第 45 节
作者:
水王 更新:2021-12-07 09:36 字数:9322
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offered to turn back; and guide them to Colchis。 At the same time;
however; they spoke as if it were very doubtful whether Jason would
succeed in getting the Golden Fleece。 According to their account; the tree
on which it hung was guarded by a terrible dragon; who never failed to
devour; at one mouthful; every person who might venture within his reach。
〃There are other difficulties in the way;〃 continued the young princes。
〃But is not this enough? Ah; brave Jason; turn back before it is too late。 It
would grieve us to the heart; if you and your nine and forty brave
companions should be eaten up; at fifty mouthfuls; by this execrable
dragon。〃
〃My young friends;〃 quietly replied Jason; 〃I do not wonder that you
think the dragon very terrible。 You have grown up from infancy in the fear
of this monster; and therefore still regard him with the awe that children
feel for the bugbears and hobgoblins which their nurses have talked to
them about。 But; in my view of the matter; the dragon is merely a pretty
large serpent; who is not half so likely to snap me up at one mouthful as I
am to cut off his ugly head; and strip the skin from his body。 At all events;
turn back who may; I will never see Greece again; unless I carry with me
the Golden Fleece。〃
〃We will none of us turn back!〃 cried his nine and forty brave
comrades。 〃Let us get on board the galley this instant; and if the dragon is
to make a breakfast of us; much good may it do him。〃
And Orpheus (whose custom it was to set everything to music) began
to harp and sing most gloriously; and made every mother's son of them
feel as if nothing in this world were so delectable as to fight dragons; and
nothing so truly honorable as to be eaten up at one mouthful; in case of the
worst。
After this (being now under the guidance of the two princes; who were
well acquainted with the way); they quickly sailed to Colchis。 When the
king of the country; whose name was Aetes; heard of their arrival; he
instantly summoned Jason to court。 The king was a stern and cruel looking
potentate; and though he put on as polite and hospitable an expression as
he could; Jason did not like his face a whit better than that of the wicked
King Pelias; who dethroned his father。 〃You are welcome; brave Jason;〃
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said King Aetes。 〃Pray; are you on a pleasure voyage?Or do you
meditate the discovery of unknown islands?or what other cause has
procured me the happiness of seeing you at my court?〃
〃Great sir;〃 replied Jason; with an obeisancefor Chiron had taught
him how to behave with propriety; whether to kings or beggars〃I have
come hither with a purpose which I now beg your majesty's permission to
execute。 King Pelias; who sits on my father's throne (to which he has no
more right than to the one on which your excellent majesty is now seated);
has engaged to come down from it; and to give me his crown and sceptre;
provided I bring him the Golden Fleece。 This; as your majesty is aware; is
now hanging on a tree here at Colchis; and I humbly solicit your gracious
leave to take it away。〃 In spite of himself; the king's face twisted itself into
an angry frown; for; above all things else in the world; he prized the
Golden Fleece; and was even suspected of having done a very wicked act;
in order to get it into his own possession。 It put him into the worst possible
humor; therefore; to hear that the gallant Prince Jason; and forty…nine of
the bravest young warriors of Greece; had come to Colchis with the sole
purpose of taking away his chief treasure。
〃Do you know;〃 asked King Aetes; eyeing Jason very sternly; 〃what
are the conditions which you must fulfill before getting possession of the
Golden Fleece?〃
〃I have heard;〃 rejoined the youth; 〃that a dragon lies beneath the tree
on which the prize hangs; and that whoever approaches him runs the risk
of being devoured at a mouthful。〃
〃True;〃 said the king; with a smile that did not look particularly good…
natured。 〃Very true; young man。 But there are other things as hard; or
perhaps a little harder; to be done before you can even have the privilege
of being devoured by the dragon。 For example; you must first tame my
two brazen…footed and brazen…lunged bulls; which Vulcan; the wonderful
blacksmith; made for me。 There is a furnace in each of their stomachs; and
they breathe such hot fire out of their mouths and nostrils; that nobody has
hitherto gone nigh them without being instantly burned to a small; black
cinder。 What do you think of this; my brave Jason?〃
〃I must encounter the peril;〃 answered Jason; composedly; 〃since it
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stands in the way of my purpose。〃
〃After taming the fiery bulls;〃 continued King Aetes; who was
determined to scare Jason if possible; 〃you must yoke them to a plow; and
must plow the sacred earth in the Grove of Mars; and sow some of the
same dragon's teeth from which Cadmus raised a crop of armed men。 They
are an unruly set of reprobates; those sons of the dragon's teeth; and unless
you treat them suitably; they will fall upon you sword in hand。 You and
your nine and forty Argonauts; my bold Jason; are hardly numerous or
strong enough to fight with such a host as will spring up。〃
〃My master Chiron;〃 replied Jason; 〃taught me; long ago; the story of
Cadmus。 Perhaps I can manage the quarrelsome sons of the dragon's teeth
as well as Cadmus did。〃
〃I wish the dragon had him;〃 muttered King Aetes to himself; 〃and the
four…footed pedant; his schoolmaster; into the bargain。 Why; what a
foolhardy; self…conceited coxcomb he is! We'll see what my fire…breathing
bulls will do for him。 Well; Prince Jason;〃 he continued; aloud; and as
complaisantly as he could; 〃make yourself comfortable for to…day; and to…
morrow morning; since you insist upon it; you shall try your skill at the
plow。〃
While the king talked with Jason; a beautiful young woman was
standing behind the throne。 She fixed her eyes earnestly upon the youthful
stranger; and listened attentively to every word that was spoken; and when
Jason withdrew from the king's presence; this young woman followed him
out of the room。
〃I am the king's daughter;〃 she said to him; 〃and my name is Medea。 I
know a great deal of which other young princesses are ignorant; and can
do many things which they would be afraid so much as to dream of。 If you
will trust to me; I can instruct you how to tame the fiery bulls; and sow the
dragon's teeth; and get the Golden Fleece。〃
〃Indeed; beautiful princess;〃 answered Jason; 〃if you will do me this
service; I promise to be grateful to you my whole life long。〃' Gazing at
Medea; he beheld a wonderful intelligence in her face。 She was one of
those persons whose eyes are full of mystery; so that; while looking into
them; you seem to see a very great way; as into a deep well; yet can never
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be certain whether you see into the farthest depths; or whether there be not
something else hidden at the bottom。 If Jason had been capable of fearing
anything; he would have been afraid of making this young princess his
enemy; for; beautiful as she now looked; she might; the very next instant;
become as terrible as the dragon that kept watch over the Golden Fleece。
〃Princess;〃 he exclaimed; 〃you seem indeed very wise and very
powerful。 But how can you help me to do the things of which you speak?
Are you an enchantress?〃
〃Yes; Prince Jason;〃 answered Medea; with a smile; 〃you have hit
upon the truth。 I am an enchantress。 Circe; my father's sister; taught me to
be one; and I could tell you; if I pleased; who was the old woman with the
peacock; the pomegranate; and the cuckoo staff; whom you carried over
the river; and; likewise