the heroes(英雄们)-第11章
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and lawless； and did many a fearful deed； and at last he drove out AEson
his step…brother； and then his own brother Neleus； and took the kingdom
to himself； and ruled over the rich Minuan heroes； in Iolcos by the sea。
And AEson； when he was driven out； went sadly away out of the
town； leading his little son by the hand； and he said to himself； 'I must
hide the child in the mountains； or Pelias will surely kill him； because he
is the heir。'
So he went up from the sea across the valley； through the vineyards
and the olive groves； and across the torrent of Anauros； toward Pelion
the ancient mountain； whose brows are white with snow。
He went up and up into the mountain； over marsh； and crag； and
down； till the boy was tired and footsore； and AEson had to bear him in
his arms； till he came to the mouth of a lonely cave； at the foot of a
mighty cliff。
Above the cliff the snow…wreaths hung； dripping and cracking in the
sun； but at its foot around the cave's mouth grew all fair flowers and
herbs； as if in a garden； ranged in order； each sort by itself。 There they
grew gaily in the sunshine； and the spray of the torrent from above；
while from the cave came the sound of music； and a man's voice singing
to the harp。
Then AEson put down the lad； and whispered …
'Fear not； but go in； and whomsoever you shall find； lay your hands
upon his knees； and say； 〃In the name of Zeus； the father of Gods and
men； I am your guest from this day forth。〃'
Then the lad went in without trembling； for he too was a hero's son；
but when he was within； he stopped in wonder to listen to that magic
song。
And there he saw the singer lying upon bear…skins and fragrant
boughs： Cheiron； the ancient centaur； the wisest of all things beneath
the sky。 Down to the waist he was a man； but below he was a noble
horse； his white hair rolled down over his broad shoulders； and his white
beard over his broad brown chest； and his eyes were wise and mild； and
his forehead like a mountain…wall。
And in his hands he held a harp of gold； and struck it with a golden
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key； and as he struck； he sang till his eyes glittered； and filled all the
cave with light。
And he sang of the birth of Time； and of the heavens and the dancing
stars； and of the ocean； and the ether； and the fire； and the shaping of the
wondrous earth。 And he sang of the treasures of the hills； and the
hidden jewels of the mine； and the veins of fire and metal； and the
virtues of all healing herbs； and of the speech of birds； and of prophecy；
and of hidden things to come。
Then he sang of health； and strength； and manhood； and a valiant
heart； and of music； and hunting； and wrestling； and all the games which
heroes love： and of travel； and wars； and sieges； and a noble death in
fight； and then he sang of peace and plenty； and of equal justice in the
land； and as he sang the boy listened wide…eyed； and forgot his errand in
the song。
And at the last old Cheiron was silent； and called the lad with a soft
voice。
And the lad ran trembling to him； and would have laid his hands
upon his knees； but Cheiron smiled； and said； 'Call hither your father
AEson； for I know you； and all that has befallen； and saw you both afar
in the valley； even before you left the town。'
Then AEson came in sadly； and Cheiron asked him； 'Why camest
you not yourself to me； AEson the AEolid？'
And AEson said …
'I thought； Cheiron will pity the lad if he sees him come alone； and I
wished to try whether he was fearless； and dare venture like a hero's son。
But now I entreat you by Father Zeus； let the boy be your guest till better
times； and train him among the sons of the heroes； that he may avenge
his father's house。'
Then Cheiron smiled； and drew the lad to him； and laid his hand
upon his golden locks； and said； 'Are you afraid of my horse's hoofs； fair
boy； or will you be my pupil from this day？'
'I would gladly have horse's hoofs like you； if I could sing such
songs as yours。'
And Cheiron laughed； and said； 'Sit here by me till sundown； when
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your playfellows will come home； and you shall learn like them to be a
king； worthy to rule over gallant men。'
Then he turned to AEson； and said； 'Go back in peace； and bend
before the storm like a prudent man。 This boy shall not cross the
Anauros again； till he has become a glory to you and to the house of
AEolus。'
And AEson wept over his son and went away； but the boy did not
weep； so full was his fancy of that strange cave； and the centaur； and his
song； and the playfellows whom he was to see。
Then Cheiron put the lyre into his hands； and taught him how to play
it； till the sun sank low behind the cliff； and a shout was heard outside。
And then in came the sons of the heroes； AEneas； and Heracles； and
Peleus； and many another mighty name。
And great Cheiron leapt up joyfully； and his hoofs made the cave
resound； as they shouted； 'Come out； Father Cheiron； come out and see
our game。' And one cried； 'I have killed two deer；' and another； 'I took
a wild cat among the crags；' and Heracles dragged a wild goat after him
by its horns； for he was as huge as a mountain crag； and Coeneus carried
a bear…cub under each arm； and laughed when they scratched and bit；
for neither tooth nor steel could wound him。
And Cheiron praised them all； each according to his deserts。
Only one walked apart and silent； Asclepius； the too…wise child； with
his bosom full of herbs and flowers； and round his wrist a spotted snake；
he came with downcast eyes to Cheiron； and whispered how he had
watched the snake cast its old skin； and grow young again before his
eyes； and how he had gone down into a village in the vale； and cured a
dying man with a herb which he had seen a sick goat eat。
And Cheiron smiled； and said； 'To each Athene and Apollo give
some gift； and each is worthy in his place； but to this child they have
given an honour beyond all honours； to cure while others kill。'
Then the lads brought in wood； and split it； and lighted a blazing fire；
and others skinned the deer and quartered them； and set them to roast
before the fire； and while the venison was cooking they bathed in the
snow…torrent； and washed away the dust and sweat。
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And then all ate till they could eat no more （for they had tasted
nothing since the dawn）； and drank of the clear spring water； for wine is
not fit for growing lads。 And when the remnants were put away； they
all lay down upon the skins and leaves about the fire； and each took the
lyre in turn； and sang and played with all his heart。
And after a while they all went out to a plot of grass at the cave's
mouth； and there they boxed； and ran； and wrestled； and laughed till the
stones fell from the cliffs。
Then Cheiron took his lyre； and all the lads joined hands； and as be
played； they danced to his measure； in and out； and round and round。
There they danced hand in hand； till the night fell over land and sea；
while the black glen shone with their broad white limbs and the gleam of
their golden hair。
And the lad danced with them； delighted； and then slept a
wholesome sleep； upon fragrant leaves of bay； and myrtle； and marjoram；
and flowers of thyme； and rose at the dawn； and bathed in the torrent；
and became a schoolfellow to the heroes' sons； and forgot Iolcos； and his
father； and all his former life。 But he grew strong； and brave and
cunning； upon the pleasant downs of Pelion； in the keen hungry
mountain air。 And he learnt to wrestle； and to box； and to hunt； and
to play upon the harp； and next he learnt to ride； for old Cheiron used to
mount him on his back； and he learnt the virtues of all herbs and how to
cure all wounds； and Cheiron called him Jason the healer； and that is his
name until this day。
PART II … HOW JASON LOST HIS SANDAL IN
ANAUROS
AND ten years came and went； and Jason was grown to be a mighty
man。 Some of his fellows were gone； and some were growing up by
his side。 Asclepius was gone into Peloponnese to work his wondrous
cures on men； and some say he used to raise the dead to life。 And
Heracles was gone to Thebes to fulfil those famous labours which have
become a proverb among men。 And Peleus had married a sea…nymph；
