the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第38章
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She and all in her house kept up fun with Heracles。 They would set
him to do housework； to carry water； and set vessels on the tables； and
clear the vessels away。 Omphale set him to spin with a spindle as the
women did。 And often she would put on Heracles's lion skin and go about
dragging his club； while he； dressed in woman's garb； washed dishes and
emptied pots。
But he would lose patience with these servant's tasks； and then
Omphale would let him go away and perform some great exploit。 Often he
went on long journeys and stayed away for long times。 It was while he
was in slavery to Omphale that he liberated Theseus from the dungeon in
which he was held with Peirithous； and it was while he still was in slavery
that he made his journey to Troy。
At Troy he helped to repair for King Laomedon the great walls that
years before Apollo and Poseidon had built around the city。 As a reward
for this labor he was offered the Princess Hesione in marriage； she was the
daughter of King Laomedon； and the sister of Priam； who was then called；
not Priam but Podarces。 He helped to repair the wall； and two of the
Argonauts were there to aid him： one was Peleus and the other was
Telamon。 Peleus did not stay for long： Telamon stayed； and to reward
Telamon Heracles withdrew his own claim for the hand of the Princess
Hesione。 It was not hard on Heracles to do this； for his thoughts were ever
upon Deianira。 But Telamon rejoiced； for he loved Hesione greatly。 On
the day they married Heracles showed the two an eagle in the sky。 He said
it was sent as an omen to theman omen for their marriage。 And in
memory of that omen Telamon named his son 〃Alas〃； that is； 〃Eagle。〃
Then the walls of Troy were repaired and Heracles turned toward
Lydia； Omphale's home。 Not long would he have to serve Omphale now；
for his three years' slavery was n arly over。 Soon he would go back to
Calydon and wed Deianira。
As he went along the road to Lydia he thought of all the pleasantries
that had been made in Omphale's house and he laughed at the memory of
them。 Lydia was a friendly country； and even though he had been in
slavery Heracles had had his good times there。
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He was tired with the journey and made sleepy with the heat of the sun；
and when he came within sight of Omphale's house he lay down by the
side of the road； first taking off his armor； and laying aside his bow； his
quiver； and his shield。 He wakened up to see two men looking down upon
him； he knew that these were the Cercopes； robbers who waylaid travelers
upon this road。 They were laughing as they looked down on him； and
Heracles saw that they held his arms and his armor in their hands。
They thought that this man； for all his tallness； would yield to them
when he saw that they had his arms and his armor。 But Heracles sprang up；
and he caught one by the waist and the other by the neck； and he turned
them upside down and tied them together by the heels。 Now he held them
securely and he would take them to the town and give them over to those
whom they had waylaid and robbed。 He hung them by their heels across
his shoulders and marched on。
But the robbers； as they were being bumped along； began to relate
pleasantries and mirthful tales to each other； and Heracles； listening； had
to laugh。 And one said to the other； 〃O my brother； we are in the position
of the frogs when the mice fell upon them with such fury。〃 And the other
said； 〃Indeed nothing can save us if Zeus does not send an ally to us as he
sent an ally to the frogs。〃 And the first robber said； 〃Who began that
conflict； the frogs or the mice？〃 And thereupon the second robber； his head
reaching down to Heracles's waist； began：
THE BATTLE OF THE FROGS AND MICE
A warlike mouse came down to the brink of a pond for no other reason
than to take a drink of water。 Up to him hopped a frog。 Speaking in the
voice of one who had rule and authority； the frog said：
〃Stranger to our shore； you may not know it； but I am Puff Jaw； king of
the frogs。 I do not speak to common mice； but you； as I judge； belong to
the noble and kingly sort。 Tell me your race。 If I know it to be a noble one
I shall show you my kingly friendship。〃
The mouse； speaking haughtily； said： 〃I am Crumb Snatcher； and my
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race is a famous one。 My father is the heroic Bread Nibbler； and he
married Quern Licker； the lovely daughter of a king。 Like all my race I am
a warrior who has never been wont to flinch in battle。 Moreover； I have
been brought up as a mouse of high degree； and figs and nuts； cheese and
honeycakes is the provender that I have been fed on。〃
Now this reply of Crumb Snatcher pleased the kingly frog greatly。
〃Come with me to my abode； illustrious Crumb Snatcher；〃 said he； 〃and I
shall show you such entertainment as may be found in the house of a
king。〃
But the mouse looked sharply at him。 〃How may I get to your house？〃
he asked。 〃We live in different elements； you and I。 We mice want to be in
the driest of dry places； while you frogs have your abodes in the water。〃
〃Ah；〃 answered Puff jaw； 〃you do not know how favored the frogs are
above all other creatures。 To us alone the gods have given the power to
live both in the water and on the land。 I shall take you to my land palace
that is the other side of the pond。〃
〃How may I go there with you？〃 asked Crumb Snatcher the mouse；
doubtfully。
〃Upon my back；〃 said the frog。 〃Up now； noble Crumb Snatcher。 And
as we go I will show you the wonders of the deep。〃
He offered his back and Crumb Snatcher bravely mounted。 The mouse
put his forepaws around the frog's neck。 Then Puff jaw swam out。 Crumb
Snatcher at first was pleased to feel himself moving through the water。 But
as the dark waves began to rise his mighty heart began to quail。 He longed
to be back upon the land。 He groaned aloud。
〃How quickly we get on；〃 cried Puff Jaw； 〃soon we shall be at my land
palace。〃
Heartened by this speech； Crumb Snatcher put his tail into the water
and worked it as a steering oar。 On and on they went； and Crumb Snatcher
gained heart for the adventure。 What a wonderful tale he would have to
tell to the clans of the mice！
But suddenly； outof the depths of the pond； a water snake raised his
horrid head。 Fearsome did that head seem to both mouse and frog。 And
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forgetful of the guest that he carried upon his back； Puff jaw dived down
into the water。 He reached the bottom of the pond and lay on the mud in
safety。
But far from safety was Crumb Snatcher the mouse。 He sank and rose；
and sank again。 His wet fur weighed him down。 But before he sank for the
last time he lifted up his voice and cried out and his cry was heard at the
brink of the pond：
〃Ah； Puff Jaw； treacherous frog！ An evil thing you have done； leaving
me to drown in the middle of the pond。 Had you faced me on the land I
should have shown you which of us two was the better warrior。 Now I
must lose my life in the water。 But I tell you my death shall not go
unavengedthe cowardly frogs will be punished for the ill they have done
to me who am the son of the king of the mice。〃
Then Crumb Snatcher sank for the last time。 But Lick Platter； who was
at the brink of the pond； had heard his words。 Straightway this mouse
rushed to the hole of Bread Nibbler and told him of the death of his
princely son。
Bread Nibbler called out the clans of the mice。 The warrior mice
armed themselves； and this was the grand way of their arming：
First； the mice put on greaves that covered their forelegs。 These they
made out of bean shells broken in two。 For shield； each had a lamp's
centerpiece。 For spears they had the long bronze needles that they had
carried out of the houses of men。 So armed and so accoutered they were
ready to war upon the frogs。 And Bread Nibbler； their king； shouted to
them： 〃Fall upon the cowardly frogs； and leave not one alive upon the
bank of the pond。 Henceforth that bank is ours； and ours only。 Forward！ 〃
And； on the other side； Puff jaw was urging the frogs to battle。 〃Let us
take our places on the edge of the pond；〃 he said； 〃and when the mice
come amongst us； let each catch hold of one and throw him into the pond。
Thus we will get rid of these dry bobs； the mice。〃
The frogs applauded the speech of their king； and straightway they
went to their armor and their weapons。 Their legs they covered with the
leaves of mallow。 For breastplates they had the leaves of beets。 Cabbage
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leaves； well cut； made their strong shields。 They took their spears from the
pond sidedeadly pointed rushes they were； and they placed upon their
heads helmets that were empty snail shells。 So armed and so accoutered
they were ready to meet the grand attack of the mice。
When the robber came to this part of the story Heracles halted his
march； for he was shaking with laughter。 The robber stopped in his story。
Heracles slapped him on the leg and said： 〃What more of the heroic
exploits of the mice？〃 The second robber said； 〃I know no more； but
perhaps my brother at the other side of you can tell
