; of the crops of
every kind; all over the earth; and as the season had thus far been
uncommonly backward; it was necessary to make the harvest ripen more
speedily than usual。 So she put on her turban; made of poppies (a kind of
flower which she was always noted for wearing); and got into her car
drawn by a pair of winged dragons; and was just ready to set off。
〃Dear mother;〃 said Proserpina; 〃I shall be very lonely while you are
away。 May I not run down to the shore; and ask some of the sea nymphs to
come up out of the waves and play with me?〃
〃Yes; child;〃 answered Mother Ceres。 〃The sea nymphs are good
creatures; and will never lead you into any harm。 But you must take care
not to stray away from them; nor go wandering about the fields by
yourself。 Young girls; without their mothers to take care of them; are very
apt to get into mischief。〃
The child promised to be as prudent as if she were a grown…up woman;
and; by the time the winged dragons had whirled the car out of sight; she
was already on the shore; calling to the sea nymphs to come and play with
her。 They knew Proserpina's voice; and were not long in showing their
glistening faces and sea…green hair above the water; at the bottom of which
was their home。 They brought along with them a great many beautiful
shells; and sitting down on the moist sand; where the surf wave broke over
them; they busied themselves in making a necklace; which they hung
round Proserpina's neck。 By way of showing her gratitude; the child
besought them to go with her a little way into the fields; so that they might
gather abundance of flowers; with which she would make each of her kind
playmates a wreath。
〃O no; dear Proserpina;〃 cried the sea nymphs; 〃we dare not go with
you upon the dry land。 We are apt to grow faint; unless at every breath we
can snuff up the salt breeze of the ocean。 And don't you see how careful
103
… Page 104…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
we are to let the surf wave break over us every moment or two; so as to
keep ourselves comfortably moist? If it were not for that; we should look
like bunches of uprooted seaweed dried in the sun。
〃It is a great pity;〃 said Proserpina。 〃But do you wait for me here; and I
will run and gather my apron full of flowers; and be back again before the
surf wave has broken ten times over you。 I long to make you some wreaths
that shall be as lovely as this necklace of many colored shells。〃
〃We will wait; then;〃 answered the sea nymphs。 〃But while you are
gone; we may as well lie down on a bank of soft sponge under the water。
The air to…day is a little too dry for our comfort。 But we will pop up our
heads every few minutes to see if you are coming。〃
The young Proserpina ran quickly to a spot where; only the day before;
she had seen a great many flowers。 These; however; were now a little past
their bloom; and wishing to give her friends the freshest and loveliest
blossoms; she strayed farther into the fields; and found some that made her
scream with delight。 Never had she met with such exquisite flowers
beforeviolets so large and fragrantroses with so rich and delicate a
blushsuch superb hyacinths and such aromatic pinksand many others;
some of which seemed to be of new shapes and colors。 Two or three times;
moreover; she could not help thinking that a tuft of most splendid flowers
had suddenly sprouted out of the earth before her very eyes; as if on
purpose to tempt her a few steps farther。 Proserpina's apron was soon filled;
and brimming over with delightful blossoms。 She was on the point of
turning back in order to rejoin the sea nymphs; and sit with them on the
moist sands; all twining wreaths together。 But; a little farther on; what
should she behold? It was a large shrub; completely covered with the most
magnificent flowers in the world。
〃The darlings!〃 cried Proserpina; and then she thought to herself; 〃I
was looking at that spot only a moment ago。 How strange it is that I did
not see the flowers!〃
The nearer she approached the shrub; the more attractive it looked;
until she came quite close to it; and then; although its beauty was richer
than words can tell; she hardly knew whether to like it or not。 It bore
above a hundred flowers of the most brilliant hues; and each different
104
… Page 105…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
from the others; but all having a kind of resemblance among themselves;
which showed them to be sister blossoms。 But there was a deep; glossy
luster on the leaves of the shrub; and on the petals of the flowers; that
made Proserpina doubt whether they might not be poisonous。 To tell you
the truth; foolish as it may seem; she was half inclined to turn round and
run away。
〃What a silly child I am!〃 thought she; taking courage。 〃It is really the
most beautiful shrub that ever sprang out of the earth。 I will pull it up by
the roots; and carry it home; and plant it in my mother's garden。〃
Holding up her apron full of flowers with her left hand; Proserpina
seized the large shrub with the other; and pulled; and pulled; but was
hardly able to loosen the soil about its roots。 What a deep…rooted plant it
was! Again the girl pulled with all her might; and observed that the earth
began to stir and crack to some distance around the stem。 She gave another
pull; but relaxed her hold; fancying that there was a rumbling sound right
beneath her feet。 Did the roots extend down into some enchanted cavern?
Then laughing at herself for so childish a notion; she made another effort:
up came the shrub; and Proserpina staggered back; holding the stem
triumphantly in her hand; and gazing at the deep hole which its roots had
left in the soil。
Much to her astonishment; this hole kept spreading wider and wider;
and growing deeper and deeper; until it really seemed to have no bottom;
and all the while; there came a rumbling noise out of its depths; louder and
louder; and nearer and nearer; and sounding like the tramp of horses' hoofs
and the rattling of wheels。 Too much frightened to run away; she stood
straining her eyes into this wonderful cavity; and soon saw a team of four
sable horses; snorting smoke out of their nostrils; and tearing their way out
of the earth with a splendid golden chariot whirling at their heels。 They
leaped out of the bottomless hole; chariot and all; and there they were;
tossing their black manes; flourishing their black tails; and curvetting with
every one of their hoofs off the ground at once; close by the spot where
Proserpina stood。 In the chariot sat the figure of a man; richly dressed;
with a crown on his head; all flaming with diamonds。 He was of a noble
aspect; and rather handsome; but looked sullen and discontented; and he
105
… Page 106…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
kept rubbing his eyes and shading them with his hand; as if he did not live
enough in the sunshine to be very fond of its light。
As