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tanglewood tales(探戈林故事)-第14部分

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when his deep; regular breathing gave them notice that he was asleep; they 

assembled together in an immense crowd; spreading over a space of about 

twenty…seven feet square。 One of their most eloquent orators (and a valiant 

warrior enough; besides; though hardly so good at any other weapon as he 

was   with   his   tongue)   climbed   upon   a   toadstool;   and;   from   that   elevated 

position;   addressed   the   multitude。   His   sentiments   were   pretty   much   as 

follows; or; at all events; something like this was probably the upshot of 

his speech: 

     〃Tall Pygmies and mighty little men! You and all of us have seen what 

a public   calamity  has   been brought   to pass;  and   what   an   insult has  here 

been offered to the majesty of our nation。 Yonder lies Antaeus; our great 

friend and brother; slain; within our territory; by a miscreant who took him 

at disadvantage; and fought him (if fighting it can be called) in a way that 

neither   man;   nor   Giant;   nor   Pygmy   ever   dreamed   of   fighting;   until   this 

hour。 And; adding a grievous contumely to the wrong already done us; the 

miscreant has now fallen asleep as quietly as if nothing were to be dreaded 

from our wrath! It behooves you; fellow…countrymen; to consider in what 

aspect   we   shall   stand   before   the   world;   and   what   will   be   the   verdict   of 

impartial     history;   should    we   suffer    these   accumulated      outrages     to  go 

unavenged。 

     〃Antaeus was our brother; born of that same beloved parent to whom 

we   owe   the   thews   and   sinews;   as   well   as   the   courageous   hearts;   which 

made   him   proud   of   our   relationship。   He   was   our   faithful   ally;   and   fell 

fighting   as   much   for   our   national   rights   and   immunities   as   for   his   own 

personal ones。 We and our forefathers have dwelt in friendship with him; 

and   held   affectionate   intercourse   as   man   to   man;   through   immemorial 

generations。 You remember how often our entire people have reposed in 



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his great shadow; and how our little ones have played at hide…and…seek in 

the tangles of his hair; and how his mighty footsteps have familiarly gone 

to and fro among us; and never trodden upon any of our toes。 And there 

lies   this  dear   brother   this  sweet    and   amiable    friendthis   brave    and 

faithful ally…this virtuous   Giantthis blameless   and excellent Antaeus 

dead! Dead! Silent! Powerless! A mere mountain of clay! Forgive my tears! 

Nay; I behold your own。 Were we to drown the world with them; could the 

world blame us? 

     〃But to resume: Shall we; my countrymen; suffer this wicked stranger 

to depart unharmed; and triumph in his treacherous victory; among distant 

communities   of   the   earth?   Shall   we   not   rather   compel   him   to   leave   his 

bones here on our soil; by the side of our slain brother's bones? so that; 

while    one   skeleton    shall   remain    as  the  everlasting    monument       of  our 

sorrow; the other shall endure as long; exhibiting to the whole human race 

a terrible example of Pygmy vengeance! Such is the question。 I put it to 

you in full confidence of a response that shall be worthy of our national 

character; and calculated to increase; rather than diminish; the glory which 

our ancestors have transmitted to us; and which we ourselves have proudly 

vindicated in our warfare with the cranes。〃 

     The orator was here interrupted by a burst of irrepressible enthusiasm; 

every     individual    Pygmy     crying    out  that   the  national    honor    must   be 

preserved   at   all   hazards。   He   bowed;   and;   making   a   gesture   for   silence; 

wound up his harangue in the following admirable manner: 

     〃It only remains for us; then; to decide whether we shall carry on the 

war in our national capacityone united people against a common enemy… 

…or whether some champion; famous in former fights; shall be selected to 

defy the slayer of our brother Antaeus to single combat。 In the latter case; 

though not unconscious that there may be taller men among you; I hereby 

offer   myself   for   that   enviable   duty。   And   believe   me;   dear   countrymen; 

whether     I  live  or  die;  the   honor   of   this  great  country;    and   the  fame 

bequeathed us by our heroic progenitors; shall suffer no diminution in my 

hands。 Never; while I can wield this sword; of which I now fling away the 

scabbardnever; never; never; even if the crimson hand that slew the great 

Antaeus shall lay me prostrate; like him; on the soil which I give my life to 



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defend。〃 

     So saying; this valiant Pygmy drew out his weapon (which was terrible 

to behold; being as long as the blade of a penknife); and sent the scabbard 

whirling over the heads of the multitude。 His speech was followed by an 

uproar     of  applause;    as   its  patriotism   and    self…devotion     unquestionably 

deserved; and the shouts and clapping of hands would have been greatly 

prolonged;       had   they    not   been    rendered     quite   inaudible     by   a   deep 

respiration; vulgarly called a snore; from the sleeping Hercules。 

     It was finally decided that the whole nation of Pygmies should set to 

work   to   destroy   Hercules;   not;   be   it   understood;   from   any   doubt   that   a 

single    champion      would     be  capable     of  putting    him   to  the   sword;    but 

because   he   was   a   public   enemy;   and   all   were   desirous   of   sharing   in   the 

glory of his defeat。 There was a debate whether the national honor did not 

demand that a herald should be sent with a trumpet; to stand over the ear 

of   Hercules;   and   after   blowing   a   blast   right   into   it;   to   defy   him   to   the 

combat by formal proclamation。 But two or three venerable and sagacious 

Pygmies;   well   versed   in   state   affairs;   gave   it   as   their   opinion   that   war 

already existed; and that it was their rightful privilege to take the enemy 

by   surprise。   Moreover;   if   awakened;   and   allowed   to   get   upon   his   feet; 

Hercules might happen to do them a mischief before he could be beaten 

down   again。   For;   as   these   sage   counselors   remarked;   the   stranger's   club 

was really very big; and had rattled like a thunderbolt against the skull of 

Antaeus。 So the Pygmies resolved to set aside all foolish punctilios; and 

assail their antagonist at once。 

     Accordingly; all the fighting men of the nation took their weapons; and 

went boldly up to Hercules; who still lay fast asleep; little dreaming of the 

harm   which   the   Pygmies   meant   to   do   him。 A  body   of   twenty   thousand 

archers marched in front; with their little bows all ready; and the arrows on 

the   string。   The   same   number   were   ordered   to   clamber   upon   Hercules; 

some with spades to dig his eyes out; and others with bundles of hay; and 

all manner of rubbish with which they intended to plug up his mouth and 

nostrils; so   that   he   might   perish   for   lack   of   breath。 These   last;   however; 

could by no means perform their appointed duty; inasmuch as the enemy's 

breath rushed out of his nose in an obstreperous hurricane and whirlwind; 



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which   blew   the   Pygmies   away   as   fast   as   they   came   nigh。   It   was   found 

necessary;   therefore;   to   hit   upon   some   other   method   of   carrying   on   the 

war。 

     After   holding   a   council;   the   captains   ordered   their   troops   to   collect 

sticks; straws; dry weeds; and whatever combustible stuff they could find; 

and make a pile of it; heaping it high around the head of Hercules。 As a 

great    many   thousand      Pygmies     were    employed      in  this  task;  they   soon 

brought together several bushels of inflammatory matter; and raised so tall 

a heap; that; mounting on its summit; they were quite upon a level with the 

sleeper's   face。   The   archers;   meanwhile;   were   stationed   within   bow   shot; 

with   orders   to   let   fly   at   Hercules   the   instant   that   he   stirred。   Everything 

being   in   readiness;   a   torch   was   applied   to   the   pile;   which   immediately 

burst into flames; and soon waxed hot enough to roast the enemy; had he 

but chosen to lie still。 A Pygmy; you know; though so very small; might set 

the world on fire; just as easily as a Giant could; so that this was certainly 

the very best way of dealing with their foe; p
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