第 22 节
作者:水王      更新:2021-12-07 09:36      字数:9320
  too much of life without a battle。 Every tooth of the dragon had produced
  one of these sons of deadly mischief。
  Up   sprouted   also   a   great   many   trumpeters;   and   with   the   first   breath
  that they drew; they put their brazen trumpets to their lips; and sounded a
  tremendous and ear…shattering blast; so that the whole space; just now so
  quiet and solitary; reverberated with the clash and clang of arms; the bray
  of   warlike   music;  and   the  shouts   of   angry  men。   So   enraged   did   they  all
  look; that Cadmus fully expected them to put the whole world to the sword。
  How fortunate would it be for a great conqueror; if he could get a bushel
  of the dragon's teeth to sow!
  〃Cadmus;〃 said the same voice which he had before heard; 〃throw a
  stone into the midst of the armed men。〃
  So Cadmus seized a large stone; and flinging it into the middle of the
  earth   army;   saw   it   strike  the  breastplate   of   a   gigantic   and   fierce…looking
  warrior。 Immediately on feeling the blow; he seemed to take it for granted
  that   somebody   had   struck   him;   and;   uplifting   his   weapon;   he   smote   his
  next neighbor a blow that cleft his helmet asunder; and stretched him on
  the ground。 In an instant; those nearest the fallen warrior began to strike at
  one another with their swords; and stab with their spears。 The confusion
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  spread     wider   and   wider。   Each    man    smote    down    his  brother;   and   was
  himself   smitten   down   before   he   had   time   to   exult   in   his   victory。   The
  trumpeters; all the while; blew their blasts shriller and shriller; each soldier
  shouted a battle cry; and often fell with it on his lips。 It was the strangest
  spectacle   of   causeless   wrath;   and   of   mischief   for   no   good   end;   that   had
  ever been witnessed; but; after all; it was neither more foolish nor  more
  wicked than a thousand battles that have since been fought; in which men
  have slain their brothers with just as little reason as these children of the
  dragon's teeth。 It ought to be considered; too; that the dragon people were
  made for nothing else; whereas other mortals were born to love and help
  one another。
  Well;   this   memorable   battle   continued   to   rage   until   the   ground   was
  strewn with helmeted heads that had been cut off。 Of all the thousands that
  began the fight; there were only five left standing。 These now rushed from
  different parts of the field; and; meeting in the middle of it; clashed their
  swords; and struck at each other's hearts as fiercely as ever。
  〃Cadmus;〃 said the voice again; 〃bid those five warriors sheathe their
  swords。 They will help you to build the city。〃
  Without     hesitating    an   instant;   Cadmus     stepped     forward;    with   the
  aspect   of   a   king   and   a   leader;   and   extending   his   drawn   sword   amongst
  them; spoke to the warriors in a stern and commanding voice。
  〃Sheathe your weapons!〃 said he。
  And     forthwith;    feeling   themselves      bound     to  obey    him;   the   five
  remaining sons of the dragon's teeth made him a military salute with their
  swords;   returned   them   to   the   scabbards;   and   stood   before   Cadmus   in   a
  rank; eyeing him as soldiers eye their captain; while awaiting the word of
  command。
  These five men had probably sprung from the biggest of the dragon's
  teeth; and   were   the   boldest   and   strongest of   the   whole   army。 They  were
  almost giants indeed; and had good need to be so; else they never could
  have lived through so terrible a fight。 They still had a very furious look;
  and; if Cadmus happened to glance aside; would glare at one another; with
  fire flashing out of their eyes。 It was strange; too; to observe how the earth;
  out of which they had so lately grown; was incrusted; here and there; on
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  their bright breastplates; and even; begrimed their faces; just as you may
  have seen it clinging to beets and carrots; when pulled out of their native
  soil。 Cadmus hardly knew whether to consider them as men; or some odd
  kind   of   vegetable;   although;   on   the   whole;   he   concluded   that   there   was
  human      nature    in  them;    because    they   were    so   fond   of   trumpets    and
  weapons; and so ready to shed blood。
  They looked him earnestly in the face; waiting for his next order; and
  evidently   desiring      no   other   employment   than   to   follow   him   from   one
  battlefield to another; all over the wide world。 But Cadmus was wiser than
  these earth…born creatures; with the dragon's fierceness in them; and knew
  better how to use their strength and hardihood。
  〃Come!〃   said   he。   〃You   are   sturdy   fellows。   Make   yourselves   useful!
  Quarry some stones with those great swords of yours; and help me to build
  a city。〃
  The   five   soldiers   grumbled   a   little;   and   muttered   that   it   was   their
  business to overthrow cities; not to build them up。 But Cadmus looked at
  them with   a stern   eye;   and spoke   to   them  in   a   tone of   authority;   so   that
  they knew him for their master; and never again thought of disobeying his
  commands。 They set to work in good earnest; and toiled so diligently; that;
  in a very short time; a city began to make its appearance。 At first; to be
  sure; the workmen showed a quarrelsome disposition。 Like savage beasts;
  they  would   doubtless   have   done   one  another   a   mischief;   if   Cadmus   had
  not kept watch over them; and quelled the fierce old serpent that lurked in
  their hearts; when he saw it gleaming out of their wild eyes。 But; in course
  of time; they got accustomed to honest labor; and had sense enough to feel
  that there was more true enjoyment in living at peace; and doing good to
  one's neighbor; than in striking at him with a two…edged sword。 It may not
  be too much to hope that the rest of mankind will by and by grow as wise
  and peaceable as these five earth…begrimed warriors; who sprang from the
  dragon's teeth。
  And now the city was built; and there was a home in it for each of the
  workmen。 But the palace of Cadmus was not yet erected; because they had
  left   it   till   the   last;   meaning   to   introduce   all   the   new   improvements   of
  architecture;     and    make    it  very   commodious;        as   well   as  stately   and
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  beautiful。   After   finishing   the   rest   of   their   labors;   they   all   went   to   bed
  betimes; in order   to rise   in the gray  of the   morning; and get   at least the
  foundation of the edifice laid before nightfall。 But; when Cadmus arose;
  and   took     his  way   towards      the   site   where   the   palace   was    to   be  built;
  followed by his five sturdy workmen marching all in a row; what do you
  think he saw?
  What should it be but the most magnificent palace that had ever been
  seen in the world。 It was built of marble and other beautiful kinds of stone;
  and rose high into the air; with a splendid dome and a portico along the
  front; and carved pillars; and everything else that befitted the habitation of
  a mighty king。 It had grown up out of the earth in almost as short a time as
  it   had   taken   the   armed   host   to   spring   from  the   dragon's   teeth;   and   what
  made the matter more strange; no seed of this stately edifice ever had been
  planted。
  When the five workmen beheld the dome; with the morning sunshine
  making it look golden and glorious; they gave a great shout。
  〃Long live King Cadmus;〃 they cried; 〃in his beautiful palace。〃
  And     the   new    king;    with   his   five   faithful   followers     at   his  heels;
  shouldering   their   pickaxes   and   marching   in   a   rank   (for   they   still   had   a
  soldier…like   sort   of   behavior;   as   their   nature   was);   ascended   the   palace
  steps。   Halting   at   the   entrance;   they   gazed   through   a   long   vista   of   lofty
  pillars;   that   were   ranged   from   end   to   end   of   a   great   hall。 At   the   farther
  extremity of this hall; approaching slowly towards him; Cadmus beheld a
  female figure; wonderfully beautiful; and adorned with a royal robe; and a
  crown of diamonds over her golden ringlets; and the richest necklace that
  ever a queen wore。 His heart thrilled with delight。 He fancied it his long…
  lost sister Europa; now grown to womanhood; coming to make him happy;
  and   to   repay   him