tanglewood tales-第22部分

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d　of　two　and　twenty　thrones；　which　had　before　been　ranged　around　the　wall；　there　was　now　only　a　single　throne；　in　the　center　of　the　apartment。　But　this　was　surely　the　most　magnificent　seat　that　ever　a　king　or　an　emperor　reposed　himself　upon；　all　made　of　chased　gold；　studded　with　precious　stones；　with　a　cushion　that　looked　like　a　soft　heap　of　living　roses；　and　overhung　by　a　canopy　of　sunlight　which　Circe　knew　how　to　weave　into　drapery。　The　enchantress　took　Ulysses　by　the　hand；　and　made　him　sit　down　upon　this　dazzling　throne。　Then；　clapping　her　hands；　she　summoned　the　chief　butler。

〃Bring　hither；〃　said　she；　〃the　goblet　that　is　set　apart　for　kings　to　drink　out　of。　And　fill　it　with　the　same　delicious　wine　which　my　royal　brother；　King　Aetes；　praised　so　highly；　when　he　last　visited　me　with　my　fair　daughter　Medea。　That　good　and　amiable　child！　Were　she　now　here；　it　would　delight　her　to　see　me　offering　this　wine　to　my　honored　guest。〃

But　Ulysses；　while　the　butler　was　gone　for　the　wine；　held　the　snow…white　flower　to　his　nose。

〃Is　it　a　wholesome　wine？〃　he　asked。

At　this　the　four　maidens　tittered；　whereupon　the　enchantress　looked　round　at　them；　with　an　aspect　of　severity。

〃It　is　the　wholesomest　juice　that　ever　was　squeezed　out　of　the　grape；〃　said　she；　〃for；　instead　of　disguising　a　man；　as　other　liquor　is　apt　to　do；　it　brings　him　to　his　true　self；　and　shows　him　as　he　ought　to　be。〃

The　chief　butler　liked　nothing　better　than　to　see　people　turned　into　swine；　or　making　any　kind　of　a　beast　of　themselves；　so　he　made　haste　to　bring　the　royal　goblet；　filled　with　a　liquid　as　bright　as　gold；　and　which　kept　sparkling　upward；　and　throwing　a　sunny　spray　over　the　brim。　But；　delightfully　as　the　wine　looked；　it　was　mingled　with　the　most　potent　enchantments　that　Circe　knew　how　to　concoct。　For　every　drop　of　the　pure　grape　juice　there　were　two　drops　of　the　pure　mischief；　and　the　danger　of　the　thing　was；　that　the　mischief　made　it　taste　all　the　better。　The　mere　smell　of　the　bubbles；　which　effervesced　at　the　brim；　was　enough　to　turn　a　man's　beard　into　pig's　bristles；　or　make　a　lion's　claws　grow　out　of　his　fingers；　or　a　fox's　brush　behind　him。

〃Drink；　my　noble　guest；〃　said　Circe；　smiling；　as　she　presented　him　with　the　goblet。　〃You　will　find　in　this　draught　a　solace　for　all　your　troubles。〃

King　Ulysses　took　the　goblet　with　his　right　hand；　while　with　his　left　he　held　the　snow…white　flower　to　his　nostrils；　and　drew　in　so　long　a　breath　that　his　lungs　were　quite　filled　with　its　pure　and　simple　fragrance。　Then；　drinking　off　all　the　wine；　he　looked　the　enchantress　calmly　in　the　face。

〃Wretch；〃　cried　Circe；　giving　him　a　smart　stroke　with　her　wand；　〃how　dare　you　keep　your　human　shape　a　moment　longer！　Take　the　form　of　the　brute　whom　you　most　resemble。　If　a　hog；　go　join　your　fellow…swine　in　the　sty；　if　a　lion；　a　wolf；　a　tiger；　go　howl　with　the　wild　beasts　on　the　lawn；　if　a　fox；　go　exercise　your　craft　in　stealing　poultry。　Thou　hast　quaffed　off　my　wine；　and　canst　be　man　no　longer。〃

But；　such　was　the　virtue　of　the　snow…white　flower；　instead　of　wallowing　down　from　his　throne　in　swinish　shape；　or　taking　any　other　brutal　form；　Ulysses　looked　even　more　manly　and　king…like　than　before。　He　gave　the　magic　goblet　a　toss；　and　sent　it　clashing　over　the　marble　floor　to　the　farthest　end　of　the　saloon。　Then；　drawing　his　sword；　he　seized　the　enchantress　by　her　beautiful　ringlets；　and　made　a　gesture　as　if　he　meant　to　strike　off　her　head　at　one　blow。

〃Wicked　Circe；〃　cried　he；　in　a　terrible　voice；　〃this　sword　shall　put　an　end　to　thy　enchant　meets。　Thou　shalt　die；　vile　wretch；　and　do　no　more　mischief　in　the　world；　by　tempting　human　beings　into　the　vices　which　make　beasts　of　them。〃

The　tone　and　countenance　of　Ulysses　were　so　awful；　and　his　sword　gleamed　so　brightly；　and　seemed　to　have　so　intolerably　keen　an　edge；　that　Circe　was　almost　killed　by　the　mere　fright；　without　waiting　for　a　blow。　The　chief　butler　scrambled　out　of　the　saloon；　picking　up　the　golden　goblet　as　he　went；　and　the　enchantress　and　the　four　maidens　fell　on　their　knees；　wringing　their　hands；　and　screaming　for　mercy。

〃Spare　me！〃　cried　Circe。　〃Spare　me；　royal　and　wise　Ulysses。　For　now　I　know　that　thou　art　he　of　whom　Quicksilver　forewarned　me；　the　most　prudent　of　mortals；　against　whom　no　enchantments　can　prevail。　Thou　only　couldst　have　conquered　Circe。　Spare　me；　wisest　of　men。　I　will　show　thee　true　hospitality；　and　even　give　myself　to　be　thy　slave；　and　this　magnificent　palace　to　be　henceforth　thy　home。〃

The　four　nymphs；　meanwhile；　were　making　a　most　piteous　ado；　and　especially　the　ocean　nymph；　with　the　sea…green　hair；　wept　a　great　deal　of　salt　water；　and　the　fountain　nymph；　besides　scattering　dewdrops　from　her　fingers'　ends；　nearly　melted　away　into　tears。　But　Ulysses　would　not　be　pacified　until　Circe　had　taken　a　solemn　oath　to　change　back　his　companions；　and　as　many　others　as　he　should　direct；　from　their　present　forms　of　beast　or　bird　into　their　former　shapes　of　men。

〃On　these　conditions；〃　said　he；　〃I　consent　to　spare　your　life。　Otherwise　you　must　die　upon　the　spot。〃

With　a　drawn　sword　hanging　over　her；　the　enchantress　would　readily　have　consented　to　do　as　much　good　as　she　had　hitherto　done　mischief；　however　little　she　might　like　such　employment。　She　therefore　led　Ulysses　out　of　the　back　entrance　of　the　palace；　and　showed　him　the　swine　in　their　sty。　There　were　about　fifty　of　these　unclean　beasts　in　the　whole　herd；　and　though　the　greater　part　were　hogs　by　birth　and　education；　there　was　wonderfully　little　difference　to　be　seen　betwixt　them　and　their　new　brethren；　who　had　so　recently　worn　the　human　shape。　To　speak　critically；　indeed；　the　latter　rather　carried　the　thing　to　excess；　and　seemed　to　make　it　a　point　to　wallow　in　the　miriest　part　of　the　sty；　and　otherwise　to　outdo　the　original　swine　in　their　own　natural　vocation。　When　men　once　turn　to　brutes；　the　trifle　of　man's　wit　that　remains　in　them　adds　tenfold　to　their　brutality。

The　comrades　of　Ulysses；　however；　had　not　quite　lost　the　remembrance　of　having　formerly　stood　erect。　When　he　approached　the　sty；　two　and　twenty　enormous　swine　separated　themselves　from　the　herd；　and　scampered　towards　him；　with　such　a　chorus　of　horrible　squealing　as　made　him　clap　both　hands　to　his　ears。　And　yet　they　did　not　seem　to　know　what　they　wanted；　nor　whether　they　were　merely　hungry；　or　miserable　from　some　other　cause。　It　was　curious；　in　the　midst　of　their　distress；　to　observe　them　thrusting　their　noses　into　the　mire；　in　quest　of　something　to　eat。　The　nymph　with　the　bodice　of　oaken　bark　（she　was　the　hamadryad　of　an　oak）　threw　a　handful　of　acorns　among　them；　and　the　two　and　twenty　hogs　scrambled　and　fought　for　the　prize；　as　if　they　had　tasted　not　so　much　as　a　noggin　of　sour　milk　for　a　twelvemonth。

〃These　must　certainly　be　my　comrades；〃　said　Ulysses。　〃I　recognize　their　dispositions。　They　are　hardly　worth　the　trouble　of　changing　them　into　the　human　form　again。　Nevertheless；　we　will　have　it　done；　lest　their　bad　example　should　corrupt　the　other　hogs。　Let　them　take　their　original　shapes；　therefore；　Dame　Circe；　if　your　skill　is　equal　to　the　task。　It　will　require　greater　magic；　I　trow；　than　it　did　to　make　swine　of　them。〃

So　Circe　waved　her　wand　again；　and　repeated　a　few　magic　words；　at　the　sound　of　which　the　two　and　twenty　hogs　pricked　up　their　pendulous　ears。　It　was　a　wonder　to　behold　how　their　snouts　grew　shorter　and　shorter；　and　their　mouths　（which　they　seemed　to　be　sorry　for；　because　they　could　not　gobble　so　expeditiously）　smaller　and　smaller；　and　how　one　and　another　began　to　stand　upon　his　hind　legs；　and　scratch　his　nose　with　his　fore　trotters。　At　first　the　spectators　hardly　knew　whether　to　call　them　hogs　or　men；　but　by　and　by　came　to　the　conclusion　that　they　rather　resembled　the　latter。　Finally；　there　stood　the　twenty…two　comrades　of　Ulysses；　looking　pretty　much　the　same　as　when　they　left　the　vessel。

You　must　not　imagine；　however；　that　the　swinish　quality　had　entirely　gone　out　of　them。　When　once　it　fastens　itself　into　a　person's　character；　it　is　very　difficult　getting　rid　of　it。　This　was　proved　by　the　hamadryad；　who；　being　exceedingly　fond　of　mischief；　threw　another　handful　of　acorns　before　the　twenty…　two　newly…restored　people；　whereupon　down　they　wallowed　in　a　moment；　and　gobbled　them　up　in　a　very　shameful　way。　Then；　recollecting　themselves；　they　scrambled　to　their　feet；　and　looked　more　than　commonly　foolish。

〃Thanks；　noble　Ulysses！〃　they　cried。　〃From　brute　beasts　you　have　restored　us　to　the　condition　of　men　again。〃

〃Do　not　put　yourselves　to　the　trouble　of　thanking　me；〃　said　the　wise　king。　〃I　fear　I　have　done　but　little　for　you。〃

To　say　the　truth；　there　was　a　suspicious　kind　of　a　grunt　in　their　voices；　and；　for　a　long　time　afterwards；　they　spoke　gruffly；　and　were　apt　to　set　up　a　squeal。

〃It　must　depend　on　your　own　future　behavior；〃　added　Ulysses；　〃whether　you　do　not　find　your　way　back　to　the　sty。〃

At　this　moment；　the　note　of　a　bird　sounded　from　the　branch　of　a　neighboring　tree。

〃Peep；　peep；　peweee！〃

It　was　the　purple　bird；　who；　all　this　while；　had　been　sitting　over　their　heads；　watching　what　was　going　forward；　and　hoping　that　Ulysses　would　remember　how　he　had　done　his　utmost　to　keep　him　and　his　followers　out　of　harm's　way。　Ulysses　ordered　Circe　instantly　to　make　a　king　of　this　good　little　fowl；　and　leave　him　exactly　as　she　found　him。　Hardly　were　the　words　spoken；　and　before　the　bird　had　time　to　utter　another　〃peweep；〃　King　Picus　leaped　down　from　the　bough　of　a　tree；　as　majestic　a　sovereign　as　any　in　the　world；　dressed　in　a　long　purple　robe　and　gorgeous　yellow　stockings；　with　a　splendidly　wrought　collar　about　his　neck；　and　a　golden　crown　upon　his　head。　He　and　King　Ulysses　exchanged　with　one　another　the　courtesies　which　belong　to　their　elevated　rank。　But　from　that　time　forth；　King　Picus　was　no　longer　proud　of　his　crown　and　his　trappings　of　royalty；　nor　of　the　fact　of　his　being　a　king；　he　felt　himself　merely　the　upper　servant　of　his　people；　and　that　it　must　be　his　life…long　labor　to　make　them　better　and　happier。

As　for　the　lions；　tigers；　and　wolves　（though　Circe　would　have　restored　them　to　their　former　shapes　at　his　slightest　word）；　Ulysses　thought　it　advisable　that　they　should　remain　as　they　now　were；　and　thus　give　warning　of　their　cruel　dis