the heroes(英雄们)-第20部分
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should forget the lesson she had taught。
And every furrow heaved and bubbled； and out of every clod arose a
man。 Out of the earth they rose by thousands； each clad from head to
foot in steel； and drew their swords and rushed on Jason； where he stood
in the midst alone。
Then the Minuai grew pale with fear for him； but Aietes laughed a
bitter laugh。 'See！ if I had not warriors enough already round me； I
could call them out of the bosom of the earth。'
But Jason snatched off his helmet； and hurled it into the thickest of
the throng。 And blind madness came upon them； suspicion； hate； and
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fear； and one cried to his fellow； 'Thou didst strike me！' and another；
'Thou art Jason； thou shalt die！' So fury seized those earth…born
phantoms； and each turned his hand against the rest； and they fought and
were never weary； till they all lay dead upon the ground。 Then the
magic furrows opened； and the kind earth took them home into her
breast and the grass grew up all green again above them； and Jason's
work was done。
Then the Minuai rose and shouted； till Prometheus heard them from
his crag。 And Jason cried； 'Lead me to the fleece this moment； before
the sun goes down。'
But Aietes thought； 'He has conquered the bulls； and sown and
reaped the deadly crop。 Who is this who is proof against all magic？
He may kill the serpent yet。' So he delayed； and sat taking counsel with
his princes till the sun went down and all was dark。 Then he bade a
herald cry； 'Every man to his home for to…night。 To…morrow we will
meet these heroes； and speak about the golden fleece。'
Then he turned and looked at Medeia。 'This is your doing； false
witch…maid！ You have helped these yellow…haired strangers； and
brought shame upon your father and yourself！'
Medeia shrank and trembled； and her face grew pale with fear； and
Aietes knew that she was guilty； and whispered； 'If they win the fleece；
you die！'
But the Minuai marched toward their ship； growling like lions
cheated of their prey； for they saw that Aietes meant to mock them； and
to cheat them out of all their toil。 And Oileus said； 'Let us go to the
grove together； and take the fleece by force。'
And Idas the rash cried； 'Let us draw lots who shall go in first； for；
while the dragon is devouring one； the rest can slay him and carry off the
fleece in peace。' But Jason held them back； though he praised them； for
he hoped for Medeia's help。
And after awhile Medeia came trembling； and wept a long while
before she spoke。 And at last …
'My end is come； and I must die； for my father has found out that I
have helped you。 You he would kill if he dared； but he will not harm
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you； because you have been his guests。 Go then； go； and remember
poor Medeia when you are far away across the sea。' But all the heroes
cried …
'If you die； we die with you； for without you we cannot win the
fleece； and home we will not go without it； but fall here fighting to the
last man。'
'You need not die；' said Jason。 'Flee home with us across the sea。
Show us first how to win the fleece； for you can do it。 Why else are
you the priestess of the grove？ Show us but how to win the fleece； and
come with us； and you shall be my queen； and rule over the rich princes
of the Minuai； in Iolcos by the sea。'
And all the heroes pressed round； and vowed to her that she should
be their queen。
Medeia wept； and shuddered； and hid her face in her hands； for her
heart yearned after her sisters and her playfellows； and the home where
she was brought up as a child。 But at last she looked up at Jason； and
spoke between her sobs …
'Must I leave my home and my people； to wander with strangers
across the sea？ The lot is cast； and I must endure it。 I will show you
how to win the golden fleece。 Bring up your ship to the wood…side； and
moor her there against the bank； and let Jason come up at midnight； and
one brave comrade with him； and meet me beneath the wall。'
Then all the heroes cried together； 'I will go！' 'and I！' 'and I！' And
Idas the rash grew mad with envy； for he longed to be foremost in all
things。 But Medeia calmed them； and said； 'Orpheus shall go with
Jason； and bring his magic harp； for I hear of him that he is the king of
all minstrels； and can charm all things on earth。'
And Orpheus laughed for joy； and clapped his hands； because the
choice had fallen on him； for in those days poets and singers were as
bold warriors as the best。
So at midnight they went up the bank； and found Medeia； and beside
came Absyrtus her young brother； leading a yearling lamb。
Then Medeia brought them to a thicket beside the War…god's gate；
and there she bade Jason dig a ditch； and kill the lamb； and leave it there；
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and strew on it magic herbs and honey from the honeycomb。
Then sprang up through the earth； with the red fire flashing before
her； Brimo the wild witch…huntress； while her mad hounds howled
around。 She had one head like a horse's； and another like a ravening
hound's； and another like a hissing snake's； and a sword in either hand。
And she leapt into the ditch with her hounds； and they ate and drank
their fill； while Jason and Orpheus trembled； and Medeia hid her eyes。
And at last the witch…queen vanished； and fled with her hounds into the
woods； and the bars of the gates fell down； and the brazen doors flew
wide； and Medeia and the heroes ran forward and hurried through the
poison wood； among the dark stems of the mighty beeches； guided by
the gleam of the golden fleece； until they saw it hanging on one vast tree
in the midst。 And Jason would have sprung to seize it； but Medeia
held him back； and pointed； shuddering； to the tree… foot； where the mighty
serpent lay； coiled in and out among the roots； with a body like a
mountain pine。 His coils stretched many a fathom； spangled with
bronze and gold； and half of him they could see； but no more； for the rest
lay in the darkness far beyond。
And when he saw them coming he lifted up his head； and watched
them with his small bright eyes； and flashed his forked tongue； and
roared like the fire among the woodlands； till the forest tossed and
groaned。 For his cries shook the trees from leaf to root； and swept over
the long reaches of the river； and over Aietes' hall； and woke the sleepers
in the city； till mothers clasped their children in their fear。
But Medeia called gently to him； and he stretched out his long
spotted neck； and licked her hand； and looked up in her face； as if to ask
for food。 Then she made a sign to Orpheus； and he began his magic
song。
And as he sung； the forest grew calm again； and the leaves on every
tree hung still； and the serpent's head sank down； and his brazen coils
grew limp； and his glittering eyes closed lazily； till he breathed as gently
as a child； while Orpheus called to pleasant Slumber； who gives peace to
men； and beasts； and waves。
Then Jason leapt forward warily； and stept across that mighty snake；
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and tore the fleece from off the tree…trunk； and the four rushed down the
garden； to the bank where the ARGO lay。
There was a silence for a moment； while Jason held the golden
fleece on high。 Then he cried； 'Go now； good ARGO； swift and steady；
if ever you would see Pelion more。'
And she went； as the heroes drove her； grim and silent all； with
muffled oars； till the pine…wood bent like willow in their hands； and
stout ARGO groaned beneath thei
