the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第43章
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！
through the city and to the palace of King Pelias。 But no one might enter
there； and the guards laid hands upon her and held her。
Medea did not struggle with them。 She drew from the folds of her
dress one of the gleaming apples that she carried and she gave it to one of
the guards。 〃It is for King Pelias；〃 she said。 〃 Give the apple to him and
then do with me as the king would have you do。〃
The guards brought the gleaming apple to the king。 When he had taken
it into his hand and had smelled its fragrance； old trembling Pelias asked
where the apple had come from。 The guards told him it had been brought
by an ancient woman who was now outside seated on a stone in the
courtyard。
He looked on the shining apple and he felt its fragrance and he could
not help thinking； old trembling Pelias； that this apple might be the means
of bringing him back to the fullness of health and courage that he had had
before。 He sent for the ancient woman who had brought it that she might
tell him where it had come from and who it was that had sent it to him。
Then the guards brought Medea before him。
She saw an old man； white…faced and trembling； with shaking hands
and eyes that looked on her fearfully。 〃Who are you；〃 he asked； 〃and from
whence came the apple that you had them bring me？〃
Medea； standing before him； looked a withered and shrunken beldame；
a woman bent with years； but yet with eyes that were bright and living。
She came near him and she said： 〃The apple； O King； came from the
garden that is watched over by the Daughters of the Evening Land。 He
who eats it has a little of the weight of old age taken from him。 But things
more wonderful even than the shining apples grow in that far garden。
182
… Page 183…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
There are plants there the juices of which make youthful again all aged
and failing things。 The apple would bring you a little way toward the vigor
of your prime。 But the juices I have can bring you to a time more
wonderfulback even to the strength and the glory of your youth。〃
When the king heard her say this a light came into his heavy eyes； and
his hands caught Medea and drew her to him。 〃Who are you？〃 he cried；
〃who speak of the garden watched over by the Daughters of the Evening
Land？ Who are you who speak of juices that can bring back one to the
strength and glory of his youth？〃
Medea answered： 〃I am a woman who has known many and great
griefs； O king。 My griefs have brought me through the world。 Many have
searched for the garden watched over by the Daughters of the Evening
Land； but I came to it unthinkingly； and without wanting them I gathered
the gleaming apples and took from the plants there the juices that can
bring youth back。〃
Pelias said： 〃If you have been able to come by those juices； how is it
that you remain in woeful age and decrepitude？〃
She said： 〃Because of my many griefs； king； I would not renew my life。
I would be ever nearer death and the end of all things。 But you are a king
and have all things you desire at your hand beauty and state and power。
Surely if any one would desire it； you would desire to have youth back to
you。〃
Pelias； when he heard her say this； knew that besides youth there was
nothing that he desired。 After crimes that had gone through the whole of
his manhood he had secured for himself the kingdom that Cretheus had
founded。 But old age had come on him； and the weakness of old age； and
the power he had won was falling from his hands。 He would be
overthrown in his weakness； or else he would soon come to die； and there
would be an end then to his name and to his kingship。
How fortunate above all kings he would be； he thought； if it could be
that some one should come to him with juices that would renew his youth！
He looked longingly into the eyes of the ancient…seeming woman before
him； and he said： 〃How is it that you show no gains from the juices that
183
… Page 184…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
you speak of？ You are old and in woeful decrepitude。 Even if you would
not win back to youth you could have got riches and state for that which
you say you possess。〃
Then Medea said： 〃I have lost so much and have suffered so much that
I would not have youth back at the price of facing the years。 I would sink
down to the quiet of the grave。 But I hope for some ease before I diefor
the ease that is in king's houses； with good food to eat； and rest； and
servants to wait upon one's aged body。 These are the things I desire； O
Pelias； even as you desire youth。 You can give me such things； and I have
come to you who desire youth eagerly rather than to kings who have a less
eager desire for it。 To you I will give the juices that bring one back to the
strength and the glory of youth。〃
Pelias said： 〃I have only your word for it that you possess these juices。
Many there are who come and say deceiving things to a king。〃
Said Medea： 〃Let there be no more words between us； O king。 To…
morrow I will show you the virtue of the juices I have brought with me。
Have a great vat prepareda vat that a man could lay himself in with the
water covering him。 Have this vat filled with water； and bring to it the
oldest creature you can geta ram or a goat that is the oldest of their flock。
Do this； O king； and you will be shown a thing to wonder at and to be
hopeful over。〃
So Medea said； and then she turned around and left the king's presence。
Pelias called to his guards and he bade them take the woman into their
charge and treat her considerately。 The guards took Medea away。 Then all
day the king mused on what had been told him and a wild hope kept
beating about his heart。 He had the servants prepare a great vat in the
lower chambers； and he had his shepherd bring him a ram that was the
oldest in the flock。
Only Medea was permitted to come into that chamber with the king；
the ways to it were guarded； and all that took place in it was secret。 Medea
was brought to the closed door by her guard。 She opened it and she saw
the king there and the vat already prepared； she saw a ram tethered near
the vat。
184
… Page 185…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
Medea looked upon the king。 In the light of the torches his face was
white and fierce and his mouth moved gaspingly。 She spoke to him quietly；
and said： 〃There is no need for you to hear me speak。 You will watch a
great miracle； for behold！ the ram which is the oldest and feeblest in the
flock will become young and invigorated when it comes forth from this
vat。〃
She untethered the ram； and with the help of Pelias drew it to the vat。
This was not hard to do； for the beast was very feeble； its feet could hardly
bear it upright； its wool was yellow and stayed only in patches on its
shrunken body。 Easily the beast was forced into the vat。 Then Medea drew
the phial out of her bosom and poured into the water some of the brew she
had made in Creon's garden in Corinth。 The water in the vat took on a
strange bubbling； and the ram sank down。
Then Medea； standing beside the vat； sang an incantation。
〃O Earth；〃 she sang； 〃O Earth who dost provide wise men with potent
herbs； O Earth help me now。 I am she who can drive the clouds； I am she
who can dispel the winds； I am she who can break the jaws of serpents
with my incantations； I am she who can uproot living trees and rocks； who
can make the mountains shake； who can bring the ghosts from their tombs。
O Earth； help me now。〃 At this strange incantation the mixture in the vat
boiled and bubbled more and more。 Then the boiling and bubbling ceased。
Up to the surface came the ram。 Medea helped it to struggle out of the vat；
and then it turned and smote the vat with its head。
Pelias took down a torch and stood before the beast。 Vigorous indeed
was the ram； and its wool was white and grew evenly upon it。 They could
not tether it again； and when the。servants were brought into the chamber it
took two of them to drag away the ram。
The king was most eager to enter the vat and have Medea put in the
brew and speak the incantation over it。 But Medea bade him wait until the
morrow。 All night the king lay awake； thinking of how he might regain his
youth and his strength and be secure and triumphant thereafter。
At the first light he sent for Medea and he told her that he would have
the vat made ready and that he would go into it that night。 Medea looked
185
… Page 186…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
upon him； and the helplessness that he showed made her want to work a
greater evil upon him； or； if not upon him； upon his house。 How soon it
would have reached its end； all her plot for the destruction of this king！
But she would leave in the king's house a misery that would not have an
end so soon。
So she said to the king： 〃I would say the incantation over a beast of the
field； but over a king I could not say it。 Let those of your own blood be
with you when you enter the vat that will bring such change to you。 Have
your daughters there。 I will give them the juice to mix in the vat； and I will
teach them the incantation that has to be said。〃
So she said； and she made Pelias consent to having his daughters and
not Medea in the chamber of the vat。 They were sent for and they came
before Medea； the daughters of King Pelias。
They were women who had been borne down by the tyranny of their
father； they stood before him now； two dim…eyed creatures； very feeble
and fearful。 To them Medea gave the phial that had in it the liquid to mix
in the vat； also she taught them the words of the incantation； but she taught
them to use these words wrongly。
The vat was prepared in the lower chambers； Pelias and his daughters
went there； a
