按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
away his bearskin and his club。'
Then they leapt across the pool； and came to him； and called the
shepherds back。 And he told them how he had slain the club…bearer：
and the shepherds kissed his feet and sang； 'Now we shall feed our
flocks in peace； and not be afraid to have music when we dance； for the
cruel club…bearer has met his match； and he will listen for our pipes no
more。' Then they brought him kid's flesh and wine； and the nymphs
brought him honey from the rocks； and he ate； and drank； and slept
again； while the nymphs and shepherds danced and sang。 And when he
woke； they begged him to stay； but he would not。 'I have a great work
to do；' he said； 'I must be away toward the Isthmus； that I may go to
Athens。'
But the shepherds said； 'Will you go alone toward Athens？ None
travel that way now； except in armed troops。'
'As for arms； I have enough； as you see。 And as for troops； an
honest man is good enough company for himself。 Why should I not go
alone toward Athens？'
'If you do； you must look warily about you on the Isthmus； lest you
meet Sinis the robber； whom men call Pituocamptes the pine…bender； for
he bends down two pine…trees； and binds all travellers hand and foot
between them； and when he lets the trees go again their bodies are torn
in sunder。'
'And after that；' said another； 'you must go inland； and not dare to
101
… Page 102…
The Heroes
pass over the cliffs of Sciron； for on the left hand are the mountains； and
on the right the sea； so that you have no escape； but must needs meet
Sciron the robber； who will make you wash his feet； and while you are
washing them he will kick you over the cliff； to the tortoise who lives
below； and feeds upon the bodies of the dead。'
And before Theseus could answer； another cried； 'And after that is a
worse danger still； unless you go inland always； and leave Eleusis far on
your right。 For in Eleusis rules Kerkuon the cruel king； the terror of all
mortals； who killed his own daughter Alope in prison。 But she was
changed into a fair fountain； and her child he cast out upon the
mountains； but the wild mares gave it milk。 And now he challenges all
comers to wrestle with him； for he is the best wrestler in all Attica； and
overthrows all who come； and those whom he overthrows he murders
miserably； and his palace…court is full of their bones。'
Then Theseus frowned； and said； 'This seems indeed an ill… ruled land；
and adventures enough in it to be tried。 But if I am the heir of it； I will
rule it and right it； and here is my royal sceptre。'
And he shook his club of bronze； while the nymphs and shepherds
clung round him； and entreated him not to go。
But on he went nevertheless； till he could see both the seas and the
citadel of Corinth towering high above all the land。 And he past swiftly
along the Isthmus； for his heart burned to meet that cruel Sinis； and in a
pine…wood at last he met him； where the Isthmus was narrowest and the
road ran between high rocks。 There he sat upon a stone by the wayside；
with a young fir…tree for a club across his knees； and a cord laid ready
by his side； and over his head； upon the fir…tops； hung the bones of
murdered men。
Then Theseus shouted to him； 'Holla； thou valiant pine… bender； hast
thou two fir…trees left for me？'
And Sinis leapt to his feet； and answered； pointing to the bones
above his head； 'My larder has grown empty lately； so I have two fir…
trees ready for thee。' And he rushed on Theseus； lifting his club； and
Theseus rushed upon him。
Then they hammered together till the greenwoods rang； but the metal
102
… Page 103…
The Heroes
was tougher than the pine； and Sinis' club broke right across； as the
bronze came down upon it。 Then Theseus heaved up another mighty
stroke； and smote Sinis down upon his face； and knelt upon his back；
and bound him with his own cord； and said； 'As thou hast done to others；
so shall it be done to thee。' Then he bent down two young fir…trees； and
bound Sinis between them for all his struggling and his prayers； and let
them go； and ended Sinis； and went on； leaving him to the hawks and
crows。
Then he went over the hills toward Megara； keeping close along the
Saronic Sea； till he came to the cliffs of Sciron； and the narrow path
between the mountain and the sea。
And there he saw Sciron sitting by a fountain； at the edge of the cliff。
On his knees was a mighty club； and he had barred the path with stones；
so that every one must stop who came up。
Then Theseus shouted to him； and said； 'Holla； thou tortoise… feeder；
do thy feet need washing to…day？'
And Sciron leapt to his feet； and answered … 'My tortoise is empty
and hungry； and my feet need washing to…day。' And he stood before his
barrier； and lifted up his club in both hands。
Then Theseus rushed upon him； and sore was the battle upon the
cliff； for when Sciron felt the weight of the bronze club； he dropt his
own； and closed with Theseus； and tried to hurl him by main force over
the cliff。 But Theseus was a wary wrestler； and dropt his own club； and
caught him by the throat and by the knee； and forced him back against
the wall of stones； and crushed him up against them； till his breath was
almost gone。 And Sciron cried panting； 'Loose me； and I will let thee
pass。' But Theseus answered； 'I must not pass till I have made the
rough way smooth；' and he forced him back against the wall till it fell；
and Sciron rolled head over heels。
Then Theseus lifted him up all bruised； and said； 'Come hither and
wash my feet。' And he drew his sword； and sat down by the well； and
said； 'Wash my feet； or I cut you piecemeal。'
And Sciron washed his feet trembling； and when it was done；
Theseus rose； and cried； 'As thou hast done to others； so shall it be done
103
… Page 104…
The Heroes
to thee。 Go feed thy tortoise thyself；' and he kicked him over the cliff
into the sea。
And whether the tortoise ate him； I know not； for some say that earth
and sea both disdained to take his body； so foul it was with sin。 So the
sea cast it out upon the shore； and the shore cast it back into the sea； and
at last the waves hurled it high into the air in anger； and it hung there
long without a grave； till it was changed into a desolate rock； which
stands there in the surge until this day。
This at least is true； which Pausanias tells； that in the royal porch at
Athens he saw the figure of Theseus modelled in clay； and by him Sciron
the robber falling headlong into the sea。
Then he went a long day's journey； past Megara； into the Attic land；
and high before him rose the snow…peaks of Cithaeron； all cold above
the black pine…woods； where haunt the Furies； and the raving Bacchae；
and the Nymphs who drive men wild； far aloft upon the dreary
mountains； where the storms howl all day long。 And on his right hand
was the sea always； and Salamis； with its island