按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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；
100
… Page 101…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
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
101
… Page 102…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
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 dispositions； instead of going about under the guise
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 br