第 16 节
作者:水王      更新:2021-12-07 09:35      字数:9319
  When the animal saw (for the bull had so much intelligence that it is
  really   wonderful   to   think   of);   when   he   saw   that   Europa   was   no   longer
  afraid   of   him;   he   grew   overjoyed;   and   could   hardly   contain   himself   for
  delight。    He    frisked   about    the  meadow;      now    here;   now    there;  making
  sprightly leaps; with as little effort as a bird expends in hopping from twig
  to twig。 Indeed; his motion was as light as if he were flying through the air;
  and   his   hoofs   seemed   hardly   to   leave   their   print   in   the   grassy   soil   over
  which he trod。 With his spotless hue; he   resembled a snow drift;  wafted
  along by the wind。 Once he galloped so far away that Europa feared lest
  she   might   never   see   him   again;   so;   setting   up   her   childish   voice;   called
  him back。
  〃Come       back;   pretty   creature!〃     she   cried。   〃Here    is  a  nice   clover
  blossom。〃
  And then it was delightful to witness the gratitude of this amiable bull;
  and how he was so full of joy and thankfulness that he capered higher than
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  ever。 He came running; and bowed his head before Europa; as if he knew
  her to be a king's daughter; or else recognized the important truth that a
  little girl is everybody's queen。 And not only did the bull bend his neck; he
  absolutely   knelt   down   at   her   feet;   and   made   such   intelligent   nods;   and
  other inviting gestures; that Europa understood what he meant just as well
  as if he had put it in so many words。
  〃Come; dear child;〃 was what he wanted to say; 〃let me give you a ride
  on my back。〃
  At the first thought of such a thing; Europa drew back。 But then she
  considered in her wise little head that there could be no possible harm in
  taking just one gallop on the back of this docile and friendly animal; who
  would certainly set her down the very instant she desired it。 And how it
  would   surprise   her   brothers   to   see   her   riding   across   the   green   meadow!
  And what merry times they might have; either taking turns for a gallop; or
  clambering on the gentle creature; all four children together; and careering
  round the field with shouts of laughter that would be heard as far off as
  King Agenor's palace!
  〃I think I will do it;〃 said the child to herself。
  And; indeed; why not? She cast a glance around; and caught a glimpse
  of Cadmus; Phoenix; and Cilix; who were still in pursuit of the butterfly;
  almost at the other end of the meadow。 It would be the quickest way of
  rejoining them; to get upon the white bull's back。 She came a step nearer
  to him therefore; andsociable creature that he washe showed so much
  joy at this mark of her confidence; that the child could not find in her heart
  to hesitate any longer。  Making one bound (for this little princess was   as
  active   as   a   squirrel);   there   sat   Europa   on   the   beautiful   bull;   holding   an
  ivory horn in each hand; lest she should fall off。
  〃Softly; pretty bull; softly!〃 she said; rather frightened at what she had
  done。 〃Do not gallop too fast。〃
  Having got the child on his back; the animal gave a leap into the air;
  and came down so like a feather that Europa did not know when his hoofs
  touched the ground。 He then began a race to that part of the flowery plain
  where     her   three  brothers    were;   and   where    they   had   just  caught   their
  splendid butterfly。 Europa screamed with delight; and Phoenix; Cilix; and
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  Cadmus stood gaping at the spectacle of their sister mounted on a white
  bull; not knowing whether to be frightened or to wish the same good luck
  for themselves。 The gentle and innocent creature (for who could possibly
  doubt that he was so?) pranced round among the children as sportively as
  a kitten。 Europa all the while looked down upon her brothers; nodding and
  laughing; but   yet   with a   sort   of stateliness in her   rosy little   face。 As the
  bull   wheeled   about   to   take   another   gallop   across   the   meadow;   the   child
  waved her hand; and said; 〃Good…bye;〃 playfully pretending that she was
  now bound on a distant journey; and might not see her brothers again for
  nobody could tell how long。
  〃Good…bye;〃 shouted Cadmus; Phoenix; and Cilix; all in one breath。
  But; together   with   her   enjoyment   of   the sport;   there   was   still   a   little
  remnant of fear in the child's heart; so that her last look at the three boys
  was a troubled one; and made them feel as if their dear sister were really
  leaving   them   forever。 And   what   do   you   think   the   snowy   bull   did   next?
  Why;   he   set   off;   as   swift   as   the   wind;   straight   down   to   the   seashore;
  scampered across the sand; took an airy leap; and plunged right in among
  the foaming billows。 The white spray rose in a shower over him and little
  Europa; and fell spattering down upon the water。
  Then what a scream of terror did the poor child send forth! The three
  brothers screamed manfully; likewise; and ran to the shore as fast as their
  legs   would   carry   them;   with   Cadmus   at   their   head。   But   it   was   too   late。
  When   they   reached   the   margin   of   the   sand;   the   treacherous   animal   was
  already far away in the wide blue sea; with only his snowy head and tail
  emerging;  and   poor   little   Europa between them;  stretching out one hand
  towards her dear brothers; while she grasped the bull's ivory horn with the
  other。   And   there   stood   Cadmus;   Phoenix;   and   Cilix;   gazing   at   this   sad
  spectacle;   through   their   tears;   until   they   could   no   longer   distinguish   the
  bull's snowy head from the white…capped billows that seemed to boil up
  out   of   the   sea's   depths   around   him。   Nothing   more   was   ever   seen   of   the
  white bullnothing more of the beautiful child。
  This was a mournful story; as you may well think; for the three boys to
  carry home to their parents。 King Agenor; their father; was the ruler of the
  whole   country;   but   he   loved   his   little   daughter   Europa   better   than   his
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  kingdom; or than all his other children; or than anything else in the world。
  Therefore; when Cadmus and his two brothers came crying home; and told
  him how that a white bull had carried off their sister; and swam with her
  over    the   sea;  the  king   was    quite   beside   himself    with   grief   and   rage。
  Although it was now twilight; and fast growing dark; he bade them set out
  instantly in search of her。
  〃Never shall you see my face again;〃 he cried; 〃unless you bring me
  back my little Europa; to gladden me with her smiles and her pretty ways。
  Begone; and enter my presence no more; till you come leading her by the
  hand。〃
  As   King   Agenor   said   this;   his   eyes   flashed   fire   (for   he   was   a   very
  passionate king); and he looked so terribly angry that the poor boys did not
  even venture to ask for their suppers; but slunk away out of the palace; and
  only paused on the steps a moment to consult whither they should go first。
  While     they    were   standing     there;   all  in  dismay;    their   mother;    Queen
  Telephassa   (who   happened   not   to   be   by   when   they  told   the   story  to   the
  king); came hurrying after them; and said that she too would go in quest of
  her daughter。
  〃O;   no;   mother!〃   cried   the   boys。   〃The   night   is   dark;   and   there   is   no
  knowing what troubles and perils we may meet with。〃
  〃Alas! my dear children;〃 answered poor Queen Telephassa; weeping
  bitterly; 〃that is only another reason why I should go with you。 If I should
  lose you; too; as well as my little Europa; what would become of me!〃
  〃And   let   me   go   likewise!〃   said   their   playfellow   Thasus;   who   came
  running to join them。
  Thasus was the son of a seafaring person in the neighborhood; he had
  been brought up with the young princes; and was their intimate friend; and
  loved   Europa   very   much;   so   they   consented   that   he   should   accompany
  them。   The   whole   party;   therefore;   set   forth   together。   Cadmus;   Phoenix;
  Cilix; and Thasus clustered round Queen Telephassa; grasping her skirts;
  and begging her to lean upon their shoulders whenever she felt weary。 In
  this manner they went down the palace steps; and began a journey; which
  turned   out   to   be   a   great