the heroes(英雄们)-第7章
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the Bosphorus and the Hellespont； and drowned the fair Lectonian land。
And Zeus took that land in exchange； a fair bargain； much bad ground
for a little good； and to this day it lies waste and desert with shingle； and
rock； and sand。'
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Then they kissed Perseus； and wept over him； and he leapt down the
mountain； and went on； lessening and lessening like a sea…gull； away and
out to sea。
PART IV … HOW PERSEUS CAME TO THE
AETHIOPS
SO Perseus flitted onward to the north…east； over many a league of
sea； till he came to the rolling sand…hills and the dreary Lybian shore。
And he flitted on across the desert： over rock…ledges； and banks of
shingle； and level wastes of sand； and shell…drifts bleaching in the
sunshine； and the skeletons of great sea… monsters； and dead bones of
ancient giants； strewn up and down upon the old sea…floor。 And as he
went the blood…drops fell to the earth from the Gorgon's head； and
became poisonous asps and adders； which breed in the desert to this
day。
Over the sands he went； … he never knew how far or how long；
feeding on the fruit which the Nymphs had given him； till he saw the
hills of the Psylli； and the Dwarfs who fought with cranes。 Their spears
were of reeds and rushes； and their houses of the egg…shells of the cranes；
and Perseus laughed； and went his way to the north…east； hoping all day
long to see the blue Mediterranean sparkling； that he might fly across
it to his home。
But now came down a mighty wind； and swept him back southward
toward the desert。 All day long he strove against it； but even the
winged sandals could not prevail。 So he was forced to float down the
wind all night； and when the morning dawned there was nothing to be
seen； save the same old hateful waste of sand。
And out of the north the sandstorms rushed upon him； blood… red
pillars and wreaths； blotting out the noonday sun； and Perseus fled
before them； lest he should be choked by the burning dust。 At last the
gale fell calm； and he tried to go northward again； but again came down
the sandstorms； and swept him back into the waste； and then all was
calm and cloudless as before。 Seven days he strove against the
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storms； and seven days he was driven back； till he was spent with thirst
and hunger； and his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth。 Here and
there he fancied that he saw a fair lake； and the sunbeams shining on the
water； but when he came to it it vanished at his feet； and there was
nought but burning sand。 And if he had not been of the race of the
Immortals； he would have perished in the waste； but his life was strong
within him； because it was more than man's。
Then he cried to Athene； and said …
'Oh； fair and pure； if thou hearest me； wilt thou leave me here to die
of drought？ I have brought thee the Gorgon's head at thy bidding； and
hitherto thou hast prospered my journey； dost thou desert me at the last？
Else why will not these immortal sandals prevail； even against the desert
storms？ Shall I never see my mother more； and the blue ripple round
Seriphos； and the sunny hills of Hellas？'
So he prayed； and after he had prayed there was a great silence。
The heaven was still above his head； and the sand was still beneath
his feet； and Perseus looked up； but there was nothing but the blinding
sun in the blinding blue； and round him； but there was nothing but the
blinding sand。
And Perseus stood still a while； and waited； and said； 'Surely I am
not here without the will of the Immortals； for Athene will not lie。
Were not these sandals to lead me in the right road？ Then the road in
which I have tried to go must be a wrong road。'
Then suddenly his ears were opened； and he heard the sound of
running water。
And at that his heart was lifted up； though he scarcely dare believe
his ears； and weary as he was； he hurried forward； though he could
scarcely stand upright； and within a bowshot of him was a glen in the
sand； and marble rocks； and date… trees； and a lawn of gay green grass。
And through the lawn a streamlet sparkled and wandered out beyond the
trees； and vanished in the sand。
The water trickled among the rocks； and a pleasant breeze rustled in
the dry date…branches and Perseus laughed for joy； and leapt down the
cliff； and drank of the cool water； and ate of the dates； and slept upon the
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turf； and leapt up and went forward again： but not toward the north this
time； for he said； 'Surely Athene hath sent me hither； and will not have
me go homeward yet。 What if there be another noble deed to be done；
before I see the sunny hills of Hellas？'
So he went east； and east for ever； by fresh oases and fountains； date…
palms； and lawns of grass； till he saw before him a mighty mountain…
wall； all rose…red in the setting sun。
Then he towered in the air like an eagle； for his limbs were strong
again； and he flew all night across the mountain till the day began to
dawn； and rosy…fingered Eos came blushing up the sky。 And then；
behold； beneath him was the long green garden of Egypt and the shining
stream of Nile。
And he saw cities walled up to heaven； and temples； and obelisks；
and pyramids； and giant Gods of stone。 And he came down amid fields
of barley； and flax； and millet； and clambering gourds； and saw the
people coming out of the gates of a great city； and setting to work； each
in his place； among the water…courses； parting the streams among the
plants cunningly with their feet； according to the wisdom of the
Egyptians。 But when they saw him they all stopped their work； and
gathered round him； and cried …
'Who art thou； fair youth？ and what bearest thou beneath thy goat…
skin there？ Surely thou art one of the Immortals； for thy skin is white
like ivory； and ours is red like clay。 Thy hair is like threads of gold；
and ours is black and curled。 Surely thou art one of the Immortals；' and
they would have worshipped him then and there； but Perseus said …
'I am not one of the Immortals； but I am a hero of the Hellens。 And
I have slain the Gorgon in the wilderness； and bear her head with me。
Give me food； therefore； that I may go forward and finish my work。'
Then they gave him food； and fruit； and wine； but they would not let
him go。 And when the news came into the city that the Gorgon was
slain； the priests came out to meet him； and the maidens； with songs and
dances； and timbrels and harps； and they would have brought him to
their temple and to their king； but Perseus put on the hat of darkness； and
vanished away out of their sight。
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Therefore the Egyptians looked long for his return； but in vain； and
worshipped him as a hero； and made a statue of him in Chemmis； which
stood for many a hundred years； and they said that he appeared to them
at times； with sandals a cubit long； and that whenever he appeared the
season was fruitful； and the Nile rose high that year。
Then Perseus went to the eastward； along the Red Sea shore； and
then； because he was afraid to go into the Arabian deserts； he turned
northward once more； and this time no storm hindered him。
He went past the Isthmus； and Mount Casius； and the vast Serbonian
bog； and up the shore of Palestine； where the dark… faced AEthiops dwelt。
He flew on past pleasant hills and valleys； like Argos itself； or
Lacedaemon； or the fair Vale of Tempe。 But the lowlands were all
drowned by floods； and the highlands blasted by fire； and the hills
heaved like a babbling cauldron； before the wrath of King Poseidon； the
shaker of the earth。
And Perseus feared to go inland； but flew along the shore above the
sea； and he went on all the day； and the sky was black with smoke； and
he went on all the night； and the sky was red with flame。
And at the dawn of day he looked toward the cliffs； and at the
water's edge； under a black rock； he saw a white image stand。
'This；' thought he； 'must surely be the statue of some sea… God； I will
go near and see what kind of Gods these barbarians worship。'
So he came near； but when he came； it was no statue； but a maiden
of flesh and blood； for he could see her tresses streaming in the breeze；
and as he came closer still； he could see how she shrank and shivered
when the waves sprinkled her with cold salt spray。 Her arms were
sprea
