Among the Pygmies, I suppose, if one of them grew to the height of six or eight inches, he was reckoned a prodigiously2 tall man. It must have been very pretty to behold3 their little cities, with streets two or three feet wide, paved with the smallest pebbles4, and bordered by habitations about as big as a squirrel's cage. The king's palace attained5 to the stupendous magnitude of Periwinkle's baby house, and stood in the center of a spacious7 square, which could hardly have been covered by our hearth8 rug. Their principal temple, or cathedral, was as lofty as yonder bureau, and was looked upon as a wonderfully sublime9 and magnificent edifice10. All these structures were built neither of stone nor wood. They were neatly11 plastered together by the Pygmy workmen, pretty much like birds' nests, out of straw, feathers, egg shells, and other small bits of stuff, with stiff clay instead of mortar13; and when the hot sun had dried them, they were just as snug14 and comfortable as a Pygmy could desire.
The country round about was conveniently laid out in fields, the largest of which was nearly of the same extent as one of Sweet Fern's flower beds. Here the Pygmies used to plant wheat and other kinds of grain, which, when it grew up and ripened15, overshadowed these tiny people, as the pines, and the oaks, and the walnut16 and chestnut17 trees overshadow you and me, when we walk in our own tracts18 of woodland. At harvest time, they were forced to go with their little axes and cut down the grain, exactly as a woodcutter makes a clearing in the forest; and when a stalk of wheat, with its overburdened top, chanced to come crashing down upon an unfortunate Pygmy, it was apt to be a very sad affair. If it did not smash him all to pieces, at least, I am sure, it must have made the poor little fellow's head ache. And O, my stars! if the fathers and mothers were so small, what must the children and babies have been? A whole family of them might have been put to bed in a shoe, or have crept into an old glove, and played hide and seek in its thumb and fingers. You might have hidden a year-old baby under a thimble.
Now these funny Pygmies, as I told you before, had a Giant for their neighbor and brother, who was bigger, if possible, than they were little. He was so very tall that he carried a pine tree, which was eight feet through the butt19, for a walking stick. It took a far-sighted Pygmy, I can assure you, to discern his summit without the help of a telescope; and sometimes, in misty20 weather, they could not see his upper half, but only his long legs, which seemed to be striding about by themselves. But at noonday, in a clear atmosphere, when the sun shone brightly over him, the Giant Ant?us presented a very grand spectacle. There he used to stand, a perfect mountain of a man, with his great countenance21 smiling down upon his little brothers, and his one vast eye (which was as big as a cart wheel, and placed right in the center of his forehead) giving a friendly wink6 to the whole nation at once.
This giant and these pygmies were all brethren.
The Pygmies loved to talk with Ant?us; and fifty times a day, one or another of them would turn up his head, and shout through the hollow of his fists, "Halloo, brother Ant?us! How are you, my good fellow?" And when the small, distant squeak22 of their voices reached his ear, the Giant would make answer, "Pretty well, brother Pygmy, I thank you," in a thunderous roar that would have shaken down the walls of their strongest temple, only that it came from so far aloft.
It was a happy circumstance that Ant?us was the Pygmy people's friend; for there was more strength in his little finger than in ten million of such bodies as theirs. If he had been as ill-natured to them as he was to everybody else, he might have beaten down their biggest city at one kick, and hardly have known that he did it. With the tornado23 of his breath, he could have stripped the roofs from a hundred dwellings24, and sent thousands of the inhabitants whirling through the air. He might have set his immense foot upon a multitude; and when he took it up again, there would have been a pitiful sight, to be sure. But, being the son of Mother Earth, as they likewise were, the Giant gave them his brotherly kindness, and loved them with as big a love as it was possible to feel for creatures so very small. And, on their parts, the Pygmies loved Ant?us with as much affection as their tiny hearts could hold. He was always ready to do them any good offices that lay in his power; as for example, when they wanted a breeze to turn their wind mills, the Giant would set all the sails a-going with the mere25 natural respiration26 of his lungs. When the sun was too hot, he often sat himself down, and let his shadow fall over the kingdom, from one frontier to the other; and as for matters in general, he was wise enough to let them alone, and leave the Pygmies to manage their own affairs—which, after all, is about the best thing that great people can do for little ones.
In short, as I said before, Ant?us loved the Pygmies, and the Pygmies loved Ant?us. The Giant's life being as long as his body was large, while the lifetime of a Pygmy was but a span, this friendly intercourse27 had been going on for innumerable generations and ages. It was written about in the Pygmy histories, and talked about in their ancient traditions. The most venerable and white-bearded Pygmy had never heard of a time even, in his greatest of grandfather's days, when the Giant was not their enormous friend. Once, to be sure, (as was recorded on an obelisk28, three feet high, erected29 on the place of the catastrophe,) Ant?us sat down upon about five thousand Pygmies who were assembled at a military review. But this was one of those unlucky accidents for which nobody is to blame; so that the small folks never took it to heart and only requested the Giant to be careful forever afterwards to examine the acre of ground where he intended to squat30 himself.
THE GIANT GAVE THEM HIS BROTHERLY KINDNESS
It is a very pleasant picture to imagine Ant?us standing31 among the Pygmies, like the spire32 of the tallest cathedral that ever was built, while they ran about like pismires at his feet, and to think that, in spite of their difference in size, there were affection and sympathy between them and him! Indeed, it has always seemed to me that the Giant needed the little people more than the Pygmies needed the Giant. For, unless they had been his neighbors and well wishers, and, as we may say, his playfellows, Ant?us would not have had a single friend in the world. No other being like himself had ever been created. No creature of his own size had ever talked with him, in thunder-like accents, face to face. When he stood with his head among the clouds, he was quite alone, and had been so for hundreds of years, and would be so forever. Even if he had met another Giant, Ant?us would have fancied the world not big enough for two such vast personages, and, instead of being friends with him, would have fought him till one of the two was killed. But with the Pygmies he was the most sportive, and humorous, and merry-hearted, and sweet-tempered old Giant that ever washed his face in a wet cloud.
His little friends, like all other small people, had a great opinion of their own importance, and used to assume quite a patronizing air towards the giant.
"Poor creature!" they said one to another. "He has a very dull time of it, all by himself; and we ought not to grudge33 wasting a little of our precious time to amuse him. He is not half so bright as we are, to be sure; and, for that reason, he needs us to look after his comfort and happiness. Let us be kind to the old fellow. Why, if Mother Earth had not been very kind to ourselves, we might all have been Giants too."
On all their holidays, the Pygmies had excellent sport with Ant?us. He often stretched himself out at full length on the ground, where he looked like the long ridge34 of a hill; and it was a good hour's walk, no doubt, for a short-legged Pygmy to journey from head to foot of the Giant. He would lay down his great hand flat on the grass, and challenge the tallest of them to clamber upon it, and straddle from finger to finger. So fearless were they, that they made nothing of creeping in among the folds of his garments. When his head lay sidewise on the earth, they would march boldly up, and peep into the great cavern35 of his mouth, and take it all as a joke (as indeed it was meant) when Ant?us gave a sudden snap with his jaws36, as if he were going to swallow fifty of them at once. You would have laughed to see the children dodging37 in and out among his hair, or swinging from his beard. It is impossible to tell half of the funny tricks that they played with their huge comrade; but I do not know that anything was more curious than when a party of boys were seen running races on his forehead, to try which of them could get first round the circle of his one great eye. It was another favorite feat12 with them to march along the bridge of his nose, and jump down upon his upper lip.
If the truth must be told, they were sometimes as troublesome to the Giant as a swarm38 of ants or mosquitoes, especially as they had a fondness for mischief39, and liked to prick40 his skin with their little swords and lances, to see how thick and tough it was. But Ant?us took it all kindly41 enough; although, once in a while, when he happened to be sleepy, he would grumble42 out a peevish43 word or two, like the muttering of a tempest, and ask them to have done with their nonsense. A great deal oftener, however, he watched their merriment and gambols44 until his huge, heavy, clumsy wits were completely stirred up by them; and then would he roar out such a tremendous volume of immeasurable laughter, that the whole nation of Pygmies had to put their hands to their ears, else it would certainly have deafened45 them.
"Ho! ho! ho!" quoth the Giant, shaking his mountainous sides. "What a funny thing it is to be little! If I were not Ant?us, I should like to be a Pygmy, just for the joke's sake."
The Pygmies had but one thing to trouble them in the world. They were constantly at war with the cranes, and had always been so, ever since the long-lived Giant could remember. From time to time, very terrible battles had been fought, in which sometimes the little men won the victory, and sometimes the cranes. According to some historians, the Pygmies used to go to the battle, mounted on the backs of goats and rams46; but such animals as these must have been far too big for Pygmies to ride upon; so that, I rather suppose, they rode on squirrelback, or rabbitback, or ratback, or perhaps got upon hedge-hogs, whose prickly quills47 would be very terrible to the enemy. However this might be, and whatever creatures the Pygmies rode upon, I do not doubt that they made a formidable appearance, armed with sword and spear, and bow and arrow, blowing their tiny trumpet48, and shouting their little war cry. They never failed to exhort49 one another to fight bravely, and recollect50 that the world had its eyes upon them; although, in simple truth, the only spectator was the Giant Ant?us, with his one, great, stupid eye, in the middle of his forehead.
When the two armies joined battle, the cranes would rush forward, flapping their wings and stretching out their necks, and would perhaps snatch up some of the Pygmies crosswise in their beaks51. Whenever this happened, it was truly an awful spectacle to see those little men of might kicking and sprawling52 in the air, and at last disappearing down the crane's long, crooked53 throat, swallowed up alive. A hero, you know, must hold himself in readiness for any kind of fate; and doubtless the glory of the thing was a consolation54 to him, even in the crane's gizzard. If Ant?us observed that the battle was going hard against his little allies, he generally stopped laughing, and ran with mile-long strides to their assistance, flourishing his club aloft and shouting at the cranes, who quacked55 and croaked56, and retreated as fast as they could. Then the Pygmy army would march homeward in triumph, attributing the victory entirely57 to their own valor58, and to the warlike skill and strategy of whomsoever happened to be captain general; and for a tedious while afterwards, nothing would be heard of but grand processions, and public banquets, and brilliant illuminations, and shows of waxwork59, with likenesses of the distinguished60 officers, as small as life.
They were constantly at war with the cranes.
In the above-described warfare61, if a Pygmy chanced to pluck out a crane's tail feather, it proved a very great feather in his cap. Once or twice, if you will believe me, a little man was made chief ruler of the nation for no other merit in the world than bringing home such a feather.
But I have now said enough to let you see what a gallant62 little people these were, and how happily they and their forefathers63, for nobody knows how many generations, had lived with the immeasurable Giant Ant?us. In the remaining part of the story, I shall tell you of a far more astonishing battle than any that was fought between the Pygmies and the cranes.
One day the mighty64 Ant?us was lolling at full length among his little friends. His pine tree walking stick lay on the ground, close by his side. His head was in one part of the kingdom, and his feet extended across the boundaries of another part; and he was taking whatever comfort he could get, while the Pygmies scrambled65 over him, and peeped into his cavernous mouth, and played among his hair. Sometimes, for a minute or two, the Giant dropped asleep, and snored like the rush of a whirlwind. During one of these little bits of slumber66, a Pygmy chanced to climb upon his shoulder, and took a view around the horizon, as from the summit of a hill; and he beheld67 something, a long way off, which made him rub the bright specks68 of his eyes, and look sharper than before. At first he mistook it for a mountain, and wondered how it had grown up so suddenly out of the earth. But soon he saw the mountain move. As it came nearer and nearer, what should it turn out to be but a human shape, not so big as Ant?us, it is true, although a very enormous figure, in comparison with the Pygmies, and a vast deal bigger than the men whom we see nowadays.
When the Pygmy was quite satisfied that his eyes had not deceived him, he scampered69, as fast as his legs would carry him, to the Giant's ear, and stooping over its cavity, shouted lustily into it,—
"Halloo, brother Ant?us! Get up this minute, and take your pine tree walking stick in your hand. Here comes another Giant to have a tussle70 with you."
"Poh, poh!" grumbled71 Ant?us, only half awake. "None of your nonsense, my little fellow! Don't you see I'm sleepy. There is not a Giant on earth for whom I would take the trouble to get up."
But the Pygmy looked again, and now perceived that the stranger was coming directly towards the prostrate72 form of Ant?us. With every step, he looked less like a blue mountain, and more like an immensely large man. He was soon so nigh, that there could be no possible mistake about the matter. There he was, with the sun flaming on his golden helmet, and flashing from his polished breastplate; he had a sword by his side, and a lion's skin over his back, and on his right shoulder he carried a club, which looked bulkier and heavier than the pine-tree walking stick of Ant?us.
By this time, the whole nation of Pygmies had seen the new wonder, and a million of them set up a shout, all together; so that it really made quite an audible squeak.
"Get up, Ant?us! Bestir yourself, you lazy old Giant! Here comes another Giant, as strong as you are, to fight with you."
Still the stranger drew nearer; and now the Pygmies could plainly discern that, if his stature were less lofty than the Giant's, yet his shoulders were even broader. And, in truth, what a pair of shoulders they must have been! As I told you, a long while ago, they once upheld the sky. The Pygmies, being ten times as vivacious74 as their great numskull of a brother, could not abide76 the Giant's slow movements, and were determined77 to have him on his feet. So they kept shouting to him, and even went so far as to prick him with their swords.
"Get up, get up, get up!" they cried. "Up with you, lazy bones! The strange Giant's club is bigger than your own, his shoulders are the broadest, and we think him the stronger of the two."
Ant?us could not endure to have it said that any mortal was half so mighty as himself. This latter remark of the Pygmies pricked78 him deeper than their swords, and, sitting up, in rather a sulky humor, he gave a gape79 of several yards wide, rubbed his eye, and finally turned his stupid head in the direction whither his little friends were eagerly pointing.
No sooner did he set his eye on the stranger, than, leaping on his feet, and seizing his walking stick, he strode a mile or two to meet him; all the while brandishing80 the sturdy pine tree, so that it whistled through the air.
There was one strange thing about Ant?us, of which I have not yet told you, lest, hearing of so many wonders all in a lump, you might not believe much more than half of them. You are to know, then, that whenever this redoubtable82 Giant touched the ground, either with his hand, his foot, or any other part of his body, he grew stronger than ever he had been before. The Earth, you remember, was his mother, and was very fond of him, as being almost the biggest of her children; and so she took this method of keeping him always in full vigor83. Some persons affirm that he grew ten times stronger at every touch; others say that it was only twice as strong. But only think of it! Whenever Ant?us took a walk, supposing it were but ten miles, and that he stepped a hundred yards at a stride, you may try to cipher84 out how much mightier85 he was, on sitting down again, than when he first started. And whenever he flung himself on the earth to take a little repose86, even if he got up the very next instant, he would be as strong as exactly ten just such Giants as his former self. It was well for the world that Ant?us happened to be of a sluggish87 disposition88, and liked ease better than exercise; for, if he had frisked about like the Pygmies, and touched the earth as often as they did, he would long ago have been strong enough to pull down the sky about people's ears. But these great lubberly fellows resemble mountains, not only in bulk, but in their disinclination to move.
Any other mortal man, except the very one whom Ant?us had now encountered, would have been half frightened to death by the Giant's ferocious89 aspect and terrible voice. But the stranger did not seem at all disturbed. He carelessly lifted his club, and balanced it in his hand measuring Ant?us with his eye, from head to foot, not as if wonder-smitten at his stature, but as if he had seen a great many Giants before, and this was by no means the biggest of them. In fact, if the Giant had been no bigger than the Pygmies, (who stood pricking90 up their ears, and looking and listening to what was going forward,) the stranger could not have been less afraid of him.
"Who are you, I say?" roared Ant?us again. "What's your name? Why do you come hither? Speak, you vagabond, or I'll try the thickness of your skull75 with my walking stick."
"You are a very discourteous91 Giant," answered the stranger, quietly, "and I shall probably have to teach you a little civility, before we part. As for my name, it is Hercules. I have come hither because this is my most convenient road to the garden of the Hesperides, whither I am going to get three of the golden apples for King Eurystheus."
"Caitiff, you shall go no farther!" bellowed92 Ant?us, putting on a grimmer look than before; for he had heard of the mighty Hercules, and hated him because he was said to be so strong. "Neither shall you go back whence you came!"
"How will you prevent me," asked Hercules, "from going whither I please?"
"By hitting you a rap with this pine tree here," shouted Ant?us, scowling94 so that he made himself the ugliest monster in Africa. "I am fifty times stronger than you; and, now that I stamp my foot upon the ground, I am five hundred times stronger! I am ashamed to kill such a puny95 little dwarf96 as you seem to be. I will make a slave of you, and you shall likewise be the slave of my brethren, here, the Pygmies. So throw down your club and your other weapons; and as for that lion's skin, I intend to have a pair of gloves made of it."
"Come and take it off my shoulders, then," answered Hercules, lifting his club.
Then the Giant, grinning with rage, strode tower-like towards the stranger, (ten times strengthened at every step,) and fetched a monstrous97 blow at him with his pine tree, which Hercules caught upon his club; and being more skilful98 than Ant?us, he paid him back such a rap upon the sconce, that down tumbled the great lumbering99 man-mountain, flat upon the ground. The poor little Pygmies (who really never dreamed that anybody in the world was half so strong as their brother Ant?us) were a good deal dismayed at this. But no sooner was the Giant down, than up he bounced again, with tenfold might, and such a furious visage as was horrible to behold. He aimed another blow at Hercules, but struck awry101, being blinded with wrath102, and only hit his poor innocent Mother Earth, who groaned103 and trembled at the stroke. His pine tree went so deep into the ground, and stuck there so fast, that, before Ant?us could get it out, Hercules brought down his club across his shoulders with a mighty thwack, which made the Giant roar as if all sorts of intolerable noises had come screeching104 and rumbling105 out of his immeasurable lungs in that one cry. Away it went, over mountains and valleys, and, for aught I know, was heard on the other side of the African deserts.
As for the Pygmies, their capital city was laid in ruins by the concussion106 and vibration107 of the air; and, though there was uproar108 enough without their help, they all set up a shriek109 out of three millions of little throats, fancying, no doubt, that they swelled110 the Giant's bellow93 by at least ten times as much. Meanwhile, Ant?us had scrambled upon his feet again, and pulled his pine tree out of the earth; and, all aflame with fury, and more outrageously111 strong than ever, he ran at Hercules, and brought down another blow.
But once more Hercules warded113 off the stroke with his club, and the Giant's pine tree was shattered into a thousand splinters, most of which flew among the Pygmies, and did them more mischief than I like to think about. Before Ant?us could get out of the way, Hercules let drive again, and gave him another knock-down blow, which sent him heels over head, but served only to increase his already enormous and insufferable strength. As for his rage, there is no telling what a fiery114 furnace it had now got to be. His one eye was nothing but a circle of red flame. Having now no weapons but his fists, he doubled them up, (each bigger than a hogshead,) smote115 one against the other, and danced up and down with absolute frenzy116, flourishing his immense arms about, as if he meant not merely to kill Hercules, but to smash the whole world to pieces.
"Come on!" roared this thundering Giant. "Let me hit you but one box on the ear, and you'll never have the headache again."
Now Hercules (though strong enough, as you already know, to hold the sky up) began to be sensible that he should never win the victory, if he kept on knocking Ant?us down; for, by and by, if he hit him such hard blows, the Giant would inevitably117, by the help of his Mother Earth, become stronger than the mighty Hercules himself. So, throwing down his club, with which he had fought so many dreadful battles, the hero stood ready to receive his antagonist118 with naked arms.
"Step forward," cried he. "Since I've broken your pine tree, we'll try which is the better man at a wrestling match."
"Aha! then I'll soon satisfy you," shouted the Giant; for, if there was one thing on which he prided himself more than another, it was his skill in wrestling. "Villain119, I'll fling you where you can never pick yourself up again."
On came Ant?us, hopping120 and capering121 with the scorching122 heat of his rage, and getting new vigor wherewith to wreak123 his passion, every time he hopped124. But Hercules, you must understand, was wiser than this numskull of a Giant, and had thought of a way to fight him,—huge, earth-born monster that he was,—and to conquer him too, in spite of all that his Mother Earth could do for him. Watching his opportunity, as the mad Giant made a rush at him, Hercules caught him round the middle with both hands, lifted him high into the air, and held him aloft overhead.
Just imagine it, my dear little friends! What a spectacle it must have been, to see this monstrous fellow sprawling in the air, face downward, kicking out his long legs and wriggling125 his whole vast body, like a baby when its father holds it at arm's length towards the ceiling.
But the most wonderful thing was, that, as soon as Ant?us was fairly off the earth, he began to lose the vigor which he had gained by touching126 it. Hercules very soon perceived that his troublesome enemy was growing weaker, both because he struggled and kicked with less violence, and because the thunder of his big voice subsided127 into a grumble. The truth was, that, unless the Giant touched Mother Earth as often as once in five minutes, not only his overgrown strength, but the very breath of his life, would depart from him. Hercules had guessed this secret; and it may be well for us all to remember it, in case we should ever have to fight a battle with a fellow like Ant?us. For these earth-born creatures are only difficult to conquer on their own ground, but may be managed if we can contrive128 to lift them into a loftier and purer region. So it proved with the poor Giant, whom I am really a little sorry for, notwithstanding his uncivil way of treating strangers who came to visit him.
When his strength and breath were quite gone, Hercules gave his huge body a toss, and flung it about a mile off, where it fell heavily, and lay with no more motion than a sand hill. It was too late for the Giant's Mother Earth to help him now; and I should not wonder if his ponderous129 bones were lying on the same spot to this very day, and were mistaken for those of an uncommonly130 large elephant.
But, alas131 me! What a wailing132 did the poor little Pygmies set up when they saw their enormous brother treated in this terrible manner. If Hercules heard their shrieks133, however, he took no notice, and perhaps fancied them only the shrill134, plaintive135 twittering of small birds that had been frightened from their nests by the uproar of the battle between himself and Ant?us. Indeed, his thoughts had been so much taken up with the Giant, that he had never once looked at the Pygmies, nor even knew that there was such a funny little nation in the world. And now, as he had travelled a good way, and was also rather weary with his exertions136 in the fight, he spread out his lion's skin on the ground, and reclining himself upon it, fell fast asleep.
As soon as the Pygmies saw Hercules preparing for a nap, they nodded their little heads at one another, and winked137 with their little eyes. And 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 eloquent138 orators139 (and a valiant141 warrior142 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 calamity143 has been brought to pass, and what an insult has here been offered to the majesty144 of our nation. Yonder lies Ant?us, our great friend and brother, slain145, within our territory, by a miscreant146 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 dreaded147 from our wrath! It behooves148 you, fellow-countrymen, to consider in what aspect we shall stand before the world, and what will be the verdict of impartial149 history, should we suffer these accumulated outrages150 to go unavenged.
"Ant?us was our brother, born of that same beloved parent to whom we owe the thews and sinews, as well as the courageous152 hearts, which made him proud of our relationship. He was our faithful ally, and fell fighting as much for our national rights and immunities153 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 reposed154 in his great shadow, and how our little ones have played at hide and seek in the tangles155 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 amiable156 friend—this brave and faithful ally—this virtuous157 Giant—this blameless and excellent Ant?us—dead! Dead. Silent! Powerless! A mere mountain of clay! Forgive my tears! Nay158, 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 treacherous159 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 everlasting160 monument of our sorrow, the other shall endure as long, exhibiting to the whole human race a terrible example of Pygmy vengeance161! Such is the question. I put it to you in full confidence of a response that shall be worthy162 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 vindicated163 in our warfare with the cranes."
The orator140 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 harangue164 in the following admirable manner:—
"It only remains165 for us, then, to decide whether we shall carry on the war in our national capacity,—one united people against a common enemy,—or whether some champion, famous in former fights, shall be selected to defy the slayer166 of our brother Ant?us 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 progenitors168, shall suffer no diminution169 in my hands. Never, while I can wield170 this sword, of which I now fling away the scabbard—never, never, never, even if the crimson171 hand that slew172 the great Ant?us shall lay me prostrate, like him, on the soil which I give my life to 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 patriotism173 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 decided174 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 herald175 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 versed176 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 awakened177, 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 sage100 counsellers remarked, the stranger's club was really very big, and had rattled178 like a thunderbolt against the skull of Ant?us. So the Pygmies resolved to set aside all foolish punctilios, and assail179 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 archers180 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 nostrils181, 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 obstreperous182 hurricane and whirlwind, 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 combustible183 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 applied184 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 dealing185 with their foe186, provided they could have kept him quiet while the conflagration187 was going forward.
But no sooner did Hercules begin to be scorched188, than up he started, with his hair in a red blaze.
"What's all this?" he cried, bewildered with sleep, and staring about him as if he expected to see another Giant.
At that moment the twenty thousand archers twanged their bowstrings, and the arrows came whizzing, like so many winged mosquitoes, right into the face of Hercules. But I doubt whether more than half a dozen of them punctured189 the skin, which was remarkably190 tough, as you know the skin of a hero has good need to be.
"Villain!" shouted all the Pygmies at once. "You have killed the Giant Ant?us, our great brother, and the ally of our nation. We declare bloody191 war against you, and will slay167 you on the spot."
Surprised at the shrill piping of so many little voices, Hercules, after putting out the conflagration of his hair, gazed all round about, but could see nothing. At last, however, looking narrowly on the ground, he espied192 the innumerable assemblage of Pygmies at his feet. He stooped down, and taking up the nearest one between his thumb and finger, set him on the palm of his left hand, and held him at a proper distance for examination. It chanced to be the very identical Pygmy who had spoken from the top of the toadstool, and had offered himself as a champion to meet Hercules in single combat.
"What in the world, my little fellow," ejaculated Hercules, "may you be?"
"I am your enemy," answered the valiant Pygmy, in his mightiest193 squeak. "You have slain the enormous Ant?us, our brother by the mother's side, and for ages the faithful ally of our illustrious nation. We are determined to put you to death; and for my own part, I challenge you to instant battle, on equal ground."
Hercules was so tickled194 with the Pygmy's big words and warlike gestures, that he burst into a great explosion of laughter, and almost dropped the poor little mite195 of a creature off the palm of his hand, through the ecstasy196 and convulsion of his merriment.
"Upon my word," cried he, "I thought I had seen wonders before to-day—hydras with nine heads, stags with golden horns, six-legged men, three-headed dogs, giants with furnaces in their stomachs, and nobody knows what besides. But here, on the palm of my hand, stands a wonder that outdoes them all! Your body, my little friend, is about the size of an ordinary man's finger. Pray, how big may your soul be?"
"As big as your own!" said the Pygmy.
Hercules was touched with the little man's dauntless courage, and could not help acknowledging such a brotherhood197 with him as one hero feels for another.
"My good little people," said he, making a low obeisance198 to the grand nation, "not for all the world would I do an intentional199 injury to such brave fellows as you! Your hearts seem to me so exceedingly great, that, upon my honor, I marvel200 how your small bodies can contain them. I sue for peace, and, as a condition of it, will take five strides, and be out of your kingdom at the sixth. Good-by. I shall pick my steps carefully, for fear of treading upon some fifty of you, without knowing it. Ha, ha, ha! Ho, ho, ho! For once, Hercules acknowledges himself vanquished201."
Some writers say, that Hercules gathered up the whole race of Pygmies in his lion's skin, and carried them home to Greece, for the children of King Eurystheus to play with. But this is a mistake. He left them, one and all, within their own territory, where, for aught I can tell, their descendants are alive to the present day, building their little houses, cultivating their little fields, spanking202 their little children, waging their little warfare with the cranes, doing their little business, whatever it may be, and reading their little histories of ancient times. In those histories, perhaps, it stands recorded, that, a great many centuries ago, the valiant Pygmies avenged151 the death of the Giant Ant?us by scaring away the mighty Hercules.
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1
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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prodigiously
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| adv.异常地，惊人地，巨大地 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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11
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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13
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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14
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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15
ripened
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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walnut
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| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
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17
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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18
tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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20
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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21
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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22
squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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23
tornado
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| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
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24
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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25
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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26
respiration
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| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
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27
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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28
obelisk
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| n.方尖塔 | |
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29
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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30
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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32
spire
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| n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点 | |
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33
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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34
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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36
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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38
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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41
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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42
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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43
peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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44
gambols
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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45
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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46
rams
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| n.公羊( ram的名词复数 )；(R-)白羊（星）座；夯；攻城槌v.夯实（土等）( ram的第三人称单数 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
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47
quills
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| n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管 | |
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48
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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49
exhort
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| v.规劝，告诫 | |
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50
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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51
beaks
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| n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者 | |
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52
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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53
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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54
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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55
quacked
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| v.（鸭子）发出嘎嘎声( quack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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57
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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58
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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59
waxwork
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| n.蜡像 | |
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60
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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61
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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62
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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63
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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64
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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65
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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66
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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67
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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68
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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69
scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
tussle
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| n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩 | |
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71
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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72
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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73
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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74
vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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75
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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76
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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77
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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78
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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79
gape
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| v.张口，打呵欠，目瞪口呆地凝视 | |
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80
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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81
dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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82
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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83
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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84
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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85
mightier
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| adj. 强有力的，强大的，巨大的 adv. 很，极其 | |
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86
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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87
sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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88
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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89
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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90
pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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91
discourteous
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| adj.不恭的，不敬的 | |
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92
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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93
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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94
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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95
puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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96
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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97
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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98
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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99
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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100
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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101
awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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102
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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103
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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104
screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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105
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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106
concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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107
vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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108
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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109
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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110
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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111
outrageously
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| 凶残地； 肆无忌惮地； 令人不能容忍地； 不寻常地 | |
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112
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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113
warded
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| 有锁孔的，有钥匙榫槽的 | |
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114
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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115
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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116
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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117
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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118
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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119
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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120
hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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121
capering
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的现在分词 )；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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122
scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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123
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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124
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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125
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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126
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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127
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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128
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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129
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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130
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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131
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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132
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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133
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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134
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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135
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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136
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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137
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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138
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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139
orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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140
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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141
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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142
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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143
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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144
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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145
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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146
miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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147
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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148
behooves
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| n.利益，好处( behoof的名词复数 )v.适宜( behoove的第三人称单数 ) | |
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149
impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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150
outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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151
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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152
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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153
immunities
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| 免除，豁免( immunity的名词复数 )； 免疫力 | |
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154
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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155
tangles
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| （使）缠结， （使）乱作一团( tangle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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156
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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157
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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158
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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159
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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160
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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161
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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162
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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163
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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164
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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165
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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166
slayer
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| n. 杀人者，凶手 | |
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167
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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168
progenitors
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| n.祖先( progenitor的名词复数 )；先驱；前辈；原本 | |
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169
diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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170
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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171
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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172
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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173
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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174
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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175
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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176
versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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177
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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178
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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179
assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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180
archers
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| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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181
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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182
obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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183
combustible
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| a. 易燃的,可燃的; n. 易燃物,可燃物 | |
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184
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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185
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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186
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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187
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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188
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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189
punctured
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| v.在（某物）上穿孔( puncture的过去式和过去分词 )；刺穿（某物）；削弱（某人的傲气、信心等）；泄某人的气 | |
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190
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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191
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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192
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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193
mightiest
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| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
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194
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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195
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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196
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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197
brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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198
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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199
intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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200
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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201
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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202
spanking
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| adj.强烈的，疾行的；n.打屁股 | |
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