第 33 节
作者:水王      更新:2021-12-07 09:36      字数:9322
  Proserpina; we will drive on。〃
  On   went   the   chariot;   and   King   Pluto   seemed   greatly   pleased   to   find
  himself once more in his own kingdom。 He drew Proserpina's attention to
  the rich veins of gold that were to be seen among the rocks; and pointed to
  several   places   where   one   stroke   of   a   pickaxe   would   loosen   a   bushel   of
  diamonds。 All   along   the   road;  indeed; there   were   sparkling gems;  which
  would have been of inestimable value above ground; but which here were
  reckoned of the meaner sort and hardly worth a beggar's stooping for。
  Not far from the gateway; they came to a bridge; which seemed to be
  built   of   iron。   Pluto   stopped   the   chariot;   and   bade   Proserpina   look   at   the
  stream which was gliding so lazily  beneath it。  Never in her life had  she
  beheld so torpid; so black; so muddy…looking a stream; its waters reflected
  no images of anything that was on the banks; and it moved as sluggishly
  as   if   it   had   quite   forgotten   which   way   it   ought   to   flow;   and   had   rather
  stagnate than flow either one way or the other。
  〃This   is   the   River   Lethe;〃    observed   King   Pluto。   〃Is   it    not   a   very
  pleasant stream?〃
  〃I think it a very dismal one;〃 answered Proserpina。
  〃It suits my taste; however;〃 answered Pluto; who was apt to be sullen
  when      anybody     disagreed     with    him。   〃At   all  events;    its  water   has   one
  excellent quality; for a single draught of it makes people forget every care
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  and   sorrow   that   has   hitherto   tormented   them。   Only   sip   a   little   of   it;   my
  dear   Proserpina;   and   you   will   instantly  cease   to   grieve   for   your   mother;
  and    will   have    nothing    in  your    memory      that  can   prevent    your    being
  perfectly happy in my palace。 I will send for some; in a golden goblet; the
  moment we arrive。〃
  〃O; no; no; no!〃 cried Proserpina; weeping afresh。 〃I had a thousand
  times rather be miserable with remembering my mother; than be happy in
  forgetting her。 That dear; dear mother! I never; never will forget her。〃
  〃We shall see;〃 said King Pluto。 〃You do not know what fine times we
  will have   in   my  palace。   Here   we   are   just   at   the   portal。 These   pillars   are
  solid gold; I assure you。〃
  He alighted from the chariot; and taking Proserpina in his arms; carried
  her   up   a   lofty   flight   of   steps   into   the   great   hall   of   the   palace。   It   was
  splendidly illuminated by means of large precious stones; of various hues;
  which seemed to   burn like so   many lamps; and   glowed with a hundred…
  fold radiance all through the vast apartment。 And yet there was a kind of
  gloom in the midst of this enchanted light; nor was there a single object in
  the   hall   that   was   really   agreeable   to   behold;   except   the   little   Proserpina
  herself; a lovely child; with one earthly flower which she had not let fall
  from   her   hand。   It   is   my   opinion   that   even   King   Pluto   had   never   been
  happy in his palace; and that this was the true reason why he had stolen
  away Proserpina; in order that he might have something to love; instead of
  cheating      his  heart   any   longer    with   this   tiresome    magnificence。       And;
  though   he   pretended   to   dislike   the   sunshine   of   the   upper   world;   yet   the
  effect of the child's presence; bedimmed as she was by her tears; was as if
  a faint and watery sunbeam had somehow or other found its way into the
  enchanted hall。
  Pluto   now   summoned   his   domestics;   and   bade   them   lose   no   time   in
  preparing a most sumptuous banquet; and above all things; not to fail of
  setting a golden beaker of the water of Lethe by Proserpina's plate。
  〃I will neither drink that nor anything else;〃 said Proserpina。 〃Nor will
  I taste a morsel of food; even if you keep me forever in your palace。〃
  〃I should be sorry for that;〃 replied King Pluto; patting her cheek; for
  he really wished to be kind; if he had only known how。 〃You are a spoiled
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  child;  I   perceive;  my  little   Proserpina;   but   when   you   see the   nice   things
  which my cook will make for you; your appetite will quickly come again。〃
  Then; sending for the head cook; he gave strict orders that all sorts of
  delicacies; such as young people are usually fond of; should be set before
  Proserpina。 He had a secret motive in this; for; you are to understand; it is
  a fixed law; that when persons are carried off to the land of magic; if they
  once taste any food there; they can never get back to their friends。 Now; if
  King   Pluto   had   been   cunning   enough   to   offer   Proserpina   some   fruit;   or
  bread and milk (which was the simple fare to which the child had always
  been   accustomed);   it   is   very   probable   that   she   would   soon   have   been
  tempted to eat it。 But he left the matter entirely to his cook; who; like all
  other   cooks;   considered   nothing   fit   to   eat   unless   it   were   rich   pastry;   or
  highly…seasoned   meat;   or   spiced   sweet   cakesthings   which   Proserpina's
  mother had never given her; and the smell of which quite took away her
  appetite; instead of sharpening it。
  But my  story  must   now  clamber out   of   King   Pluto's dominions;  and
  see    what    Mother     Ceres    had   been    about;    since   she   was   bereft    of  her
  daughter。 We had a glimpse of her; as you remember; half hidden among
  the waving grain; while the four black steeds were swiftly whirling along
  the   chariot;   in   which   her   beloved   Proserpina   was   so   unwillingly   borne
  away。   You   recollect;   too;   the   loud   scream   which   Proserpina   gave;   just
  when the chariot was out of sight。
  Of all the child's outcries; this last shriek was the only one that reached
  the   ears of   Mother   Ceres。   She   had   mistaken   the   rumbling of   the   chariot
  wheels for a peal of thunder; and imagined that a shower was coming up;
  and that it would assist her in making the corn grow。 But; at the sound of
  Proserpina's shriek; she started; and looked about in   every direction;   not
  knowing       whence      it  came;   but   feeling    almost    certain    that  it  was    her
  daughter's voice。 It seemed so unaccountable; however; that the girl should
  have   strayed   over   so   many   lands   and   seas   (which   she   herself   could   not
  have traversed without the aid of her winged dragons); that the good Ceres
  tried to believe that it must be the child of some other parent; and not her
  own darling Proserpina; who had uttered this lamentable cry。 Nevertheless;
  it troubled her with a vast many tender fears; such as are ready to bestir
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  themselves in every mother's heart; when she finds it necessary to go away
  from   her    dear   children    without    leaving    them   under    the   care  of  some
  maiden aunt; or other such faithful guardian。 So she quickly left the field
  in which she had been so busy; and; as her work was not half done; the
  grain looked; next day; as if it needed both sun and rain; and as if it were
  blighted in the ear; and had something the matter with its roots。
  The pair of dragons must have had very nimble wings; for; in less than
  an hour; Mother Ceres had alighted at the door of her home; and found it
  empty。 Knowing; however; that the child was fond of sporting on the sea…
  shore; she hastened thither as fast as she could; and there beheld the wet
  faces of the poor sea nymphs peeping over a wave。 All this while; the good
  creatures   had   been   waiting   on   the  bank of   sponge;   and once;   every  half
  minute or so; had popped up their four heads above water; to see if their
  playmate were yet coming back。 When they saw Mother Ceres; they sat
  down on the crest of the surf wave; and let it toss them ashore at her feet。
  〃Where is Proserpina?〃 cried Ceres。 〃Where is my child? Tell me; you
  naughty sea nymphs; have you enticed her under the sea?〃
  〃O;   no;   good   Mother   Ceres;〃   said   the   innocent   sea   nymphs;   tossing
  back their  green ringlets;  and looking   her in the  face。 〃We  never  should
  dream of such a thing。 Proserpina has been at play with us; it is true; but
  she left us a long while ago; meaning only to run a little way upon the dry
  land; and gather some flowers for a wreath。 This was earl