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！
curly hair。 Cerberus； on the other hand； was evidently rejoiced to see his
master； and expressed his attachment； as other dogs do； by wagging his tail
at a great rate。 Proserpina's eyes being drawn to it by its brisk motion； she
saw that this tail was neither more nor less than a live dragon； with fiery
eyes； and fangs that had a very poisonous aspect。 And while the three…
headed Cerberus was fawning so lovingly on King Pluto； there was the
dragon tail wagging against its will； and looking as cross and ill…natured as
you can imagine； on its own separate account。
〃Will the dog bite me？〃 asked Proserpina； shrinking closer to Pluto。
〃What an ugly creature he is！〃
〃O； never fear；〃 answered her companion。 〃He never harms people；
unless they try to enter my dominions without being sent for； or to get
away when I wish to keep them here。 Down； Cerberus！ Now； my pretty
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
109
… Page 110…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
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
110
… Page 111…
TANGLEWOOD TALES
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