tanglewood tales-第51部分

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　neck　a　terrible　long　way；　now　here；　now　there；　and　now　close　to　the　spot　where　Jason　and　the　princess　were　hiding　behind　an　oak。　Upon　my　word；　as　the　head　came　waving　and　undulating　through　the　air；　and　reaching　almost　within　arm's　length　of　Prince　Jason；　it　was　a　very　hideous　and　uncomfortable　sight。　The　gape　of　his　enormous　jaws　was　nearly　as　wide　as　the　gateway　of　the　king's　palace。

〃Well；　Jason；〃　whispered　Medea　（for　she　was　ill　natured；　as　all　enchantresses　are；　and　wanted　to　make　the　bold　youth　tremble）；　〃what　do　you　think　now　of　your　prospect　of　winning　the　Golden　Fleece？〃

Jason　answered　only　by　drawing　his　sword；　and　making　a　step　forward。

〃Stay；　foolish　youth；〃　said　Medea；　grasping　his　arm。　〃Do　not　you　see　you　are　lost；　without　me　as　your　good　angel？　In　this　gold　box　I　have　a　magic　potion；　which　will　do　the　dragon's　business　far　more　effectually　than　your　sword。〃

The　dragon　had　probably　heard　the　voices；　for　swift　as　lightning；　his　black　head　and　forked　tongue　came　hissing　among　the　trees　again；　darting　full　forty　feet　at　a　stretch。　As　it　approached；　Medea　tossed　the　contents　of　the　gold　box　right　down　the　monster's　wide…open　throat。　Immediately；　with　an　outrageous　hiss　and　a　tremendous　wriggleflinging　his　tail　up　to　the　tip…top　of　the　tallest　tree；　and　shattering　all　its　branches　as　it　crashed　heavily　down　againthe　dragon　fell　at　full　length　upon　the　ground；　and　lay　quite　motionless。

〃It　is　only　a　sleeping　potion；〃　said　the　enchantress　to　Prince　Jason。　〃One　always　finds　a　use　for　these　mischievous　creatures；　sooner　or　later；　so　I　did　not　wish　to　kill　him　outright。　Quick！　Snatch　the　prize；　and　let　us　begone。　You　have　won　the　Golden　Fleece。〃

Jason　caught　the　fleece　from　the　tree；　and　hurried　through　the　grove；　the　deep　shadows　of　which　were　illuminated　as　he　passed　by　the　golden　glory　of　the　precious　object　that　he　bore　along。　A　little　way　before　him；　he　beheld　the　old　woman　whom　he　had　helped　over　the　stream；　with　her　peacock　beside　her。　She　clapped　her　hands　for　joy；　and　beckoning　him　to　make　haste；　disappeared　among　the　duskiness　of　the　trees。　Espying　the　two　winged　sons　of　the　North　Wind　（who　were　disporting　themselves　in　the　moonlight；　a　few　hundred　feet　aloft）；　Jason　bade　them　tell　the　rest　of　the　Argonauts　to　embark　as　speedily　as　possible。　But　Lynceus；　with　his　sharp　eyes；　had　already　caught　a　glimpse　of　him；　bringing　the　Golden　Fleece；　although　several　stone　walls；　a　hill；　and　the　black　shadows　of　the　Grove　of　Mars；　intervened　between。　By　his　advice；　the　heroes　had　seated　themselves　on　the　benches　of　the　galley；　with　their　oars　held　perpendicularly；　ready　to　let　fall　into　the　water。

As　Jason　drew　near；　he　heard　the　Talking　Image　calling　to　him　with　more　than　ordinary　eagerness；　in　its　grave；　sweet　voice：

〃Make　haste；　Prince　Jason！　For　your　life；　make　haste！〃

With　one　bound；　he　leaped　aboard。　At　sight　of　the　glorious　radiance　of　the　Golden　Fleece；　the　nine　and　forty　heroes　gave　a　mighty　shout；　and　Orpheus；　striking　his　harp；　sang　a　song　of　triumph；　to　the　cadence　of　which　the　galley　flew　over　the　water；　homeward　bound；　as　if　careering　along　with　wings！





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